First Tech Federal Credit Union review

Updated September 28, 2026 · BorrowCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026

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Our verdict

First Tech Federal Credit Union is a direct lender serving credit union members, offering a fixed-rate personal loan with a soft prequalification check and funding the same day. It suits Oregon residents, partner company staff and household members of current members looking to borrow $500 to $50,000 over a fixed term.

Key facts

Best for
Fixed-rate personal and debt consolidation loans for eligible credit union members.
APR
11.99% (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Loan amount
$500 to $50,000 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Term
12 to 60 months (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Arrangement fee
$0 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Credit check
Soft prequal (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Funding time
Fast funding as soon as the same day (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Representative example
Personal Loan, 24 months, 13.95% APR = $47.99 monthly payment per $1,000 borrowed (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Rate type
Fixed (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Lender type
Direct lender (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Free early repayment
Yes (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Eligibility
Credit union membership required and subject to approval: live, work or worship in a participating community, work for the State of Oregon, work for one of 1,700+ partner companies, belong to a participating organization or condominium association, or be a family or household member of an existing member (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Origination fee (%)
0% (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Loan types
Personal, Debt-consolidation (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Credit needed
Fair (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Use cases
Home-improvement (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Legal entity
First Technology Federal Credit Union (d/b/a First Tech Federal Credit Union) (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Headquarters
United States (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Founded
1952 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Support channels
Phone, Chat, Help-centre (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Pricing model
Fixed rate
Features
Same-day funding
Official website
firsttechfed.com

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Direct lending for personal and debt consolidation loans, so the credit union sets the terms itself.
  • Fair credit is enough on paper: the stated requirement is fair and the check is soft prequal.
  • Speed when it matters, with Fast funding as soon as the same day.
  • A fixed rate on fixed rate loans, and free early repayment if plans change.

Cons

  • Eligibility carries a condition: credit union membership is required and is subject to approval, and it opens only to a participating community, work for the State of Oregon, a partner company, a participating organisation or condo association, or a family or household link to an existing member.
  • An APR of 11.99% ranks 178 of 350 brands on the site, so cheaper fixed-rate credit exists elsewhere.
  • The loan types listed are personal and debt consolidation and the stated use is home improvement, so the book is narrow.

Ready to try First Tech Federal Credit Union?

Scored 9.3 / 10 by BorrowCue.

Who it suits

  • Household members of existing members, and people who work for the State of Oregon or a partner company.
  • Borrowers consolidating existing debt into a single payment, since personal and debt consolidation covers consolidation.
  • Members planning home improvement who need cash quickly, given Fast funding as soon as the same day.

Who should look elsewhere

  • Not Monzo Flex readers who want a rate below 11.99%, since Monzo Flex lists 10% to 23%.
  • Not Cashspace, whose listed APR of PHP 12 to PHP 36 is quoted in a different currency, so the two figures are not directly comparable.

Safety and regulation

First Tech Federal Credit Union lends as a direct lender rather than a broker, and it is chartered by the National Credit Union Administration as a federal credit union, charter 23521. The published representative example sets out a personal loan with the annual rate and the monthly payment per amount borrowed, so any quote can be checked on the same basis.

How First Tech Federal Credit Union compares

Where First Tech Federal Credit Union is available

Available
United States
Licence in United States
National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) - NCUSIF share insurance, checked September 26, 2026

Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)

Frequently asked questions

What does a First Tech Federal Credit Union loan cost?+

The fixed-rate personal loan is priced at an APR of 11.99%, and the origination fee is $0 with a percentage fee of 0%. The published representative example gives a personal loan with a monthly payment set per amount borrowed, so the instalment is clear before you apply.

Who is eligible to apply?+

Credit union membership is required and is subject to approval. Eligibility covers living or working in a participating community, working for the State of Oregon, working for a partner company, joining through a participating organisation or condo association, or being a family or household member of an existing member. The application then carries a soft prequal credit check.

How much can be borrowed, and over what term?+

The personal loan runs $500 to $50,000 over a term of 12 to 60, and it is a fixed rate loan at a fixed rate. The stated use is home improvement, and personal and debt consolidation are the loan types listed, so a consolidator and a renovator are both covered.

How quickly is money paid out?+

Speed is the strong point, with Fast funding as soon as the same day on an approved application and same-day funding listed among the features. Support runs on phone, chat and help centre, so timing questions can be raised by phone, in chat or through the help centre. As the lender itself, the credit union handles the application and the payout.

What credit history is needed?+

The stated credit requirement is fair, and the check is soft prequal. The published example shows a personal loan with a fixed monthly payment per amount borrowed, so the cost of any offer can be compared on the same basis across lenders rather than on the headline rate alone.

Can the loan be repaid early?+

Free early repayment is listed, so settling the balance ahead of schedule carries no extra charge. Loans are fixed rate at a fixed rate, so the instalment stays put and the only saving from paying sooner is the interest no longer owed.

Sources

  • firsttechfed.com checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Founded

    “Since 1952, First Tech Federal Credit Union has supported tech leaders and forward-thinkers.”

  • firsttechfed.com/borrow/personal-loans/fixed-rate-loan-2 checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Loan amount, APR, Credit check, Credit needed, Features, Free early repayment, Funding time, Lender type, Loan types, Pricing model, Arrangement fee, Origination fee (%), Rate type, Term, Use cases

    “Borrow from $500 to $50,000”

  • firsttechfed.com/discover/become-a-member checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Eligibility

    “You're within First Tech's field of membership if you meet any one of the following qualifications: Work for one of our 1,700+ partner companies... Live, work or worship in a participating...”

  • firsttechfed.com/help/contact checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Headquarters, Support channels

    “General Correspondence PO Box 2100 Beaverton, OR 97075-2100”

  • firsttechfed.com/rates checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Legal entity, Licences

    “Digital Federal Credit Union and First Technology Federal Credit Union merged to form a single credit union with the legal name First Technology Federal Credit Union, effective January 1, 2026.”

  • firsttechfed.com/rates/loans checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Representative example

    “Personal Loan Examples: Account Personal Loan, Term 24 months, Annual Percentage Rate 13.95%, Monthly payment per $1,000 borrowed $47.99”

Compiled from 6 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.

First Tech Federal Credit Union

Fixed-rate personal and debt consolidation loans for eligible credit union members.

9.3/10See alternatives