Official Credit Unions Guide

[baller4life]

@joltdude I have seen Hanscom Federal mentioned a few times. May be one we need to look into folks! 😉

[galahad15]

(Select posts about Unify FCU copied and pasted from this earlier thread, at baller's request)

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@galahad15 wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

I've been doing some shopping around for some good low fixed rate CCs that are not secured CCs.  Seems they have all but disappeared since the financial crises a few years back.

I have my eye on Unify's 8.99 Fixed Rate Visa Platinum, but was wondering if any of you use or know of cards lower than that.

Thanks!

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Sorry, one other quick point I forgot to mention in my earlier posts, on the Unify Fixed-Rate VISA as low as 8.99% F, if you were potentially still interested in looking into that option:  I was told by the CU CSR I originally apped for the card with over  the phone that you need EX Score 2 FICOs of between 740-750, to qualify for the lowest rate from them.  Please note that Unify does not use Score 8 FICOs for people apping for their cards, they only use the EX Score 2 model. 

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@galahad15 wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@galahad15 wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

I've been doing some shopping around for some good low fixed rate CCs that are not secured CCs.  Seems they have all but disappeared since the financial crises a few years back.

I have my eye on Unify's 8.99 Fixed Rate Visa Platinum, but was wondering if any of you use or know of cards lower than that.

Thanks!

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Sorry, one other quick point I forgot to mention in my earlier posts, on the Unify Fixed-Rate VISA as low as 8.99% F, if you were potentially still interested in looking into that option:  I was told by the CU CSR I originally apped for the card with over  the phone that you need EX Score 2 FICOs of between 740-750, to qualify for the lowest rate from them.  Please note that Unify does not use Score 8 FICOs for people apping for their cards, they only use the EX Score 2 model. 

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Oh!, thank you so much for that bit of info! It helps me to know when to apply.  I do want the best rate so I have to get my score up more before I even think about app'ing for it. 

Very helpful!  Thank you!

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Whoo hoo!  I just checked and my EX Fico Score 2 is 745!  I have a bit more to go if they use Fico BankCard Score 2, but even that is 735!  So not too far to go. Happy. Happy!

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Congrats & very happy for you on the excellent and outstanding score there!    As far as I am aware and to the best of my knowledge based on the info I received from the CU representative, she confirmed over the phone earlier to me that Unify pulls FICO Score 2 (i.e., the one that is sometimes used for mortgage lending purposes as well), but not the FICO BankCard Score 2 

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@galahad15 wrote:

Oh -- one other important thing about Unify, the CU rep also said that apparently, you will need a minimum starting CL of $14k (ETA:  or maybe $11k; sorry can't recall the exact figure atm?) IIRC to qualify for their 8.99% F Platinum card, since they have 3 tiers:  Classic, Gold, and Platinum.  If you qualify for a starting limit of less than $14k, you automatically qualify instead for the Gold card, of which the lowest-available APR of that tier is 9.99% F.  Similarly, the lowest-available rate of their Classic card is 12.5% F.

ETA:  just to clarify and if I am hopefully remembering right, I think the min. starting CL for the Gold card is $5k, otherwise if your SL is less than $5k, you are automatically qualified for the Classic card instead of the Gold card.

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[baller4life]

You rock galahad! Thank you!! 😃

[galahad15]

Sure thing anytime, always glad to help & thank you as well baller! 

[baller4life]

Haha yw. I will be looking into Premier America CU because of you galahad! That is just an incredible card. AND we have branches here in Houston!

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Decided to open a Savings and Checking account at  First Tech Federal Credit Union.

It is definitely a HP with at least EX.  

Does anyone know if they utilize that HP for other products and how long that HP may be good for? 

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It's valid for a month. Just call CSR, ask them to use the same HP and also let them apply on behalf of you.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

Decided to open a Savings and Checking account at  First Tech Federal Credit Union.

It is definitely a HP with at least EX.  

Does anyone know if they utilize that HP for other products and how long that HP may be good for? 

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It's valid for a month. Just call CSR, ask them to use the same HP and also let them apply on behalf of you.

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Many thanks. 

[cjv2192]

My only data point to offer is NASA.  After reading about so many that had benefitted at from large SLs for their CCs just prior to that time, I joined March 2015 with the savings account and applied for the Platinum Rewards Visa within a week or two of opening the account.  Both were sofpulls.  

My SL for the CC was $4,600 - certainly much lower than I was expecting.  I was told any request for CLI would result in a hard pull, and that they would provide a $1,000 auto CLI after a year.  I used it for infrequent transactions from that time, but at least 2-3 a month.  I did not automatically receive the CLI, but did after sending a private message to them in April of this year.  In June, I asked for an increase to $25,000 - Experian hp.  I ended up receiving "only" $15,000 after they requested POI and the most recent paystub happened to not include any commissions for that bimonthly pay period.

In August of this year I apped for a $30k personal loan through SoFi to consolidate CC debt and have leftover cash for a business I started.  I was denied due to them shorting me severely on my income, as commissions are 50% or more of my yearly income.  It really didn't dawn on me to go through NASA for the personal loan until reading this thread, strangely enough.  I suppose I assumed I would have the same issues that I had with SoFi, and to a lesser extent, my CLI request with NASA.

This Wednesday the 26th I applied for their Signature Personal Loan from their website, only to receive the error message that the application could not be completed and to call in.  I did, stated my income and purpose (debt consolidation and small business amount), was told I would receive my answer in 24hrs.  Sure enough, yesterday early morning, I received the email - approved $30k!  In the loan doc, my Experian FICO 2 was 737.

I know NASA appears to have fallen out of favor by some, and has worked out well for others.  It's been great for me.
15k VISA CC
30k Personal Loan 

Thank you for this thread, because of all the data provided, I'll be looking to add one CU by EQ and one by TU most likely in January when my IRS tax lien self releases (I was able to remove from EX early).

Chris

[baller4life]

That is AWESOME Chris!!! Congratulations! I am so glad NASA has worked out for you!! They love some and hate others. They are an odd lender for sure!

I'm also glad this thread has been helpful to you. That was the whole point of its creation! 😆

[cjv2192]

It certainly has, it's really appreciated.

Chris