Business View Magazine | October 2020

122 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2020 opened a second branch in 1988. In 1991, it merged with Gulf Life Employees Federal Credit Union. This merger allowed insurance company professionals to join, and, it opened two more branches in Baymeadows and Orange Park. In 1999, the Credit Union obtained a community charter. This opened membership to anyone who lived, worked, or worshipped in five northeast Florida counties - Duval, St. Johns, Clay, Nassau, and Baker. In 2006, eligibility extended to those who lived, worked, or attended school in six additional adjacent counties - Alachua, Bradford, Columbia, Flagler, Putnam, and Union. In 2010, the credit union changed its name to 121 Financial Credit Union, based on the theme that it offered one-to-one service to its members. Today, 121 Financial Credit Union, known locally as “Jacksonville’s Hometown Credit Union,” has eight branches and 144 employees. Its offerings include: savings, checking, and money market accounts, and certificates of deposit; credit and debit cards; loans (mortgage, vehicle, personal, and home equity); insurance (auto, home, and life); investing (traditional and Roth IRAs); and financial planning. Perhaps most importantly, 121 Financial has become recognized as the area’s premier small business lender. “Those businesses typically have annual revenues of less than $5 million,” Marovich explains. “We started the department in 2007, and over the years it’s grown considerably. In fact, we have received numerous awards from the SBA (the federal government’s AT A GLANCE 121 FINANCIAL CREDIT UNION WHAT: A member-owned credit union WHERE: Jacksonville, FL WEBSITE: www.121fcu.org