Looking for Credit Union Recommendations

[Anonymous]

Hello

Haven't ever used a credit union but I understand auto loans are better through CU.  Any recommendations?

Thanking you in advance 

[Anonymous]

where are you?  Try locally.  what are your scores?  Do you have credit now?  Need info.

[Romeoo47]

I agree with casinoannie that we need more information.  But a few of the popular CU around here includes:

PenFed (very conservative)

Alliant

Justice FCU

CCCU

Patelco

NFCU

Just to name a few.  These are national ones that you can join through other associations like National PTA except NFCU (have to be/been in the military or have immediate family in the military).  If you provide more information, we can give you a more exhaustive list. 

[LindaLu]

I am also interested in financing an auto loan through a credit union..I live in Ohio..

I would imagine you have to join the credit union first?

I have a bankruptcy chapter 7 on my credit report that just turned 2 years old. Will a credit union be likely to give me a loan in this situation .?

Also why are credit unions better to finance though?

thanks

[Anonymous]

I was able to get a loan from a credit union 4 mos out of chpt 7.  CU are very forgiving.  I would give them a try. I also was able to get a secured cc one month after discharge.

[LindaLu]

what were your scores like 4 months out of bk7 when you got that loan?  and did you have anything you kept and didn't claim?

I have about 7 accounts(one very new) but most have small limits..the problem is if i need to use one I use up the limit quickly because well....there isn't much of a limit!!   utlization is high...would that be a problem to a credit union.?  I would like to get a personal loan to free up the utilization and up my mix of accounts and raise score..(mainly for the utilization)  as I stated my bk 7 just turned 2 years...and hoping that the last 2 years of all on time payments is a plus for me and will weigh out the high utlization.

[Anonymous]

I included all my accounts in the bankruptcy. I only had one vehicle which I owed $115 on that I paid off after the bankruptcy was discharged.  It actually has not been a year yet. I will have a year from discharge on July 2009.  My scores were not too different than they are today. Just under 600 close to 599 for equifax and likely 560 since thats my TU score.  I have quite a few inquiries at TU so I think my score has not progressed much because of that.  I just pulled my credit reports from all three CRA so I m in the process of cleaning up errors.I am hoping I can bring my scores up further.  I was shocked that the CU extended a loan. I was really sweating because my car was totaled in Nov.

[LindaLu]

but did you have any debt at all when you got the car loan?  what did they base it off of if everything was gone?

I have high utilization and I am afraid they will see that and say no way!!  Don't get me wrong I don't owe alot(well after the bk 7 I don't lol)  I just utlizied all but $1000 of my available credit.

Did you ever apply for any kind of a personal loan from the credit union?  Sometimes i think car loans are easier because they can take the car back.  I was thinking of just getting a personal loan and paying off the cards and leaving about 10% utilization and watch my score go up?

what state are you in anyway?

[Anonymous]

I have about $30K in student loans.  I had accounts before the bankruptcy that were closed that were in good standing.  I have probably the same number of positive as negative accounts. I had another car loan that was successfully paid off prior to the bankruptcy.  Still my scores were in the mid 500's.  I am pretty sure that it is easier to get a secure loan. I have never tried to get a loan outside of student loans. I am in VA. I just opened another unsecured cc so I am still in the rebuilding process.  I was told to start as soon as possible.  I am not sure about loans maybe someone else can provide experience on that.