Morongo Opens New Credit Union Offices

By Michael Fisher for the Morongo Band of Mission Indians:

First Californian Credit Union, launched by the Morongo Band of Mission Indians seven years ago to provide financial products and services to tribal members and tribal employees, welcomed its new flagship offices on the Morongo Indian Reservation with a grand opening ceremony on Monday, July 11.

First Californian provides banking, financial services and financial educational opportunities to Morongo tribal members and their families, and provides those same services to employees at the tribe’s business enterprises.

“Today, our credit union boasts well over 2,000 members, successfully providing a wide variety of financial products and services -- many of which had been unavailable to our tribal members in the past,” said Morongo Tribal Chairman Robert Martin.

Morongo opened First Californian on the reservation in 2009 in conjunction with the California Indian Consortium. The credit union, a member of the American United Family of Credit Unions, has been operating from offices in the former Casino Morongo before recently moving to its new location at 47993 Morongo Trail, Suite 101.

“We’re proud to continue to be offering financial services and products on the reservation to Morongo tribal members and employees,” said Michelle Thorne, President/CEO of American United Family of Credit Unions. “Our convenient new branch offices will further strengthen our service to our members.”

The credit union now shares a building with the iconic Hadley Fruit Orchards, which moved into a beautiful new tribally-constructed store earlier this year.

The new building marks the latest step in Morongo’s master-planned development blueprint for enhancing the retail, dining and service enterprises offered on the reservation along several miles of Interstate 10 in Cabazon.

“There’s a real synergy at this location as we continue to expand the amenities and services being offered here. Just around the corner, work is underway on a new Starbucks and a new Panda Express restaurant, which will soon join our existing businesses here on the reservation,” Martin said.