Member FAQ
1. Who/What is CIF and what type of financial education and resources will be available?
The Community Impact Fund (CIF) is an independent 501(c)3 non-profit established in 2018 to help organizations maximize their community impact by helping to meet the financial needs of their employees, members, and community. CIF's passion is to help people become financially whole. By becoming a member of CIF through your SF Fire Credit Union membership, you can access their financial education webinars, newsletters, and resource page. You will also have the opportunity to join their quarterly membership meetings and vote on topics related to the financial wellness program.
2. Is there a fee to join CIF and if so, how often will I be charged the fee?
There is no fee to join the Community Impact Fund through your membership with SF Fire Credit Union.
3. I’m not familiar with what you mean by “eligibility” - what is it and how does it impact my access to the Credit Union and the benefits I currently receive?
Credit unions have eligibility requirements to ensure that their members share a common bond, such as a specific profession, location, or community. This helps create a sense of belonging and trust among members, allowing the credit union to better serve their financial needs. When you originally joined SF Fire Credit Union, you may have joined via the SF Historical Society or Guardians of the City. Those are no longer accepted eligibility types, so we need you to transition to the Community Impact Fund.
4. How will I be able to take advantage of CIF’s benefits?
By choosing to become a member CIF, you will receive a welcome email or letter from SF Fire Credit Union that will include information about the above resources as well as your Complimentary Membership Access Link. Once you are enrolled as a member of SF Fire Credit Union, you will automatically be subscribed to CIF’s monthly financial wellness newsletter and be able to access the rest of your benefits through the membership portal.
5. Are the CIF benefits available to SF Fire Credit Union members who are not members of CIF?
CIF benefits are not available to those who are not members. To become a member, visit communityimpactfund.org. There is a $10 membership fee for those not joining through SF Fire Credit Union.
6. I won’t be able to respond in the timeframe listed. What should I do?
If you won’t be able to respond in the time frame listed, please call us to avoid any disruptions to services on your membership. You can reach us at (888) 499-FIRE (3473) Monday – Friday 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM PST or Saturday 9:00AM - 5:00PM PST.
7. Can I opt out of this change and if so, how will it impact my access to the Credit Union?
If you choose to opt out of becoming a member of CIF, your account will be restricted, and you will not be able to open new accounts under your existing membership. Please call us to discuss further.
8. When will I receive more detailed information about the changes?
Once you have joined CIF, you will receive either an email to the email address we have on file, or a letter to your mailing address with the membership link.
9. How will this transition benefit me as a member?
The transition is designed to enhance your overall experience by offering additional financial education resources, benefits, and options.
10. Will there be any changes to how I access my membership?
Once you join CIF you will continue to be able to access your SF Fire Credit Union membership as you normally would. You will have access to your CIF newsletters as long as you continue to be opted in to receiving educational emails from them. Should you choose to opt out, you will still have access to their website.
