At a glance
From its website, read 2 Nov 2026Desco Federal Credit Union is a credit union based in Portsmouth, Ohio. Its website describes auto loans, commercial real estate loans, home repair loans and 3 other loan types. You can start an application online.
Each point is backed by a quote further down this page. Terms change: confirm with the lender.
How to reach them and apply
| Toll-free | (800) 488-0746 source |
|---|---|
| Apply online | Page with the application link |
| Website | www.descofcu.org |
| Office (official list) | 401 Chillicothe St., Portsmouth, OH 45662 |
What their website says about applying
To apply for a Business Loan, please complete the
sourceContact a Business Loan Specialist for rates and details.
sourceGet preapproved before you go to the dealership
source
Phone numbers and addresses are the ones on the lender's own site and the CDFI Fund list. CDFI Atlas does not take applications.
Rates and terms they state
Read 2 Nov 2026| Loan | Stated | Text on the lender's site (verbatim) | Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal / consumer loans | Term: see their wording | Terms up to 36 Months | source |
As published on the lender's website on that date, not an offer or a quote. Your rate depends on the lender's review. A missing rate means the pages we read did not state one. For consumer loans we repeat a rate only when the lender states it as an APR (annual percentage rate, which includes fees); otherwise read the lender's own wording and ask for the APR.
Official record
CDFI Fund list, 21 Oct 2026| Institution type | Credit union |
|---|---|
| Native CDFI | No |
| Date certified (as listed) | 8 Jul 2026 |
| RSSD ID | 427287 |
| Address | 401 Chillicothe St., Portsmouth, OH 45662 Directions (Google Maps) |
| Website | www.descofcu.org |
Head officeBranch or officeApproximate (ZIP code area)
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, © OpenMapTiles, tiles OpenFreeMap. Head-office points: U.S. Census Bureau geocoder.
Loans and eligibility
Verified from lender site on 2 Nov 2026Read from 7 pages of the lender's website on 2 Nov 2026. Quotes are verbatim. Extracted with AI help from the pages listed below and checked automatically against them. Not reviewed by a person. Confidence: high. Loan amounts and rates are not stated on the pages fetched; borrowers are referred to loan specialists. Terms change — confirm with the lender before applying.
| Product | Amount stated | Text on the lender's site (verbatim, incl. menu labels) | Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auto / vehicle loans | — | We offer loans for new and used autos, or we can refinance your existing auto. | source |
| Commercial real estate loans | — | Business Real Estate | source |
| Home repair / improvement loans | — | Improve your home and increase the overall value of the property with a Home Improvement Loan. | source |
| Home mortgages | — | The Member Advantage Mortgage has been designed to offer our qualified members an opportunity to purchase a primary residence or a second home | source |
| Personal / consumer loans | — | a Desco Signature Loan may be the solution. For vacation, wedding, computer, tuition, home improvements, cosmetic surgery | source |
| Small-business loans | — | To apply for a Business Loan, please complete the | source |
Loan sizes
No amounts stated on the pages we read.
Service area
Not stated on the pages we read.
Borrower focus
- Veterans
VA Guaranteed Loans are for eligible veterans for the purchase or refinance of a home
source
Languages
- No non-English service found on the pages we read.
Online application
Yes — the site links to an application. Apply now
source
Pages read (7)
- https://www.descofcu.org/
- https://www.descofcu.org/apply-now/business-loan/
- https://www.descofcu.org/equal-housing-lender/
- https://www.descofcu.org/loans/personal-loans/
- https://www.descofcu.org/loans/real-estate-loans/
- https://www.descofcu.org/business/business-loans/
- https://www.descofcu.org/card-services/credit-cards/
Questions to ask when you contact them
Based on what their website said when we read it on 2 Nov 2026, and what it left out. Something missing here does not mean they don't offer it: ask.
- Do you lend where I live, or where my business is?
Their website does not say which area they serve. - How do I become a member, and is there a fee or a minimum deposit?
Credit unions lend only to their members. - What are the smallest and the largest loans you make?
No loan amounts are stated on their website. - What is the APR, including fees, on your auto loans and home repair loans?
Their website does not state an APR. The APR includes fees, so it is the number to compare. - What interest rate and fees should I expect on your commercial real estate loans and small-business loans?
Their website does not state a rate for this. - Is there a minimum credit score, and do you consider borrowers with little or no credit history?
Their website does not say what credit history they accept. - What documents will you need from me, and how long does a decision usually take?
Their website describes some application steps (above); ask for the full document list.
Write down the answers, who you spoke to and the date, and ask for the terms in writing before you sign.
CDFI Fund awards
CDFI Fund database, 3 Nov 2026$1.4 million in 1 award from the U.S. Treasury's CDFI Fund, 2024 (CDFI Program, Financial Assistance).
| Round year | Program | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $1,350,000 |
These are awards and investments made to the institution itself to build its capital and capacity. They are not loans to borrowers, and an award does not mean the lender has money available for a particular loan today.
Source: CDFI Fund Searchable Awards Database, all 12,628 award records (1996–2025), read 3 Nov 2026. Years are the award round as the database lists it. Matched to the official CDFI list by exact name and state; see the method on the About page.
Branches and size
NCUA, 30 Jun 2026On file with the NCUA as DESCO (charter 15882). Source: NCUA 5300 Call Report quarterly data (public data) as of 30 Jun 2026, downloaded 3 Nov 2026: total assets, members and branch addresses.
| Total assets | $550.7 million (as of 30 Jun 2026) |
|---|---|
| Members | 25,044 (as of 30 Jun 2026) |
| Offices | 8 in 3 states (as of 30 Jun 2026) |
Offices by state and county (8)
Ohio (5 offices)
- Lawrence County (1): 2915 S 3rd St, Ironton 45638
- Scioto County (4): 401 Chillicothe St, Portsmouth 45662 (main office); 19 High Street, Lucasville 45648; 575 West St, Minford 45653; 8790 Ohio River Rd, Wheelersburg 45694
Kentucky (2 offices)
- Boyd County (1): 1211 Carter Ave, Ashland 41101
- Greenup County (1): 501 Seaton Ave, Greenup 41144
West Virginia (1 office)
- Cabell County (1): 1438 6th Ave, Huntington 25701
An office shows where the lender has a branch, not where it lends or whom it lends to. Credit unions serve members only; check who can join. For the ZIP-code search, credit-union offices are placed at the centre of their ZIP code (approximate).
What the regulator filing shows
NCUA 5300, 30 Jun 2026Figures from the 5300 Call Report filed by Desco Federal Credit Union (NCUA charter 15882, filed as “DESCO”). Source: NCUA 5300 Call Report quarterly data (public data), cycle 30 Jun 2026; year-earlier figures from the 30 Jun 2025 cycle; downloaded 3 Nov 2026.
| Total loans and leases | $321.6 million, 13,513 loans (as of 30 Jun 2026) |
|---|---|
| Change over the year | Up 1.2% from $317.9 million on 30 Jun 2025 |
| Members | 25,044 (as of 30 Jun 2026); 25,187 (as of 30 Jun 2025) |
| Loans per member | $12,842 (total loans divided by members, 30 Jun 2026) |
| Total assets | $550.7 million (as of 30 Jun 2026) |
Loan mix (balances on 30 Jun 2026)
| Loan category | Balance | Share |
|---|---|---|
| New vehicle loans | $5.7 million | 1.8% |
| Used vehicle loans | $25 million | 7.8% |
| First-lien home mortgages (1-4 family) | $171.1 million | 53.2% |
| Other real estate loans (junior liens, other) | $18 million | 5.6% |
| Commercial (business) loans | $85.9 million | 26.7% |
| Credit cards | $3.6 million | 1.1% |
| Other unsecured loans | $5.9 million | 1.8% |
| Leases and other secured loans | $6.4 million | 2.0% |
Balances are loans outstanding on the report date, not loans made during the year. A category with no balance does not mean the credit union never makes that kind of loan. Credit unions lend to members only; check who can join.
Home loans reported under HMDA (2025)
FFIEC HMDA data, 2025Desco Federal Credit Union reported 241 originated home loans for 2025 under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, totaling about $38.2M (median loan about $125,000). 128 were home-purchase loans.
By loan purpose
| Purpose | Loans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Home purchase | 128 | 53% |
| Refinance (incl. 71 cash-out) | 96 | 40% |
| Home improvement | 11 | 4.6% |
| Other purpose | 6 | 2.5% |
By loan type
| Loan type | Loans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Conventional | 237 | 98% |
| USDA (RHS or FSA) | 3 | 1.2% |
Included above: 8 loans on manufactured homes; 7 loans on multifamily (5+ unit) properties.
Where the loans were made
Counties with the most 2025 originations, out of 21 counties with at least one; 58% of its 2025 loans were for properties in Ohio:
- Scioto County, OH (105)
- Boyd County, KY (40)
- Greenup County, KY (28)
- Lawrence County, OH (27)
- Cabell County, WV (10)
- Carter County, KY (6)
- Wayne County, WV (4)
- Fayette County, KY (3)
Filed under LEI 5493002G1DPDOKT55X37 as “DESCO FEDERAL CREDIT UNION”; matched by its RSSD ID on the CDFI Fund list, which the HMDA reporter panel links to this LEI.
Source: FFIEC Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data for 2025, snapshot frozen 2 Jun 2026, loan-level records read through the CFPB HMDA Data Browser API on 3 Nov 2026. Originated loans only; applications that were denied, withdrawn or not accepted are not counted. HMDA publishes each loan amount as the middle of a $10,000 band, so totals and medians are approximate. Counts under 3 are not shown. How we match lenders.
How it compares
Computed from public data| Measure | This lender | Compared with |
|---|---|---|
| Total assets (Call Report, 30 Jun 2026) | $550.7 million | Larger than 73% of the 11 other certified credit unions in Ohio (median $166.5 million). |
| Loans as a share of assets | 58% | Median of the same 11 credit unions: 68%. A higher share means more of its balance sheet is lent out. |
| Loans held, 30 Jun 2025 → 30 Jun 2026 | $317.9 million → $321.6 million (+1%) | Median change of 11 other certified credit unions in Ohio: +1%. Rank by loans held among these 12: 4 → 4. |
| Home loans originated in 2025 (HMDA) | 241 | More than 73% of the 263 other certified CDFIs that reported 3 or more (119 at the median). Volume only; nothing here is an approval rate. |
How these comparisons were worked out
| Measure | Peer group (this lender left out) | Peers | Where this lender sits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Call Report total assets | other certified credit unions in Ohio | 11 | larger than 73% |
| Loans held then vs now | certified credit unions in Ohio reporting both dates | 11 | rank 4 → 4 of 12 |
| HMDA home loans | certified CDFIs with 3+ originations in 2025, nationwide | 263 | more than 73% |
“Larger than X%” = the share of the peer group with a smaller value. Ranks count from the largest. Peer groups use the lender's home state when it has at least 5 peers, otherwise the whole country. Full definitions: methodology.
For comparison, not an offer and not a rating. Past records show what this lender did, not what you would be offered. Peer groups and sources: methodology. Assets and loans: FFIEC and NCUA Call Reports (see the loan-mix section). Home loans: FFIEC/CFPB HMDA data.
Other certified CDFIs in Portsmouth and Ohio
- Appalachian Growth Capital, LLCLoan fund · Logan, OHCommercial real estate loans, Equipment loans, Small-business loansVerified
- Buckeye State Credit Union, INC.Credit union · Akron, OHAuto / vehicle loans, Home mortgages, Personal / consumer loansVerified
- Canton School Employees Federal Credit UnionCredit union · Canton, OHAuto / vehicle loans, Equipment loans, Home mortgages, Personal / consumer loansVerified
- Cardinal Credit UnionCredit union · Mentor, OHAuto / vehicle loans, Commercial real estate loans, Equipment loans, Microloans…Verified
- Cincinnati Development Fund, Inc.Loan fund · Cincinnati, OHCommercial real estate loans, Affordable housing development loans, Nonprofit / community facility loansVerified
- Cleveland Development Advisors Community Reinvestment Fund, Inc.Loan fund · Cleveland, OHCommercial real estate loansVerified
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