Brandwave

PenFed Credit Union vs SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union had more branded searches than PenFed Credit Union among credit unions in the United States. SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union had about 301,000 branded searches, while PenFed Credit Union had 201,000. SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union made up 5.2% of all credit union searches we track, and PenFed Credit Union accounted for 3.5%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about credit unions, PenFed Credit Union appeared in all four answers and SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union in one. PenFed Credit Union was mentioned before SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union in every answer.

Among credit unions in the United States in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, about 50% more searches than PenFed Credit Union

SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union 301K searchesPenFed Credit Union 201K searches

Who does AI mention more?

PenFed Credit Union, mentioned in every answer we collected

PenFed Credit Union in 4 of 4SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union in 1 of 4

Who does AI recommend more?

PenFed Credit Union, named ahead of SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union in every answer

PenFed Credit Union first in 4SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union never first

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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. SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union was mentioned in one out of four: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in the Google AI Overview. PenFed Credit Union was listed before SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union in every answer.

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.

Is PenFed Credit Union or SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for PenFed Credit Union and SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 11 credit unions we track, month by month, from searches in United States.

PenFed Credit Union and SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union among credit unions in the United States, by month

Share of searches by month for 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%

How has the PenFed Credit Union and SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

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

2 changes

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

  2. 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.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

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

PenFed Credit Union

1 branded search term

  • penfed

SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union

1 branded search term

  • schoolsfirst

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among credit unions

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