
Southland Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative, meaning it's owned and controlled by its members, not shareholders. This structure allows the credit union to prioritize its members' needs over profits.
As a result, Southland Credit Union has consistently demonstrated financial health and stability, with a strong capital position and low operating expenses. This enables the credit union to offer competitive rates and fees to its members.
Southland Credit Union has a long history of stability, with over 80 years of operation and a proven track record of withstanding economic downturns.
Membership and Services
Southland Credit Union offers a wide range of financial products and services. This includes checking and savings accounts, vehicle loans, personal loans, credit cards, home loans, home equity lines of credit, investment services, insurance services, retirement planning, student loans, and business services.
You can get a checking or savings account with Southland Credit Union to manage your everyday finances. Their vehicle loans can help you purchase a new or used car, while personal loans can cover unexpected expenses or large purchases.
Here's a list of some of the financial products and services offered by Southland Credit Union:
- Checking and savings accounts
- Vehicle loans
- Personal loans
- Credit cards
- Home loans
- Home equity lines of credit
- Investment services
- Insurance services
- Retirement planning
- Student loans
- Business services
Membership with Southland Credit Union is available to employees of approximately 300 Select Employer Groups (SEG).
Select Employer Groups
Membership with Southland Credit Union is available to employees of approximately 300 Select Employer Groups (SEG). I've had friends who've joined credit unions through their workplaces, and it's been a great way to access banking services.
Southland Credit Union has partnerships with a wide range of employers, making it easy for employees to join.
Products and Services
As a member of Southland Credit Union, you have access to a wide range of products and services that can help you achieve your financial goals.
Southland Credit Union offers a variety of checking and savings accounts to suit your needs.
You can also get a vehicle loan or personal loan to help you purchase a car or cover unexpected expenses.
Their credit card options can provide you with a convenient way to make purchases and pay bills.
If you're looking to buy a home, Southland Credit Union offers home loans and home equity lines of credit to help you achieve your dream.
In addition to these financial products, they also offer investment services, insurance services, and retirement planning to help you secure your financial future.
For students, they have student loans available to help you cover the costs of higher education.
If you're a business owner, you can also take advantage of their business services, which can help you manage your finances and grow your business.
Here are some of the products and services you can expect from Southland Credit Union:
- Checking and savings accounts
- Vehicle loans
- Personal loans
- Credit cards
- Home loans
- Home equity lines of credit
- Investment services
- Insurance services
- Retirement planning
- Student loans
- Business services
Financial Health
Southland Credit Union has a strong financial foundation, as evident from its Texas Ratio of 1.61% as of December 31, 2020. This indicates that the credit union has a significant buffer to cover potential loan losses.
The credit union's capitalization level is also above average, with a capitalization level of 10.21%. This means that Southland Credit Union has a substantial amount of equity to absorb potential losses from loans that may fail in the future.
This high level of capitalization provides a safety net for the credit union, allowing it to weather any financial storms that may come its way.
Texas Ratio
The Texas Ratio is an important indicator of a bank's financial health. It measures how much capital a bank has available compared to the total value of loans considered at risk.
Southland Credit Union had a Texas Ratio of 1.61% as of December 31, 2020, which is excellent. Any bank with a Texas Ratio near or greater than 100% is considered at risk.
This low Texas Ratio is a result of Southland Credit Union having $101.67 million in equity and loan loss allowances on hand to cover $1.64 million in non-current loans and owned real-estate.
The Texas Ratio for Southland Credit Union decreased dramatically from 6.96% as of December 31, 2019 to 1.61% as of December 31, 2020, resulting in a positive change of 76.86%. This indicates that the balance sheet and financial strength for Southland Credit Union has improved dramatically in recent periods.
Capitalization
Capitalization plays a significant role in the financial health of banks and credit unions. Both FDIC and NCUA consider it a high priority.
Having a higher capitalization level provides a greater buffer to cover loans that may default in the future. This is crucial for maintaining stability and ensuring the institution's long-term viability.
Southland Credit Union has a capitalization level of 10.21%, which is above average. This is a result of its $101.67 million in equity compared to $995.94 million in assets.
A higher capitalization level can give consumers more confidence in the institution's ability to manage risks and maintain financial stability.
Annual Revenue
Annual Revenue is a key indicator of a credit union's financial health. The Southland Credit Union annual revenue was $16.7 million in 2025.
Having a clear understanding of a credit union's revenue can help you assess its stability and ability to provide services to its members. This is especially important if you're considering joining a credit union or managing your finances with one.
The annual revenue of a credit union can fluctuate from year to year, but it's essential to have a baseline understanding of its financial situation. In the case of Southland Credit Union, its annual revenue was a significant $16.7 million in 2025.
Growth and Development
Southland Credit Union has seen a remarkable 20.56% growth in its total non-brokered deposits over the past year, adding a substantial $139.49 million to its balance sheet.
This significant growth is a testament to the credit union's strong track record and consumer confidence.
With a focus on enhancing member service, Southland Credit Union has been on the lookout for innovative solutions to improve communication delivery and provide round-the-clock availability.
The Vision
To achieve growth and development, it's essential to have a clear vision. Southland Credit Union's vision was to enhance member service by improving communication delivery and offering 24/7 availability.
Their goal was to cater to member needs by providing information in all preferred ways. They sought a technology that could help them achieve this vision.
Southland Credit Union's commitment to improved service is evident in their statement. They recognized the need for a technology that could deliver communication and information to members around the clock.
By striving for improved service, Southland Credit Union aimed to meet the evolving needs of their members.
Deposit Growth
Deposit growth is a key indicator of a financial institution's stability and consumer confidence. Southland Credit Union has shown excellent growth in its total non-brokered deposits.
In the past year, the credit union increased its deposits by a significant $139.49 million. This impressive growth rate of 20.56% is a testament to the institution's ability to strengthen its balance sheet.
A strong track record of growth like this is a positive sign for the credit union's future prospects.
Bottlenecks & Next Steps
Growth and Development isn't just about expanding your customer base, it's also about ensuring that you can provide quality support to your existing customers.
Southland Credit Union faced a significant rise in call volumes, which led to increased wait times and abandonment rates in their call center.
This highlighted the need for a solution to resolve member support bottlenecks and provide instant service to their members.
A high abandonment rate and long wait times can be a major turn-off for customers, leading to a negative experience and potential loss of business.
Southland Credit Union was looking for a feasible solution to help them improve their service levels and continue to provide quality support to their members.
Switching to Southland
Switching to Southland can be a straightforward process. You can join Southland Credit Union by visiting one of their branches, calling their member service team, or applying online.
Their membership requirements are simple: you must live, work, or worship in certain areas of Los Angeles County. You can also join if you're a student or employee of select organizations.
Southland Credit Union offers a range of benefits for their members, including higher interest rates on deposits and lower fees on loans.
President and CEO
Switching to Southland is a great decision, and you're probably wondering who's at the helm. Thomas Lent is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Southland Credit Union.
He's the one responsible for making sure everything runs smoothly and efficiently. Thomas Lent is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Southland Credit Union.
Community Charter
Southland Credit Union's community charter is a unique feature that allows for membership to residents and individuals who work, worship, or attend school in specific communities.

Membership is open to those who live, work, worship, or attend school in the communities served by Southland Credit Union, which includes a wide range of areas.
This means that if you reside, work, worship, or attend school in one of these communities, you're eligible to join Southland Credit Union and start benefiting from their services.
10 Reasons to Switch
Switching to Southland Credit Union offers numerous benefits, and here are 10 compelling reasons to make the switch.
You can expect better rates and lower fees, as credit unions don't have shareholders to keep happy.
Credit unions are known to offer higher rates on savings and certificates.
Lower rates on loans are also a common trait of credit unions, which means you'll save money on interest.
All profits from Southland Credit Union come back to its members, not a board of directors.
Vendor and Project Management
Southland Credit Union evaluated vendors based on several key criteria, including functionality, vision, experience and expertise, technology, and managed services.
To achieve their goals, they looked for vendors with out-of-the-box solutions that can add value to all aspects of the organization and enable efficient member support.
The vendor they chose had several years of experience serving credit unions and offered the most mature Artificial Intelligence solution for the industry.
Here are the key vendor evaluation criteria:
- Functionality: Out of box solutions with a wide range of functionalities
- Vision: Having a long-term vision, technology roadmap, and insights into the technology’s possibilities
- Experience & Expertise: Having in-depth domain knowledge and several successful live implementations
- Technology: Ability of the technology to scale and continuously improve
- Managed Services: Having a structured end to end implementation approach and providing hands-on support
This vendor's expertise and experience in the credit union space made them a strong fit for Southland Credit Union's needs.
Vendor Identification
When identifying vendors, it's essential to consider various factors to ensure you find the right partner for your project.
Southland Credit Union sought referrals from other Credit Unions to get a sense of which vendors were reputable and trustworthy.
Researching case studies in the Credit Union space can provide valuable insights into how other organizations have successfully implemented Intelligent Virtual Assistants.
Hands-on evaluation of existing implementations can serve as a proof of concept, giving you a realistic understanding of what to expect from a vendor.
Here are some key factors to consider when evaluating vendors:
- Functionality: Look for out-of-the-box solutions with a wide range of functionalities that can add value to all aspects of the organization.
- Vision: Consider vendors with a long-term vision, technology roadmap, and insights into the technology's possibilities.
- Experience & Expertise: Opt for vendors with in-depth domain knowledge and several successful live implementations delivering impact.
- Technology: Choose vendors with technology that can scale and continuously improve.
- Managed Services: Select vendors with a structured end-to-end implementation approach and hands-on support for launch, run, and maintain activities.
Project Scope
The project scope is all about delivering a seamless experience for members. After the launch, members will get instant responses to their questions when interacting with Southland Credit Union's IVA on the website.
The IVA will enable 24/7 full service to members, allowing support teams to focus on complex needs and increasing operational efficiency. This is a game-changer for Southland Credit Union.
Through this partnership, Southland Credit Union is enhancing their member experience by shifting from digital to AI-first, enabling highly personalized and instantaneous engagement with members.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can anyone join Southland Credit Union?
To join Southland Credit Union, you must reside, work, worship, or attend school in Orange or Los Angeles County. Membership eligibility is based on your location in these two counties.
Who owns Southland Credit Union?
Southland Credit Union is owned by its Members, who are its primary stakeholders. As a not-for-profit, Member-owned financial institution, our focus is on serving our Members' needs, not investors.
Is there a downside to a credit union?
Yes, a credit union's limited branch and ATM network can be a drawback for some members. This may require more planning for out-of-town transactions or withdrawals.
Sources
- https://wallethub.com/profile/southland-credit-union-13313927i
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southland_Credit_Union
- https://interface.ai/case-studies/south-land-virtual-assistant/
- https://rocketreach.co/southland-credit-union-profile_b5ec73e5f42e739b
- https://www.thedowneypatriot.com/articles/10-reasons-to-switch-to-southland-credit-union
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