The Strata Difference
We go beyond checking and savings accounts. We’re focused on our members’ experience and this extends beyond our branches.
Our Story
Kern County Employees Federal Credit Union (Currently Strata Credit Union) was established in February of 1949 by a small group of five county employees looking for a better way to save, borrow, and invest their money.
Employees pooled their savings account funds together and used this capital to make loans to their co-workers. At the time, business was conducted on Saturdays or evenings after work in the board chairman’s kitchen. Loan decisions were made based on a member’s career stability and income. The first “mobile branch” was the trunk of a Sheriff’s patrol car.
In 1979, the credit union had grown sufficiently to open a large modern branch at 1717 Truxtun Ave, the current site of its downtown branch and administrative center. In 1984, Kern County Employees Federal Credit Union officially changed its name to Kern Federal Credit Union to reflect a broader membership base that included immediate family members of County employees and employees of several other local businesses and government offices.
The mid-2000’s brought explosive growth. In 2005 changes to Federal regulations allowed KFCU to operate under a “community charter” meaning that anyone who lives, works, or attends an educational or religious institution within Kern County would be eligible for membership. This change offered much opportunity for KFCU and the community at large.
In 2018, Kern Federal Credit Union changed its name to Strata Credit Union in an effort to eliminate years of name confusion with other similarly named organizations in the marketplace, and to prepare the organization for future growth.
We are very excited about our new name and the future of our credit union. This change is one of many steps we are taking to position the credit union for sustained, healthy growth for the next 70 years and was not a result of a merger or acquisition. By selecting our new name, we have made an investment in our future. We believe “Strata” provides a foundation for growth in the years ahead.
Strata Credit Union members have access to branches in downtown, southeast and northwest Bakersfield, as well as in Wasco. For added convenience, members can access 24/7 Member Service online or over the phone, online and mobile banking and thousands of ATMs nationwide. We take pride in our commitment to service and our goal to improve the financial well-being of every member.
The Strata Difference
Big enough for all your personal banking needs but small enough to give members the attention they deserve. The difference we make is seen in our product and services, community events we sponsor, and events we host every year.
COMMUNITY MINDED
For 75 years, we’ve helped our neighbors in Kern County find financial peace of mind. Growing with the community means caring about it — making sure we give back to the people who live here. In fact, we provide our employees paid time to volunteer at non-profit organizations in our community.
NOT-FOR-PROFIT
You want the best accounts, technology and products available, and we’re happy to provide them. You can avoid self-serving banks motivated by their shareholders, fees and unfavorable rates. Instead, come to a place that does what’s best for members. That’s a definite advantage when you bank with a not-for-profit institution like Strata Credit Union.
BENEFITING MEMBERS
Strata members can save thousands with exclusive credit union discounts with the products we offer.
Our Eco Friendly Focus
We not only love our members, but we love the beautiful scenic valley we all get to share. We want to be good stewards of the place we call home, so we have taken steps to reduce our environmental footprint. We offer electric vehicle loans, and offer regularly scheduled document shredding events. These are a few of the steps we have taken to reduce our environmental footprint at Strata Credit Union.
Board Of Directors
The Board of Directors is the governing body at Strata Credit Union. The Board is a volunteer group of Strata Credit Union members,
elected by our members to determine basic policies and plan the future of Strata Credit Union.
Supervisory Committee
The Supervisory Committee is also a volunteer group of fellow Strata Credit Union members. The Supervisory Committee is responsible for insuring that government regulations and Board policies, as well as good business and accounting practices, are followed by the credit union.
The word “strata” is a geological term that means layers of rock or soil. Like our membership, strata form the foundation of a strong and beautiful community. Strata Credit Union is invested in our Kern County neighbors and is providing a foundation for growth in the years ahead. We take pride in our commitment to service and our goal to improve the financial wellbeing of all our members. We aim to make financial wellness and wealth attainable for everyone in our community, particularly those who are underbanked or underserved, or cannot access a traditional bank’s products and services.
Mission Statement:
We are committed to fostering financial inclusion, education, and prosperity for our community.
Vision Statement:
We envision a future where every member of our community is financially empowered, secure, and prosperous.
It’s All About You. We Mean It.
We all share something great here – a vibrant and essential connection to our community. To keep it thriving and strong we have to take care of it, which means taking care of each other.
Become a Member
Strata Credit Union is member-owned. That means every dollar you put in goes right back to you in the form of better rates, lower fees, and dividends. At Strata, we put our members first. Anyone who lives, works, or attends an educational or religious institution within Kern County is eligible for membership.