Credit Union 1 Named to Forbes Best-In-State Credit Unions 2026 List

Credit Union 1 has been named to the Forbes list of America’s Best-In-State Credit Unions 2026, a distinction that highlights the enduring value of regional, member-focused banking. For fintech leaders, the recognition demonstrates how traditional cooperatives are successfully navigating the digital transition by balancing localized trust with modern service expectations.

What was announced

Credit Union 1, based in Lombard, Illinois, has been officially recognized on the 2026 Forbes list of America’s Best-In-State Credit Unions. This ranking, produced in partnership with market data firm Statista, identifies top-performing financial cooperatives based on an independent survey of thousands of U.S. consumers and an analysis of publicly available reviews. To be eligible for the 2026 list, credit unions were required to operate in 14 states or fewer and could not be online-only providers, a criteria designed to emphasize the importance of regional and community-based relationships.

The evaluation process was rigorous, requiring a minimum number of consumer assessments; the institutions that ultimately received awards averaged more than 635 individual evaluations. Participants were asked to rate their credit unions across several key metrics, including overall customer satisfaction, trust, the quality of financial advice, digital services, terms and conditions, and member service. The final rankings were determined by analyzing both member sentiment and the overall performance of the institutions within their specific states. The number of credit unions recognized in each state varies, reflecting differences in population size and the volume of eligible institutions that met the evaluation threshold.

"As we continue to evolve the credit union model-with its focus on community and financial wellbeing-to meet the pace and expectations of the modern, digital consumer, our priority remains the same: to help our members reach their unique financial goals. We are proud to see that our effort is reflect in the feedback our members provide."

Todd Gunderson, president and CEO of Credit Union 1

The companies involved

Credit Union 1 is a member-owned financial institution headquartered in Lombard, Illinois. As a regional credit union, it operates under a cooperative model that prioritizes the financial wellbeing of its members and community engagement over the profit-maximization goals of traditional commercial banks. The organization has focused on evolving its service model to integrate digital consumer expectations while maintaining its core focus on personalized financial goals.

Statista, the data partner for this ranking, is a global provider of market data and industry rankings. Headquartered in Germany, the company is a subsidiary of its parent organization, Ströer. Statista is widely recognized in the financial sector for its quantitative approach to consumer sentiment and market analysis, frequently partnering with major publications to benchmark performance across the banking, fintech, and insurance industries. Its role in the Forbes ranking involves managing the independent survey data and applying a standardized methodology to ensure the evaluations reflect genuine consumer experiences across the diverse U.S. credit union landscape.

What this means

The inclusion of regional players in high-profile rankings suggests that the "community" aspect of banking remains a potent competitive advantage. While national banks and fintechs offer superior technological scale, they often struggle to match the high trust and satisfaction scores inherent in the member-owned model. This recognition highlights a clear market demand for financial institutions that can bridge the gap between local accountability and digital convenience. However, the sector faces a significant challenge: as digital services become a primary evaluation metric, regional credit unions must continue to invest heavily in their tech stacks to prevent their traditional trust advantage from being eroded by more agile, digital-native competitors.