bama-
You can always apply over the phone, too. I'm surprised they didn't tell you that while you were on the phone w/ them. You don't have to wait for online access.
And, from personal experience, even though it can be a b*** to not get in online ASAP, they actually have some REALLY good checks & balances in place for ID theft. My purse was stolen last summer & I got a letter a week later from NFCU that said "Thank you for calling to change your telephone priveledges to allow for account transfers over the phone! To confirm this change, please call XXXX".. it was dated one day AFTER my purse was stolen.
The chump that took my purse (which had my mil ID, cell phone checkbook, SS card, bank card, NFCU card w/ access number......) had called NFCU immediately and made it so they would have been able to call up any time and do transfers from my bank account to whoever's bank account!!!! Can you believe that??? BUT, since NFCU is so SMART, they noted the change, but sent me a letter to my home address to confirm the change before they would actually allow access to this feature. Thank GOODNESS., Otherwise, even with cancelling all my cards, this person would have still been able to syphon from my bank account, and I woudl have had almost no way to prove that I hadn't authorized it. Unbelievable.
I really really love NFCU.