After nearly 50 years serving the South Bay community, South Bay Credit Union officially changed its charter and became a community-based credit union in 2002. This credit union offers many of the same features of a standard bank, such as checking accounts and credit cards, but its main business is offering loans and mortgages, especially for first time home buyers in the South bay area. There are several government supported programs for school teachers, firefighters and police officers offered at South Bay Credit Union, which are government-backed and that are available with as low as 3.5 percent for a down-payment.