ATLANTA–California-based First Entertainment Credit Union has introduced a digital credit union brand in the Atlanta market called CineFi that it said is aimed at people working in the television, motion picture, music, gaming, content creation, and influencer industries.
The Atlanta market has become a hub for film and television production in recent years and with it. employment has soared. In a statement to the CU Daily, First Entertainment said CineFi membership is open to:
- Those that work or live in DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Newton, Paulding, or Rockdale counties in Georgia
- To those who live with or are related to an existing CineFi member
- To members of the Filmmakers Alliance.
CineFi will provide a one-year complimentary membership. After the first year, members can choose not to renew but will still remain eligible for membership, the credit union said.
‘Long-Standing Gap’
The $2-billion First Entertainment said the new offers is designed to a “long-standing gap in financial services for the entertainment industry and the broader ecosystem that supports it.”
Designed specifically for the unique financial realities of creative professionals, CineFi’s tailored digital experience is built upon more than 50 years of entertainment industry expertise, according to First Entertainment, which serves movie and television professionals both above and below the line in California.
The credit union said CineFi brings a “future-ready banking platform to creatives in Atlanta and beyond (and) delivers a seamless digital experience with premium financial products featuring round-up savings on debit card purchases, high-yield checking and savings accounts, direct deposits up to two days early, no account fees, access to more than 33,000 surcharge-free ATMs, and ATM surcharge rebates.”
Strengthening the Community
Beyond banking, First Entertainment said CineFi is committed to strengthening the entertainment and adjacent communities it serves including nonprofits, schools, organizations, festivals, and other companies who contribute to or are portrayed on the silver screen.
“At CineFi, we believe financial empowerment is essential to creative freedom,” FECU President and CEO Stephen Owen said in a statement. “By creating a credit union built exclusively for entertainment professionals, we’re giving both established talent and rising voices the tools they need to thrive—not just financially, but as part of a stronger, more connected creative community.”
