topic Re: Affinity Federal Credit Union membership denial, not sure why? in Credit Card Applications

Affinity Federal Credit Union membership denial, not sure why?

BestTennisPlayerSinceBorg — Thu, 28 May 2026 16:28:21 GMT

I applied for a affinity Federal Credit Union membership and was turned down without explanation. Did the application over the Internet and now I'm wondering if that was the problem. I've been turned down in previous attempts to attain membership with other out of state credit unions. And usually they can't verify my application information. That is the reason that was given by Affinity. I've asked them to do a review of the application. But now I'm wondering if that will make any difference. It seems like the best odds of getting pass the LexisNexis situation is to sit in front of the customer service representative and present my documents. BTW I used my passport instead of my driver's license and I wasn't asked for a social security card. Had they requested these items I would have gladly used them instead.

What's your advice to solve this situation?

BTW I've applied for a few other memberships because they couldn't verify me over the Internet.

Re: Affinity Federal Credit Union membership denial, not sure why?

CreditCuriosity — Thu, 28 May 2026 18:10:59 GMT

Do you have chexsys locked or your CRA's locked during applications?

Re: Affinity Federal Credit Union membership denial, not sure why?

AndySoCal — Thu, 28 May 2026 18:43:12 GMT

In your post you stated you applied from out of state. Did you apply from a state other than New York, New Jersey or Connecticut? If so there is other ways you join see link below and it will show you you can qualify

https://www.affinityfcu.com/about-us/why-affinity

My understanding is if you use Affinity Foundation you must make the donation first then apply.

Re: Affinity Federal Credit Union membership denial, not sure why?

Ron1962 — Thu, 28 May 2026 20:03:06 GMT

Why don't you use your drivers license instead of passport?

Re: Affinity Federal Credit Union membership denial, not sure why?

TrapLine — Thu, 28 May 2026 21:26:55 GMT

For what it is worth, I had the exact same problem with US Bank. My only option was to actually present myself physically in the bank branch with every document needed such as a driver's license, birth certificate, social security card, pass port, copy of the residential property title and a current electric utility bill (30 days). Only then, would they approve with verification.

As we know, going into a physical branch may not always be realistic and we just have to move on. Oh as was mentioned, may need to have the credit bureaus, LexisNexis along with ChexSystem's unfrozen. They did do a Chex System inquiry. Surprised they did not finger print me?

Re: Affinity Federal Credit Union membership denial, not sure why?

crystal626 — Thu, 28 May 2026 23:11:38 GMT

@TrapLine wrote:
For what it is worth, I had the exact same problem with US Bank. My only option was to actually present myself physically in the bank branch with every document needed such as a driver's license, birth certificate, social security card, pass port, copy of the residential property title and a current electric utility bill (30 days). Only then, would they approve with verification.

As we know, going into a physical branch may not always be realistic and we just have to move on. Oh as was mentioned, may need to have the credit bureaus, LexisNexis along with ChexSystem's unfrozen. They did do a Chex System inquiry. Surprised they did not finger print me?

That is an obscene amount of info being asked for an account. I don't know if I would have bothered. I really hate giving my birth certificate out as that's one of the few things that hasn't been breached all over the dark web at this point because nobody has it...

Re: Affinity Federal Credit Union membership denial, not sure why?

Ron1962 — Fri, 29 May 2026 06:43:47 GMT

I forgot to tell you. They required me to upload two recent paychecks stubs. I didn't apply for credit card. I don't know it is worth it.

Re: Affinity Federal Credit Union membership denial, not sure why?

bigpoppa09 — Fri, 29 May 2026 08:05:47 GMT

@Ron1962 wrote:
I forgot to tell you. They required me to upload two recent paychecks stubs. I didn't apply for credit card. I don't know it is worth it.

I wouldnt upload paystubs if i wasnt applying for anthing they can kick Brickz.

Re: Affinity Federal Credit Union membership denial, not sure why?

CreditCuriosity — Fri, 29 May 2026 12:49:47 GMT

A bit off subject i tried to cancel the CC awhile ago about 5 months ago I have with them and they wouldn't let me without typing up a letter and signing it and sending a PDF to them. Never heard of such a crazy thing so I just left it open and will let it close eventually on its own eventually as way to much trouble never have heard of such a thing on closing a CC other than affinity. Was just trying to thin out my stack of cards since high 5 went away a month or so after I got the card and just became a back-up amazon prime card which never gets used. Weird CU.

Re: Affinity Federal Credit Union membership denial, not sure why?

BestTennisPlayerSinceBorg — Fri, 29 May 2026 14:44:32 GMT

No I didn't lock my Lexus Nexus. A family member told me that I should lock that information provider but I haven't done it yet. Should I lock it?

Re: Affinity Federal Credit Union membership denial, not sure why?

crystal626 — Fri, 29 May 2026 22:19:13 GMT

@CreditCuriosity wrote:
A bit off subject i tried to cancel the CC awhile ago about 5 months ago I have with them and they wouldn't let me without typing up a letter and signing it and sending a PDF to them. Never heard of such a crazy thing so I just left it open and will let it close eventually on its own eventually as way to much trouble never have heard of such a thing on closing a CC other than affinity. Was just trying to thin out my stack of cards since high 5 went away a month or so after I got the card and just became a back-up amazon prime card which never gets used. Weird CU.

All I had to do was send a secure message on the self service portal thankfully. Still took them like a week to work on it though.

Re: Affinity Federal Credit Union membership denial, not sure why?

CreditCuriosity — Fri, 29 May 2026 22:22:06 GMT

@crystal626 wrote:
@CreditCuriosity wrote:
A bit off subject i tried to cancel the CC awhile ago about 5 months ago I have with them and they wouldn't let me without typing up a letter and signing it and sending a PDF to them. Never heard of such a crazy thing so I just left it open and will let it close eventually on its own eventually as way to much trouble never have heard of such a thing on closing a CC other than affinity. Was just trying to thin out my stack of cards since high 5 went away a month or so after I got the card and just became a back-up amazon prime card which never gets used. Weird CU.
All I had to do was send a secure message on the self service portal thankfully. Still took them like a week to work on it though.

Interesting maybe I will just try that and see if they will close it as worthless to me a 25k cl just sitting collecting dust and never any interesting offers on it.

Re: Affinity Federal Credit Union membership denial, not sure why?

BestTennisPlayerSinceBorg — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 05:24:55 GMT

My apologies for not responding right away. I'm currently working on a project out of state for my employer n Montana and working 12 hours a day.

None of my credit bureaus are locked.

Re: Affinity Federal Credit Union membership denial, not sure why?

BestTennisPlayerSinceBorg — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 05:28:02 GMT

I use to live in Jersey. But have been living in Florida for the past 20 years. And I did in fact choose the Affinity foundation and I donated the $5 that was requested. But I did the donation the same time I applied for Affinity Federal Credit Union membership.

Re: Affinity Federal Credit Union membership denial, not sure why?

BestTennisPlayerSinceBorg — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 05:29:56 GMT

Have I known there was going to be any concerns using my passport, I would have gladly used my driver's license. By the way I was turned down for the review of reconsidering my application for membership. So now I'm wondering if the only way to get in is to do this in person at a branch in New Jersey..

Re: Affinity Federal Credit Union membership denial, not sure why?

Ron1962 — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 20:18:36 GMT

You might be running into the same problem if they use the same thing online.

Re: Affinity Federal Credit Union membership denial, not sure why?

BestTennisPlayerSinceBorg — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 22:33:41 GMT

Today I applied for a US Bank checking and savings account. Did it in person while being out of state in Montana. No problem what so ever.

I definitely need to apply for Affinity Federal membership in person. I can not get pass the online identity check.

I'm pretty sure if there was something out there on my check system, I firstly would know it, but secondly I wouldn't be able to successfully apply for other checking accounts with different lenders.

Re: Affinity Federal Credit Union membership denial, not sure why?

CreditCuriosity — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 22:50:10 GMT

Financial are more lenient of applying pretty much always when you are in person and will overlook cheksys inquiries to a certain extent vs online it is binary and no override is available.

Re: Affinity Federal Credit Union membership denial, not sure why?

Ron1962 — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 23:24:07 GMT

I applied inside CU. They still follow the instructions to open the account. Most of the times, they will follow the computer instructions.