Guardian First Federal Credit Union

Currently, Guardian First Federal Credit Union's filed of membership includes:

• Employees of the Department of Justice, Bureau of Prisons who work at the Federal Correctional Institution in Fort Worth, Texas;
• Other Federal employees who are permanently assigned to work at the institution;
• Employees of the state of Texas who are assigned to the hospital at the Federal Correctional Institution and work under the supervision of the hospital personnel;
• Individual contract workers (except construction contractors) who work regularly at the Federal Correctional Institution in Fort Worth, Texas;
• Employees of the U.S. Department of Justices, Federal Bureau of Prisons, South Central Regional Office who work in Dallas, Texas;
• Employees of Federal Correctional Institutions who report to the South Central Regional Office of the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Dallas, Texas and who are not served by another Credit Union as of August 31, 1994;
• Employees of the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Federal Medical Center, Carswell who work in Fort Worth, Texas;
• Employees of the Karate Fitness Center who work in Fort Worth, Texas (01-17-03);
• Members of record of Harris Employees Federal Credit Union as of March 31, 2003, the effective date of its merger into Guardian First Federal Credit Union (05-16-03);
• Employees of Harris Graphics Corporation who work in Kennedale, Texas or Nashville, Tennessee (05-16-3);
• Employees of the following groups who work in Kennedale, Texas: American Bearing Company (05-16-03), City of Kennedale (05-16-03), and LDJ Plumbing (05-16-03);
• Employees of Guardian First Federal Credit Union;
• Persons retired by the Federal Government as annuitants from the above employment or service;
• Persons who live, work, worship, or attend school in, and businesses and other legal entities located within the under-served area in Tarrant County, Texas defined by the following boundaries (08-18-03): beginning at the intersection of IH 35W and E. Berry Street proceeding east on E. Berry Street to IH 820 then south on IH 820 to Business 287 then southeast on Business 287 to Dick Price Road then west on Dick Price Road to Rendon New Hope Road then south on Rendon New Hope Road to Highway 1064 then west on Highway 1064 to IH 35W then north on IH 35W to IH 820 then west on IH 820 to James Avenue then north on James Avenue to W. Seminary Drive then east on W. Seminary Drive to IH 35W then north on IH 35W to E. Berry Street;
• Unremarried spouses or persons who died while within the field of membership of Guardian First Federal Credit Union;
• Members or their immediate families;
• Organizations or such persons;
• U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons, South Central Regional Office.

The original charter of Guardian First Federal Credit Union was in 1939 with the name being U.S. Hospital Employees Federal Credit Union, serving the employees of the United States Public Health Service Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas. In 1968 the name was changed to Clinical Research Center Federal Credit Union. Then, in 1971, the name was changed to FCI Fort Worth Federal Credit Union. As the Credit Union expanded its services to more members, the name was changed, once again, to Bureau of Prisons Federal Credit Union in 1995 and later  shortened to BOP Federal Credit Union. Finally, in 2005, BOP Federal Credit Union adopted one last new name--Guardian First Federal Credit Union.

Credit unions are not-for-profit and exist to provide a safe, convenient place for members to save money and to get loans at reasonable rates. Credit unions, like other financial institutions, are closely regulated, and they operate in a very prudent manner. The National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund, administered by the National Credit Union Administration, an agency of the Federal Government, insures deposits of credit union members at more than 11,000 federal and state-chartered  credit unions nationwide. Deposits are insured to at least to $100,000 and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government.

What makes a credit union different from a bank or a Savings and Loan? Like credit unions, these financial institutions accept deposits and make loans, but unlike credit unions, they are in business to make a profit. Banks and Savings and Loans are owned by groups of stockholders whose interests include earning a healthy return on their investments.