My BECU Membership App by Mail experience

[AllZero]

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@creditfan wrote:

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Has anyone else who made a membership application by mail had a similar experience?

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applied by mailing in too, no problem

https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Personal-Finance/BECU-Eligibility-Question/m-p/5489512#M58588

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Thanks to your post. That was the method I used when I applied for membership.

[coldfusion]

I applied online last week - took them less than 24 hrs to follow up by email asking for copies of my SS card + Passport/Drivers license.   Uploaded photos of my passport and social security card per their emailed instructions and got membership approval emails less than 30 minutes later. 

For me it was a pretty typical experience other than their turnaround was quite fast. 

[Anonymous]

I called BECU this afternoon (1/14/20) and requested an update on the status of my application.  The woman who took the call researched my application and said "It looks like we were unable to open an account for you because you are not a resident of Washington State."  She went on to say that BECU does not have a federal charter so they cannot approve membership outside of the state and that a letter had been mailed to me on January 7 stating the decision.

The CSR then said she was attempting to pull up the letter on her computer but I told her I'd rather wait to get it in the mail to which she replied "It should arrive in the next day or two."

[AllZero]

It appears not all csr are well informed. Lot of out of staters are members as you all ready know.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I called BECU this afternoon (1/14/20) and requested an update on the status of my application.  The woman who took the call researched my application and said "It looks like we were unable to open an account for you because you are not a resident of Washington State."  She went on to say that BECU does not have a federal charter so they cannot approve membership outside of the state and that a letter had been mailed to me on January 7 stating the decision.

The CSR then said she was attempting to pull up the letter on her computer but I told her I'd rather wait to get it in the mail to which she replied "It should arrive in the next day or two."

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I wonder if they're starting to attract too much attention with the NWCUF loophole. Wouldn't be the first time. Sorry

Hopefully you can get the decision overturned when the letter comes.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

I called BECU this afternoon (1/14/20) and requested an update on the status of my application.  The woman who took the call researched my application and said "It looks like we were unable to open an account for you because you are not a resident of Washington State."  She went on to say that BECU does not have a federal charter so they cannot approve membership outside of the state and that a letter had been mailed to me on January 7 stating the decision.

The CSR then said she was attempting to pull up the letter on her computer but I told her I'd rather wait to get it in the mail to which she replied "It should arrive in the next day or two."

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I wonder if they're starting to attract too much attention with the NWCUF loophole. Wouldn't be the first time. Sorry

Hopefully you can get the decision overturned when the letter comes.

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@Anonymous I honestly don't feel inclined to invest any more time or effort so its unlikely I'll ask them to review their decision.  At least I finally got an answer; although its curious to me that I haven't gotten a letter purportedly mailed on 1/7.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

I called BECU this afternoon (1/14/20) and requested an update on the status of my application.  The woman who took the call researched my application and said "It looks like we were unable to open an account for you because you are not a resident of Washington State."  She went on to say that BECU does not have a federal charter so they cannot approve membership outside of the state and that a letter had been mailed to me on January 7 stating the decision.

The CSR then said she was attempting to pull up the letter on her computer but I told her I'd rather wait to get it in the mail to which she replied "It should arrive in the next day or two."

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I wonder if they're starting to attract too much attention with the NWCUF loophole. Wouldn't be the first time. Sorry

Hopefully you can get the decision overturned when the letter comes.

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@AnonymousI honestly don't feel inclined to invest any more time or effort so its unlikely I'll ask them to review their decision.  At least I finally got an answer; although its curious to me that I haven't gotten a letter purportedly mailed on 1/7.

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That detail struck me as odd too. 

I wonder if the banks are renewing their efforts to get CU charters revoked for expanding beyond their stated field of membership or if BECU is just getting a much larger response than they expected from the NWCUF deal. 

[ToxikPH]

I feel like I should chime in on this as I went through the verification process too. I live in Colorado Springs and have absolutely no ties to Washington and got in with NWCUF. I put money in the account the week of Xmas and had my account locked a few days later. I faxed in all documents required (DL, SS, cell phone bill, CC statement, NWCUF email). They then unlocked my account and even approved me for a CC with a $2.5k limit on 12/31.  I then went on to apply for a PLOC on 1/3 expecting them to use the same pull from the CC. I got a notification (CK?) that an inquiry was blocked on my TU file because it was locked. I expected the LOC to then be denied and that be the end of it. It still shows pending (1/15) and I just called in. The CSR stated that she sees I faxed in those documents but does not see a utility bill and the verification is still ongoing. This makes no sense on why they need to verify me more as the CC should show my full report and that alone should verify me. Quite worried about getting locked out of the account once more especially since I now have a $1.5k balance on the CC from a BT. 

[Guyatthebeach]

I'm curious to see how they handle mine as I live in SC near the Boeing plant and am a member of NW Credit Union Foundation.  I was approved, got all my account numbers, verified my ACH info to make the transfer,  and then my access was locked out. I mailed the stuff yesterday, so I'm just going to follow up next week.

Technically, if you are a member of the foundation, BECU can't deny membership due residency, in my opinion.  If they try  that with me, I will challenge it.  

Guyatthebeach

[Anonymous]

I received the letter from BECU today.  Although the CSR told me that it appeared that I was denied membership because of residence outside of Washington State, the letter gave 5 rather spurious reasons based on ChexSystems.

Those reasons don't make much sense to me given that I've lived at the same address for the last 13 years and I've owned my home outright for the last 8 years.  Factor 5 is likely the most valid reason as I recently came across a thread by @CreditCuriosity that basically concluded that BECU is very sensitive to ChexSystems inquiries.  Reviewing my records, in the past 12 months I've opened:

Savings and Cash Management accounts with Bank of America & Merrill Edge (8/19)

Savings Account with Citi (8/19)

Savings Account with Langley FCU (12/19)

Closed Amex Savings (8/19), Chase Savings & Business Checking (8/19), U.S. Bank Savings & Money Market accounts (3/19)

I also opened a BofA Premium Rewards card but I don't think that would have necessitated a ChexSystems inquiry.

Finally, although the CSR told me the letter was mailed to me on 1/7/20, it is actually postmarked on 1/13/20 - the day before I called for the status update.