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NFCU Checking Line of Credit-Is it Worth It?

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A1Credit
Established Contributor

NFCU Checking Line of Credit-Is it Worth It?

When I log into my NFCU account, under my offers is an offer for a checking line of credit.  I was hoping someone could enlighten me on the benefits of applying for this.  Which credit report will they pull?  How do I utlilize it?  Any negatives?  Does it report on my credit reports and if so, how?

 

Good morning all and TIA for any information you can provide.

 

 

***Gardening 3/29/2018 until 9/25/2018***

FICO 8 Scores: EQ~692 l TU~657 l EX~669
Message 1 of 26
25 REPLIES 25
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: NFCU Checking Line of Credit-Is it Worth It?

*It helps bring your UTL down if you have high balances on other cards.

*It does report

*They usually pull FICO 9, TU for membership and EQ for credit cards

*No negatives

*Basically, if you have $0 on your checking account and you write a check or pull money from an ATM, the money will come from that line of credit, which you then have to pay back.  So basically It protects you from overdrafts and from having transactions denied for non-sufficient funds.

Message 2 of 26
A1Credit
Established Contributor

Re: NFCU Checking Line of Credit-Is it Worth It?


@Anonymous wrote:

*It helps bring your UTL down if you have high balances on other cards.

*It does report

*They usually pull FICO 9, TU for membership and EQ for credit cards

*No negatives

*Basically, if you have $0 on your checking account and you write a check or pull money from an ATM, the money will come from that line of credit, which you then have to pay back.  So basically It protects you from overdrafts and from having transactions denied for non-sufficient funds.


Thanks!  You mentioned they pull TU for membership and EQ for credit cards, where where does this fall as a line of credit?  Does that mean they will pull EQ?

***Gardening 3/29/2018 until 9/25/2018***

FICO 8 Scores: EQ~692 l TU~657 l EX~669
Message 3 of 26
Appleman
Valued Contributor

Re: NFCU Checking Line of Credit-Is it Worth It?

Also, you basically cannot access the line until you have a $0 balance in your associated checking account. I hate to see zero in any of my personal checking accounts so I have never utilized my CLOC.

 

I do utilize my PLOC with PenFed if I need to on occasion. I can readily pull our money from my PenFed PLOC and do a short term loan to myself. I pay interest only for the days I need it and my rate at PenFed is better than NFCU.

Message 4 of 26
A1Credit
Established Contributor

Re: NFCU Checking Line of Credit-Is it Worth It?


@Appleman wrote:

Also, you basically cannot access the line until you have a $0 balance in your associated checking account. I hate to see zero in any of my personal checking accounts so I have never utilized my CLOC.

 

I do utilize my PLOC with PenFed if I need to on occasion. I can readily pull our money from my PenFed PLOC and do a short term loan to myself. I pay interest only for the days I need it and my rate at PenFed is better than NFCU.


Okay, now I'm confused.  I can only use it if I have $0 in my checking account?  I thought it was just a line of credit I could use if I needed it.

***Gardening 3/29/2018 until 9/25/2018***

FICO 8 Scores: EQ~692 l TU~657 l EX~669
Message 5 of 26
jlitnns
Established Contributor

Re: NFCU Checking Line of Credit-Is it Worth It?

You can order checks (for free) and write yourself checks directly out of your CLOC. I did it just to see if it works. I mainly got it for the $15k line  and overall utilization.


Message 6 of 26
Appleman
Valued Contributor

Re: NFCU Checking Line of Credit-Is it Worth It?

It is a line of credit but only kicks in after the checking is empty.

 

I had a tax bill last year that I had to pay. I had the cash in various checking accounts but needed a few days to transfer into my account.

I wrote the check specifically with the NFCU CLOC check the NFCU provided and it still took money from my checking. Never touched the LOC because the checking still had enough cash in it. YMMV

Message 7 of 26
jlitnns
Established Contributor

Re: NFCU Checking Line of Credit-Is it Worth It?


@Appleman wrote:

It is a line of credit but only kicks in after the checking is empty.

 

I had a tax bill last year that I had to pay. I had the cash in various checking accounts but needed a few days to transfer into my account.

I wrote the check specifically with the NFCU CLOC check the NFCU provided and it still took money from my checking. Never touched the LOC because the checking still had enough cash in it. YMMV


Weird, I keep a few hundred in my NFCU checking and I've wrote myself 2 checks and it came directly from CLOC only. So I guess for OP only way is to try. YMMV.


Message 8 of 26
SouthJamaica
Mega Contributor

Re: NFCU Checking Line of Credit-Is it Worth It?


@jlitnns wrote:

@Appleman wrote:

It is a line of credit but only kicks in after the checking is empty.

 

I had a tax bill last year that I had to pay. I had the cash in various checking accounts but needed a few days to transfer into my account.

I wrote the check specifically with the NFCU CLOC check the NFCU provided and it still took money from my checking. Never touched the LOC because the checking still had enough cash in it. YMMV


Weird, I keep a few hundred in my NFCU checking and I've wrote myself 2 checks and it came directly from CLOC only. So I guess for OP only way is to try. YMMV.


There are multiple ways to access the CLOC. One is to write regular checks on your checking account for more than is in the account. Another is to use the special checks which are just linked to the CLOC.


Total revolving limits 586020 (520820 reporting) FICO 8: EQ 685 TU 691 EX 683




Message 9 of 26
A1Credit
Established Contributor

Re: NFCU Checking Line of Credit-Is it Worth It?

Thanks all.  I think I will wait to apply because I want to better my chances of getting the full $15K.  My EQ Fico 9 is 709 according to NFCU.

***Gardening 3/29/2018 until 9/25/2018***

FICO 8 Scores: EQ~692 l TU~657 l EX~669
Message 10 of 26
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