The California DFI on Monday warned its state-chartered creditunions against using advertising statements that claim “everyonecan join.”

According to spokeswoman Alana Golden, a DFI employee noticedthe offending advertising in a credit union branch.

After a search of credit union advertising in the Golden State,the DFI discovered two more ads that used the impermissible taglines.

According to an article included in the DFI's April monthlybulletin, using advertising statements such as “everyone can join”or “all can join” violate the commissioner's regulation concerningcommon-bond requirements for field of membership that requiremembers share a common bond beyond obtaining financialservices.

The three noncompliant credit unions, which Golden declined toname, received a letter regarding the problem from DFI CommissionerTeveia R. Barnes, Golden said.

In 2012, a marketing firm posted a copy of a June 3advertisement in the Sacramento Bee by the $8.2 billionThe Golden 1 Credit Union that included the headline “Now EveryoneCan Join Golden 1!” The statement included a disclaimer at thebottom of the ad that read, “Must meet account openingrequirements.”

A Golden 1 spokesman did not return a call Monday asking if hiscooperative was one of the three credit unions contacted by theDFI.

According to The Golden 1's membership application on itswebsite, membership is open to residents of 33 California countiesthroughout the state, from Shasta and Lassen counties in northernCalifornia to Imperial County on the Mexican border.

In addition to hundreds of SEGs, the eligibility portion of theSacramento-based credit union's application also includes an optionto join the Financial Fitness Association to gain access tomembership.