Forbes just dropped its 2026 Best-In-State Credit Unions list, and several standout institutions earned top honors for doing what credit unions do best: putting members first.
The annual ranking isn’t just another industry pat-on-the-back. It’s based on real feedback from roughly 26,000 consumers nationwide, plus publicly available reviews and ratings.
Translation? These credit unions aren’t just saying they’re member-focused — their members are actually backing that up.
American Heritage Credit Union Named a Best-in-State Credit Union in Both Pennsylvania and New Jersey
American Heritage Credit Union (“American Heritage”) has been named one of America’s Best-in-State Credit Unions by Forbes for 2026 in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. This is the fourth year in a row that American Heritage has been named to Forbes’ America’s Best-in-State Credit Unions list for Pennsylvania, and the first year that American Heritage has been recognized on the list for New Jersey.
Recognition on Forbes’ America’s Best-in-State Credit Unions list symbolizes a credit union’s commitment to excellence and service to membership through innovative technologies and a personalized approach. American Heritage strives to provide its entire membership with the appropriate tools to reach milestones throughout life, coupled with member-first service.
“It is truly an honor to be named a Best-in-State Credit Union by Forbes,” said Bruce K. Foulke, President & CEO of American Heritage Credit Union. “We’re proud to continue our presence on this list and to be named alongside such prestigious company. It’s especially gratifying to see our efforts in expanding our presence throughout New Jersey be recognized. This honor is a testament to the dedication and commitment of our associates, as well as the loyalty and trust of our membership.”
Chartway Takes Virginia’s Top Spot for the Fifth Year Running
If consistency were an Olympic sport, Chartway Credit Union would be standing on the podium. The Virginia Beach-based institution didn’t just make the Forbes list — they nabbed the number one spot in Virginia and earned Best-In-State recognition for the fifth consecutive year.
Here’s what makes that impressive: Out of 246 credit unions ranked this year, only 32 have achieved Best-In-State status every single year from 2022 through 2026. That’s the kind of sustained performance that doesn’t happen by accident.
“Earning this recognition five years in a row in addition to taking the top spot in Virginia this year is an honor we don’t take lightly,” said Brian Schools, Chartway’s president and CEO. “It speaks to the trust our members place in us every day, and to our team’s commitment to our purpose of helping individuals and families thrive.”
Chartway operates across Virginia, Texas, and Utah, but they’re one of only two credit unions headquartered in Virginia to achieve five-year recognition. They’re also one of just four Virginia credit unions that made the 2026 list at all.
The Forbes ranking weighs survey responses at 80% and publicly available reviews at 20%, evaluating everything from trust and customer satisfaction to digital services and financial advice. Basically, the metrics that actually matter when you’re choosing where to park your paycheck.
Holy Rosary Credit Union Just Topped Forbes’ Best-In-State List for the Second Year Running
Holy Rosary Credit Union (HRCU) is proud to announce it has been named the #1 Best-In-State Credit Union in New Hampshire for 2026 by Forbes, marking the second consecutive year the organization has been recognized as a Best-in-State credit union.
The annual Forbes rankings, developed in partnership with Statista, evaluate financial institutions based on customer satisfaction and loyalty, including trust, customer service, digital experience, financial advice and fee transparency. The rankings are based on survey responses from approximately 26,000 U.S. residents, along with analysis of more than one million publicly available customer reviews.
“We are honored to be recognized by Forbes as the 2026 #1 Best-In-State Credit Union in New Hampshire,” said Brian Hughes, President and CEO of HRCU. “This recognition reflects both the lasting relationships we’ve built with our members and the dedication and hard work of our entire team.”
HRCU was also recognized by Forbes as a Best-In-State credit union in 2025 and again in 2023, reinforcing the organization’s continued commitment to deliver exceptional member experiences and to strengthen the communities it serves. As a community credit union, HRCU combines local, relationship-driven service with modern digital banking solutions, helping members navigate every stage of their financial lives. This recognition highlights the credit union’s focus on trust, accessibility and delivering meaningful value to the people and businesses across New Hampshire and southern Maine.
Keesler Federal Takes Mississippi’s Top Spot for the 8th Year
Growth is great, but growth driven entirely by member trust is even better. Just ask Keesler Federal Credit Union, which Forbes officially named Mississippi’s number one credit union on its 2026 Best-In-State list.
The Biloxi-founded institution is no stranger to the spotlight—this year marks its eighth appearance on the annual ranking. The distinction comes on the heels of a massive decade of growth, a milestone capped off by completing the largest credit union merger in Louisiana and Mississippi history.
“It’s very gratifying to be recognized again because it reflects the voices and experiences of the people we serve,” said Andrew Swoger, President and Chief Executive Officer of Keesler Federal. “Our growth is the result of earning our members’ trust every day.”
Originally founded in 1947, Keesler Federal has blossomed into a $5.3 billion financial powerhouse. The credit union now delivers its signature member-first financial guidance to over 390,000 members through more than 50 branches stretching across Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, and even the United Kingdom.
Municipal Credit Union: New York’s Financial Fixture Gets the Nod
Municipal Credit Union (MCU) landed on the list as one of New York State’s most valued credit unions, and considering they’ve been serving New Yorkers for over a century, they’ve had plenty of time to figure out what works.
With more than 640,000 members, MCU has become the New York Metro area’s largest credit union by focusing on something that sounds simple but rarely is: helping people build stronger financial futures in one of the most expensive markets in America. We’re talking competitive rates, accessible products, and the kind of personalized service that doesn’t make you feel like account number 47592.
“As a member-owned financial institution, our success is measured by the value we create for our members and our communities,” said Kyle Markland, MCU’s Chief Executive Officer. “This recognition from Forbes reflects the dedication of our entire team and the trust our members place in us every day.”
Beyond the day-to-day banking stuff, MCU puts its money where its mission is. The MCU Foundation handed out nearly $1 million in community funding in 2025 alone. Since 2023, they’ve awarded 155 scholarships totaling $775,000 to help young New Yorkers tackle college costs — because apparently, making rent in New York wasn’t expensive enough.
A Seven-Year Streak for Connecticut’s Sikorsky Credit Union
If you need further proof that consistency is the secret sauce of credit union success, look no further than Connecticut. For the seventh consecutive year, Sikorsky Credit Union has landed a coveted spot on the Forbes Best-In-State list.
Serving more than 67,000 members, Sikorsky CU has built a reputation on the exact regional, community-based financial relationships that the Forbes methodology highlights. The ranking relies heavily on independent consumer surveys and a minimum evaluation threshold that weeds out flash-in-the-pan performance, focusing instead on long-term trust, digital execution, and local member service.
“We are honored to receive this recognition from Forbes—for the seventh year in a row,” said Vincent Ciambriello, CEO of Sikorsky Credit Union. “This achievement reflects the trust our members place in us and the unwavering dedication of our employees. Our team goes above and beyond daily to deliver exceptional service, strengthen relationships, and make a meaningful difference in the financial lives of those we serve.”
Sikorsky CU is currently focused on making that service even more accessible across Fairfield, Hartford, and New Haven counties. True to form, they aren’t resting on their laurels; the credit union is set to open a brand-new branch at 1643 Post Road in Fairfield late this summer, bringing their personalized approach directly into the local community.
Texans Credit Union Claims Texas’ Top Honor
Everything’s bigger in Texas, including the competition among credit unions. So when Texans Credit Union landed the number one spot in the Lone Star State, it was worth noting.
“Texas has some outstanding credit unions, and being recognized among the best is something we don’t take for granted,” said President and CEO David Frazier. “This recognition comes from member feedback, and also reflects the people behind those experiences.”
The Richardson-based credit union has been serving members for more than 70 years, and they’re clearly doing something right. This Forbes distinction adds to an already impressive 2026 trophy case that includes spots on Newsweek’s America’s Best Regional Banks & Credit Unions list and The Dallas Morning News’ Top 100 Places to Work for the third consecutive year.
Frazier himself was honored as the 2025 top leader among midsize companies — which makes sense when you consider that happy employees tend to create better member experiences. Novel concept, right?
Over the past year, Texans Credit Union has expanded its branch network, rolled out new products, invested in upgraded technology, and generally doubled down on the personalized service and financial guidance that built their reputation in the first place.
Valley Strong Earns California’s Second-Place Ranking
Valley Strong Credit Union snagged the number two spot among California credit unions for the second year in a row, proving that their 2025 recognition wasn’t a fluke.
“Being named the #2 Credit Union in California by Forbes for the second year in a row is a tremendous honor and a reflection of the trust our Members place in us every day,” said Nick Ambrosini, Valley Strong’s President and CEO.
To even qualify for the Forbes ranking, credit unions needed to receive a minimum number of evaluations — and awarded institutions averaged more than 635 evaluations each. That’s a significant sample size, and it means the rankings reflect genuine member sentiment rather than a handful of glowing reviews from someone’s cousin.
The ranking methodology focuses on credit unions operating in 14 states or fewer and excludes online-only providers, highlighting institutions that maintain strong regional and community connections. Members evaluated their credit unions on customer satisfaction, trust, financial advice, digital services, terms and conditions, and overall service quality.
Ambrosini credited Valley Strong’s team members for the recognition, noting that their “commitment to service, innovation, and community impact continues to move Valley Strong forward.”
Four Years Running for Vantage West Credit Union
Vantage West Credit Union just locked in a spot on Forbes’ Best-In-State Credit Unions list for the fourth consecutive year. In the financial world, that kind of four-peat is rarer than a flawless bracket. Forbes partnered with Statista to survey more than 26,000 actual humans, grading institutions on things that actually matter to members: trust, useful financial advice, digital tools that don’t glitch, and radical transparency (always a novel concept in banking).
It’s a massive leap forward from the credit union’s origin story, which began 70 years ago in a single Air Force barracks room. Today, Vantage West is the largest credit union headquartered in Southern Arizona, steering $3 billion in assets and serving over 200,000 members. President and CEO Sandra Sagehorn-Elliott was quick to defer the praise, noting that the honor belongs entirely to a team that shows up with heart and the members who trust them to help their families thrive.
True to form, they aren’t treating this like a “mission accomplished” moment to kick back and relax. Vantage West is actively expanding its footprint, recently opening a new branch in Phoenix at Tatum and Shea to bring their approachable, zero-finance-degree-required guidance to even more Arizonans.
What This Means
Forbes launched its Best-In-State rankings back in 2018 to spotlight banks and credit unions that excel at community-based financial relationships. These aren’t massive national chains — they’re institutions that understand their local markets and build genuine connections with the people they serve.
For members of these credit unions, the recognition confirms what they probably already knew: they picked a good financial partner. For everyone else, it’s a useful reminder that credit unions continue to differentiate themselves through member service, competitive products, and community investment.
The complete 2026 list is available on the Forbes website, and given the rigorous methodology behind the rankings, it’s worth checking out if you’re in the market for a financial institution that actually acts like it values your business.