About SESLOC, Our 80 Year History

About SESLOC

Celebrating 80 years of service.

SESLOC Branch and Headquarters

About SESLOC

Celebrating 80 years of service.

SESLOC 80 year anniversary

SESLOC is a not-for-profit financial institution on California’s central coast since 1942, now operating with six branches in San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles, Atascadero, Cal Poly, Arroyo Grande and Santa Maria. With assets of $1.2 billion, our 160 employees provide valuable financial and educational services to nearly 57,000 members. SESLOC membership is open to anyone who lives, works or goes to school in San Luis Obispo or Northern Santa Barbara County. Our members are local, so money stays local, and SESLOC stays community focused.

In 2022, we celebrated eight decades of service to the Central Coast. 

SESLOC branch on Peach Street in San Luis Obispo.

Construction of the first SESLOC branch on Peach Street, San Luis Obispo in 1971. 

Rooted in Academics

Ten San Luis Obispo residents gathered in 1942 to discuss forming a credit union. They wanted to provide a way for people of ordinary means to borrow at reasonable interest rates under thoroughly honest and fair conditions.

On January 8, 1943, thirty-two San Luis Obispo County school employees were present when Superintendent Charles E. Teach called the first official meeting to order. They held the first election and began operations with assets of just $500. Six years later the acronym SESLOC was adopted, which stands for: School Employees of San Luis Obispo County.

While originally for those in education, SESLOC now offers services to everyone who lives, works or attends school in San Luis Obispo and Northern Santa Barbara Counties.

Proud to be the

longest-established credit union

on the Central Coast.

1942

San Luis Obispo County Schools Credit Union is formed with $500 in assets.

1949

Name changed to School Employees of San Luis Obispo County Federal Credit Union, and the acronym SESLOC is adopted.

1955-1960

Credit Union is run from the office drawer of an employee at the Cal Poly Campus.

1960

Cal Poly provides an official office, dedicated to the Credit Union on Campus.

1963

Assets top $1 million and future CEO, Bertha Foxford joins organization.

1971

SESLOC builds its first headquarters and branch on Peach Street.

1982

SESLOC reaches over 10,000 members.

1987

SESLOC builds a new headquarters and branch on Los Osos Valley Road.

1990

SESLOC opens a satellite branch on Cal Poly Campus.

1995

SESLOC opens Paso Robles branch.

1997

SESLOC opens Arroyo Grande branch.

1999

SESLOC begins offering online account transactions

2001

Charter is changed to include all who live, work, worship, or attend school in the county.

2008

SESLOC opens Atascadero branch.

2009

SESLOC opens a larger Arroyo Grande branch.

2011

New President and CEO, Geri LaChance replaces former CEO Bertha Foxford, after 48 years of service.

2014

SLO Headquarters and branch move to current location.

2015

Charter changes to include North Santa Barbara County, SESLOC opens a Santa Maria branch.

2020

Assets top $1 billion.

2021

SESLOC returns to Cal Poly with a new branch to serve students, faculty and staff. 

What is a credit union?

Credit union members share a common bond, such as where they work or live. SESLOC serves those who live, work or attend school in San Luis Obispo and Northern Santa Barbara counties. Our members are local, so money stays local, and SESLOC stays community focused.

Credit unions are cooperative financial institutions designed to give back to their members, not stockholders. Credit unions are not driven by profit. Credit unions have a volunteer Board of Directors, and profits are returned to members in the form of lower loan rates, higher savings rates, and lower cost services. The credit union philosophy that people are more important than profits benefits both the credit union members and their community.

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