Anyone with Langley fcu? Or another easy to join Credit union?

[Anonymous]

---

@coldfusion wrote:

---

@Anonymous wrote:

 @coldfusion 

I searched around the forums.

I am seeing some bad experiences with NASA on here last few years. Wings doesn't seem to be known. Quorum same thing. So I will probably remove those 3.

So Langley, penfed, northwestern and digital. Anything to eliminate from those? Let's say the focus was on mortgage loan. I do kind of worry about the poster who said Langley asked him to go to Virginia branch across the country, which seems nuts. It could be an isolated case though, but I have no idea. 

---

I wouldn't eliminate any of them but I would kind of tier them with PenFed and DCU as the top tier and the others on the 2nd tier. 

I would add Alliant to the top tier given that your focus is on getting a mortgage. 

---

Very well. I spent 2 more hours looking through each of them from scratch and doing comparisons.

I checked Alliant and realized their origination fee is $1,795. Payback period estimates with fees (including origination fee) is bit longer than PenFed, which has no origination fee.

DCU also has origination fee of $1,400. Their rate is slightly higher than Alliant & PenFed.

Langley doesn't say if they have origination fee. 

NASA has no origination fee and has lowest rate.

It truly doesn't make sense to pay origination fee if the rates are same or higher. I am back to PenFed, which I'm leaning towards now, and NASA fcu. NASA has lowest rates but I don't know their exact fees. PenFed has slightly higher rate. Then again, it doesn't mean either of them will approve at that rate.

Do you think they would lock rate submitted on application right when it's sent in? It would suck to submit refinance application at 2.375% only to wait a week & half to get an approval response but then find out they approved at 2.7% because rates went up. Plus there is also the time it would take to become a member, which I don't know how long it would be.

[Royalbacon]

I live in Minnesota, and Wings Financial is by far the largest credit union in the state (by a massive landslide) While they are fantastic, and the checking accounts are free, and the employees are friendly in my experience, they unfortunately don't participate in shared branching, and I wouldn't say they do anything significantly better then any other random credit union, nor do they have any outstanding offers or products that really make them stand out.

Not sure how appealing of a credit union it'd be to someone far away out of state when theres plenty of credit unions in your own state you can get a free checking account with and have friendly employees in the branches.

[Anonymous]

---

@Royalbacon wrote:

I live in Minnesota, and Wings Financial is by far the largest credit union in the state (by a massive landslide) While they are fantastic, and the checking accounts are free, and the employees are friendly in my experience, they unfortunately don't participate in shared branching, and I wouldn't say they do anything significantly better then any other random credit union, nor do they have any outstanding offers or products that really make them stand out.

Not sure how appealing of a credit union it'd be to someone far away out of state when theres plenty of credit unions in your own state you can get a free checking account with and have friendly employees in the branches.

---

Unfortunately, NJ doesn't have good credit unions. Rates are also high for local credit unions relative to other ones like PenFed. I looked at them first thing before going to research other ones.

I decided on PenFed. Anyways, after doing calculations, I don't see refinance being worth it. Save 0.5% in interest but if that ends up saving $50/month, the hassle is not worth it for 50 bucks. Then of course payback period needs to be accounted for the fees, which would be over 3yrs. Unless if 10yr refinance rate drops to 2%, it's probably not worth it for us.

I do wonder if any PenFed credit cards are worth it. 1.5% cashback is the average going rate at Chase creditcards and mastercards, which we already have. Is there something I'm missing here that is an advantage of PenFed cc's over say Chase unlimited visa?? You can up it to 2% but must keep $500 in checking account to keep it active.

[Royalbacon]

Penfed Power Cash rewards you can get 2% cash back if you got a Penfed checking account. The checking account does have a monthly maintenance fee unless you keep a minimum of $500 or get $500 in direct deposits each month.

[SouthJamaica]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

Hello, I was trying to join a decent credit union. I was looking at Langley fcu, PenFed, NASA credit union, wings financial and quorum. Does anyone have experience with any of them and willing to share? I can't join through employment & my state (NJ) doesn't have any decent CU so I have to join in another way. Most of the banking will have to be online, but it's fine. I don't mind donating or subscribing somewhere to be able to join a CU.

I would really appreciate any suggestions, tips or any recommendations! Thanks!

---

In New Jersey, both Unify FCU and Affinity FCU are very good.

PenFed and Langley are also very good.

[SouthJamaica]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

 @coldfusion 

I searched around the forums.

I am seeing some bad experiences with NASA on here last few years. Wings doesn't seem to be known. Quorum same thing. So I will probably remove those 3.

So Langley, penfed, northwestern and digital. Anything to eliminate from those? Let's say the focus was on mortgage loan. I do kind of worry about the poster who said Langley asked him to go to Virginia branch across the country, which seems nuts. It could be an isolated case though, but I have no idea. 

---

Digital is also good.

[bigfoot98]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

---

@Royalbacon wrote:

I live in Minnesota, and Wings Financial is by far the largest credit union in the state (by a massive landslide) While they are fantastic, and the checking accounts are free, and the employees are friendly in my experience, they unfortunately don't participate in shared branching, and I wouldn't say they do anything significantly better then any other random credit union, nor do they have any outstanding offers or products that really make them stand out.

Not sure how appealing of a credit union it'd be to someone far away out of state when theres plenty of credit unions in your own state you can get a free checking account with and have friendly employees in the branches.

---

Unfortunately, NJ doesn't have good credit unions. Rates are also high for local credit unions. I looked at them first thing before going to research other ones.

I decided on PenFed. Anyways, after doing calculations, I don't see refinance being worth it. Save 0.5% in interest but if that ends up saving $50/month, the hassle is not worth it for 50 bucks. Then of course payback period needs to be accounted for the fees, which would be over 3yrs. Unless if 10yr refinance rate drops to 2%, it's probably not worth it.

I do wonder if any PenFed credit cards are worth it. 1.5% cashback is the average going rate at Chase creditcards and mastercards, which we already have. Is there something I'm missing here that is an advantage of PenFed cc's over say Chase unlimited visa??

(I hope I didn't double-post.. tried to edit post and then post just disappeared for some odd reason. Had to hit back & copy/paste it)

---

@Anonymous have you looked into Affinity FCU? They are a fantastic CU, have decent rates, and reward you with their more rewards program for doing more business with them. Free checking, good savings rates(higher pre rate cut), and lowish loan rates for being in NJ. I highly recommend them, especially if you are near branches north/north east NJ, with 1 in hunterdon, mostly in middlesex and the surrounding area.

Also keep on mind you can open several CU accounts that serve your needs. I have Affinity, Alliant, DCU, NFCU, PenFed, PFFCU (NJ/PA), ans Service CU. Also Discover bank and Santander(on the way out, just waiting to be safely away from the promo period).

[sxa001]

I joined NASA because I am a NASA nerd but I have never been extremely impressed with their offerings.  Apart from a lower interest APR on their credit card their savings rates are meh compared to others and their mortgage rates aren't that great when you consider their fees.  

[lyTENciL]

I joined Langley this summer. I donated some small amount to whatever association, $10 I think. The process was rolled into the app, super easy. I joined for the free monthly EQ8. Ive done nothing else with my accounts and no plans to app products, so can't speak to the actual banking experience.

You can see other CUs I've joined in my sig, through donating $5-15 to associations, except Navy. Ive joined more while bonus chasing, but those are geofenced.

ETA: Digital CU has a HYSA up to 1k which is pretty sweet. Free EQ mortgage score from them. Joining was PITA due to technical issues with their site (ironic?). I think they ultimately paid my member fee for me because of it.