Navy Federal Conscience

[UpAndComing74]

My wife got a membership through a sponsor with Navy Federal.  He is retired Marine.  It was done online and I felt sponsorship was enough. Low and behold they are supposed to be related or roommates. They arent related and if they are roommates....he gopt some "splaining to do. Soooo. she emailed the bank and told them and they said she needs a relative. She offered here cousin and they said cousins arent immediate. They said find an immediate or they will close the account and refund her deposit.  Her deceased Uncle was military but do not know info. She sent that in and no response.  Meanwhile I, yes me! has opened up an account and Been APPROVED for the Platinum Card.  I opened up under marriage to a member. What do we do now?  Close it all down or what?  I do not want to cheat.  Plenty of CU out there i can research to find a credit card.  Please advise

Thanks,

[AllZero]

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@UpAndComing74 wrote:

My wife got a membership through a sponsor with Navy Federal.  He is retired Marine.  It was done online and I felt sponsorship was enough. Low and behold they are supposed to be related or roommates. They arent related and if they are roommates....he gopt some "splaining to do. Soooo. she emailed the bank and told them and they said she needs a relative. She offered here cousin and they said cousins arent immediate. They said find an immediate or they will close the account and refund her deposit.  Her deceased Uncle was military but do not know info. She sent that in and no response.  Meanwhile I, yes me! has opened up an account and Been APPROVED for the Platinum Card.  I opened up under marriage to a member. What do we do now?  Close it all down or what?  I do not want to cheat.  Plenty of CU out there i can research to find a credit card.  Please advise

Thanks,

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@UpAndComing74  Daisy chain. If still alive, immediate relative related to DW cousin can become a member. Then, that relative can sponor your DW or any other relatives until their relationships are immediate with DW.

[M_Smart007]

I am pretty sure @AllZero is correct on the daisy chain method

[BearsCubsOtters]

Unfortunately, I do not believe an Uncle will be a proper way in-especially if cousin was not. 

I get that NFCU is the biggest credit union in the world, and they cannot spot check each and every application for membership, but maybe if they operated a bit more like USAA, situations like this would not happen because your wife would not have been allowed past the eligibility screening. 

Please do not use your new NFCU card until this situation gets settled; NFCU can be draconian when it comes to clawing back memberships and any loans etc that were opened after membership was deemed invalid. The roommate way in (and I know that is not what your wife entered) has always been closely monitored by NFCU and garners further scrutiny. 

If either you or the Mrs. had a grandparent, parent or sibling that served in the military, you should be eligible for membership; otherwise, I do not see a legitimate, verifiable way in. 

[coldfusion]

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@BearsCubsOtters wrote:

Unfortunately, I do not believe an Uncle will be a proper way in-especially if cousin was not. 

I get that NFCU is the biggest credit union in the world, and they cannot spot check each and every application for membership, but maybe if they operated a bit more like USAA, situations like this would not happen because your wife would not have been allowed past the eligibility screening. 

Please do not use your new NFCU card until this situation gets settled; NFCU can be draconian when it comes to clawing back memberships and any loans etc that were opened after membership was deemed invalid. The roommate way in (and I know that is not what your wife entered) has always been closely monitored by NFCU and garners further scrutiny. 

If either you or the Mrs. had a grandparent, parent or sibling that served in the military, you should be eligible for membership; otherwise, I do not see a legitimate, verifiable way in. 

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You can have a chain of membership, as long as each person ahead of you in the chain is a member you can qualify.

Uncle -> parent  (sibling) -> you or Uncle -> spouse -> sibling (parent) -> you

[UpAndComing74]

Yep, no immediate family here. We told them that via secure message on the website and they insist we find someone. THe best probably is to voluntarily close the accounts and be free and clear. Ill have to find another CU that has an easy in and leave Navy for the vets.  Interestingly the sponsor said they it used to be you need an immediate family. Even he is mistaken.

[UpAndComing74]

Unless  I can say we are all from Adam and Eve!

[Remedios]

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@coldfusion wrote:

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@BearsCubsOtters wrote:

Unfortunately, I do not believe an Uncle will be a proper way in-especially if cousin was not. 

I get that NFCU is the biggest credit union in the world, and they cannot spot check each and every application for membership, but maybe if they operated a bit more like USAA, situations like this would not happen because your wife would not have been allowed past the eligibility screening. 

Please do not use your new NFCU card until this situation gets settled; NFCU can be draconian when it comes to clawing back memberships and any loans etc that were opened after membership was deemed invalid. The roommate way in (and I know that is not what your wife entered) has always been closely monitored by NFCU and garners further scrutiny. 

If either you or the Mrs. had a grandparent, parent or sibling that served in the military, you should be eligible for membership; otherwise, I do not see a legitimate, verifiable way in. 

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You can have a chain of membership, as long as each person ahead of you in the chain is a member you can qualify.

Uncle -> parent  (sibling) -> you or Uncle -> spouse -> sibling (parent) -> you

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Who would  ask half the family to join credit union just so they can join credit union? 🥴

[M_Smart007]

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@UpAndComing74 wrote:

Yep, no immediate family here. We told them that via secure message on the website and they insist we find someone. THe best probably is to voluntarily close the accounts and be free and clear. Ill have to find another CU that has an easy in and leave Navy for the vets.  Interestingly the sponsor said they it used to be you need an immediate family. Even he is mistaken.

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Sorry to hear this,

You might open an account with PenFed CU and start the relationship with a bank acct.

You do not have to be Military related.

[AllZero]

Immediate family members alive or deceased such as grand parents will work too.

ETA https://www.navyfederal.org/membership/become-a-member/eligibility.php

Department of Defense Civilians

Our field of membership also covers DoD civilian personnel, who support our armed forces. This category includes:

• DoD civilian employees
• U.S. Government employees assigned to DoD installations
• DoD contractors assigned to U.S. Government installations
• DoD civilian retirees and annuitants