Addition Financial (or Addition Financial Credit Union) is an American state-chartered credit union headquartered in Lake Mary, Florida. The credit union is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative with 36 branches in ten counties, with its field of membership currently open to 45 counties in Florida and Georgia.[3]
History
A group of 23 educators founded the credit union that became Addition Financial in 1937 with the aim to create a better financial alternative to what the banks were offering. When first established, the credit union then named Orange County Teachers Federal Credit Union, served educators in Orange County Public Schools. Over the years, the credit union changed its name to Central Florida Educators Federal Credit Union, then shortened its name to CFE Federal Credit Union, as it broadened its field of membership to a community charter and began to serve consumers in Seminole, Lake and Osceola counties.[citation needed]
In 2011, the credit union (then CFE Federal Credit Union) acquired UCF Federal Credit Union,[4] which bolstered its presence in the higher education community and at the University of Central Florida. In 2015, CFE acquired Seminole Schools Federal Credit Union.[5]
In 2019, in order to expand outside of the realm of education and eliminate confusion surrounding who was eligible to join, CFE changed from a federal to a state charter, and changed its name to Addition Financial Credit Union.[6]
Also in 2019, Addition Financial was one of the first credit unions in the state of Florida to purchase a bank.[7] In August of that year, the credit union acquired Fidelity Bank of Florida, a commercial bank based in Merritt Island, thus expanding its footprint to Brevard County.[8]
In 2025, Addition Financial merged in Envision Credit Union, based in Tallahassee, FL, to expand services into the Big Bend region of North Florida as well as South Georgia.
Community outreach and education
Addition Financial participates in several community outreach activities and initiatives that relate to their background in education. In 2008, Addition Financial opened its first student-run high school branch at Timber Creek High School. This program has expanded to serve eleven high schools across Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties.[9]
In 2013, Addition Financial (then CFE Federal Credit Union) acquired the naming rights for the UCF Arena, a sports and entertainment venue in Orlando, and was named the official financial institution of the UCF Knights.[4] When the credit union changed its name in 2019, the arena was renamed the Addition Financial Arena.[10]
On August 18, 2022, UCF announced that Addition Financial had extended their naming rights for the facility through 2034.[11]
In 2014, Addition Financial became the preferred credit union of Seminole State College of Florida,[12] and was named the preferred credit union of Valencia College in 2018.[13] Through its college and university partnerships, Addition Financial offers on-campus ATMs, financial education workshops, scholarships, event sponsorships and other support for students, faculty and staff.
In 2016, Addition Financial was the second company to pledge its support to the new UCF Downtown Campus, pledging $1.5 million.[14]
In 2024, the University of Central Florida named Addition Financial as a Pegasus Partner, and the first financial institution to earn that distinction of community support and philanthropy.
The credit union partners regularly with education-focused non-profit organizations, such as A Gift For Teaching, and maintains close ties with Orange County Public Schools, Seminole County Public Schools, Lake County Public Schools and Osceola School District.
In 2018, Addition Financial launched its Renovate to Educate Contest, selecting public school teachers from its partner school districts to receive a classroom makeover, designed by Interior Design interns from Seminole State College.[15]
In 2025, Addition Financial announced they are updating the Renovate to Educate Program to shift its focus on providing renovations and support to needs spaces at local public schools.
Addition Financial also provides scholarships through its annual Joseph A. Melbourne Jr. Scholarship Program.[16] Each year, the credit union offers scholarships for six high school seniors in Florida and two UCF graduate students.
Addition Financial offers free financial education workshops both in person and virtually for its community partners. The credit union also provides free webinars and seminars,[17] financial education blogs and the Making It Count podcast.[18] In 2023, Addition Financial, along with a group of community education partners, launched Adding FUNdamentals, the area’s first financial literacy program targeted specifically for pre-kindergarten students.
References
- ^ “Member Benefits | Addition Financial”. Default. Retrieved Jan 8, 2021.
- ^ “Credit Union Details”. mapping.ncua.gov. Retrieved Jan 8, 2021.
- ^ “Membership Counties | Addition Financial”. Default. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
- ^ a b “CFE Federal Credit Union Acquires Naming Rights for UCF Arena | University of Central Florida News”. University of Central Florida News | UCF Today. 2013-05-23. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
- ^ “CFE and Seminole Schools Federal Credit Union announce merger”. CUInsight. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
- ^ March 18, Peter Strozniak |; AM, 2019 at 08:00. “CFE Federal Credit Union Plans to Change Name to Addition Financial”. Credit Union Times. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ June 07, Peter Strozniak |; AM, 2019 at 09:00. “Why Bank Deals Are on the Rise”. Credit Union Times. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Lynch, Ryan (August 28, 2019). “Addition Financial plans to expand in Orlando area”. bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
- ^ “Ocoee HS opens CFE bank”. ocps.net. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
- ^ Martin, Annie. “New name coming for CFE Arena at UCF — it’ll be Addition Financial Arena on May 1”. orlandosentinel.com. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
- ^ “Addition Financial, UCF Extend Naming Rights Agreement for Arena”. UCF Athletics. Retrieved 2022-08-25.
- ^ “CFE Federal Credit Union named preferred credit union of Seminole State College”. CUInsight. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
- ^ Lynch, Ryan (November 8, 2018). “CFE Federal Credit Union partners with Valencia College for student banking”. bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
- ^ “CFE Federal Credit Union Pledge $1.5M to UCF Downtown”. UCF Downtown. 2016-01-05. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
- ^ Broughton, Julie (2019-08-06). “Seminole County teachers gets newly designed classroom for hard of hearing students”. WKMG. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
- ^ “Scholarships”. Default. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
- ^ “Events | Community | Addition Financial”. Default. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
- ^ “Making It Count on Apple Podcasts”. Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 2020-10-26.