@Andy77 wrote:
This has to be the hardest CU to join. I sent them color copies of my driver license, passport, ss card, w2, paycheck stub and they said they have a number tied to identity and they can't verify me and if I fly from Los Angeles (I live there) to Virginia and my account would be opened in person, 100 percent guaranteed.
I also applied for a credit card, called the credit dept they said my card was approved for 20k but the membership dept was blocking my card and I got a letter in the mail that stated my credit card was not approved because my membership was not approved.
I provided them every document they asked for and joined a non profit to establish my membership relationship.
None of their membership disclosures state that if they cannot use the documents you provide that in person memberhsip application is necessaary.
I had my lawyer send the COO and President a letter. Telling a qualified member to fly across the country in the middle of a pandemic is insane.
I also filed a complaint with the NCUA as this credit union is not using legal documents, that any other bank would use to establish identity, as establishing identity.
@Andy77
CU's are governed by their own internal policies when it comes to membership, including what documents are acceptable, especially the state they operate out of as long as it's within the NCUA guidelines. They are under no obligation to accept just anyone even if a variety of documents were provided, so please keep that in mind.
I went through something similar with BECU as an out-of-state applicant and knew of the risk of having the membership declined if certain verification protocols didn't align with their policies or the information that I had submitted to them. It lasted for about ~3 weeks (give or take) to resolve and the option to fly out to WA was possible if they required in-person verification (this was roughly just before lockdown last year). Only difference, I didn't lawyer up for there was no reason. Their rules/policies.
Also, even though the pandedulce is still prevalent, SDFCU branches are currently open during limited hours or by appointments (given COVID-19 current protocols) so the request for verification in-person is not unreasonable nor "insane". This is the risk you run when you apply for membership and/or credit products when your state of residence is not in the FI's footprint. I believe a member has suggested to see whether there's an alternative option to do it via co-op (in the event SDFCU is part of the network with any of your local CUs).
Let's face it, even NFCU can sometimes require an in-person visit to sort things out. It's possible they also are aware of additional internal information that prevents the membership to be established 🤷♂️
