Brandwave

How popular isPenFed Credit Union?

In September 2026, people searched for PenFed Credit Union by name about 211,000 times in the United States, a 15.8% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 3.5% of all United States credit union searches, placing PenFed Credit Union sixth out of 11 unions. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about credit unions, PenFed Credit Union appeared in all answers and was the third most recommended of the 11.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

PenFed Credit Union is the sixth most searched of 11 competitors and the third most recommended in AI answers.

  1. Navy Federal Credit UnionShare of searches 64.6%Mentioned in 4 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  2. State Employees' Credit UnionShare of searches 7.8%Mentioned in 0 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  3. BECUShare of searches 6.4%Mentioned in 0 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  4. Suncoast Credit UnionShare of searches 6.4%Mentioned in 0 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  5. PenFed Credit UnionShare of searches 3.5%Mentioned in 4 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd

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Top credit unions in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, PenFed Credit Union appeared in all four answers. PenFed Credit Union is the third most recommended of the 11.

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

+1 more

See every answer about credit unions

4 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 22, 2026.

Which credit unions compete with PenFed Credit Union?

PenFed Credit Union against credit unions in the United States, by month

Share of searches by month for Navy Federal Credit Union, State Employees' Credit Union, BECU, Suncoast Credit Union, SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, PenFed Credit Union. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthNavy Federal Credit UnionState Employees' Credit UnionBECUSuncoast Credit UnionSchoolsFirst Federal Credit UnionPenFed Credit UnionConsumers Credit UnionAlliant Credit UnionGolden 1 Credit UnionFirst Tech Federal Credit UnionQuorum Federal Credit Union
Oct 202567.7%6.7%6.7%5.4%3.6%3.6%2%1.3%1.3%1.5%0.15%
Nov 202565%7.8%6.4%6.4%4.3%3.5%1.9%1.6%1.6%1.4%0.14%
Dec 202562%9.1%7.5%7.5%4.1%3.3%1.8%1.5%1.5%1.6%0.13%
Jan 202662.3%7.5%7.5%6.1%5%4.1%2.3%1.8%1.5%1.7%0.17%
Feb 202663.6%7.7%6.3%6.3%5.1%3.4%2.3%1.9%1.9%1.5%0.14%
Mar 202661.6%7.4%7.4%7.4%5%4.1%2.2%1.8%1.5%1.5%0.16%
Apr 202662.5%7.5%7.5%6.2%5%4.1%2.3%1.8%1.5%1.4%0.17%
May 202665%7.8%6.4%6.4%4.3%3.5%2.3%1.6%1.3%1.2%0.17%
Jun 202662%11.2%6.1%6.1%5%3.3%2.2%1.5%1.2%1.1%0.16%
Jul 202663.9%7.7%6.3%6.3%5.1%4.2%2.3%1.5%1.3%1.2%0.17%
Aug 202663%7.6%7.6%6.2%5.1%4.1%2.3%1.5%1.2%1.1%0.2%
Sep 202664.6%7.8%6.4%6.4%5.2%3.5%1.9%1.6%1.3%1.3%0.21%

  1. 1.Navy Federal Credit Union

    64.6%

    Held 1st. 3.7M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +1.6 points.

  2. 2.State Employees' Credit Union

    7.8%

    Moved from 3rd to 2nd. 450K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.

  3. 3.BECU

    6.4%

    Moved from 2nd to 3rd. 368K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -1.2 points.

  4. 4.Suncoast Credit Union

    6.4%

    Held 4th. 368K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.

  5. 5.SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union

    5.2%

    Held 5th. 301K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.

  6. 6.PenFed Credit Union

    3.5%

    Held 6th. 201K estimated branded searches, -18.3% vs prior month. Share -0.7 points.

  7. 7.Consumers Credit Union

    1.9%

    Held 7th. 110K estimated branded searches, -18.5% vs prior month. Share -0.4 points.

  8. 8.Alliant Credit Union

    1.6%

    Held 8th. 90.5K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  9. 9.Golden 1 Credit Union

    1.3%

    Held 9th. 74K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  10. 10.First Tech Federal Credit Union

    1.3%

    Held 10th. 73.6K estimated branded searches, +8.9% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.

  11. 11.Quorum Federal Credit Union

    0.21%

    Held 11th. 12.1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

Compare popularity between PenFed Credit Union and its closest rivals

Every comparison with PenFed Credit Union

16 comparisons

How has branded search demand for PenFed Credit Union changed in the United States over the last 12 months?

2 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for PenFed Credit Union in the United States fell from 250K to 211K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, PenFed Credit Union fell from 5th to 6th among credit unions in the United States.

How did search popularity change for United States credit unions in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, Navy Federal Credit Union gained share of searches among credit unions in the United States, from 63% to 64.6%.

  2. In September 2026, BECU lost share of searches among credit unions in the United States, from 7.6% to 6.4%.

  3. In September 2026, PenFed Credit Union lost share of searches among credit unions in the United States, from 4.1% to 3.5%.

  4. In September 2026, State Employees' Credit Union rose from 3rd to 2nd among credit unions in the United States.

  5. Estimated monthly branded searches for SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union in the United States rose 22.4% over 12 measured months, from 246K to 301K in September 2026.

  6. Estimated monthly branded searches for Quorum Federal Credit Union in the United States rose 22.2% over 12 measured months, from 9.9K to 12.1K in September 2026.

How are PenFed Credit Union’s branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using PenFed Credit Union’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • penfed
  • penfed auto loan

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How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Where does PenFed Credit Union compete?

PenFed Credit Union is ranked in two competitor sets. Each share is worked out among that set's brands, so it differs from set to set.
Competitor setRankShare of searchesRanking
Auto loan brands4th of 81.5%Show ranking
Credit unions6th of 113.5%Shown above
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