UNIFY FINANCIAL CREDIT UNION (California) - UPDATE 2/4/23

[Jeffster1]

Anybody with feedback on UNIFY FINANCIAL CREDIT UNION in California? All the feedback on here is really old. I would love to get some feedback regarding membership; credit cards: service; etc.

They are local to me and seem to be along fhe lines of a "community" credit union. I should be gardening right now so a credit card would be way down the line,  but you never know when a specific credit union might offer something enticing.

I applied online on 9/5 (Labor Day), and got the message that my application is under review. I called three times, and got a little info each time.

1. Their "back room" is overwhelmed. The CU does not sound very automated. 
2. They do not do a HP for membership (unlike Los Angeles Federal Credit Union down the street which does a HP for membership).

3. They pull Chexsystems.

4. Once fheir back room gets to your app, they email you to upload documents. I haven't gotten the email yet so I cannot say what they need.

5. If you don't respond to their request, they cancel your app. I think it's 30 days. I'm at that stage now, and need to consider whether to proceed. 
6. I have no idea if they are geofenced. 
7. Phone service is quick and polite. 

Any real world feedback?

[SouthJamaica]

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@Jeffster1 wrote:

Anybody with feedback on UNIFY FINANCIAL CREDIT UNION in California? All the feedback on here is really old. I would love to get some feedback regarding membership; credit cards: service; etc.

They are local to me and seem to be along fhe lines of a "community" credit union. I should be gardening right now so a credit card would be way down the line,  but you never know when a specific credit union might offer something enticing.

I applied online on 9/5 (Labor Day), and got the message that my application is under review. I called three times, and got a little info each time.

1. Their "back room" is overwhelmed. The CU does not sound very automated. 
2. They do not do a HP for membership (unlike Los Angeles Federal Credit Union down the street which does a HP for membership).

3. They pull Chexsystems.

4. Once fheir back room gets to your app, they email you to upload documents. I haven't gotten the email yet so I cannot say what they need.

5. If you don't respond to their request, they cancel your app. I think it's 30 days. I'm at that stage now, and need to consider whether to proceed. 
6. I have no idea if they are geofenced. 
7. Phone service is quick and polite. 

Any real world feedback?

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I think they're a great credit union. They used to be called "Western Federal Credit Union".

They are totally automated.

They're not geofenced; they're open to everybody.

They acquired a credit union that was based in Roseland NJ, I think it was McGraw Hill ADP Employees. So they have a presence in NJ too.

It's a long time since I applied for a credit card with them, but at the time they pulled EX FICO 2.

I like them just fine. In my experience their underwriting was more generous than most credit unions, and their APR's low.

[Jeffster1]

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@SouthJamaica wrote:

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@Jeffster1 wrote:

Anybody with feedback on UNIFY FINANCIAL CREDIT UNION in California? All the feedback on here is really old. I would love to get some feedback regarding membership; credit cards: service; etc.

They are local to me and seem to be along fhe lines of a "community" credit union. I should be gardening right now so a credit card would be way down the line,  but you never know when a specific credit union might offer something enticing.

I applied online on 9/5 (Labor Day), and got the message that my application is under review. I called three times, and got a little info each time.

1. Their "back room" is overwhelmed. The CU does not sound very automated. 
2. They do not do a HP for membership (unlike Los Angeles Federal Credit Union down the street which does a HP for membership).

3. They pull Chexsystems.

4. Once fheir back room gets to your app, they email you to upload documents. I haven't gotten the email yet so I cannot say what they need.

5. If you don't respond to their request, they cancel your app. I think it's 30 days. I'm at that stage now, and need to consider whether to proceed. 
6. I have no idea if they are geofenced. 
7. Phone service is quick and polite. 

Any real world feedback?

---

I think they're a great credit union. They used to be called "Western".

They are totally automated.

They're not geofenced; they're open to everybody.

They acquired a credit union that was based in NJ, I think it was McGraw Hill Employees. So they have a presence in NJ too.

It's a long time since I applied for a credit card with them, but at the time they pulled EX FICO 2.

I like them just fine. In my experience their underwriting was more generous than most credit unions, and their APR's low.

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Thanks, @SouthJamaica. Great info. Thanks for the clarification on their automation. I had gotten the wrong impression from the delay in circling back to me for docs. I'll go ahead and proceed with the process when they want me to send them docs. 

I've already set up with them the funding for the Savings and Checking. I'll wait a while before I apply for a credit card until some inquiries come off. Thanks again.

[sznthescore]

I like Unify Financial Credit Union. They are neck and neck with NFCU. They've provided great service since I've been a member for only 6 short months, and they have exceeded my expectations and current needs. Therefore, I have no complaints. 

[AndySoCal]

@Jeffster1   Here are some reviews on Wallet Hub for whatver its worth.

https://wallethub.com/profile/unify-financial-cu-13309935i 

[akaFettHutt]

Because Unify is currently offering a $250 checking promo(exp 12/31/22) I will be applying for membership before the year is over. I live in So Cal.

[Jeffster1]

I will admit that I am both impressed and very unimpressed so far with Unify...

- Impressed with the folks who answer the phone.

Unfortunately, that is where it ends...

- Lengthy delay in getting approved with absolutely no updates.

- After applying on 9/5, my ONLY correspondence came today in the form of a brief, cryptic email from someone who didn't even identify their department. I was led to believe that I would need to provide documents such as drivers license and utility bill. Suddenly, that's no longer an issue even though I never provided them.

- The email says my account is "established," but that my funding of the checking account was "unsuccessful." Seriously? I funded both checking and savings from one of my VERY funded BofA accounts. The inference is that the savings was successfully funded. Meanwhile, no deduction has been made from BofA to fund the savings account...not even a pending transaction. 
- The cryptic email tells me to fund the account through the branch or mobile banking. Meanwhile, I have no member number; no website access and no account numbers. 
- I am not even sure I received an email intended for me. Considering the problems above, and the fact that the salutation does not even address me by name...only "HELLO"...I am not persuaded that these people know what they are doing.

Quite frankly, the place sounds like a dumpster fire. I'm sorry I feel that way.

[M_Smart007]

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@sznthescore wrote:

I like Unify Financial Credit Union. "They are neck and neck with NFCU."

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I had no idea, they were all that!  .... "Navy Federal is the largest natural member (or retail) credit union in the United States, both in asset size and in membership. As of February 2022, Navy Federal has $159.8 billion USD in assets and has 11.85 million members."

[sznthescore]

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@M_Smart007 wrote:

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@sznthescore wrote:

I like Unify Financial Credit Union. "They are neck and neck with NFCU."

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I had no idea, they were all that!  .... "Navy Federal is the largest natural member (or retail) credit union in the United States, both in asset size and in membership. As of February 2022, Navy Federal has $159.8 billion USD in assets and has 11.85 million members."

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I didn't mean in those regards just personally for my current financial needs at the moment as a rebuilder.

• Direct Deposit 2 days early
• Quick Loans up to $500 no credit check ($20 fee per loan, 6 week repayment period after 30 days) Have utilized a Quick Loan 2 or 3x so far.
• Secured credit card with no credit check (heard that it may unsecure after a year from a recent member who made the statement June 2022 even though its said that it would NOT graduate) Whether it unsecures or not, I am okay with that.

 The benefits listed above may not apply to someone with good/excellent credit. However, Unify opened the door to establish a relastionship. My interactions with them over the last 6 months have been great. No hiccups, mishandling of application processes, therefore resulting in no complaints from me. I'm not chasing after any of their credit cards or other financial products at the moment. Everyone's needs are different. Currently, Unify is my lowest APR credit card, then NFCU, followed by Apple. NFCU is my primary finanial institution, however, not in a position to reap all of Navy Federal benefits and rewards just yet.  

[Jeffster1]

I received very quick responses from their New Member Department and their Presidents Office. I'm impressed with that. 
The New Member Department admitted that there was a glitch on Unify's end in pulling funds from my external account. I'm glad they admitted it, but should have done so in the first place instead of wording it as if I were trying to pull funds from an account with no money in it.

From all the feedback, Unify sounds like a great credit union.I'm sad that they really messed this one up.