Pentagon Federal Credit Union Explained

Pentagon Federal Credit Union
Type:	Credit union
Location:	7940 Jones Branch Drive, McLean, Virginia, United States
Locations:	50
Key People:	Edward B Cody, Board of Directors Chairman James Schenck, President and CEO
Area Served:	Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, defense-related companies, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and their families
Industry:	Financial services
Products:	Savings checking; consumer loans; mortgages; credit cards; investments
Assets:	$34,823,233,611(2023) ^[1]
Homepage:	penfed.org

Pentagon Federal Credit Union, widely known by its abbreviated name PenFed, is a United States federal credit union headquartered in McLean, Virginia, chartered and regulated under the authority of the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). PenFed is the nation's third largest federal credit union,^[2] with assets of $34.8 billion and more than 2.8 million members as of December 2023.^[3]

In addition to a variety of loans, savings, and deposit accounts, PenFed also offers credit cards^[4] and other financial services.

Membership

Pentagon Federal Credit Union historically had a limited membership to individuals sharing the common bond defined in its credit union charter, mostly membership in organizations related to national defense. In 2018, PenFed acquired the New York-chartered Progressive Credit Union, which had failed due to taxi medallion loans in New York City^[5] but which had an open field of membership charter allowing anyone nationwide to join.^{[6] [7]}

A list of some past eligible memberships include the following:^[8]

• Active duty members from the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Space Force, and U.S. Coast Guard.
• Reserve and National Guard members.
• Retired members of Active Duty, Reserves, and the National Guard.
• Current and retired civilian employees of the Department of Defense.
  • Current and retired agents of the Department of Homeland Security Current and retired employees of the United States Public Health Service
• Employees and volunteers of the American Red Cross
• Members of the National Military Family Association
• Members of the Air Force Association
• Members of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary
• Members of the Military Officers Association of America
• Members of Paralyzed Veterans of America
• Members of the United States Army Warrant Officers Association
• Members of the Marine Corps League
• Members of the Navy League of the United States
• Members of the Reserve Officers Association
• Members of Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America
• Members of Veterans of Foreign Wars
• Members of Vietnam Veterans of America
• Pentagon building employees
• Employees of the Transpotomac Plaza or Canal Center in Alexandria, VA
• Individuals who are assigned to, work at, or receive benefits from, any defense or military-based institution
• Family members of those in the field of membership, including: grandparents, parents, spouse, siblings, children (including adopted, foster and stepchildren), grandchildren, and household members
• Family members and employees of Pentagon Federal Credit Union itself

Competition

PenFed is among a few financial services companies that specialize in serving the military—it competes with other military credit unions, such as Navy Federal Credit Union, as well as with some large banks, including Bank of America-Military Bank and USAA.

Locations

Branches are located in the Washington, D.C., area (including Maryland and Virginia); California; Florida; Georgia; Hawaii; Nebraska; New Jersey; New Mexico; New York; North Carolina; Texas; and at military bases in Guam, Japan, Portugal, and Puerto Rico.

Pentagon Federal operates several call centers in Omaha, Nebraska; Papillion, Nebraska; Eugene, Oregon; and San Antonio, Texas. In 2003, Pentagon Federal joined Allpoint, a surcharge-free network of automated teller machines.^[9]

Expansion

In 2017, Pentagon Federal initiated merger talks with Scranton, Pennsylvania-based Valor Credit Union. Valor reported net losses of $2.4 million and $2.25 million in last year’s second and third quarters, which initiated talks of merger with PenFed.^[10] The merger was approved by Valor members, and on April 1, 2017, Valor officially merged with PenFed.^[11]

On January 1, 2019 an emergency merger took effect and Progressive Credit union merged with PenFed. Progressive Credit Union held taxi medallion loans that led to the credit union's declining revenues. The merger gave PenFed and open charter, allowing anyone nationwide to join the once only military affiliated member credit union.^[12]

In February 2019, McGraw-Hill Federal Credit Union announced plans to merge with PenFed,^[13] completing to convert customers to those of PenFed on May 1, 2019.^[14] The former McGraw-Hill branch in East Windsor, New Jersey, currently operates as a PenFed branch as of September 2019.

In December 2020, Post Office Credit Union in Madison, Wis., voted in favor to merge with PenFed.^[15]

In April 2021, due to its deteriorating financial performance Aspire Federal Credit Union in Clark, N.J merged with PenFed. the merger was completed on April 1, 2021 and was originally approved on February 22, 2021 by regulators.

PenFed Foundation

The PenFed Foundation was founded in 2001 by leadership from PenFed Credit Union.^{[16] [17]}

The mission of the PenFed Foundation for Military Heroes is to empower military service members, veterans and their communities with the skills and resources to realize financial stability and opportunity.^{[18] [19]}

The PenFed Foundation has helped more than 140,000 military families since 2001.^[20]

In April 2019, four-star Retired General John W. “Mick” Nicholson, Jr. became president of the PenFed Foundation, serving in this capacity until January 2022. ^[21]

In March 2020, the PenFed Foundation became the first veteran service organization to launch a COVID-19 emergency relief program open to all service members and veterans and received 6,000 applications in four days.^{[22] [23]}

In June 2020, CNN included PenFed Foundation in its list of nonprofits to support during the COVID-19 pandemic.^[24]

The PenFed Foundation was recognized as one of Survey Monkey’s top 4 organizations providing COVID-19 relief.^[25]

The PenFed Foundation was also honored as the Nonprofit of the Year in July 2020 by the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce.^[26]

In August 2020, Business Insider recommended PenFed Foundation as one of 8 nonprofits to donate to during the COVID-19 pandemic.^[27]

In August 2020, PenFed Foundation was also named a Top 20 Nonprofit Champion by Military Spouse Magazine.^[28]

External links

• Official website
• National Credit Union Administration

Notes and References

1. https://www.ibanknet.com/scripts/callreports/getbank.aspx?ibnid=usa_546571
2. Web site: Largest Credit Unions in America (2024) . 2024-04-24 . MarketWatch - Guides . en-US.
3. Web site: PENTAGON FEDERAL CREDIT UNION Financial Reports . 2024-04-24 . www.ibanknet.com.
4. News: New rules won't affect all credit cards the same way Card issuers warn of high fees under new law, but credit unions largely unaffected. May 26, 2009. Marketwatch. 2009-11-16.
5. News: PenFed Acquires Progressive. Credit Union Times. January 2, 2019. January 22, 2021. Jim. DuPlessis.
6. Web site: 2019 Annual Report. 37. Pentagon Federal Credit Union. January 22, 2021.
7. News: PenFed's latest expansion move sets off another banker battle . January 22, 2021. Palash. Ghosh. John. Reosti. January 4, 2019. American Banker.
8. Web site: Membership. penfed.org.
9. News: Pentagon Federal Credit Union Joins National Surcharge-Free ATM Network; Members Gain Convenient Access at 23,000 Well-known Retail Outlets. . April 2, 2003 . Pentagon Federal Credit Union press release via PR Newswire. 2009-11-16.
10. News: Valor Credit Union pursuing merger with Pentagon Federal. WRITER. JON O'CONNELL, STAFF. en-US. 2017-01-26.
11. Web site: Valor Federal Credit Union. 30 July 2018.
12. Web site: 2019-01-04 . PenFed deal feeds bankers' fears of unlimited credit union membership . 2023-09-25 . American Banker . en.
13. Web site: New Jersey Credit Union Plans Merger With PenFed . Credit Union Times . 2019-02-12 . 2019-09-18.
14. Web site: Welcome to the Family McGraw-Hill Federal Credit Union . Pentagon Federal Credit Union . 2019-09-18.
15. Web site: December 30 . Peter Strozniak . PM . 2020 at 03:14 . Post Office Credit Union Members Vote to Merge With PenFed . 2023-09-25 . Credit Union Times . en.
16. Web site: 2021-01-05. Washington Justice and PenFed Credit Union Partner to Support Veterans. 2021-02-19. The Esports Observer. en-US.
17. Web site: 2018-05-28. About Us. 2021-02-19. The PenFed Foundation. en.
18. Web site: 2020-04-06. -PenFed Foundaiton COVID-19 Emergency Fund. 2021-02-19. www.radio.com. en.
19. Web site: How to Get Down Payment Assistance for a Mortgage. 2021-02-19. news.yahoo.com. en-US.
20. Web site: Foundation. PenFed. PenFed Foundation Raises a Record $803,000 for Veterans and Military Community at 16th Annual Military Heroes Golf Classic. 2021-02-19. www.prnewswire.com. en.
21. News: Retired Four-Star General John W. Nicholson, Jr. Named PenFed Foundation President. en. PenFed Credit Union. 2021-02-25.
22. Web site: wpowell. 2020-05-07. PenFed Credit Union - Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response. 2021-02-25. U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. en.
23. Web site: PenFed Foundation Receives $100,000 Donation from MidCountry Bank To Further Mission of Financially Empowering Military Community. 2021-02-25. MidCountry Bank. en-US.
24. Web site: A guide to helping and getting help during the coronavirus crisis. 2021-03-05. www.cnn.com.
25. Web site: Four incredible organizations show quick action, resilience, and creative thinking during times of crisis. 2021-03-05. SurveyMonkey Apply. en-US.
26. Web site: PenFed Foundation Receives Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce 2020 'Nonprofit of the Year' Award. PR Newswire.
27. Web site: Ward. Marguerite. 8 nonprofits helping Americans struggling because of the coronavirus pandemic that you can donate to right now. 2021-03-12. Business Insider.
28. Web site: Military Spouse August/September 2020. 2021-03-12. editions.mydigitalpublication.com. en-US.