Pen Fed and NIH FCU Questions

[Snow-Leopard]

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@Royalbacon wrote:

American Heritage required me to print a paper application off and notarize it along with a statement of why I wanted to join from out of state and what specific products I was interested in and mail it in since I was out of state after submitting an online application. No idea if they've changed since then.

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I applied online for membership with American Heritage in September 2025. Chex HP and Experian SP with no requirement for a notarized paper application or statement as to why I wanted to join American Heritage as a current NV resident even though the credit union is located in PA.

[Royalbacon]

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@Snow-Leopard wrote:

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@Royalbacon wrote:

American Heritage required me to print a paper application off and notarize it along with a statement of why I wanted to join from out of state and what specific products I was interested in and mail it in since I was out of state after submitting an online application. No idea if they've changed since then.

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I applied online for membership with American Heritage in September 2025. Chex HP and Experian SP with no requirement for a notarized paper application or statement as to why I wanted to join American Heritage as a current NV resident even though the credit union is located in PA.

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Thats awesome thanks for sharing your datapoint! Looks like they've changed their process since I tried to join years back! I'll keep them on my mind when/if I decide to search for some more credit unions to join again someday.

[Royalbacon]

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@Snow-Leopard wrote:

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@Royalbacon wrote:

American Heritage required me to print a paper application off and notarize it along with a statement of why I wanted to join from out of state and what specific products I was interested in and mail it in since I was out of state after submitting an online application. No idea if they've changed since then.

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I applied online for membership with American Heritage in September 2025. Chex HP and Experian SP with no requirement for a notarized paper application or statement as to why I wanted to join American Heritage as a current NV resident even though the credit union is located in PA.

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I just joined American Heritage Credit Union in Philadelphia, PA and big thank you to @Snow-Leopard and @AndySoCal 

Approved OOS in Minnesota and they pulled Chex and I’d say that they’re NOT Chex sensitive. I can also confirm that they have a new onlnie application process and that they no longer require you to print stuff out and have it notarized and mail it in.

Also, I have a 7 year identity fraud alert on my credit reports and they called me to verify it was actually me applying which I appreciated immensely and the very first financial institution that has ever do so since putting the fraud alert on my reports.

My Chex stats are as follows.

1/1 – This inquiry was actually the same day prior to applying to American Heritage

3/3

10/6

12/9

15/12

28/24

Look at these two links and you'll see people being asked to print stuff out and have it notarized and mailed in. Glad to see that's changed.

https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Card-Approvals/American-Heritage-CU-Approval/td-p/6348171

https://www.doctorofcredit.com/philadelphia-pa-only-american-heritage-credit-union-200-checking-bonu...

[Janneman]

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@Royalbacon wrote:

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@Snow-Leopard wrote:

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@Royalbacon wrote:

American Heritage required me to print a paper application off and notarize it along with a statement of why I wanted to join from out of state and what specific products I was interested in and mail it in since I was out of state after submitting an online application. No idea if they've changed since then.

---

I applied online for membership with American Heritage in September 2025. Chex HP and Experian SP with no requirement for a notarized paper application or statement as to why I wanted to join American Heritage as a current NV resident even though the credit union is located in PA.

---

I just joined American Heritage Credit Union in Philadelphia, PA and big thank you to @Snow-Leopard and @AndySoCal 

Approved OOS in Minnesota and they pulled Chex and I’d say that they’re NOT Chex sensitive. I can also confirm that they have a new onlnie application process and that they no longer require you to print stuff out and have it notarized and mail it in.

Also, I have a 7 year identity fraud alert on my credit reports and they called me to verify it was actually me applying which I appreciated immensely and the very first financial institution that has ever do so since putting the fraud alert on my reports.

My Chex stats are as follows.

1/1 – This inquiry was actually the same day prior to applying to American Heritage

3/3

10/6

12/9

15/12

28/24

Look at these two links and you'll see people being asked to print stuff out and have it notarized and mailed in. Glad to see that's changed.

https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Card-Approvals/American-Heritage-CU-Approval/td-p/6348171

https://www.doctorofcredit.com/philadelphia-pa-only-american-heritage-credit-union-200-checking-bonu...

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What is this "Approved OOS in Minnesota", please? Are you only joined, or got some credit products? Do they hp for membership/joining? Any specific reason for you to join this CU? Tnx

[Royalbacon]

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@Janneman wrote:

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@Royalbacon wrote:

---

@Snow-Leopard wrote:

---

@Royalbacon wrote:

American Heritage required me to print a paper application off and notarize it along with a statement of why I wanted to join from out of state and what specific products I was interested in and mail it in since I was out of state after submitting an online application. No idea if they've changed since then.

---

I applied online for membership with American Heritage in September 2025. Chex HP and Experian SP with no requirement for a notarized paper application or statement as to why I wanted to join American Heritage as a current NV resident even though the credit union is located in PA.

---

I just joined American Heritage Credit Union in Philadelphia, PA and big thank you to @Snow-Leopard and @AndySoCal 

Approved OOS in Minnesota and they pulled Chex and I’d say that they’re NOT Chex sensitive. I can also confirm that they have a new onlnie application process and that they no longer require you to print stuff out and have it notarized and mail it in.

Also, I have a 7 year identity fraud alert on my credit reports and they called me to verify it was actually me applying which I appreciated immensely and the very first financial institution that has ever do so since putting the fraud alert on my reports.

My Chex stats are as follows.

1/1 – This inquiry was actually the same day prior to applying to American Heritage

3/3

10/6

12/9

15/12

28/24

Look at these two links and you'll see people being asked to print stuff out and have it notarized and mailed in. Glad to see that's changed.

https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Card-Approvals/American-Heritage-CU-Approval/td-p/6348171

https://www.doctorofcredit.com/philadelphia-pa-only-american-heritage-credit-union-200-checking-bonu...

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What is this "Approved OOS in Minnesota", please? Are you only joined, or got some credit products? Do they hp for membership/joining? Any specific reason for you to join this CU? Tnx

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OOS means out of state. I live in Minnesota and the credit union is based in Philadelphia and all their branches are in the Philadelphia area in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

I only opened checking and savings right now but I got my eye on their cash rewards card. Their CD rates are really good too. And no HP, only a SP and ChexSystems pull as well.

[AndySoCal]

@Janneman  I will answer for me.  My interest is two fold their CD rates are competitive and the Hi yield savings is okay better than some banks and credit unions. Also the legacy checking is for Legacy club members (membership is for those 60 and up. ) has some nice perks. One of which is the Legacy 18 month CD which pay 3.91% APY  non Legacy Club CD is 3.81% APY.

I also have interest in their rewards credit card as well. 

[Janneman]

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@AndySoCal wrote:

@Janneman  I will answer for me.  My interest is two fold their CD rates are competitive and the Hi yield savings is okay better than some banks and credit unions. Also the legacy checking is for Legacy club members (membership is for those 60 and up. ) has some nice perks. One of which is the Legacy 18 month CD which pay 3.91% APY  non Legacy Club CD is 3.81% APY.

I also have interest in their rewards credit card as well. 

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By the way, have you checked it out Capital One deposit account wherein it pays 4.30 APY, and Synchrony as well wherein its over 4.00, and NFCU too?  All they used to pay a lot of interests on CD and savings, not sure now...I did use all of them...Also, check it out GreenState credit Union as it did pay me 5.25 APY on High Yield account, however, I have heard that its now geofenced but not in the past when I joined. 

I guess I wouldn't qualify for Legacy Club membership since I am far far far away from being 60....I guess its shame that I can not obtain its Lagacy membership right now and gotta wait for the eternity....-

[AndySoCal]

@Janneman   I checked cap one and syncronny they are paying 3.10 3.40 respectively. Iwould use the high yield  savings at American Heritage in conjunction with a checking account. I can put money from the checking account the savings account for brief period of time. I do not have to ACH it back forth. I also have a Vanguard Money Market fund paying 3.58% as well.

I can walk into a few fast food and my local hardware store and I can a senior citizens discount of 10%. The grey hair does pay off every so often.😀

[Royalbacon]

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@Janneman wrote:

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@AndySoCal wrote:

@Janneman  I will answer for me.  My interest is two fold their CD rates are competitive and the Hi yield savings is okay better than some banks and credit unions. Also the legacy checking is for Legacy club members (membership is for those 60 and up. ) has some nice perks. One of which is the Legacy 18 month CD which pay 3.91% APY  non Legacy Club CD is 3.81% APY.

I also have interest in their rewards credit card as well. 

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By the way, have you checked it out Capital One deposit account wherein it pays 4.30 APY, and Synchrony as well wherein its over 4.00, and NFCU too?  All they used to pay a lot of interests on CD and savings, not sure now...I did use all of them...Also, check it out GreenState credit Union as it did pay me 5.25 APY on High Yield account, however, I have heard that its now geofenced but not in the past when I joined. 

I guess I wouldn't qualify for Legacy Club membership since I am far far far away from being 60....I guess its shame that I can not obtain its Lagacy membership right now and gotta wait for the eternity....-

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I'm already a GreenState member and only credit cards and loans are geofenced, checking and savings accounts are available nationwide.