topic Re: SDFCU membership - how long does it take? in Personal Finance

SDFCU membership - how long does it take?

5KRunner — Fri, 21 Feb 2020 20:23:57 GMT

I submitted an application to join SDFCU on February 15 (and they immediately pulled my credit report from EX). On the 18th, they sent me a message to request additional ID (scans of my driver's license and social security card), which I submitted about 3 hours after receiving the message. Today is the 21st and I've yet to hear back from them.

How long does it normally take to join SDFCU?

Re: SDFCU membership - how long does it take?

AverageJoesCredit — Fri, 21 Feb 2020 20:56:38 GMT

Wow, thats a long time to wait for any confirmation. Id call up, at least to confirm receipt of docs.Good luck

Re: SDFCU membership - how long does it take?

5KRunner — Fri, 21 Feb 2020 20:58:48 GMT

@AverageJoesCredit wrote:
Wow, thats a long time to wait for any confirmation. Id call up, at least to confirm receipt of docs.Good luck

I called them yesterday and the CSR told me to check the status of my application online. Like, would I have bothered calling if the online status check had given me enough information? 🤷‍♂️

Re: SDFCU membership - how long does it take?

5KRunner — Fri, 21 Feb 2020 21:18:15 GMT

I called again, and the helpful CSR informed me that they received the additional verification items but haven't acted on them yet. My application is stuck in the identity verification department, and they've all left for the weekend.

It's going to be incredibly frustrating if I don't get anything out of this INQ!

Re: SDFCU membership - how long does it take?

Guyatthebeach — Sat, 22 Feb 2020 01:24:27 GMT

5KRunner,

I would wait a few more days. As a SDFCU member, I know they can take their time on somethings.

Once your membership is approved, it will be fine. They are the most conservative CU I have encountered, but they have been great to me. They are one of the best CU's out there.

Guyatthebeach

Re: SDFCU membership - how long does it take?

Green456 — Sat, 22 Feb 2020 15:27:45 GMT

@5KRunner wrote:
I submitted an application to join SDFCU on February 15 (and they immediately pulled my credit report from EX). On the 18th, they sent me a message to request additional ID (scans of my driver's license and social security card), which I submitted about 3 hours after receiving the message. Today is the 21st and I've yet to hear back from them.

How long does it normally take to join SDFCU?

Took them 2 months for me.

Re: SDFCU membership - how long does it take?

5KRunner — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 17:59:34 GMT

Still haven't heard from them. I'm beginning to think mine will also take two months.

Re: SDFCU membership - how long does it take?

Namaste7 — Tue, 25 Feb 2020 19:38:05 GMT

If a turtle is slow, then a turtle has not met SDFCU. The CU is not discussed much on this board because it is conservative lender, they like proof of everything and there is an unspoken preference for members who live and work in the geographic area. My membership didn't take long because I went in the branch; however, credit applications are always slow to process (application response up to 14 days and receipt of CC almost 1 month).

Nevertheless, hang in there and understand you are building a long term relationship.

Re: SDFCU membership - how long does it take?

5KRunner — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 01:39:32 GMT

They sent me another secure message late this aftertoon, this time asking for a copy of my latest mortgage statement. At least it's still moving forward, right?

Re: SDFCU membership - how long does it take?

Green456 — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 02:01:56 GMT

@5KRunner wrote:
They sent me another secure message late this aftertoon, this time asking for a copy of my latest mortgage statement. At least it's still moving forward, right?

They are. Personally I lost respect towards them when 2 months after HP, they said that I need to unfreeze my accounts because they need to do HP. When I confronted them that they already did they claimed that they didn't, until I read them the exact date, time and minute of the credit pull on experian report.

Re: SDFCU membership - how long does it take?

5KRunner — Sat, 13 Mar 2021 16:35:26 GMT

6FE6D109-2B8B-467C-BE36-1FA0AD3E6001.jpeg

Re: SDFCU membership - how long does it take?

AllZero — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 22:05:58 GMT

Congratulations on your membership!

Re: SDFCU membership - how long does it take?

Guyatthebeach — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 01:27:19 GMT

5KRunner,

Congratulations on finally getting in with SDFCU. They really a decent credit union and very conservative in their lending practices. After being a member for a year, I started getting annual automatic CLI's on my Visa and those cool preapproved personal loans.

Guyatthebeach

Re: SDFCU membership - how long does it take?

nosup4u — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 01:59:06 GMT

THey are extremely conservative they won't give me a dime with 678 credit score with a couple of baddies from years ago hopefully they will when I get to EE most of them after September or so have a secured card with them and it does not graduate if I were you I'd look for other CU that are way better than SDFCU

Re: SDFCU membership - how long does it take?

5KRunner — Sat, 13 Mar 2021 16:36:18 GMT

@Guyatthebeach wrote:
5KRunner,

Congratulations on finally getting in with SDFCU. They really a decent credit union and very conservative in their lending practices. After being a member for a year, I started getting annual automatic CLI's on my Visa and those cool preapproved personal loans.

Guyatthebeach

Good information... thank you! I'm in the process of setting up a few small recurring transfers from my primary checking account (PenFed) to ensure that my new accounts are never regarded as dormant.

Do you think this is a legit offer or just marketing? I suspect it's the latter. I'm not planning to app for new credit for a while, but it would be nice to have an idea of my approval chances with them before doing so.40FDA292-D013-48BD-A3D5-E2D850C7888A.png

Re: SDFCU membership - how long does it take?

Namaste7 — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 16:55:09 GMT

@5KRunner wrote:
Good information... thank you! I'm in the process of setting up a few small recurring transfers from my primary checking account (PenFed) to ensure that my new accounts are never regarded as dormant.

Do you think this is a legit offer or just marketing? I suspect it's the latter. I'm not planning to app for new credit for a while, but it would be nice to have an idea of my approval chances with them before doing so.

I think it's marketing. They are not known to send out preapprovals. When it does happen, I think the offers come via mail; perhaps, others can chime in on this question.

Your approval probability will be based on a few key factors: Experian FICO 2 score, income and debt to income ratio, and your overall credit profile. The higher the score and income the better. If you have high income / low debt to income ratio, they may approve up to $5k on the Platinum card if you scores are between 660-720. If you have high income / low debt to income ratio, a score of 720+ and you low INQs and new accounts, you should not have an issue getting approved for most credit products. Be prepared to provide proof of income.

If your file is dirty, do not rush an application. If you have high utlization, pay down the debt before applying. If you've applied for a lot of cards OR have a lot of available credit in relationship to your income, wait 12 months and consider consolidating other accounts if you REALLY want a relationship with SDFCU.

Re: SDFCU membership - how long does it take?

Andy77 — Sat, 13 Mar 2021 16:37:20 GMT

This has to be the hardest CU to join. I sent them color copies of my driver license, passport, ss card, w2, paycheck stub and they said they have a number tied to identity and they can't verify me and if I fly from Los Angeles (I live there) to Virginia and my account would be opened in person, 100 percent guaranteed.

I also applied for a credit card, called the credit dept they said my card was approved for 20k but the membership dept was blocking my card and I got a letter in the mail that stated my credit card was not approved because my membership was not approved.

I provided them every document they asked for and joined a non profit to establish my membership relationship.

None of their membership disclosures state that if they cannot use the documents you provide that in person memberhsip application is necessaary.

I had my lawyer send the COO and President a letter. Telling a qualified member to fly across the country in the middle of a pandemic is insane.

I also filed a complaint with the NCUA as this credit union is not using legal documents, that any other bank would use to establish identity, as establishing identity.

Beyond Frustrated with SDFCU...

Andy77 — Sat, 13 Mar 2021 13:22:43 GMT

I applied for membership with SDFCU, btw I live in Los Angeles, about 3k or so miles from the cloest SDFCU branch. This is State Department Federal Credit Union.

In accordance with their membership requirements I submitted color originals of:

-valid passport

-ss card with full number showing

-driver license

-utility bill

-chex systems with home address showing clean history (I sent this as I thought this report as getting in the way of membership)

-2020 W2

-2021 paycheck stub

-joined non profit to establish membership

After doing all of this, they stated there is a numerical number tied to identity and I cannot be verified. The only way someone could have provided all of that information is if someone broke into my house and stole all of those documents and impersonated me. They also stated if I came into a branch my membership would 100 percent be established.

Maybe they forgot we are in the middle of a global pandemic.

I filed a complaint with NCUA as how can any financial institution deny membership when someone has carried out every step to become a member and nowhere on their website or in any written documentation does it state that membership must be applied for and obtained in person if documents do not suffice.

Re: Beyond Frustrated with SDFCU...

Anonymous — Sat, 13 Mar 2021 13:33:12 GMT

Phone and find out if you can do the paperwork at a Share Branch other CU?

Re: SDFCU membership - how long does it take?

FinStar — Sat, 13 Mar 2021 17:26:16 GMT

@Andy77 wrote:
This has to be the hardest CU to join. I sent them color copies of my driver license, passport, ss card, w2, paycheck stub and they said they have a number tied to identity and they can't verify me and if I fly from Los Angeles (I live there) to Virginia and my account would be opened in person, 100 percent guaranteed.

I also applied for a credit card, called the credit dept they said my card was approved for 20k but the membership dept was blocking my card and I got a letter in the mail that stated my credit card was not approved because my membership was not approved.

I provided them every document they asked for and joined a non profit to establish my membership relationship.

None of their membership disclosures state that if they cannot use the documents you provide that in person memberhsip application is necessaary.

I had my lawyer send the COO and President a letter. Telling a qualified member to fly across the country in the middle of a pandemic is insane.

I also filed a complaint with the NCUA as this credit union is not using legal documents, that any other bank would use to establish identity, as establishing identity.

@Andy77

CU's are governed by their own internal policies when it comes to membership, including what documents are acceptable, especially the state they operate out of as long as it's within the NCUA guidelines. They are under no obligation to accept just anyone even if a variety of documents were provided, so please keep that in mind.

I went through something similar with BECU as an out-of-state applicant and knew of the risk of having the membership declined if certain verification protocols didn't align with their policies or the information that I had submitted to them. It lasted for about ~3 weeks (give or take) to resolve and the option to fly out to WA was possible if they required in-person verification (this was roughly just before lockdown last year). Only difference, I didn't lawyer up for there was no reason. Their rules/policies.

Also, even though the pandedulce is still prevalent, SDFCU branches are currently open during limited hours or by appointments (given COVID-19 current protocols) so the request for verification in-person is not unreasonable nor "insane". This is the risk you run when you apply for membership and/or credit products when your state of residence is not in the FI's footprint. I believe a member has suggested to see whether there's an alternative option to do it via co-op (in the event SDFCU is part of the network with any of your local CUs).

Let's face it, even NFCU can sometimes require an in-person visit to sort things out. It's possible they also are aware of additional internal information that prevents the membership to be established 🤷‍♂️