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If you can join any military credit union, which one?

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Creditaddict
Legendary Contributor

If you can join any military credit union, which one?

I'm helping a friend and he has low 600 scores and only 1 credit card (store) and 1 car loan.

Which credit union would be best to join to get a credit card and refi of car? 

Message 1 of 16
15 REPLIES 15
smallfry
Senior Contributor

Re: If you can join any military credit union, which one?

Navy Federal.
Message 2 of 16
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: If you can join any military credit union, which one?

penfed for sure - very good cust service and great products
Message 3 of 16
wmarat
Valued Contributor

Re: If you can join any military credit union, which one?

I think it is all over the net:

 

NAVYFCU, PENFED, USAA (which is not CU)

IN VINO VERITAS.
Message 4 of 16
Creditaddict
Legendary Contributor

Re: If you can join any military credit union, which one?

they are going to do both penfed and navy, Ill post back results! thanks all
Message 5 of 16
smallfry
Senior Contributor

Re: If you can join any military credit union, which one?

Low 600's thin file Penfed? Good luck stick with Navy for now.
Message 6 of 16
score_building
Senior Contributor

Re: If you can join any military credit union, which one?

navy and maybe usaa, pen fed is a poor choice with the current profile referenced.

DCU EQ 5.0, Citi EQ 08 Bankcard, PenFed EX NG2
EX 08: AFCU, Amex, Chase, PSECU EX 98(?)
TU 08: Barclays, Discover
Message 7 of 16
TangMeister
Frequent Contributor

Re: If you can join any military credit union, which one?

Navy and USAA are the two they should join. 

 

Navy for the easy credit terms, and USAA because they can join as a "full" member, eligible for insurance and many benefits non-military are excluded from.  Penfed?  Not right now.  Maybe down the road.  Good luck to them!

Message 8 of 16
Karatz
Frequent Contributor

Re: If you can join any military credit union, which one?


@Creditaddict wrote:

I'm helping a friend and he has low 600 scores and only 1 credit card (store) and 1 car loan.

Which credit union would be best to join to get a credit card and refi of car? 


I'd still join Penfed.

 

Me: Opened a savings account last October, set up with employeer to put in $25 per 2week paycheck. Was denied CC with low 700's but high 50% utilization. Paid down utilization to low 20% now, waiting for 1 more account to show show zero balance, then I'll reapply. I'm mid 700's now, expecting to be high 700's with the 5k showing paid in full.

 

You: Six months from now you won't be in their system as a newbie with them, and I can only think that would help you whenever you do decide to app up for a card. If you don't plan on getting your scores around mid 700's and utilization under 20%, then I'd say maybe pick someone else.

TransUnion/Equifax
746/754
Date: 9/24/2009/10/02/2009
Message 9 of 16
haulingthescoreup
Moderator Emerita

Re: If you can join any military credit union, which one?

I would advise any active duty military member to join all three.

For credit now, Navy.

Get an insurance product going with USAA, like renter's insurance, or open a Roth IRA.

Do something similar with PenFed.

The name of the game is getting in while eligible and establishing a history. Membership is basically free, other than the $5 share account opening with Navy and PenFed.

And FWIW, PenFed isn't precisely a "military" credit union, and USAA is a federal savings bank, as mentioned above, but I know that's how we all think of these guys.
* Credit is a wonderful servant, but a terrible master. * Who's the boss --you or your credit?
FICO's: EQ 781 - TU 793 - EX 779 (from PSECU) - Done credit hunting; having fun with credit gardening. - EQ 590 on 5/14/2007
Message 10 of 16
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