long time lurker here. you guys are invaluable. i want to give back and provide data on the dreaded NFCU security appeal process. to provide a data point for those who have despaired of ever being reembraced by NFCU after account restriction.
Generally, the view is that once your out it is hard to get back in with NFCU. I was a member and used NFCU as my primary account. Just checking. I had fraudulent checks deposited to my account and was subsequently saddled with a security restriction with good reason. Bad checks led to criminal charges and I was implicated. I found out about the charges later and had to hire an attorney who advised me to plead guilty to resolve the matter. I did so. I never reached out to NFCU as i assumed that the relationship was dead and so i moved on to use other accounts for the next 7 years.
In the last few months i have been attempting a credit rebuild. i went back to school and foolishly allowed cards to go in collection. I wanted to begin rebuilding credit profile and of course NFCU is the best in the business if you can get in according to many on this forum. so i decided i had to face up and attempt to get back with them. upon calling in to inquire as to whether that would be possible and what requirements would need to be met, i was told that my account was restricted still and i would need to file a security appeal in order to clear the hold on my account.
I filled out the appeal and explained the circumstances around the incident. i argued that it was 7 years ago, i had a family now, etc. im a different person etc. i told them i appreciated why my account had been locked and that i understood why i appeared risky to them. however i also argued that i was no longer a risk and could be an asset to them and that i planned to get a car loan and eventual mortgage through them. critically, i attached documentary evidence of the satisfaction of the requirements through my plea deal with the state (which included restitution, which speaks to navy being made whole in order to grant an appeal).
i emailed the document and did not hear from them for a week. i decided to call today and was flabbergasted to find that they had granted my appeal and lifted the security block on my account. I then had to reapply for membership as all my accounts had been closed. i am a member through my father who served in the military and was granted membership with NO verification. i got a checking account and was preapproved for the secured cash reward which i will be applying for. super elated over this and wanted to provide hope that the notorious security appeal can be dealt with with the proper approach.
