Southland News

Southland is pleased to introduce Phong Trinh, Branch Manager at our new Long Beach State branch

After moving to Orange County from Vietnam, Phong began his career in finance as a teller at just 20 years old. What started as an interest in the financial industry soon turned into a genuine affinity for retail banking, and a passion for customer service. As someone who has been with Southland for 12 years and worked in finances for almost his entire professional life, Phong understands firsthand the importance of financial education.  

 When we asked Phong his thoughts on the importance of financial literacy for college students, he explained, “it’s imperative for young people to understand finances as they enter adulthood. Learning how to handle your finances not only can save you money, but also provide a sustainable living environment for your future.” Southland prides itself on providing online financial educational resources to both Members and non-Members of all ages. 

Additionally, Members can benefit from Southland’s highly informative free workshops and seminars that cover a range of topics including financial planning, investments retirement and more.

Our commitment to provide great service and financial education extends to Long Beach State students in the form of workshops in partnership with Associated Students, Inc. (ASI). Follow Long Beach State ASI and Southland Credit Union to stay up to date on the rollout of future workshops for students.

 The Long Beach State Campus Branch is Southland’s eighth branch location, and the first location within a university. Southland first entered the Long Beach market in 2018 with its seventh branch location at 2250 N Bellflower Blvd in 2018. Around this time, Southland also became the Official Credit Union of Long Beach State Athletics. It all started when Southland’s Board Director Angie Avery, a Long Beach State Alumna, had the idea to sponsor the women’s basketball team. In what she described as, “fateful,” the partnership soon evolved into Southland entering into a multi-year agreement with Long Beach State Athletics.

Since then, Southland has sponsored various events and programs for the University, and will maintain its relationship with students and faculty through its continued support for the school. Establishing this brick-and-mortar presence on campus is an exciting testament to Southland’s 4-year long relationship with Long Beach State.  

We asked Phong what students and faculty can expect when they become Southland Members and he responded, “they can expect personalized and friendly service when visiting our branch. Members can expect to leave the branch with a pleasant experience and better understanding of their finances.”

 We are thrilled to continue our relationship with the campus and the city of Long Beach, and look forward to the future of this partnership. Stop by and introduce yourself to Phong and our dedicated team today!

Our full-service branch is now officially open for students, staff, faculty, and visitors from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. 

We are located in the University Student Union on the Long Beach State campus at 1212 N. Bellflower Blvd., Suite 241, Long Beach, CA 90815.