Official Credit Unions Guide

[credit_endurance]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

---

@credit_endurance wrote:

Know that I was thinking about I have a couple of questions regarding Alliant for those who have appied from them. I have been reading somewhere that if you opened a checking account with OD protection it WILL be a HP is this accurate? And if so do these use the same HP for other products you apply for? 

---

Hi bruisedcredit,

The only overdraft protection that Alliant offers is a fee-based transfer from your savings to your checking to cover overdrafts (see below). It's bascially the same offer that many banks do to move money from your own savings to your checking, using your own money that you already have in the account.

They don't offer CLOC or PLOC products, unfortunately. Hope this helps.

Overdraft Protection

Increase your peace of mind by opting in to free Alliant Overdraft Protection. We’ll automatically transfer money from your Alliant Savings or Alliant Supplemental Savings Account to avoid overdrafts from check or debit card purchases. Enrolling is free, and you only pay a small $3 fee per day that it’s used. This is a great option for members who already have back-up funds in a savings account.

---

Hi Humu good to see you around again! And thanks so much for this info. I was afraid I had taken a HP for accepting their OD protection but do remember back that the rep helping me set up my account didn't read a disclosure requesting me to accept one. Nonetheless, just glad to be with another great credit union from all reports one that I had my eye on for awhile now.

[SunriseEarth]

---

@SunriseEarth wrote:

---

@SunriseEarth wrote:

Hello,

I am a member of Wescom CU.   Membership requirement is living, working, going to school, or being a church member in Southern California (LA, Ventura, Orange, Riverside, or San Bernardino county).   I have free checking with them, as well as a mandated saving account (min balance of $1 for your share), and a Visa card.   Their Visa isn't great.   The lowest APR is 9.25% (I'm currently at 12.25%).   The rewards are very lackluster.   However, I do manage to very nice fixed rate low APR offers for BT with no BT fees.   They are conservative, so my CL is still low ($2500) and I've never received a CLI.

I finally decided to apply for a CLI.   Unfortunately, it's an HP on EX, so I'll have to turn in my spade soon.   I requested a review of my APR along with it.  I will hopefully hear back tomorrow.   I had to do my CLI application over the phone and was asked income and 2 yrs of housing information.   Since the bank seems very conservative, I'm not expecting a huge CLI.   I asked to go to $20K but expressed that I'd accept a counteroffer.   We'll see.  

---

Ugh.   After all of the jumping through hoops, I finally got word that not only was my CLI request denied, but they also declined to provide me with any counteroffer.   So the CL is stuck at $2500.  They did lower my APR...not that I'd want to hold a balance on that tiny CL.   Their claim was that my verifiable income put me at a 66% DTI ratio.   Apparently, my CU knows better than every other creditor I have.   I fired off an email to the Wescom CEO, so we'll see if that gets me a recon.  I told them that this was the last straw before I take all my business elsewhere. 

Meanwhile, I'm going to see if I can get into NFCU.   I will have to use the NLUS-SD route, so let's hope I have luck there.   

---

Apparently, Wescom wanted to retain my business, as I got a call from someone that said they were forwarded my letter from their CEO.   It sounded like they had a few people scrambling to figure out how to get me what I wanted while adhering to their stifling UW.  Since the DTI was an issue, I had advised them that I am in the process moving in with my SO, and my rent was going down by $450 because of this.   Apparently, this was enough to better meet their requirements and get a $10K counteroffer.

I just did a VeriSign form that required all sort of LN verification questions.  Ugh. While I'm glad that I was able to finally get what I wanted, this process has completely turned me off considering them for any future lending needs.   I'll take my time with it, but I think I need to move out of this CU.

TL;dr - Wescom CU's Visa has excellent BT offers, but stifling UW, a burdensome application process, and lackluster rewards make their product unworthy of the efforts.

[baller4life]

Thanks for the update and recon approval Sunrise. Sounds like Wescom is a pain to deal with. Glad you were able to change their minds.

[Anonymous]

Posting this for reference.

If you are in the Jacksonville, FL area, one good credit union is Community First Credit Union of Florida.  They are the second biggest credit union in the Jacksonville, Fl area by assets (Vystar Credit Union is number one in Jacksonville by assets, also Vystar is in the top 20 biggest credit union in the US by assets).

They lend on the conversative end regarding amounts, but will try to work with you on approvals and etc.  Important:  They are part of the Co-Op ATM network (but not Co-Op shared branching network), so you can access your account fee-free on thousands of ATMs accross the country (Vystar isn't part of this network, boo). 

Education is the CU's background since they were a Teachers Credit Union (Vystar was originally Jax Navy).  

At this time they offer the lowest APR credit card in the Jax area, 8.15% Visa Platimum basic card.  You can keep the card as long as you have open membership with the CU.  You don't even need to charge the card if you want. Almost all apps for loans can be done on their website.  They pull only from Equifax on all loan apps.   Their rewards Visa Platimum is uchoose rewards (meh).  

They do have a phone app for both Android/iPhone which works great, does pretty much everything you want.  All of their debit/credit cards support Apple/Android pay.  They start issuing instant debt cards for all of their branchs.  

I also have my car loan with them, you can apply for the loan on their website.  Once approved, you can pick up the express draft and take it to the dealership and win the price war with them.  I can transfer money to external accounts for free if I want, and get money fast from my paychecks, etc.  

While this is a lot of random stuff, I can't recommend Community First CU of Florida enough if you are in Jacksonville.  Vystar is very good indeed, but all of their loan apps must be done in their branches plus they aren't part of any Shared ATM network.  

[baller4life]

So, I received my debit card last Saturday from UFCU. However, couldn't activate it because there was a block on my account. 😩What the? I had to call the Asset Protection Dept Monday. Ummmm ok lol. So, I call Monday and ask for that dept. CSR puts me on hold and comes back and say they need you to go to a branch and show id. OK, no problem. There's a branch 45 mins away. But, I couldn't go till Saturday when I was off work.

So yesterday I decide, this was silly. And why couldn't I just fax or email docs? So, I called back. Asked for Asset Protection Dept. But, this time I was actually transferred. So, the lady that answers the phone says sure I can email her my docs. Gives me address. Then said she had a couple of questions. LOL. Well come to find out, when I linked my Alliant account from my phone, for some reason my ip address was showing Spokane,Washington and I'm in Texas. So they immediately put a restriction on my account. Nice security there folks.

Anywho, I'm all unrestricted now. Debit card activated. And all is well in the world again. 😄 Maybe those of you that were told you needed to go to branch can call and ask for that dept and they will allow you to email id. Worth a shot.

[lexus829]

Finally got in to  NFCU... For people applying at NFCU for membership took about 7 days on 10/29 signed up for navy league online.. once I got the confirmation I applied online at NFCU ; eligibility choice  civilian-usa federal merger-employed outside - other(specify navy  league assoc ) .. I got an email to send forms of id and address verification 10/31Monday; a day later they asked for membership eligibility so i sent the welcome letter from Navy League this was November 2nd , membership was  approved yesterday 11/7 same day they ran TU, aftre that just register for online access using your SS# etc, you should see all the accounts you signed up for, hope this helps somebody instead of mailing stuff  I havent applied for anything yet..  thanks Baller for this thread

[baller4life]

Congratulations on your NFCU membership lexus! And good luck on your future apps! Navy Federal rocks!! 😆

[Anonymous]

Just an update to anyone here that was curious about the United States Senate Federal Credit Union, it has been a journey! This thread convnce me to join Unify as well! For those interested in USSFCU it is a somewhat time intensive process. They require the process to be done by snail mail unless you live near a branch. Anyone can join with membership to the United States Capitol Historical Society, brace yourself membership is $50! They will also require that you mail in a copy of Drivers License, Social Security Card, last two pay stubs, copy of voided check, another proof of address, proof of USCHS membership, and right thumb. Haha feels like it though! 

10/15 - Sent email requesting membership application

10/17 - Received response with application 

10/19 - Mailed in application

11/01 - Inquiry they pull Equifax

11/02 - Received email that my docs were not "readable" they allowed me to email them another scan

11/03 - Membership approved. You must mail in first deposit, or pay a $10 fee to fund account only by debit card. I mailed.

11/10 - Debit card arrived, and accounts viewable online. 

It has been about a month long process but I am hoping it will be worth it when I app for an auto loan later this month (can use same INQ for 60 days) their rates are as low as 0.99% so keeping my fingers crossed I can close this out before the FED may raise rates in December. 

[Anonymous]

DCU Auto refinance at 1.49%
DCU Platinum 8.75% @10K

Have checking, savings, money market and 1 CD.

PenFed Promise at 10.24% @15K
PLOC at 10.50% @10K
Have checking, savings & thrifty $500.
Going for NFCU this week after sucessfully joining The San Diego Chapter today.

[baller4life]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

Just an update to anyone here that was curious about the United States Senate Federal Credit Union, it has been a journey! This thread convnce me to join Unify as well! For those interested in USSFCU it is a somewhat time intensive process. They require the process to be done by snail mail unless you live near a branch. Anyone can join with membership to the United States Capitol Historical Society, brace yourself membership is $50! They will also require that you mail in a copy of Drivers License, Social Security Card, last two pay stubs, copy of voided check, another proof of address, proof of USCHS membership, and right thumb. Haha feels like it though! 

10/15 - Sent email requesting membership application

10/17 - Received response with application 

10/19 - Mailed in application

11/01 - Inquiry they pull Equifax

11/02 - Received email that my docs were not "readable" they allowed me to email them another scan

11/03 - Membership approved. You must mail in first deposit, or pay a $10 fee to fund account only by debit card. I mailed.

11/10 - Debit card arrived, and accounts viewable online. 

It has been about a month long process but I am hoping it will be worth it when I app for an auto loan later this month (can use same INQ for 60 days) their rates are as low as 0.99% so keeping my fingers crossed I can close this out before the FED may raise rates in December. 

---

I heard this CU involved quite the intensive membership process. But, WOW! Hopefully it will be well worth all you went thru to join.