topic Re: BEST Credit Unions (Poll) in Credit Cards

BEST Credit Unions (Poll)

Anonymous — Sat, 02 Jan 2021 14:34:23 GMT

I'm looking for the BEST Credit Unions for a Card relationship. For a co-daily driver beside my Disco.

I want a CU that offers large limit caps (my local CU caps out at $7,500).

Good rewards.

Easy application process.

AOD, obviously.

Who else? I have read a couple that really sounded great. But I can't seem to remember the names now!

Re: BEST Credit Unions (Poll)

Anonymous — Sat, 02 Jan 2021 14:39:43 GMT

For example: I have heard great things about Affinity FCU. BUTTTTT is that for Affinity PLUS CU or Affinity CU? Their cards even look the same!!!

Re: BEST Credit Unions (Poll)

tcbofade — Sat, 02 Jan 2021 14:50:08 GMT

Navy Federal caps out at $80k, and they've been awfully good to me!

Re: BEST Credit Unions (Poll)

Gunnerboy — Sat, 02 Jan 2021 15:01:57 GMT

BECU gave me three auto-CLI's during the first 10yrs of my account

Disclaimer: Back then, I kept a revolving balance on the card and utilization was always between 25-50 percent. I have always had checking, savings, direct-deposit, and car loans with them.

Re: BEST Credit Unions (Poll)

Anonymous — Sat, 02 Jan 2021 15:04:14 GMT

@Gunnerboy You know, I'm a member of BECU, have been for 10 months now, but it's remained at $0 in account. I'm scared to actually use the checking/savings OR open a card. Because of the MANY horror stories posted here about them REQUIRING an IN PERSON visit, even for out of state people, even MONTHS after using the card. 😱😱�

Re: BEST Credit Unions (Poll)

coldfusion — Sat, 02 Jan 2021 15:17:35 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I'm looking for the BEST Credit Unions for a Card relationship. For a co-daily driver beside my Disco.

I want a CU that offers large limit caps (my local CU caps out at $7,500).
Good rewards.
Easy application process.

AOD, obviously.

Who else? I have read a couple that really sounded great. But I can't seem to remember the names now!

A good bet would be to spend some time looking through the site's Approvals section to get some ideas because the requirements you list are fairly subjective. If you help fill in the blanks we can give you more accurate feedback.

Is a $25K cap sufficient?. Can you provide relevant factors like whether or not you are ex-military, your FICO scores, roughl range of your income, what if any derogs, what are your primary spend categories (groceries? utilities? ??) etc.

If you help fill in the blanks we can give you more accurate feedback.

Re: BEST Credit Unions (Poll)

Gunnerboy — Sat, 02 Jan 2021 15:22:17 GMT

@Anonymous I've read of those stories here, but I've never heard of any friends or associates that bank with them ever having those issues. I am a life-long WA resident, so perhaps its related to opening up the geo-fence..

Re: BEST Credit Unions (Poll)

Anonymous — Sat, 02 Jan 2021 15:46:33 GMT

@coldfusion I'll be hitting my official 1 Year Credit History milestone within a couple of months. So I'm about at the spot where I can finally get in with good cards. Mind you, I've been VERY patient. I have kept my Inquiries very low, and avoided the temptation of opening pointless cards (cards that WILL give you cards, but are wasteful. Like Fingerhut and First Premier).

I'm at a Mid-7's on scores. Around 760 or 770.

NO Military Affiliation. Have NO interest in NFCU. They are demanding my Dad's DD214. I've gone as high as contacting my local Congressman to get it... Covid-19 has everything out of reach. Since they won't understand that fact, they can keep their products!

1 year old accounts:

Dell @ $3,000

Macy's @ $25,000

NFCU @ $800

Chevron @ $300 (once Covid is in check and I'm able to travel, this will quickly increase! Their only reason for denial on CLI is that I've never used it)

Only New Accounts:

Self Loan @ $800 it is 4 months old.

Disco $2,000 and it is 3 months old.

I have an annual income of $100,000 but it should significantly increase for 2021 -- closer to $250,000 due to both a 50% raise AND I now have a side job, too.

3-5 Inquiries.

Zero debt.

A $25,000 Cap is sufficient. Especially for the next year or two. But a $50,000 cap, or $100,000 cap (potential growth opportunities) would be great!

Re: BEST Credit Unions (Poll)

Remedios — Sat, 02 Jan 2021 15:55:13 GMT

@Anonymous your history is only a year old, and you have 5 accounts already.

While some CUs might approve, there is a decent chance you will continue getting toy limits and/or denials.

You just got Discover, it's effectively 2% card (with delayed gratification), plus 5% rotating categories.

What are you looking for in a card?

Re: BEST Credit Unions (Poll)

Rockysocks — Sat, 02 Jan 2021 16:23:14 GMT

I've never had an issue with Abound (Fort Knox) Federal CU. They give continuous, uncapped 5% Cash back on gas. They also give bonus categories from time to time. For the last few months, they've also been giving 5% on Amazon and 3% on home improvement. I'm unsure of limit caps since my income doesn't support those. Lol. The application process was easy, but I'm fairly sure they only do manual reviews. I live in KY but over three hours from the closest branch. I've had many people on here say they're georestricted and many say they aren't, so YMMV.

UPDATE: I just checked and they have ended the home improvement and Amazon bonuses (I think on the 31st), but, starting yesterday for the first quarter of 2021, they're giving 5% on all restaurants and other prepared food places!!! YAY!!!!!

Re: BEST Credit Unions (Poll)

Jnbmom — Sat, 02 Jan 2021 16:05:51 GMT

@Anonymous

With your current line up I don't think you will be getting high lines right off the bat but and in with CUs does have potential growth.

Yes covid is making things difficult but hopefully down the road things will be a little easier to obtain things. Personally I wouldn't disregard navy all together they are hands down the best CU around .

Penfed is a hit or miss with some , they have been decent to me . BECU is generous too but I had to jump through some hoops .

Re: BEST Credit Unions (Poll)

blindambition — Sat, 02 Jan 2021 16:00:12 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@coldfusion I'll be hitting my official 1 Year Credit History milestone within a couple of months. So I'm about at the spot where I can finally get in with good cards. Mind you, I've been VERY patient. I have kept my Inquiries very low, and avoided the temptation of opening pointless cards (cards that WILL give you cards, but are wasteful. Like Fingerhut and First Premier).

I'm at a Mid-7's on scores. Around 760 or 770.

NO Military Affiliation. Have NO interest in NFCU. They are demanding my Dad's DD214. I've gone as high as contacting my local Congressman to get it... Covid-19 has everything out of reach. Since they won't understand that fact, they can keep their products!

1 year old accounts:
Dell @ $3,000
Macy's @ $25,000
NFCU @ $800
Chevron @ $300 (once Covid is in check and I'm able to travel, this will quickly increase! Their only reason for denial on CLI is that I've never used it)

Only New Accounts:

Self Loan @ $800 it is 4 months old.
Disco $2,000 and it is 3 months old.

I have an annual income of $100,000 but it should significantly increase for 2021 -- closer to $250,000 due to both a 50% raise AND I now have a side job, too.

3-5 Inquiries.

Zero debt.

A $25,000 Cap is sufficient. Especially for the next year or two. But a $50,000 cap, or $100,000 cap (potential growth opportunities) would be great!

If you're looking at AOD, application process is far from easy, but well worth it with right profile.

I'd app them first, due to now being sensitive to inquiries and new accounts. They most likely won't consider your side hustle when calculating income and DTI.

They use EQ, that 3-5 inquiries might be too much for them now. They cap credit at $25k and rarely grace someone with max limit now. Current limits won't net anywhere near that. Maybe $5k.

Re: BEST Credit Unions (Poll)

coldfusion — Sat, 02 Jan 2021 16:01:00 GMT

So, fairly high income, thin/new profile. Off the top of my head you have a good shot at approvals but more likely at modest starting limits that you'll be able to grow.

If you or a parent/grandparent/sibling/spouse are military or ex-military there is NFCU. If you can get in that's a good choice as they tend to be generous, their cards aren't that difficult to grow, and depending on the card it caps at either $50K or $80K.

Penfed. You're already interested in AOD. Both currently cap at $25K.

Your profile is a bit thin but check out First Tech, they like high income coupled with comparatively minimal unsecured credit.

Examples of issuers of high-limit cards are UNFCU ($100K) and Andrews ($50K) but I doubt your profile would support being issued that type of starting limit.

AOD is particularly sensitive to DTI but that's a general trait with credit unions anyway.

Re: BEST Credit Unions (Poll)

Anonymous — Sat, 02 Jan 2021 16:43:54 GMT

@Remedios Well, honestly Disco alone is pleasing. But one of the primary places I spend: over $300 weekly at this one particular place -- plus other odd and end places -- averaging out to $400-$500 per WEEK do not accept Disco... So I REALLY need a Visa or MasterCard. That place even accepts AMEX. Just not Disco... So I'm really needing to add a Visa or MasterCard into my wallet!

The NFCU would have satisfied that. But I digress.

So that's a primary NEED -- a very valid need.

Any suggestions?

Re: BEST Credit Unions (Poll)

rostrow416 — Sat, 02 Jan 2021 16:46:11 GMT

Everyone loves Navy, and I jumped on board. Happy with them overall. But I also joined Penfed, and they were much more generous to me right off the bat ($10k sl vs $1k - applied within a day of joining both.)

Navy does have more cards with cashback perks, but Penfed beats Navy in some rates.

You can't really go wrong with either.

Re: BEST Credit Unions (Poll)

NRB525 — Sat, 02 Jan 2021 16:55:21 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Gunnerboy You know, I'm a member of BECU, have been for 10 months now, but it's remained at $0 in account. I'm scared to actually use the checking/savings OR open a card. Because of the MANY horror stories posted here about them REQUIRING an IN PERSON visit, even for out of state people, even MONTHS after using the card. 😱😱�

IDK, maybe it would be a good housekeeping project for you to add some checking activities to BECU, and apply for a credit card? If they balk at your location, then you know that isn't going to work out and can close accounts with them and move on to something like PenFed.

Or, they start issuing you accounts and you find out why BECU is a good CU.

Re: BEST Credit Unions (Poll)

Anonymous — Sat, 02 Jan 2021 16:56:39 GMT

@Jnbmom @blindambition @coldfusion Great advice! So as for not being eligible to start out high on limits, I have no shortness of patience so that's perfectly fine. I'm easy to please and just need 1 or 2 more good cards to add into my wallet beside Disco, so I won't run into a place that doesn't accept Disco and be stuck only having Debit Cards.

Basically I want to slowly add in only 1-2 cards annually. Allowing them to adequately grow and age. I'm not a speedy or pushy type.

But want to make sure I'm opening good, solid cards that CAN and WILL grow and continue meeting my needs.

I don't want to open a card, receive $2,500 limit, then work hard on it for a year or two, just to learn it's CAP is $2,500 or $5,000, etc. Lol

What hoops are you guys referring to for AoD & BECU?

What is NNFCU?

And First Tech -- what are their pros and cons? Caps?

Are basically ALL cards able to be used in Mexico and Canada? I travel to these two countries annually.

Re: BEST Credit Unions (Poll)

AverageJoesCredit — Sat, 02 Jan 2021 17:10:11 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@coldfusion I'll be hitting my official 1 Year Credit History milestone within a couple of months. So I'm about at the spot where I can finally get in with good cards. Mind you, I've been VERY patient. I have kept my Inquiries very low, and avoided the temptation of opening pointless cards (cards that WILL give you cards, but are wasteful. Like Fingerhut and First Premier).

I'm at a Mid-7's on scores. Around 760 or 770.

NO Military Affiliation. Have NO interest in NFCU. They are demanding my Dad's DD214. I've gone as high as contacting my local Congressman to get it... Covid-19 has everything out of reach. Since they won't understand that fact, they can keep their products!

1 year old accounts:
Dell @ $3,000
Macy's @ $25,000
NFCU @ $800
Chevron @ $300 (once Covid is in check and I'm able to travel, this will quickly increase! Their only reason for denial on CLI is that I've never used it)

Only New Accounts:

Self Loan @ $800 it is 4 months old.
Disco $2,000 and it is 3 months old.

I have an annual income of $100,000 but it should significantly increase for 2021 -- closer to $250,000 due to both a 50% raise AND I now have a side job, too.

3-5 Inquiries.

Zero debt.

A $25,000 Cap is sufficient. Especially for the next year or two. But a $50,000 cap, or $100,000 cap (potential growth opportunities) would be great!

Just want to say Fingerhut is not a waste for some of us. Ive used them twice to kick off my credit and rebuild and never had any issues with them. I knew exactly what i was getting when i applied.

As for Navy, its their right to demand such documents though its truely rare that they would for a direct link like your Dad. Navy isnt just a right to join , many Veterans and active duty personnel have sacrificed a great deal to earn their level of banking. I dont understand why it would be so hard to give them that info as your expereience would be much greater 8mho.

Honestly with only a year credit history, i wouldnt be so demanding of what credit you will accept. Its great to build your credit to your specs but dont tie yourself down to things like caps just because...you make great money, most of us do not but even with lots of income credit wont be simply given. I wish you the best on your jourbey. Just my average penny,

Re: BEST Credit Unions (Poll)

JNA1 — Sat, 02 Jan 2021 17:28:04 GMT

Not a credit Union, but if you want a card that will grow, Synchrony cards ( especially the Lowe's card) and AMEX cards grow like wildfire. My AMEX grew $19,500 to a $30K CL in 11 months. My wife's CL tripled in 5 months on her AMEX card. My Sync PayPal Mastercard has grown from $5500 - $15K in a year also.

You can even go online and prequalify for the Lowe's card that will tell you your starting limit. BBVA does the same, and they are VISA cards.

https://www.lowes.com/l/Credit/consumer-credit-center.html

https://online.bbvausa.com/apply/credit-card-prequal?channelCode=4&channelMediumCode=6&channelServiceCode=49&subchannelCode=1&source=sba&platform=mobile&oneTimeToken=SSOKXaC3UjMIEG8afcHe06h7oQTX1Eg&app=app:::usa--compass_bank_ios-cards-credit_cards--ao_credit_card:::app_bbva_compass::20180620::::&simplifiedFlow=true

I only mention this because I grew my CL to over $100K in less than year's time by getting a Sync card (Summit) and growing very quickly to $10K. Having that CL helped me to get bigger limits from other lenders.

Re: BEST Credit Unions (Poll)

Anonymous — Sat, 02 Jan 2021 17:58:21 GMT

@AverageJoesCredit Well, on a spin note, nearly every member of my family served. My Grandfather especially. High ranked and highly decorated. Including Purple Heart. For them to put me through this, AND FREEZE my money during a time when it's IMPOSSIBLE to meet their needs is ridiculous. Luckily I had not transferred too much into NFCU yet. I've written letters to NPRC, I've tried online through IRIS, eBenefits, and I've called multiple VA's, both nationally and locally. The NPRC is closed until further notice. I just submitted a Privacy Release Form to Congressman Tom Cole and his Military & Veteran Constituent Services representative John Whitney whom told me they will contact DC directly on my behalf... If THIS isn't putting in legwork, then nothing is.

And I'm not being overly demanding or picky. I would just rather patiently wait until appropriate application times to receive the cards I actually WANT/NEED.

At the end of my build, I want a SLEEK and Optimized file. Not one packed full of cards I don't want or need. I never want more than 10 open and active cards, period. Just a sleek, aged, solid file.