topic Re: Navy Federal Membership Question in Personal Finance

Navy Federal Membership Question

Anonymous — Fri, 23 Nov 2018 12:22:35 GMT

I figured it's time to become a customer of a consumer-friendly bank, and NFCU seemed like the right choice. So, I called and opened an account. They opened checking and savings accounts, took my $5 membership fee, and gave me my Access ID over the phone. But here's the weird part:

I'm eligible to join because both of my dead grandfathers fought in Korea, one with the Air Force and one with the Marines. To my knowledge, neither one was a member of NFCU, but I'm the grandchild of a veteran, so yeah, that counts. Anyway, the person who set up my account asked ZERO questions about them, other than "What branch? Were they veterans? You're eligible." Is this ... normal? Or should I expect to have to deal with their notoriously zealous security department? The woman didn't even ask for their names, dates of birth, SSNs, whether they had been NFCU members, nothing.

Re: Navy Federal Membership Question

Medic981 — Fri, 23 Nov 2018 12:35:11 GMT

Yes, this is normal. Just be ready to provide documentation that your grandfathers were veterans. Better yet, if you have an NFCU branch nearby, you can take them documentation of eligibility which is what I did to save any future hassle.

Re: Navy Federal Membership Question

Anonymous — Fri, 23 Nov 2018 12:51:42 GMT

Yeah they do have a security department - that is for sure! I was in the Army National Guard and I signed up at a branch and then weeks later they shut down my account requiring additional verification documents. Be prepared - they shut me down without warning with money already in my accounts! That part kind of pissed me off as I felt that was unprofessional. Don't sign me up and say it's all good if its not all good and at a bare minimum give me a phone call. LOL

Relationship didn't start off great but now I LOVE Navy!

Re: Navy Federal Membership Question

Anonymous — Fri, 23 Nov 2018 18:17:49 GMT

I just recently joined as well. My grandfather who has passed retired from the Navy. He was never a NFCU member however I was still able to join. I called in to setup my membership and I simply told them my grandfather retired from the Navy. They didn’t ask for any verification or paperwork or anything. I was kind of shocked at how easy it was.

Re: Navy Federal Membership Question

Anonymous — Fri, 23 Nov 2018 22:20:22 GMT

My dad was in the navy (passed away) but I was able to call in and get signed up. I did have his SSN as a backup but they never asked for it. I signed up in June of this year. Even started my son a saving account and no other information regarding my father was required. Guess it just depends.

Re: Navy Federal Membership Question

Medic981 — Fri, 23 Nov 2018 23:21:34 GMT

Just so those of you who have or are considering Navy Federal Credit Union membership, this is what you need to prove for NFCU eligibility.

For eligibility to become a member of Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU) you must have an affiliation to one of the following.

Active Duty members of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard
Army and Air National Guard
Delayed Entry Program (DEP)
DoD Officer Candidate/ROTC
DoD Reservists
Veterans, retirees and annuitants
DoD civilian employees
U.S. Government employees assigned to DoD installations
DoD contractors assigned to U.S. Government installations
DoD civilian retirees and annuitants
Immediate family members of current members and those who are eligible for membership. Immediate family includes:

Grandparents
Parents
Spouses
Siblings
Children (including adopted and stepchildren)
Grandchildren
Household members

Once your family member joins Navy Federal, you'll be eligible as well. If they can't or don't want to become a member right now, you can still join. You may need one of the following documents from your family member:

Driver's License with Veterans designation
State-issued Veteran ID Card
Military orders
Leave orders
Earning statement (LES)
Enlistment papers
Proof of direct deposit from DoD
Pension papers from DoD
DD 214
NGB 22

Re: Navy Federal Membership Question

CreditCuriosity — Fri, 23 Nov 2018 23:39:02 GMT

Be careful OP as others echoed you can be shutdown fairly quickly you joined by deceased relatives. Their team that handles eligibility is pretty on top of things.

Re: Navy Federal Membership Question

DaveInAZ — Fri, 23 Nov 2018 23:57:31 GMT

@CreditCuriosity wrote:
Be careful OP as others echoed you can be shutdown fairly quickly you joined by deceased relatives. Their team that handles eligibility is pretty on top of things.

Hmm, my late father served in the army and as I was executor of his estate I have his papers and found his army ID card. That should work but I'm really not seeing a reason to join. They're known for their generous CLs on CCs and low auto loan rates, but I don't need either, and their checking & savings accounts don't look that great compared to what I already have.

Re: Navy Federal Membership Question

Anonymous — Sat, 24 Nov 2018 01:38:23 GMT

@CreditCuriosity wrote:
Be careful OP as others echoed you can be shutdown fairly quickly you joined by deceased relatives. Their team that handles eligibility is pretty on top of things.

I thought the same, but three CSR reps have assured me that I'm eligible based on the veteran status of a deceased immediate family member. One of them told me, basically, that if one of my loved ones died/sacrificed for this country, then I should be eligible based on MY service to that loved one when they were alive; it would be 'cruel' otherwise. That makes sense.

Re: Navy Federal Membership Question

Anonymous — Sat, 24 Nov 2018 01:48:05 GMT

He is just saying to be ready with supporting documentation and I agree.

Re: Navy Federal Membership Question

CA4Closure — Sat, 24 Nov 2018 06:26:58 GMT

I pulled out my cellphone and showed them the aircraft carriers and fighter jets I served in/on (F-14B, F/A 18Super Hornet) but I think seeing Cmdr next to my name must have impressed the guy!

Re: Navy Federal Membership Question

Anonymous — Sat, 24 Nov 2018 06:30:35 GMT

@CA4Closure wrote:
I pulled out my cellphone and showed them the aircraft carriers and fighter jets I served in/on (F-14B, F/A 18Super Hornet) but I think seeing Cmdr next to my name must have impressed the guy!

Ha! Yeah, aaaaall my relatives have been flyboys. I became a teacher, but my grandfathers pooled their resources and more or less forced me to get a pilot license. I guess if they have any questions about me, I'll show them my birth certificate, which has my dad's name ... and my grandfather's death certificate, which indicates that he was in the military, with my dad listed as his son. I ain't got no time to track down 60+ year old DD214 forms.

Re: Navy Federal Membership Question

EAJuggalo — Sun, 25 Nov 2018 03:31:49 GMT

I joined earlier this year using my grandfather who enlisted during WWII. I happen to have a copy of his enlistment paperwork and told them that on the phone. I have yet to be asked for any documentation. I opened savings accounts for both of my sons and my wife joined as well.

Re: Navy Federal Membership Question

Anonymous — Sun, 25 Nov 2018 04:24:58 GMT

@EAJuggalo wrote:
I joined earlier this year using my grandfather who enlisted during WWII. I happen to have a copy of his enlistment paperwork and told them that on the phone. I have yet to be asked for any documentation. I opened savings accounts for both of my sons and my wife joined as well.

Yeah, I have my birth certificate, daddio's birth certificate, gramps's death certificate (shows veteran status and dad's name as informant), and I know the funeral home has the service record if I need it. I just don't want to get a frozen account when they do an audit. I have had that happen before, with my current CU. It isn't a CU policy; it's a NCUA policy to ensure charter compliance, and they do get audited from time to time.

Re: Navy Federal Membership Question

VipreArmed — Tue, 11 Dec 2018 00:16:41 GMT

Glad I found this thread because I was interested in membership too.

Question,

My grandfather was in the Army and I have enlistment papers and everything. I know my mother has her birth certificate with him listed. My question is it easier to get her in first and then have her add me later. We're both looking for a credit union so judging by the comments, it would seem like it's easier to get her in being a child of a enlisted deceased armed force member and then I go thru her. Is there a wait time once you are in before you can add members? Or is it immediate? Worst case scenario we could both just apply (I'm sure I can produce documents verifying I'm a grandson of a veteran. But it would just seem like adding her would be easiest and then me later.

Re: Navy Federal Membership Question

Anonymous — Tue, 11 Dec 2018 00:52:55 GMT

@VipreArmed wrote:
Glad I found this thread because I was interested in membership too.

Question,

My grandfather was in the Army and I have enlistment papers and everything. I know my mother has her birth certificate with him listed. My question is it easier to get her in first and then have her add me later. We're both looking for a credit union so judging by the comments, it would seem like it's easier to get her in being a child of a enlisted deceased armed force member and then I go thru her. Is there a wait time once you are in before you can add members? Or is it immediate? Worst case scenario we could both just apply (I'm sure I can produce documents verifying I'm a grandson of a veteran. But it would just seem like adding her would be easiest and then me later.

Honestly, they probably won't ask for proof. They didn't ask me. I just told them my eligibility category and that was that. If they do ask, you have the paperwork in order, so no problem. And I can't really say much about the rest..... :-/

Re: Navy Federal Membership Question

CJ7 — Fri, 14 Dec 2018 07:40:16 GMT

Looks like I'm NFCU's newest member!

Just got off the phone with a nice CSR, at the end of the call he said welcome to Navy!

Never asked for grandfather's DOB or social - I offered and he said

it (the screen) never asked for it.

He gave me my account number and said someone would be calling

to welcome me and go over their various products.

Re: Navy Federal Membership Question

Guyatthebeach — Sat, 15 Dec 2018 15:11:38 GMT

I would keep a copy of the paperwork just in case Navy Federal's verification department wants to review. There are documented case of accounts being shut down and funds frozen for weeks while the verification department reviewed documents. When I joined NFCU a few years ago through the Navy League(that method is now closed), I had rep rep scan the documents when I opened my accounts in the branch.

I'm very impressed with NFCU. I love their rates.

Guyatthebeach

Re: Navy Federal Membership Question

Anonymous — Sat, 15 Dec 2018 15:29:12 GMT

@Guyatthebeach wrote:
I would keep a copy of the paperwork just in case Navy Federal's verification department wants to review. There are documented case of accounts being shut down and funds frozen for weeks while the verification department reviewed documents. When I joined NFCU a few years ago through the Navy League(that method is now closed), I had rep rep scan the documents when I opened my accounts in the branch.

I'm very impressed with NFCU. I love their rates.

Guyatthebeach

Yeah, and I'm more understanding about that than most. My current CU froze me out about three years ago because they were audited, and they didn't have evidence that I had been an employee of the university they serve. Fortunately, they're small enough that it was resolved in about 24 hours. Navy Federal, on the other hand? Anyway. It happens because their not-for-profit status depends on that membership exclusivity. And that's cool; I get it. I was at Ikea in Orlando last week and saw the little Navy Federal sign (In five years I had NEVER seen it there before!), so I just toddled on home, got my paperwork, and handed it to them. There won't be any problems now.

Re: Navy Federal Membership Question

UncleB — Sun, 16 Dec 2018 18:21:52 GMT

Congrats on your membership, @CJ7!

FWIW, I've not seen any mentions of them freezing anybody's account(s) for a while now, and the few that have popped-up have been when people used a roommate as their sponsor (which while allowed they do watch that closely, and you have to have the paperwork perfect).

Navy has their own 'ways' of checking things out, and if the rep indicated that everything was OK with using your grandfather's service to qualify there's an excellent chance you have nothing to be concerned about.