topic Re: Which Credit Union is Best for Me? in Credit Cards

Which Credit Union is Best for Me?

Anonymous — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 17:13:17 GMT

I've done a lot of searching on this forum and on whogavemecredit, but I'm hoping someone can give me more info as to which credit union will likely approve me for a CC. BTW I can't go with CCCU because I am on CheckSystems. I think NavyFCU is out because I'm not in the military, nor is anyone I know. Here is my situation:

Baddies - 2 CO's, over 2 years old, both paid. A few lates on student loans, newest one was 3/2006. Lots of INQ's, but only about 1 on each is within the last 12 months.

Goodies - 2 CC's never late, 1 is 2 years old, the other is 1.5 years old. Auto loan never late 1 year old. Low UTI

I was just approved for AMEX Delta last week.

FICO Scores - EX 672, EQ 685, TU 639 (but will be higher, when I updated my scores last week my CC payoff had not yet shown up like it did on the other 2)

Re: Which Credit Union is Best for Me?

haulingthescoreup — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 17:52:36 GMT

Have you considered just checking your yellow pages and visiting your local credit unions? The mega-CU's that get discussed here can be great too --I'm with USAA --but there's a lot to be said for the locals as well. The ones in our area have widened their membership categories so much that pretty much anyone can join, and they all offer cards, as well as mortgages, personal loans, car loans, and so forth, plus discounts for local stuff. I would think your scores would make you very welcome indeed.

There's a lot to be said for having a face-to-face relationship with at least one of your creditors!

Re: Which Credit Union is Best for Me?

kclb — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 17:55:09 GMT

@haulingthescoreup wrote:
Have you considered just checking your yellow pages and visiting your local credit unions? The mega-CU's that get discussed here can be great too --I'm with USAA --but there's a lot to be said for the locals as well. The ones in our area have widened their membership categories so much that pretty much anyone can join, and they all offer cards, as well as mortgages, personal loans, car loans, and so forth, plus discounts for local stuff. I would think your scores would make you very welcome indeed.

There's a lot to be said for having a face-to-face relationship with at least one of your creditors!

Credit Unions rock! Yeah, go check out the local ones.

Re: Which Credit Union is Best for Me?

Anonymous — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 18:06:46 GMT

I just pulled out my yellowpages, there are only a few. All the ones that had a website I checked out, I didn't qualify for any! I live in South Jersey and I didn't even qualify for the South Jersey FCU because the county I live and work in is not included.

So if anyone can give me some input on the major ones I'd really appreciate it.

Re: Which Credit Union is Best for Me?

kclb — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 18:09:46 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I just pulled out my yellowpages, there are only a few. All the ones that had a website I checked out, I didn't qualify for any! I live in South Jersey and I didn't even qualify for the South Jersey FCU because the county I live and work in is not included.
So if anyone can give me some input on the major ones I'd really appreciate it.

Hm. I'm surprised to hear that. The Credit Unions shouldn't be as strict as the banks. How about just having an account opened up first? Checking or Savings then apply for CC after? I got my car loan from one of the local CU's in Hawaii and I had HORRIBLE fico scores. I think the dealership also knew the loan people as well though. Don't know any major CU companies.... but good luck.

Re: Which Credit Union is Best for Me?

Anonymous — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 18:24:13 GMT

I live in a pretty small community, I checked out 5 CU's websites in my area. All of them have requirements such as working in certain industries, living in certain areas, etc. Some of the websites even list how many members they have and none were over 2,000. I was looking for more info on the CU's talked about on these forums such as Justice FCU, Patelco, NASA FCU, and so on.

Anyone have any input as to which one would be best for me???

Re: Which Credit Union is Best for Me?

SonorityGenius — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 18:27:14 GMT

Hi Head,

I will let you in on a secret; "Theres always a way!"

hehe

PenFed: You gotta join the Military Families Assoc. for $25 one time annual fee and you can gain entry into this very friendly, very low rate CU

https://www.penfed.org

Re: Which Credit Union is Best for Me?

haulingthescoreup — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 18:34:27 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I just pulled out my yellowpages, there are only a few. All the ones that had a website I checked out, I didn't qualify for any! I live in South Jersey and I didn't even qualify for the South Jersey FCU because the county I live and work in is not included.
So if anyone can give me some input on the major ones I'd really appreciate it.

Wow, sorry to hear that. Off to the nationals, then!

Justice FCU seems to be very popular around here. One way in is to join the NSA (National Sheriff's Assn, not National Security Agency!) for $35, I think it is. There are several threads going on about them, although they all suffer greatly from distracting side themes.

I've also heard good stuff about NASA FCU --I think Brammy posts about it sometimes. Join the National Space Society pretty cheap, and you're eligible. Nerdy cool cards, too!

http://www.nasafcu.com/l2.aspx?ci=866

Are you a student, or have you recently been a student? Most colleges and universities have a link to a credit union. You might also ask around at work to see if anyone there knows a good one. Same for religious affiliation, union, etc etc.

Hope that helps.

Re: Which Credit Union is Best for Me?

Anonymous — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 18:42:13 GMT

Thanks Hauling for all the great info. Do you happen to know if one of the CU's is more lenient in granting credit? I know my scores aren't really horrible, but I would like the odds to be in my favor before applying anywhere.

Re: Which Credit Union is Best for Me?

haulingthescoreup — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 18:47:42 GMT

It is perfectly legitimate for anyone to join the National Military Family Association. It's open to civilians as well as military. Nothing heh heh about it:

http://www.nmfa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=membership_levels

Same with the National Sheriff's Association to be eligible for NFCU.

I guess I'm going to be preachy, here... There are a lot of credit unions like these two with pretty broad umbrellas that make it easy to get in. There are others who have chosen not to be so open. If someone has to lie and otherwise misrepresent themselves to get into a CU, I think that's outrageously disrespectful to that organization and its legitimate members.

Happy Veterans Day.

Re: Which Credit Union is Best for Me?

haulingthescoreup — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 18:49:16 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Thanks Hauling for all the great info. Do you happen to know if one of the CU's is more lenient in granting credit? I know my scores aren't really horrible, but I would like the odds to be in my favor before applying anywhere.

That one I can't answer, but do a search on these threads by typing nasa or jfcu or whatever in that search box up in the top left. (Get nice and comfortable first! )

Re: Which Credit Union is Best for Me?

Anonymous — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 19:09:48 GMT

haulingthescoreup wrote:
It is perfectly legitimate for anyone to join the National Military Family Association. It's open to civilians as well as military. Nothing heh heh about it:

http://www.nmfa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=membership_levels

Same with the National Sheriff's Association to be eligible for NFCU.

I guess I'm going to be preachy, here... There are a lot of credit unions like these two with pretty broad umbrellas that make it easy to get in. There are others who have chosen not to be so open. If someone has to lie and otherwise misrepresent themselves to get into a CU, I think that's outrageously disrespectful to that organization and its legitimate members.

Happy Veterans Day.

This is why I feel like I shouldn't even try and join the ones local to me. I am clearly not eligible per their requirements and don't want to lie or sneak my way in.

Message Edited by headspin on 11-12-2007 11:09 AM

Re: Which Credit Union is Best for Me?

haulingthescoreup — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 19:43:46 GMT

I could tell! I didn't mean that for you --getting grumpy in my old age.

Good luck on your hunt. I think JFCU and PenFed would welcome you; otherwise they would not have included those open organizations on their lists, I guess. That's a shame that none in your area have wised up to the potential members around them. The old-line CU's can be quirky, that's for sure.

Re: Which Credit Union is Best for Me?

Anonymous — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 00:47:44 GMT

(CUs are open to anyone unless otherwise stated)

Join Wescom $100 min savings, $15 fee, Socal Only (Worship OK!) Wescom Online CC App

Kinecta Join $10 Coop fee, $5 share acct. Open to Anyone. Kinecta Federal Credit Union Online CC App

Patelco Credit Union ($20 fee to join, elgibility: Just type member of the California Association for Older Americans in app. No charge, and they don't verify apparently) $5 share acct, $20 fee to join CU. Patelco CU Visa App Security Service FCU (Online app states non-members may apply) If approved, anyone can join this thru a co-op. Digitial CU $15 to join Co Op, $5 share acct CC App accessible here.

Lockheed FCU ($5 Co Op, $5 Share) CC App here also. GTE FCU $10 co-op, $5 share, $50 checking acct.

Join by phone or request info online Michigan State University FCU (Link to join CO OP - $50 for 1 year) Michigan State University FCU link to join CU - $5 share, $1 fee.

VISA App Addison Avenue FCU Co Op $5 (Coop also allows you to join Spectrum FCU! CC App.) $5 share acct.

Western FCU - 1 of 2 co ops, $10+, $5 share, and $5 fee to join. CC App. NASA FCU $20 Co Op, $25 share act.

Spectrum FCU $25 share, $5 fee. Co Op $5 (See Addison AVE CO OP, Same)

American First CU $5 fee, $50 share ($500 min to avoid monthly fee) Must live/work/worship in OC, Chino Hills or Corona, calif.

Altura CU $10 share, $2 fee. Must live/work/worship/attend school in specified SoCal areas.(SB, Riv, OC, SD) No BT fees 8.99-12.99 APR

California Coastal CU (Co Op Link) $25 share. Assoc. is $10/year, and App is mail only.

California Coastal CU JOIN Link. $25 share, Need to be Cal. PTA member (See above) California Coastal CU CC App 1.99% for 6mos NO BT fees.

USA Federal CU $5 share, $5 fee. Call 24hrs for info on join Assoc. open to anyone. Unkown cost. They take CC apps from Non-members! California CU Need to join PTA (open to Anyone) Unkown share, but I saw $100 is min. to avoid monthly fees. Can apply for CC w/o becoming a member for $5 fee. Then will need to join, and be elgible.

Christian Community CU $100 share. Need "personal statement of faith" 0% for 6mos NO BT fees

SCE FCU Field of Membership in some CA, AZ, and NC cities (See link). Unkown Share min. Premier America Credit Union $5 share, $5 fee. F.O.M Ventura County, and parts of LA County. (worship OK) may also join AAAE CoOp (Anyone, for an unkown fee) May apply for CC before joining.

First Entertainment CU $5 share, $5 fee. F.O.M.to" most individuals" in "Greater Los Angeles area" (Worship OK) Request Kit by mail, CC app online.

LBS Financial CU FOM: Orange County, Riverside County, SE LA County. (MUST live or work in) $5 share, $1 fee. Print Joining App. Online Visa App.

CU of Southern California FOM: NW OC, and EAST LA Co. Worship OK. Unkown Share, print and mail app. E1 Financial CU FOM: Select Socal Cities (See link) Worship OK! Unkown Share amt. OK to Apply for visa online under "Online Services" before joining.

First City CU $5 share, $5 fee. FOM: LA County, Select SB County cities (See link) Worship OK! Join first, then online visa app.

Water & Power Community CU $5 fee, $25 share. FOM: Greater LA Area (Most of LA) Check zip here. Worship OK! Must join first. CCs have Annual Fees.

Costa Mesa FCU $5 fee $50 share. FOM: Costa Mesa, CA (Worship OK!) May fax in app. Can apply for CC online once member.

Pacific Coast CU $50 share. FOM: Newport Beach & Costa Mesa, CA (Worship OK!) CC app accepted online for non-members if elgible.

Universal City Studios CU $25 share, $1 fee. FOM: West LA, SFV. (Worship OK!) Fax member app. 6.99 fixed CC APR. Online CC App.

California Bear CU $25 share, $5 fee. FOM: City of LA. (Worship OK!) Apply for CC online, nonmembers OK.

Nevada FCU $25 share. FOM: live/work in Clark county, Reno, or Pahrump NV. Apply for CC online, as low as 5.99 APR.

Community One CU $25 share. FOM: Clark County, NV (Worship OK!) Apply for CC online for nonmembers.

(Serviced by LoanLiner) Ensign FCU $25 share. FOM: Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and their families throughout Lincoln, Nye and Clark Counties, NV. Apply for CC Online for Non(Elgible)-members .

Boulder Dam CU Unkown Share or FOM. Apply by phone only. They offer a Credit card. Members 1st CU $5 share if AGE 22 $25 if AGE > 22. FOM: Select PA Counties (Worship OK!) Apply for CC By phone.

BECU CU $5 share. FOM: Washington State. (Worship OK!) America First CU $25 share. FOM: Salt Lake county, UT, within 12 miles of Mesquite Nevada Post Office. (Worship OK!)

Arizona FCU $25 share. FOM: Maricopa, Pinal counties, or city of Tucson, Arizona. (Worship OK!) Randolph Brooks FCU $5 share. FOM: Areas of Texas. (Worship OK!)

Mission FCU Unkown Share. FOM: San Diego County, CA. (Worship, or do Business in OK!)

South Carolina FCU $5 share, $5 fee. FOM: Select South Carolina Counties. (Worship OK!) Promo to earn $250 for checking w/ D.D. & Estatements!

Travis CU $5 share, $5 fee. FOM: Select Northern CA Counties. (Worship OK!)

Hudson Valley FCU $5 share. FOM: Select NY Counties. (Worship or Volunteer OK!)

Justice FCU $35 Co Op, $5 share. FOM: NSA Members. 6.99 for 6mos See link ESL FCU $1 share FOM: Join a Co Op (See link, must call a # for info) or Area:Rochester, NY (Worship OK!)

Kern Schools FCU $50 share. FOM: Kern County, CA (Worship OK!)

Founders FCU $5 share. FOM: "Designated areas" (Not specified, call for info) Worship OK! They have Branches in SC & WI.

Chartway FCU $5 share ($200 min to avoid fees, or have 2nd acct such as CC or CD) FOM: designated areas of Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, VA; Houston, TX; Pinellas County, FL; Providence, RI; Kent or Washington counties of Rhode Island. (Worship OK according to this page)

Tinker FCU $5 share FOM: any of the following Oklahoma counties: Payne, Pontotoc, Seminole (Worship OK!) 3.99 for 6mos on Purch.

Clearview FCU $10 share FOM: Southwestern Pennsylvania community which includes Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington and Westmoreland Counties.

(Worship or business in OK) 5.99% for 6mos University FCU $5 share, $1 fee, $20 donation for Co Op. 6.9% fixed rate for "Excellent" credit.

Coastal FCU $25 share, $1 fee. $10 Co-Op. 5.99 fixed starting rate. Capital Communications FCU $25 share. FOM: NY cities of: Albany, Cohoes, Mechanicville, Rensselaer, Schenectady, Troy, Watervliet or the Town of Green Island (Worship OK!)

Visions FCU $1 fee $25 share. FOM: Broome, Chenango, Tioga, Chemung*, Schuyler* (NY), the City of Syracuse, or Bradford County (PA) (Worship or Conduct Business OK) Annual Fees on some CCs.

Northeast CU $5 share FOM: ME Counties: Strafford, Rockingham, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Belknap, Carroll or Southern York (Conduct Biz, or Worship OK!)

American Eagle CU $5 share FOM: Hartford County, Middlesex County, or Tolland County CT. (Worship OK) Schools Financial CU $1 share! FOM: CA Counties of Butte, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, Sutter, Yolo, and Yuba (Worship OK)

Tyndall FCU $5 share $1 fee FOM: FL Counties of Gulf, Walton, Jackson, Bay, Okaloosa, Franklin, Calhoun, Holmes, or Washington. (Worship Ok!)

MAX FCU $5 share $1 fee FOM: Counties of Montgomery, Autauga, or Elmore (AL State Area) (Worship OK)

Watermark CU $25 share FOM: WA State (Worship OK!) Aberdeen Proving Ground FCU $5 share FOM: Harford or Cecil County or certain areas in Middle River, Maryland. (Worship OK)

Firstmark CU $5 share. FOM: Bexar County, Texas. Elevations CU $25 share Co Op: Coloardo Alumni Assoc. $20+ (See other link for Co Op) Colorado Alumni Assoc. Co Op Link (lets you in Elevations CU, and possibly others)

Robins FCU: $25 share ($100 to avoid fees) FOM:Central Georgia area. Baldwin, Bibb, Clarke, Crawford, Emanuel, Houston, Jones, Macon, Monroe, Peach, Pulaski, Putnam, Taylor, Telfair, Twiggs, and Wilkinson counties (Worship OK)

Keesler FCU $5 share. FOM: Pearl River County Mississippi (Worship OK!)

Pacific Service CU $100 share to avoid fees FOM:Alameda, Contra Costa, Fresno, Marin, Napa, Placer, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano or Sonoma counties (CA) (Worship OK!)

Spokane Teachers CU $50 share, $20 fee. (May fund w/ CC) FOM: tate of Washington or in Bonner and Kootenai Counties in Idaho (Worship OK!)

American Heritage FCU $15 share FOM: Philadelphia, PA and select surronding areas (Worship OK!)

DuPont Community CU $25 share FOM:Cities of Augusta Rockingham (VA Area) Worship OK!

Suffolk FCU $5 share. FOM: Suffolk County, NY (Worship OK!) Andrews FCU $5 share ($100 to avoid fees) FOM: Washington, DC (Worship OK!)

3.9% for 12mos Texas Dow Employees CU $5 share. FOM:Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Jackson, Lavaca, Refugio or Victoria County, TX. (Worship OK!)

US FCU $5 share FOM: Greater Twin Cities area, Northfield Comminity, Atlanta Airport Community (Worship or Volunteer OK!)

Eastman CU $5.25 share FOM: Many TN, VA, and Gregg & Harrison County, TX counties. See link for maps (Worship OK!)

Provident CU $25 share. FOM: Many Co Ops to join (See link) Also, many Norcal areas, and city of LA qualifies.

Affinity Plus FCU $10 share FOM: Roseville, Arden Hills, Mounds View, Shoreview, St Anthony, New Birighton, MN (worship OK!)

Or join CO OP (See below) Co Op for Affinity Plus FCU $25 for Co Op United FCU AKA First Resource CU $300 to avoid fees FOM: Select areas in AR, OH, OK, MI, & NC (See census tracts on site) Worship OK.

Seven Seventeen CU $5 share. FOM: Select Areas in OH (See link) Worship OK. Must notarize App. NuUnion CU $5 shre FOM: Select MI areas. (Worship OK!) Apply by fax. CC App Online.

City-County FCU $5 share. FOM: Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, or Washington County (MN Area) Worship OK!

SAFE FCU $5 share FOM: Lee, Clarendon, and Sumter and parts of Kershaw, Florence, Richland and Lexington counties, SC (Worship OK)

Huway FCU $5 share. FOM: Twin Cities Area (See link) Worship OK!

Wright-Patt CU $5 share FOM: Select areas in SW Ohio. (Worship OK!)

AltaOne FCU $25 share. FOM: Mono, Inyo or Kern Counties and selected communities in Northern San Bernardino county, CA (Worship or Volunteer in OK!)

Sikorsky Financial CU $5 share. FOM: Fairfield, New Haven and Hartford counties of Connecticut (and also the towns of New Milford and Bridgewater in Litchfield County) (Worship or Volunteer OK!)

First Future CU $5 share. FOM: San Diego County, CA (Worship OK!)

Delta CU - residents of Cobb, Coweta, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett and Henry counties in GA; employees / retired employees of various companies - got a 4% car loan here.

Redwood CU Anyone living or working in the following Northern Bay Area counties of California may join Redwood Credit Union: Sonoma, Marin, Mendocino, Lake, Napa,San Francisco,Contra Costa,Solano -----EQ pull for credit application only

Message Edited by fused on 11-15-2007 02:47 PM

Re: Which Credit Union is Best for Me?

SonorityGenius — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 17:29:14 GMT

Holy CRAP..

to the above..

My brain just had a partial seizure lmao

but what a vast amount of GREAT info! (when spaced, insert paragraphs, and capital first word letters)

Re: Which Credit Union is Best for Me?

Anonymous — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 17:42:09 GMT

Gosh doodah, where in the world did you find time to type all that stuff.

I just went into a hypnotic state trying to read it!(and yes I really did, lol)

Re: Which Credit Union is Best for Me?

haulingthescoreup — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 18:28:58 GMT

Gotta be a copy/ paste into Firefox, and then didn't realize that the carriage return conversion button at the bottom left had to be hit! Wow, my old wrist fracture started aching about halfway down that one.

Nice research!

Re: Which Credit Union is Best for Me?

fused — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 00:36:05 GMT

Clean-up Time!

Re: Which Credit Union is Best for Me?

haulingthescoreup — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 01:04:18 GMT

FICO EQ 764 EX 752 TU 761 (11-06-2007)

We hiked along without care.
Then we ran into a bear!
He was a hairy bear!
He was a scary bear!
We beat a hasty retreat from his lair,
And described him with adjectives!

Oh cripes, not THAT thing again!

Re: Which Credit Union is Best for Me?

fused — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 01:46:25 GMT

haulingthescoreup wrote:

FICO EQ 764 EX 752 TU 761 (11-06-2007)

We hiked along without care.
Then we ran into a bear!
He was a hairy bear!
He was a scary bear!
We beat a hasty retreat from his lair,
And described him with adjectives!

:

Oh cripes, not THAT thing again!

If you want, I'll one-up you and place the actual link, song included, in your sig and mine.:smileytongue

JK!

Message Edited by fused on 11-15-2007 03:46 PM