@haulingthescoreup wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:MadModder:
Yeah Credit Union can be hard to join. You can join through your employers, students at local University/College, or through family members. Once you join CU, you have many opportunities. The best connection is through College/University organization. I dont know what else to say if you cant join CU, so good luck.
It varies so much by geography. In our area, they advertise that if you "live, work, attend classes, shop, or worship" in X/Y/Z Counties, you are eligible. Very few are left that require a more specific affinity.
"Joining XXFCU is easier than ever. If you live, work, worship, go to school, or conduct business in the 5 counties surrounding (Our Scruffy Little City), you're eligible. Get started by completing our online application." (You no longer have to be a student or employee of the Big Arnj.)
"Today, XXNL FCU members account for over one billion dollars in assets. This community credit union provides service to businesses and anyone who lives, works, worships, or attends school in the 16 counties of Central East Tennessee. Our members live and work primarily in the Greater SLC area, however we have members living in each of the 50 states as well as dozens of countries around the world." (You no longer have to build atomic bombs to qualify.)
Members should check out the CU situation in their own area. A law was passed several years ago allowing CU's to broaden eligibility, but it appears that CU's have not been able to pull this off everywhere.
I saw a similar one in Chicago when I said almost an entire city. Too bad I haven't found one like that here in NYC
To CreditCard101, I may yet have those affiliations, but I don't currently, and have no close or living relatives who do.
@score_building wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:Thanks. Of the two, I think I'll try BoA. I guess the extra $100 isn't that bad since it's only tied up for half the time of Citi.
As I mentioned, I did enquire with CU's, but of the ones hat still exist in NYC, there are none that I could join according to their requirements. I saw some elsewhere that are even open to residents of almost an entire city, but not here unless there is some kind of employment, religious or fraternal connection.
imho, a CU hook up is WAY too valuable and important an affiliation for you to commence to give up that easily, especially in this climate.
i live in nyc too. broaden your search to regional (tri state area) for example there is a well reputed CU known for working with people and v. good cs (like most CUs) called Affinity that you ARE eligible for. supposedly they have a "golden ticket" secured card offering. i call it that because there is a rumor that it doesn't require a HP but don't know if that is true in actuality or if it used to be so and has since has changed.
you can just call them or app online and tell them you'd like to join the CU. it will run you like 30 dollars or so to join one of their qualifying orgs in NJ which they can guide you to upon application. if you app online there is a box to check if you aren't an employee or a member of one of the listed orgs but want to join. gl.
Thanks for the info. I'm holding off on BoA for a week or so to see what other info is posted.
I'll give Affinity a call later today. A couple of things in the meantime, though:
Forgive my ignorance, but what are you referring to as an HP? Also, not knowing what that is, what other benefits are there for me to join, when the fee to join one of their member groups ($30?) is about equal to the annual fees the bank-based secured cards require? I mean, aside from sticking it to the banks. 
That being a decent reason, I have seen evidence of a lot of CUs going under. Also, specific to what I'm reading on that site (despite lots of membergroups), most of the member organizations are businesses. What type of organization were you referring to as one I would have to join in order to apply with them? Fair Issac?
If there were one with such a vast member list based in NYC, I suppose there could be someone I could befriend to refer me.
