At a glance
From its website, read 2 Nov 2026South Side Community Federal Credit Union is a credit union based in Chicago, Illinois. Its website describes auto loans, credit-builder loans, small-dollar emergency loans and 2 other loan types. Stated loan amounts run from $150 to $40,000. Where it lends: Chicago South Side: 22nd Street to city limits, Lake to Western Avenue. The business loan rate it states is 10%. Consumer loan APRs stated on its site range from 3.251% to 16.036%. 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
| Lending | (773) 548-5500 source |
|---|---|
| Apply online | Page with the application link |
| Website | southsidecommunityfcu.org |
| Office (official list) | 5401 S. Wentworth Ave. Suite 25, Chicago, IL 60609 |
What their website says about applying
You can initiate your loan application right in your member account.
sourceMust provide a vehicle description, most recent two pays stubs, proof of rent or mortgage
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auto / vehicle loans | Rate: 3.251%–16.001% APR | APR: 3.251% - 16.001% | source |
| Microloans | Rate: 10% | Terms: Up to 48 months at 10% | source |
| Personal / consumer loans | Rate: 8.009%–16.009% APR | APR: 8.009% - 16.009% | source |
| Personal / consumer loans | Rate: 16.036% APR | APR: 16.036% | source |
| Auto / vehicle loans | Term: 3 yr–6 yr | Term: Ranges between 36 months and 72 months depending on the age of the vehicle. | source |
| Credit-builder loans | Term: see their wording | Term: 6 months to 48 months | source |
| Microloans | Term: up to 4 yr | Terms: Up to 48 months at 10% | source |
| Personal / consumer loans | Term: 6 mo–4 yr | Terms: 6 months to 48 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.
Who qualifies, in their words
- Minimum credit score: 650
To apply for a $10,000 loan, your credit score has to be 650 or above.
source - Membership required
Please note that our loan services are exclusively available to our members.
source - Collateral required
Loans over $5,000.00 must be collateralized by auto or cash, and complete a loan application.
source
Only rules the lender's own pages state. Other requirements may apply.
Official record
CDFI Fund list, 21 Oct 2026| Institution type | Credit union |
|---|---|
| Native CDFI | No |
| Date certified (as listed) | 16 Feb 2021 |
| RSSD ID | 3223921 |
| Address | 5401 S. Wentworth Ave. Suite 25, Chicago, IL 60609 Directions (Google Maps) |
| Website | southsidecommunityfcu.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. Loans are offered only to members within the credit union's South Side Chicago membership boundary. 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 | up to $40,000 | You can borrow up to $40K for a new car or $35K for a used car. | source |
| Credit-builder loans | from $150 | You can borrow between $150 and up. | source |
| Small-dollar / emergency loans | up to $500 | You can borrow up to $500 for 6 months. | source |
| Microloans | up to $15,000 | Loans are available up to $15,000 for startup and existing businesses. | source |
| Personal / consumer loans | $1,000 – $10,000 | You can borrow between $1,000 – $10,000 for paying bills, debt consolidation and purchases. | source |
Loan sizes
You can borrow between $1,000 – $10,000 for paying bills, debt consolidation and purchases.
sourceYou can borrow between $150 and up.
sourceYou can borrow up to $40K for a new car or $35K for a used car.
sourceLoans are available up to $15,000 for startup and existing businesses.
source
Range used for the size filter: $150 to $40,000
Service area
Chicago South Side: 22nd Street to city limits, Lake to Western Avenue
Membership in South Side Community FCU is open to individuals or businesses on Chicago’s south side, from 22nd Street on the North to the city limits on the South and from the Lake on the East to Western Avenue on the West.
source
Borrower focus
- Not stated on the pages we read.
Languages
- No non-English service found on the pages we read.
Online application
Yes — the site links to an application. Once you’re a member, applying for a loan has never been more convenient. You can initiate your loan application right in your member account.
source
Pages read (7)
- https://southsidecommunityfcu.org/w/
- https://southsidecommunityfcu.org/w/loans/
- https://southsidecommunityfcu.org/services/
- https://southsidecommunityfcu.org/w/services/
- https://southsidecommunityfcu.org/w/accounts/
- https://southsidecommunityfcu.org/w/capital-campaign/
- https://southsidecommunityfcu.org/w/2023/08/23/why-credit-unions-are-your-retirement-planning-ally/
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.
- How do I become a member, and is there a fee or a minimum deposit?
Credit unions lend only to their members. - What is the APR, including fees, on your credit-builder loans and small-dollar emergency loans?
Their website does not state an APR. The APR includes fees, so it is the number to compare. - Do you offer free coaching or help preparing my application?
CDFI certification requires development services, such as training or advice, alongside lending. - 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$1.5 million in 3 awards from the U.S. Treasury's CDFI Fund, 2006–2021 (CDFI Program, Financial Assistance; CDFI Rapid Response Program).
| Round year | Program | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | CDFI Rapid Response Program | $987,000 |
| 2008 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $345,996 |
| 2006 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $150,000 |
Emergency Capital Investment Program (ECIP)
Treasury invested $200,000 in this institution under ECIP, by buying preferred stock or subordinated debt (an investment, not a grant; it is not counted in the award total). ECIP type on the list: CDFI & MDI. Source: U.S. Treasury ECIP participant list (last updated Mar 2025), downloaded 3 Nov 2026.
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 SOUTH SIDE COMMUNITY (charter 24704). 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 | $5.7 million (as of 30 Jun 2026) |
|---|---|
| Members | 1,420 (as of 30 Jun 2026) |
| Offices | 1 (as of 30 Jun 2026) |
Offices by state and county (1)
Illinois (1 office)
- Cook County (1): 5401 S Wentworth Ave, Chicago 60609 (main office)
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 South Side Community Federal Credit Union (NCUA charter 24704, filed as “SOUTH SIDE COMMUNITY”). 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 | $1.3 million, 139 loans (as of 30 Jun 2026) |
|---|---|
| Change over the year | Down 29.2% from $1.8 million on 30 Jun 2025 |
| Members | 1,420 (as of 30 Jun 2026); 1,575 (as of 30 Jun 2025) |
| Loans per member | $906 (total loans divided by members, 30 Jun 2026) |
| Total assets | $5.7 million (as of 30 Jun 2026) |
Loan mix (balances on 30 Jun 2026)
| Loan category | Balance | Share |
|---|---|---|
| New vehicle loans | $155,128 | 12.1% |
| Used vehicle loans | $857,364 | 66.6% |
| First-lien home mortgages (1-4 family) | $89,893 | 7.0% |
| Other unsecured loans | $112,663 | 8.8% |
| Leases and other secured loans | $71,842 | 5.6% |
None reported on the 30 Jun 2026 report: other real estate loans (junior liens, other); commercial (business) loans; credit cards.
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.
How it compares
Computed from public data| Measure | This lender | Compared with |
|---|---|---|
| Largest loan its website states | $40,000 | Other credit unions whose website states a maximum: median $62,500. Higher than the stated maximum of 14% of these 64. |
| Total assets (Call Report, 30 Jun 2026) | $5.7 million | Larger than 70% of the 10 other certified credit unions in Illinois (median $1.3 million). |
| Loans as a share of assets | 23% | Median of the same 10 credit unions: 34%. A higher share means more of its balance sheet is lent out. |
| Loans held, 30 Jun 2025 → 30 Jun 2026 | $1.8 million → $1.3 million (-29%) | Median change of 10 other certified credit unions in Illinois: -1%. Rank by loans held among these 11: 4 → 4. |
| Business loan rate its website stated (2 Nov 2026) | 10.00% | Prime rate that day: 7.00% (FRED DPRIME), so the lowest stated rate is 3 pts above prime. For an SBA 7(a) variable-rate loan the legal maximum is prime plus 3 to 6.5 points, by loan size. |
How these comparisons were worked out
| Measure | Peer group (this lender left out) | Peers | Where this lender sits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largest stated loan | other credit unions stating a maximum, nationwide | 64 | higher than 14% |
| Call Report total assets | other certified credit unions in Illinois | 10 | larger than 70% |
| Loans held then vs now | certified credit unions in Illinois reporting both dates | 10 | rank 4 → 4 of 11 |
“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; your rate depends on the loan and on the lender's review. Peer groups and sources: methodology. Assets and loans: FFIEC and NCUA Call Reports (see the loan-mix section). Prime rate: FRED DPRIME.
Other certified CDFIs in Chicago and Illinois
- Allies for Community Business, Inc.Loan fund · Chicago, ILSmall-business loansVerified
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- C3 Impact Fund, LLCVenture capital fund · Chicago, ILOfficial list only
- Chicago Community Loan Fund, TheLoan fund · Chicago, ILCommercial real estate loans, Affordable housing development loans, Nonprofit / community facility loansVerified
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- Community Investment CorporationLoan fund · Chicago, ILCommercial real estate loans, Energy / solar / efficiency loans, Affordable housing development loansVerified
- Fellowship Baptist Church Credit Union IncCredit union · Chicago, ILOfficial list only
- First Eagle BancsharesBank holding company · Chicago, ILAuto / vehicle loans, Commercial real estate loans, Credit-builder loans, Equipment loans…Verified
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