Brandwave

PenFed Credit Union vs State Employees' Credit Union:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, State Employees' Credit Union had more branded searches than PenFed Credit Union among credit unions in the United States. State Employees' Credit Union had about 450,000 branded searches, while PenFed Credit Union had 201,000. State Employees' Credit Union made up 7.8% 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 State Employees' Credit Union in none.

Among credit unions in the United States in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

State Employees' Credit Union, about 2 searches for every 1 for PenFed Credit Union

State Employees' Credit Union 450K 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 4State Employees' Credit Union in 0 of 4

Who does AI recommend more?

PenFed Credit Union, the only one of the two named

PenFed Credit Union first in 4State Employees' Credit Union never named

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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. State Employees' Credit Union did not appear in any of the four answers.

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 State Employees' Credit Union more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for PenFed Credit Union and State Employees' 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 State Employees' Credit Union among credit unions in the United States, by month

Share of searches by month for State Employees' 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 State Employees' 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. In September 2026, State Employees' Credit Union rose from 3rd to 2nd among credit unions in the United States.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using PenFed Credit Union’s and State Employees' 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

State Employees' Credit Union

1 branded search term

  • state employees credit union

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among credit unions

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