USF Credit Union expands outside Tampa Bay for first time

USF Credit Union is expanding its reach beyond the Tampa Bay region for the first time, the financial institution announced Wednesday.

By spring 2026, USFCU plans to open a “cutting-edge model” branch in Winter Park, just outside of Orlando in Orange County. According to the credit union’s website, the new branch will feature a “state-of-the-art” design with “flexible service areas” replacing the traditional teller line, along with “cutting edge digital tools” to make managing your money easier. 

The new branch will be a milestone for the credit union, which is seeking to grow its presence statewide while delivering on its promise of “Banking for All.”

“This is more than an expansion – it’s the start of a new chapter in how we serve people,” Richard J. Skaggs, president and CEO of USF Credit Union says in the announcement. “Winter Park is the ideal community to debut our first branch outside Tampa Bay and our first location without a traditional teller line. We’re bringing the next generation of banking to Central Florida and opening our doors to all residents who want a financial partner that leads with innovation, inclusivity and heart.”

Although USFCU was founded in 1959 to serve those working and studying at the University of South Florida, the credit union has worked in recent years to attract more customers from the community at large. Although its new branch location has yet to be built, USFCU says membership for the Winter Park area is already open — and not just for USF Bulls. 

USF Credit Union, headquartered in Tampa, offers a full range of financial services to its more than 75,000 members. Over the past 66 years, the credit union has grown to exceed $1.2 billion in assets and boasts 10 stand-alone branch locations and 18 fee-free ATMs located in Tampa, Odessa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota. Darden Credit Union, which serves employees of Darden Restaurants Inc., is a division of USFCU, as was Red Lobster Credit Union until it merged with USFCU in July 2021.

In June, USFCU was honored with the prestigious 2025 Governor’s Sterling Sustained Excellence Award for the second time. It has also been ranked as the best credit union in Florida by Forbes magazine, and was named a 2025 USA Today Top Workplace. 

This story was updated to reflect the status of Red Lobster Credit Union.