thank you @heyryan
This is something of a work in progress as it's still really really early in the process.
First Tech FCU:
So the obvious claim to fame here is if you need a Chip + PIN priority card, and you would prefer it to be a Mastercard (exchange fees yo) First Tech is pretty much the only game in town.
Eligibility through a slew of different companies around the Bay Area, and also being a member of the Financial Fitness Association or the Museum of Computer History; I did the FFA (which seems like not much for what I looked at briefly on their site before it threw a nasty error message) and interestingly enough the FFA wasn't in the First Tech application form, so I simply marked "Join Computer History Museum" or whatever it was. No matter haven't been kicked out yet.
It does an upsell during the application, so I picked the credit card (why the hell not, it's why I was going there and I didn't care about which one I really applied for given it's just an incidentals card anyway for Europe and other PIN only shennanigans areas). Did ask why I wanted the credit card, along with the usual stuff (employment / income / etc) though I did not apparently get asked for POI or anything else (which is handy as I marked 0 years 0 months on my new employer haha). They did ask for previous employer which I hadn't seen before personally. EX verfication questions, simple and straight forward verification.
Funding of the savings account was via bank ACH, no credit card option.
One inquiry on EX so far, which is reasonable for the credit card app, can't tell if the membership on the base account needed it or not but I'll take a single inquiry when it comes to a CU + CC combined app 
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CC approval was instant seemingly but I'm waiting for the other shoe to potentially drop: 25K @ 12.25 (highest CL and lowest APR for me actually on a CC), and they listed nothing under additional information required in the email they sent me. Wasn't expecting that for an approval, seems like their minimum CL is 10K on the card and 25K the max if I got the one I think I did so apparently I passed muster: do sort of wonder what they might've given if I'd picked the minimum 25K line which was their 3x travel/2x dining rewards card but realized I wasn't going to throw Chase away over a 5/24 denial so didn't need the higher end card. One other surprising bit they sent me what amounts to a email text approval, no logos or any picture of any sort... haven't seen that from a lender in a long time though the web interface did say I was approved as well so guessing it's legit but will wait for some documentation or online access before going and posting in approvals haha.
Edit: HAHAHA I was right in waiting a bit.
POI: Offer letter within prior 30 days or Paystub dated within 30 days; guess I should've waited a bit since it's only a thrice-confirmed verbal offer with the actual one coming first week in January but I can slow peddle it
ID: DL / Passport / work visa
Proof of address: utility or bank statement
Edit 2: Looks like it went through once I got them offer letter / ID / and in my case mortgage statement. Pulled EX FICO 2 (EX 98) and I scored a 719 for the 25K approval. Quick turn around after I sent them the docs, I don't ask for much from lenders but have to admit I'm pretty impressed by their service level.
Oh nice! I might need to add them to the list for next year.
On another note...
Has anyone had any experience with Consumers Credit Union (IL - the one with the high interest rewards checking) being ChexSystems INQ sensitive?
(
Copy that. That works well actually... I'm going to get the credit card, and I'll have 60 days to reuse the pull, which should be enough time to not piss Barclaycard off hopefully
Hi everybody. Recently joined the forum after years of lurking. Anyway, disappointed that this thread has become dormant so I am reviving it 
ETA: FIrst Tech
Credit Unions I currrently belong to:
Security Service FCU (SSFCU): Joined 7/1998 as Gates Community Credit Union (as in Gates Rubber Company credit union in Denver; they changed their name to New Horizons CCU and then they failed in 2006-SSFCU purchased NHCCU in 2007 and I couldn't be happier . I have Power Checking, Share Savings, Money Market Savings and a PLOC at 6.5% APR. SSFCU is conservative but I like that; they reward those with great credit the best rates. SSFCU is overall a great credit union with better than average savings rates, low rate MasterCard, PLOC and personal loan rates. Where SSFCU fails is at car loans; no matter how high your score is, you can't get below 3%. As has been mentioned ad nasuem, this is limited to military, residents of Colorado, Texas and Utah.
Elevations Credit Union: Joined 6/2005 as UofC FCU (as in University of Colorado); all I have is a Share savings account. Overall they are a very average credit union (average deposit and loan rates) and their closest branch is in Boulder, CO. I live in Denver. SSFCU and NFCU both have branches closer to me than Elevations. I really should close them but they are my only "local" credit union so I keep them around in case I need a quick, local decicion on a loan. Limited to parts of Colorado. You aren't missing anything.
Pentagon FCU (PenFed): Joined 5/2009; I really like PenFed and their quarterly pre-approvals. I have a share savings and a Promise Visa card with a $26,100 limit. I opened my Promise card (using the pre-approved offer) literally a week before the Promise card changed to an APR range. When I opened mine, all approved Promise cards were at 7.49% fixed for 3 years then, at the time, 9.99% variable afterwards. My fixed APR expires in October 2017 and will go to a current 10.74%. Online, they currently are offering a lowest rate of 8.99% so I will attempt to get my APR lowered in October. I have had two prior personal loans with PenFed and I am eyeing them for a car loan (pre-approved offer). Anybody can join.
Navy Federal FCU (NFCU): Joined 8/2016 thanks to this forum and especially baller4life who posted the link to the Personal FInance forum (that I did not know existed) in the Credit Cards forum LOL. Many thanks of course to yourwelcome for sharing the info in the first place. This is one that I always wanted to join but couldn't. I have the share savings, Everyday checking and a Cash Rewards Visa SIgnature with a SL of $19,700 and 9.9% APR. I clicked the luv button in January after 90+ days and the AR, they bumped me up to $20,000. Only a $300 increase but I am very happy to have an even $20,000 limit. My TU is 815. But with my salary of $60K and $200K available credit lines, I think the $300 increase was NFCU's way of telling me I have way too much credit compared to my salary. Love, love, love NFCU and am considering them for mortgage and possible car loans in the future. Anybody can join provided they know of the NLUS side door.
Credit Unions I am eyeing but have not yet joined:
Aliant: Only for the excellent deposit rates.
Bellco: Local to parts of Colorado. Largest CU in Colorado by members, second by assets. Overall very average and they have recently raised lending rates. They do have what they call Boost Checking that offers 2.25 APY on balances up to $25K with 0.5% over that. Must have direct depost, 15 debit txns per month and log into online account once per month. Have not gotten around to joining and not looking forward to changing banking.
DCU: Meh, mostly for the auto loan rates but I don't want to deal with automatic payments from yet another checking account. PenFed and NFCU have only slightly higher rates so I have not bothered to join.
First Technology FCU (First Tech): The only game in town for a true, Chip + PIN priority MasterCard (also no FTF fee). Anybody can join and they actually have a branch here. I do not currently need a PIN priority card and I keep hoping that the banks will finally go PIN priority at some point.
Unify: I really hate the new name but it is hard to argue with the overall excellent rates across all products. Specifically interested in the variable rate Visa.
Credit Unions I lust after but cannot join:
Boeing Employees CU (BECU): limited to Washington State residents and employees of Boeing only; I am neither. Overall great rates across all product lines.
Golden 1: limited to residents of California. I like their rewards Visa card. Supposedely I can join with savings and checking; but all credit apps would be delcined as not in CA.
RBFCU: lmited to residents of Texas. RBFCU constantly has great rates on car loans. At one point they offered 1.69% on new car loans up to 60 months with no automatic payments required unlike DCU.
@Anonymous wrote:Hi everybody. Recently joined the forum after years of lurking. Anyway, disappointed that this thread has become dormant so I am reviving it
...
Credit Unions I am eyeing but have not yet joined:
Aliant: Only for the excellent deposit rates.
Alliant has been pretty awesome for me so far! The rates are good, and their customer service is great. The billpay is a little wonky if you plan on using it, but I think most people's favorite feature is the ACH transfers. They're fast, have a really high limit, and for a lot of other banks/CUs they register as an actual direct deposit. (Doctor of Credit talks extensively about that)
Bellco: Local to parts of Colorado. Largest CU in Colorado by members, second by assets. Overall very average and they have recently raised lending rates. They do have what they call Boost Checking that offers 2.25 APY on balances up to $25K with 0.5% over that. Must have direct depost, 15 debit txns per month and log into online account once per month. Have not gotten around to joining and not looking forward to changing banking.
I emailed them because I was interested in the Premium Colorado Rewards credit card. They have a REALLY big list of 3x categories, and cell/cable bills are 2x points. I wasn't sure for the brick-and-mortar merchants if they had to BE in Colorado to count or not though. The name kind of implies it, and they give examples like King Soopers, but it doesn't actually say that anywhere. If not, it could be a great card. They also only soft pull for membership according to the rep I was talking to.
Unify: I really hate the new name but it is hard to argue with the overall excellent rates across all products. Specifically interested in the variable rate Visa.
I don't use them too much, but like you I joined for the variable rate Visa. Gonna wait till my EX score climbs a few more points so I can get the lowest rate. Their online banking is also very unique, and actually really nice for a credit union.
RBFCU: lmited to residents of Texas. RBFCU constantly has great rates on car loans. At one point they offered 1.69% on new car loans up to 60 months with no automatic payments required unlike DCU.
When I lived in TX I refi'd my car from Navy Fed to RBFCU. (They started opening branches in the N Dallas metro a couple years ago) Went from 4.?% to 1.49% Terrible online banking, but great service. The loan process was interesting - went into the branch to open accounts, then the banker left and I video chatted with the loan rep in their main HQ (San Antonio I think)
You should also check out Consumers Credit Union. I wrote about my experiences with them (very positive) - and if you're willing to jump through their (easy) hoops, they pay 3.09-4.59% interest on their checking accounts.
@heyryan wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:Hi everybody. Recently joined the forum after years of lurking. Anyway, disappointed that this thread has become dormant so I am reviving it
...
Credit Unions I am eyeing but have not yet joined:
Aliant: Only for the excellent deposit rates.
Alliant has been pretty awesome for me so far! The rates are good, and their customer service is great. The billpay is a little wonky if you plan on using it, but I think most people's favorite feature is the ACH transfers. They're fast, have a really high limit, and for a lot of other banks/CUs they register as an actual direct deposit. (Doctor of Credit talks extensively about that)
Bellco: Local to parts of Colorado. Largest CU in Colorado by members, second by assets. Overall very average and they have recently raised lending rates. They do have what they call Boost Checking that offers 2.25 APY on balances up to $25K with 0.5% over that. Must have direct depost, 15 debit txns per month and log into online account once per month. Have not gotten around to joining and not looking forward to changing banking.I emailed them because I was interested in the Premium Colorado Rewards credit card. They have a REALLY big list of 3x categories, and cell/cable bills are 2x points. I wasn't sure for the brick-and-mortar merchants if they had to BE in Colorado to count or not though. The name kind of implies it, and they give examples like King Soopers, but it doesn't actually say that anywhere. If not, it could be a great card. They also only soft pull for membership according to the rep I was talking to.
Unify: I really hate the new name but it is hard to argue with the overall excellent rates across all products. Specifically interested in the variable rate Visa.I don't use them too much, but like you I joined for the variable rate Visa. Gonna wait till my EX score climbs a few more points so I can get the lowest rate. Their online banking is also very unique, and actually really nice for a credit union.
RBFCU: lmited to residents of Texas. RBFCU constantly has great rates on car loans. At one point they offered 1.69% on new car loans up to 60 months with no automatic payments required unlike DCU.When I lived in TX I refi'd my car from Navy Fed to RBFCU. (They started opening branches in the N Dallas metro a couple years ago) Went from 4.?% to 1.49%
You should also check out Consumers Credit Union. I wrote about my experiences with them (very positive) - and if you're willing to jump through their (easy) hoops, they pay 3.09-4.59% interest on their checking accounts.
Thanks for the tips. Yeah, I nearly joined Alliant probably 5 years ago but never bothered. I feel like I already have way too many accounts as it is, but they would be worth it for that savings rate. But overall, if I got with one of the CUs that offer high APRs on checking, I would just go that route.
Bellco...I've seen their name plastered on several "Credit Unions anybody, anywhere can join" articles so I would assume out of state people can join. My parents have Bellco and they seem happy with them. I do not care for the fact that their basic Visa has a 10% APR (only recently went up from 8.15%) and their other rates are nothing to write home about. I think the Colorado part of the name is just marketing. They are marketing to all the transplants that move here probably. I would think that any purchase in the covered MCC's would work. They call out King Soopers (a Kroger company) specifically because of the monopoly they have on grocery stores out here 
Consumers CU LOL I remember reading about someone who had a really rough time with them, I want to say in getting the Visa Signature. Something about it needing it to be the Visa Signature to qualify for the best checking APR. I'd have to go back and check. I wasn't sure if that was you or not.
RBFCU: overall it seems like SSFCU and RBFCU try to compete against each other down there in San Antonio; neither one is better than the other and where one excels the other falls behind. If I had RBFCU I think their savings rates are a bit better than SSFCU's and their car loans are great; but SSFCU beats them everywhere else. I kind of feel like RBFCU should let me join given the number of Texan transplants that keep moving here LOL. Or at the very least they should open a branch here, make me eligible and serve all those transplants! There's an idea!
Unify....that variable rate card looks great, but I do have the SSFCU PLOC at 6.5%, my BofA BBR is at 8.74%, BofA Cash Rewards is 9.9% fixed and Cap One is 10.9% fixed so I do have some good alternatives if I need to carry a balance. Oh, and Citi has two of my cards at 1.99% (temporarily) and Amex gave me 0% through May. So, this is one of those situations where maybe I have been visiting MyFico too much and want that card just because its been discussed here or would it be useful down the line. Hence why I am still on the fence...