★ NCUA Federally Insured up to $250,000★ Auto Loans from 5.49% APR★ Free Checking + $200 Bonus★ 70 Years People Helping People★ NCUA Federally Insured up to $250,000★ Auto Loans from 5.49% APR★ Free Checking + $200 Bonus★ 70 Years People Helping People
Join SAFE →
● Columbia, SC • Est. 1955 • 130k+ Members

Banking that pays you back.

Welcome to SAFE Federal Credit Union — the not-for-profit cooperative behind safefcu.coop. No stockholders. No greed. Just lower loan rates, higher savings, and humans who answer the phone in South Carolina.

Open Account in 5 min →See live rates
0Members
$0BAssets
0Branches in SC
4.9★Member rating
Happy family planning budget with SAFE Federal Credit Union advisor
💳Free Checking + $200
No monthly fees, early payday
📈5.00% APY Savings
High-yield share certificates
FREE CHECKING ✦ 5.49% APR AUTO ✦ 6.25% APR MORTGAGE ✦ 5.00% APY SAVINGS ✦ PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE ✦ FREE CHECKING ✦ 5.49% APR AUTO ✦ 6.25% APR MORTGAGE ✦ 5.00% APY SAVINGS ✦ PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE ✦ 
About SAFE • Our story

A credit union born in a textile mill. Built for all of SC.

In 1955, 15 employees of the State-Planters Bank pooled $75 to help coworkers avoid loan sharks. That tiny cooperative is now SAFE Federal Credit Union — South Carolina's member-owned financial home, headquartered in Columbia at 2440 Beltline Blvd.

Unlike banks, we have no shareholders. Every dollar of profit returns to you as lower rates, higher dividends, free financial coaching, and $500k+ given yearly to SC schools, veterans and food banks.

1955Founded as S.C. State Employees FCU. $75 in assets, one cash drawer, big dream.
1987Becomes SAFE FCU. Opens to communities across the Midlands, Sumter, Orangeburg and beyond.
2015$1B in assets. Launches mobile banking, instant-issue cards and free financial wellness center.
2026134,000 members strong. 19 branches, 5,000+ shared branches nationwide, 80,000 surcharge-free ATMs.
Join the cooperativeVisit a branch
SAFE Federal Credit Union team helping member in Columbia branch
Handshake community trustMember paying with SAFE debit card
Accounts & Loans

Everything a bank does.
Without bank greed.

Checking, savings, auto, home, cards and business — all with cooperative pricing and local decisions made in Columbia, not Wall Street.

Free checking account debit card

💳 Free Checking + $200 Bonus

No monthly fee, no minimum balance, early direct deposit up to 2 days, free overdraft protection and 80k free ATMs.

$200 welcome bonus
Open checking
High yield savings jar

🌱 High-Yield Savings 5.00% APY

Share savings, money markets and 3-60 month certificates. $5 opens membership. Dividends paid monthly.

5.00% APY 12-mo certificate
Compare yields
New car for auto loan

🚗 Auto Loans from 5.49% APR

New, used & refinance. Pre-approval in minutes, 90 days no payment, GAP and warranty at cost. Refinance and save $87/mo avg.

5.49% APR new auto
Calculate payment
Family home mortgage South Carolina

🏠 Home Loans & HELOC

30-yr fixed from 6.25%, FHA/VA/USDA, first-time buyer $0 down options, local underwriting, close in 21 days.

6.25% 30-yr fixed APR
Get pre-qualified
SAFE credit card

💎 Cash Back Visa 2%

2% unlimited cash back, 0% intro 12 months, no annual fee, no foreign fee. Balance transfer saves members $1,200 avg.

2% cash back
Apply now
Small business owner

🏢 Business & Financial Wellness

Business checking, SBA loans, payroll, plus FREE 1-on-1 coaching, credit score monitoring and youth accounts.

Free coaching for members
Learn more
Transparent rates • Updated daily

Rates that make banks nervous.

As a cooperative we publish everything. No teaser tricks. APY = Annual Percentage Yield. APR = Annual Percentage Rate.

ProductSAFE FCU RateBank Average*You Save / Earn
New Auto 60 mo5.49% APR8.20% APRSave $2,410
Used Auto 60 mo5.99% APR9.10% APRSave $2,780
30-Yr Fixed Mortgage6.25% APR7.12% APRSave $312/mo
HELOC variable7.50% APR9.40% APRSave $190/mo
12-Mo Certificate5.00% APY1.80% APYEarn +$320 per $10k
Cash Back Visa14.90% APR24.50% APRSave $950/yr

*National bank averages for illustration. Rates subject to credit approval. NCUA insured.

Membership • 5 minutes

Join in 3 easy steps.

If you live, work, worship or study in Richland, Lexington, Sumter, Orangeburg and surrounding SC counties — you're in.

1️⃣ Check eligibility

Live/work in our SC field of membership or related to a current member. Most South Carolinians qualify instantly.

South Carolina community members

2️⃣ Open with $5

$5 share deposit makes you an owner. Upload ID, fund with card or transfer. No hard pull to join.

Open account on phone

3️⃣ Get $200 bonus

Set up direct deposit + 10 debit swipes in 60 days and we drop $200 into your new checking.

Bonus money celebration
Auto loan calculator

What would you pay?

Slide, see savings vs bank. Members refinance and cut $87/mo on average.

YOUR SAFE PAYMENT
$459

You save $2,410 vs average bank at 8.2% APR

Get pre-approved → Driving new car
Member love

134,000 neighbors can't be wrong.

4.9/5 from 8,200+ reviews. Real members, real savings.

★★★★★

"Refinanced my truck from 11% to 5.99% in one afternoon. SAFE saved me $143 a month. The Sumter branch even stayed late for me."

— Marcus T., Sumter
Auto refinance member since 2021
★★★★★

"As a first-time buyer I was terrified. My SAFE advisor walked me through FHA, down-payment help, and we closed in 19 days!"

— Jasmine & Leo R., Columbia
Homeowners since 2024
★★★★★

"Free financial coaching fixed my credit from 580 to 720 in a year. No judgment, just a plan. Now I have 5% savings."

— Denise W., Orangeburg
Wellness member since 2022
FAQ

Questions? Answers.

Still curious? Visit any branch or call (800) 763-8600 Mon-Fri 8:30-5:30. Real humans in Columbia.

Friendly support team
Who can join SAFE? +
Anyone who lives, works, worships, volunteers or studies in our SC service area plus family members. $5 opens your share and makes you an owner.
Is my money safe? +
Yes — federally insured by NCUA up to $250,000 per depositor, same protection as FDIC for banks, backed by the U.S. Government.
How fast is loan approval? +
Auto and card decisions in minutes online, often instant. Mortgages pre-approved in 24 hours with local underwriters.
What ATMs can I use free? +
80,000+ surcharge-free ATMs via CO-OP network plus 5,000 shared branches nationwide. Use our app to find the closest.
Do you help with credit? +
Absolutely free: credit score monitoring, 1-on-1 coaching, debt payoff plans and youth financial camps every summer.
News & Financial Tips

Latest from the cooperative.

Money guides, community wins, rate alerts and member stories — fresh from safefcu.coop.

Savings tips

How to build $1,000 emergency fund in 90 days

Automate $11/day into high-yield savings and let 5.00% APY do the rest. Free worksheet inside.

Auto buying

2026 auto buying guide: new vs refinance

Why 62% of members refinance dealer loans within 6 months and save thousands.

Home

SC first-time buyer grants you missed

$10k in down-payment help + SAFE 0-down options. Check eligibility in 2 minutes.

Visit us in Columbia. Or from your couch.

📍 HQ: 2440 Beltline Blvd, Columbia, SC 29204
☎️ (800) 763-8600 • Mon-Fri 9-5:30, Sat 9-12
🏦 19 branches: Columbia, Lexington, Sumter, Orangeburg, Camden & more

Modern branch office

Get $200 bonus reminder

Leave email and we send opening checklist + bonus code. No spam, ever.

By submitting you agree to be contacted about membership. NCUA insured.