California credit unions posted mixed results in Q4 2025, with profitability metrics showing steady improvement while member engagement weakened significantly. ROA remained stable quarter-over-quarter at 0.57% but increased 12 basis points year-over-year from 0.45%. Member growth decelerated sharply, turning negative at -0.39% from 0.35% in Q3 and 2.75% a year ago. Asset growth accelerated to 3.00% from 2.01% last quarter and rebounded from -0.42% in Q4 2024. Risk metrics showed mixed signals with delinquencies rising 8 basis points quarterly but remaining stable year-over-year. The divergent trends suggest operational efficiency gains amid membership challenges.
✦ CU Wrapped 2025 · Annual Review
California Credit Unions
California Credit Unions
2025-Q4
243 Credit Unions
California Credit Unions Show Mixed Q4 Performance with Profitability Gains Offset by Member Growth Decline
Key Insights
Year-over-Year Changes
Net Worth Ratio (Absolute)
▲
2024-Q4
→
2025-Q4
11.46% → 11.95%
(+0.49%)
Net Interest Margin (NIM) (Absolute)
▲
2024-Q4
→
2025-Q4
3.10% → 3.32%
(+0.23%)
Indirect Auto Concentration (%) (Absolute)
▼
2024-Q4
→
2025-Q4
10.07% → 9.18%
(-0.89%)
Asset Growth (YoY) (Absolute)
▲
2024-Q4
→
2025-Q4
-0.42% → 3.00%
(+3.42%)
Net Charge-Off Rate (Absolute)
—
2024-Q4
→
2025-Q4
0.45% → 0.44%
(-0.02%)
Quarter-over-Quarter Changes
Net Worth Ratio (Absolute)
▲
2025-Q3
→
2025-Q4
11.83% → 11.95%
(+0.12%)
Net Interest Margin (NIM) (Absolute)
—
2025-Q3
→
2025-Q4
3.30% → 3.32%
(+0.02%)
Indirect Auto Concentration (%) (Absolute)
▼
2025-Q3
→
2025-Q4
9.49% → 9.18%
(-0.31%)
Asset Growth (YoY) (Absolute)
▲
2025-Q3
→
2025-Q4
2.01% → 3.00%
(+0.99%)
Deposit Growth (YoY) (Absolute)
▼
2025-Q3
→
2025-Q4
2.53% → 2.44%
(-0.08%)
Key Metrics
Return on Assets
0.57%
▲ YoY16 basis points below national
Net Interest Margin
3.32%
▲ YoY40 basis points below national
Asset Growth
3.00%
▲ YoYMember Growth
-0.39%
Delinquency Rate
0.64%
— YoYNet Worth Ratio
11.95%
AMR Growth
2.82%
Deposit Growth
2.44%
— YoYLoan Growth
1.54%
— YoYMember Engagement
Member Growth (YoY %)
Member engagement deteriorated significantly in Q4 2025, with member growth turning negative at -0.39% after posting 0.35% growth in Q3. Year-over-year comparison shows an even sharper decline from 2.75% growth in Q4 2024, representing a 3.14 percentage point deceleration and signaling fundamental membership acquisition challenges.
Profitability
Return on Assets (%)
Net Interest Margin (%)
Profitability metrics remained resilient with ROA holding stable at 0.57% quarter-over-quarter, up just 1 basis point from Q3's 0.56%. Year-over-year performance was stronger, with ROA increasing 12 basis points from 0.45% in Q4 2024. NIM similarly stayed stable at 3.32%, improving 2 basis points quarterly and 23 basis points annually.
Growth
Asset Growth (YoY %)
Member Growth (YoY %)
Growth momentum accelerated across key metrics, with asset growth reaching 3.00% in Q4, up from 2.01% in Q3 and rebounding sharply from -0.42% a year ago. Loan growth accelerated to 1.54% from 1.21% last quarter. However, deposit growth decelerated slightly to 2.44% from 2.53% in Q3.
Risk & Credit Quality
Delinquency Rate (%)
Net Worth Ratio (%)
Risk indicators showed mixed trends with delinquencies increasing 8 basis points quarter-over-quarter to 0.64% from 0.55% in Q3, though remaining stable year-over-year. Charge-offs held steady at 0.44% both quarterly and annually. Net worth strengthened to 11.95% from 11.83% last quarter and 11.46% a year ago.
Portfolio Mix
First Mortgage (%)
Indirect Auto (%)
Share Certificates (%)
Portfolio composition remained heavily weighted toward first mortgages at 32.86%, significantly above the national average of 21.97%. Indirect auto lending decreased to 9.18% from 9.49% last quarter and 10.07% a year ago. Certificate concentrations increased to 21.68%, up 43 basis points year-over-year and above national levels.
Strategic Implications
- • Member acquisition strategies require immediate attention given negative growth trends and competitive market pressures.
- • Mortgage-heavy portfolio positioning provides NIM stability but may limit diversification and growth opportunities.
- • Rising delinquencies warrant enhanced credit monitoring despite overall strong capital position at 11.95% net worth.
- • Deposit growth deceleration suggests need for competitive rate adjustments or enhanced member value propositions.
- • Strong asset growth momentum creates opportunity for strategic lending expansion while maintaining credit quality standards.
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Notable Patterns
How This Cohort Compares to National
First Mortgage Share is 10.9pp above national
Certificate Pct is 1.9pp above national
Net Worth Ratio is 1.7pp below national
Indirect Auto Pct is 1.4pp above national
Loan Growth (annual) is 1.0pp above national
Data Quality Notes
9 metric(s) had extreme values filtered using MAD-based, z-score > 5.0.
Net Charge-Off Rate (Absolute)
10 CU(s) excluded
Raw average: 0.56% →
Cleaned average: 0.44%
View excluded credit unions
- MERCO (64766) - 2.28%
- ATCHISON VILLAGE (63630) - 2.37%
- MOJAVE PLANT EMPLOYEES (11900) - 2.43%
- SHELL WESTERN STATES (5484) - 2.44%
- DOWNEY (11870) - 2.51%
- MID-CITIES (95073) - 3.59%
- CHULA VISTA CITY EMPLOYEES (18405) - 3.87%
- SLO (61779) - 4.36%
- U.S.B. EMPLOYEES (5960) - 4.47%
- GLENDALE AREA SCHOOLS (97101) - 5.32%
Net Worth Ratio (Absolute)
7 CU(s) excluded
Raw average: 12.83% →
Cleaned average: 11.95%
View excluded credit unions
- HAVEN (24982) - 100.00%
- SAN FRANCISCO LEE (16547) - 52.50%
- SUNKIST EMPLOYEES (4393) - 31.85%
- NORTHEAST COMMUNITY (23780) - 30.05%
- DELANCEY STREET (21393) - 28.44%
- LONG BEACH FIREMEN S (67921) - 28.39%
- COLUMBUS CLUB (9044) - 27.07%
Member Growth (YoY) (Absolute)
5 CU(s) excluded
Raw average: 0.03% →
Cleaned average: -0.39%
View excluded credit unions
- AMERICA'S CHRISTIAN (68062) - 79.45%
- CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY (97068) - 61.89%
- CORRECTIONS (13254) - 34.05%
- HANIN (24549) - -32.35%
- LA LOMA (10351) - -44.63%
Deposit Growth (YoY) (Absolute)
4 CU(s) excluded
Raw average: 3.45% →
Cleaned average: 2.44%
View excluded credit unions
- U.S.B. EMPLOYEES (5960) - 98.74%
- CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY (97068) - 70.49%
- CABRILLO (68409) - 41.83%
- CORRECTIONS (13254) - 39.58%
Loan Growth (YoY) (Absolute)
4 CU(s) excluded
Raw average: 1.87% →
Cleaned average: 1.54%
View excluded credit unions
- JACOM (63589) - 65.75%
- DELANCEY STREET (21393) - 64.82%
- CABRILLO (68409) - 54.49%
- JONES METHODIST CHURCH (64892) - -100.00%
Return on Assets (ROA) (Absolute)
4 CU(s) excluded
Raw average: 0.94% →
Cleaned average: 0.57%
View excluded credit unions
- HAVEN (24982) - 100.00%
- SHELL WESTERN STATES (5484) - -2.45%
- SLO (61779) - -2.96%
- CHULA VISTA CITY EMPLOYEES (18405) - -3.03%
Total Delinquency Rate (60+ days) (Absolute)
4 CU(s) excluded
Raw average: 0.73% →
Cleaned average: 0.64%
View excluded credit unions
- NORTH BAY (63373) - 3.34%
- EPISCOPAL COMMUNITY (24506) - 3.39%
- ATCHISON VILLAGE (63630) - 5.85%
- LOS ANGELES LEE (16570) - 12.84%
Asset Growth (YoY) (Absolute)
3 CU(s) excluded
Raw average: 3.72% →
Cleaned average: 3.00%
View excluded credit unions
- CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY (97068) - 71.07%
- U.S.B. EMPLOYEES (5960) - 68.30%
- CABRILLO (68409) - 41.50%
Net Interest Margin (NIM) (Absolute)
1 CU(s) excluded
Raw average: 3.72% →
Cleaned average: 3.32%
View excluded credit unions
- HAVEN (24982) - 100.00%