First Financial History | blog.firstffcu.com

“We thank our valued members for their continued support, loyalty, and membership with us over the past 89 years. Our commitment to serving their financial needs is our top priority today and everyday.” -Issa Stephan, President/CEO (pictured above).

Today marks an exciting milestone for First Financial Federal Credit Union — we’re celebrating 89 years of service! Since we were founded back in 1936, we’ve remained committed to providing members with financial solutions that prioritize their needs. As we honor our history, we also recognize why credit unions like ours continue to be a great choice to help manage your financial future.

A Brief History of Credit Unions

The concept of credit unions dates back to 1849 when Friedrich Raiffeisen established the first cooperative lending institution in Germany, designed to provide financial access to underserved communities. By 1900, word had spread all the way to Quebec, Canada, where Alphonse Desjardins founded the first cooperative financial institution in North America. The concept was soon adopted by Pierre Jay, the Finance Commissioner of one of America’s great pioneer states – Massachusetts.

In the United States, credit unions gained traction in the early 20th century, leading to the passage of the Federal Credit Union Act in 1934, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt – which allowed for the creation of federally chartered credit unions nationwide. Over the years, credit unions have grown into trusted financial institutions that continue to put people over profits, offering their members a community-focused alternative to traditional banking.

The Story of First Financial

First Financial’s roots trace back to 1936 during the Great Depression, when a group of Asbury Park schoolteachers came together to form Monmouth County NJ Teachers Federal Credit Union. Under the leadership of Harold “Pop” Shannon, the credit union expanded to include employees of the Monmouth and Ocean County Boards of Education. Over time, our membership grew to include municipal employees, hospital workers, and small businesses – leading to several name changes to reflect our evolving community.

In 2003 we became a community credit union – serving anyone who lives, works, worships, volunteers, or attends school in Monmouth or Ocean Counties. In 2006 we adopted our current name, First Financial Federal Credit Union – continuing our tradition of providing excellent financial services while keeping our members’ best interests at heart.

Why Bank with a Credit Union Instead of a Traditional Bank?

Credit unions are typically not-for-profit, member-owned financial institutions – which means they can offer higher interest rates on savings, lower fees on loans, and generally more personalized service compared to the shareholder profit of banks.

Fewer Fees & More Flexibility – Credit unions prioritize service over profit, meaning you’ll encounter fewer fees and more flexible account options.
Lower Loan Rates – Because credit unions are member-owned and not-for-profit, they return earnings to members in the form of lower interest rates on loans.
NCUA Insurance Protection – Just like banks are insured by the FDIC, federally insured credit unions are backed by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). Member deposits are protected up to $250,000, ensuring financial security and peace of mind.

Exclusive Member Benefits at First Financial

When you partner with First Financial, you gain access to exclusive member benefits that increase the more you bank with us. Our members enjoy:

Referral Programs
Savings on Tax Services
Sweepstakes Opportunities
Relationship Banking Discounts
Notary Services
Reduced Loan Rates
No-Cost Financial Consultations
And so much more that you won’t find at a traditional bank!

Join Us in Celebrating 89 Years of Member-Focused Banking

For 89 years, First Financial has been dedicated to serving our members and the local community. As we celebrate this milestone, we invite you to experience the credit union difference firsthand. If you’re not already a member, now is the perfect time to make the switch and enjoy the financial advantages of banking with a credit union. For more information on our services or to become a member, call us at 732.312.1500 or visit a branch today!

*A First Financial membership is available to anyone who lives, works, worships, volunteers or attends school in Monmouth or Ocean Counties. A $5 deposit in a Base Savings Account is required to establish membership prior to opening any account/loan. See credit union for details.

Press Release

Although they offer many of the same services, credit unions operate in a fundamentally different way than banks, one based on the philosophy of “people helping people”. Credit unions were typically founded by friends, like neighbors, workers and people who worship together. In our third installment of the Legacy Series, we’re featuring a credit union founded during the Depression by a group of teachers in Asbury Park, N.J.

The Great Depression started in 1929, and continued for more than a decade. During that time, the economy came to a standstill, banks were failing left and right, and many people were resorting to the only safe haven they knew for their money – under the mattress. In 1936, a group of Asbury Park, N.J. schoolteachers decided there was another way to provide essential banking services to themselves and others, all while protecting their savings.

In true cooperative spirit, this group came together to help each other in a time of need and organized themselves into one of the earliest credit unions in America: Monmouth County, NJ Teachers Federal Credit Union. Today, over 80 years later, that credit union still exists, much larger and now known as First Financial Federal Credit Union.

Getting from Monmouth County Teachers FCU to First Financial FCU took more than a few years of growth and expansion, cooperative efforts, and dedication to specific communities. Under the leadership of Harold “Pop” Shannon, the credit union grew to serve other teacher-related populations: employees of both the Monmouth and Ocean County Boards of Education. The small shop went through a name change to reflect the groups it served: Mon-Oc Teachers Federal Credit Union.

From that small office in Asbury Park, over the years the credit union expanded again to serve municipal employees (followed by another name change, to Mon-Oc Public Employees Federal Credit Union), employees of some local hospitals and nursing facilities, and several small businesses (when the name then became simply Mon-Oc Federal Credit Union).

In April 2003, Mon-Oc FCU became a community credit union, serving anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school in Monmouth or Ocean Counties. With this expansion, the credit union became First Financial Federal Credit Union in July 2006.

The credit union stays true to its roots as an organization founded by teachers. “Education has and always will be a pivotal piece of our organization, and we have stayed true to our educational roots by continuing to support our members and the local community through financial education,” says First Financial FCU President/CEO, Issa Stephan. “We hold free monthly seminars on various important topics such as budgeting, credit management, debt reduction, how to buy a home or car, and more. Our Foundation provides annual college scholarships to Monmouth and Ocean County students, as well as classroom grants to teachers within our community. We are proud to support our local teachers, students, and educate as many members of our community as we can.”

First Financial FCU may have grown and seen some changes since it began, but it has stayed true to its early years as a dedicated source for financial education and services for its community.

At a credit union, you’re much more than just a customer. For more information on First Financial Federal Credit Union, including how to join, visit www.firstffcu.com.