I don't know how the joint part works in terms for CUs since every CU different compared to a bank.
As for joining NFCU ... a person can join from the range of grandparent to grandchild (as long you are in the middle of it for the range to work). Since your husband is easier, I would let him join first and ask the questions about how "joint" stuff work. When your husband has his stuff, you can join NFCU based on him since you are in the same household as him.
My guess about the checking account, since I see mine with a different number than the access number given, I'm assuming the joint is connected thru the access number given when joining.
A Checking Act -> Husband Access Number
-> Wifey Access Number
That is my guess of how they identify who has access to that account within NFCU. When I add TODs when creating CDs, I know my mom hasn't signed up and the system has assigned her an access number ... same thing with my dad -> has an access number but idk if he join NFCU at all.
Since a bank is easier to understand for joint stuff, but CUs can be confusing depending how they structure it. My best guess is a NFCU rep can clarify more on how joint stuff works.
I joined NFCU (both parents are military) and then my DH joined through me, although he could have joined on his own since his dad also served. We have separate accounts (checking, savings, credit cards) on almost everything, other than the SUV we are jointly paying on.
My wife and I were actually both eligible to join (her through her dad, me through my deceased grandfather). It was just easier for us to use her dad in case we needed to locate any documents to prove eligibilty. We have a joint checking account and individual saving accounts. Both of us have been able to apply for our own Navy Federal credit cards. I feel like loan approvals will work the same way should we apply for those too. So you shouldn't have any issues either applying for credit cards or loans if you join through your husband too!
@Catatonico wrote:Thank you!
We're going to the in-laws in a couple of weeks to pick up the documentation that proves my husband's eligibility. Want to have it on hand, just in case. Then we're going to go by there.
Thank you all for the responses!!
@Catatonico you may not even need to wait to join. When my wife and I joined through her dad no documentation was needed. We had access to the documentation but it wasn't asked for. They just asked for information about him such as name and date of birth. I assume they looked him up and that was all the verification that was needed. We've been members since January 2020 and they have never come back and asked for any documentation either. Definitely do what you feel is best, just didn't want you to delay joining unneccesarily!