USAA/NFCU

[ZackAttack]

Hi,

I just paid a visit to my grandpa in thinking that I will never see to join either USAA or NFCU. Just my luck is that he gave me a copy of his DD 214 and now I am excited!!!!! So first off, I would like to know which bureaus do NFCU and USAA does check when applying for membership?

[creditfan]

neither hp for membership 

usaa will have more hoops to jump 

nfcu is more easier 

[Mr_Mojo_Risin]

NFCU has only been doing SP for membership for awhile now. I believe they did a SP on EQ for my membership. 

USAA is for active duty and their family members I believe.

[BearsCubsOtters]

When I joined NFCU many years ago they hard pulled TU; however, I believe they stopped hard pulling for membership.

USAA did not hard pull to join; however, keep in mind that membership at USAA is passed from parent to child. I do not believe you can join through your granddad. You would need your parent that is related to your granddad to join through him, and then you can join through that parent. 

"Eligible Family

Current spouses, widows, widowers and un-remarried former spouses of USAA members who joined USAA prior to or during the marriage and children whose parents joined USAA."

You can certainly called them at 1-800-531-8722 to clarify. 

[Anonymous]

@ZackAttack I highly suggest joining Navy based on the positive experience I have had with them. IMO they are a very fair lender especially to rebuilders.

Navy will likely soft pull Equifax although they are supposed to be using Transunion for all credit decisions.

[cashorcharge]

Keep in mind...USAA is a bank

NFCU is a credit union

USAA is no where near as generous or as calculated as NFCU is when it comes to accounts, CLI's etc. 

USAA will give you great insurance products that NFCU won't offer. 

[newmomnewme]

@ZackAttack  I totally agree with @cashorcharge. I have both; checking, savings, credit cards, and refi auto loan with Navy. Auto and rental insurance with USAA. I never even opened a checking account or cc with them because Navy has those bases well covered! 

For USAA, I think you would need to have your grandpas child (your mom or dad) join and then I think you can join through your parent? 

One or both would be good to have! 

[spedteacher1]

I have USAA for a few things, but my father (air force) started our membership.  I have had an account with them for 40 years.  I will say that their auto insurnace is very pricey- I never shopped around until my oldest started driving.  It was $1000 a month to add him, Geico it was $100.  That's huge!  

[1GaDawg85]

If you are looking for a better experience, join Navy Fed. If you are looking for a whole financial solution, USAA. 

I have both and use them. Navy Fed is much more generous than USAA if you look at credit products. 

[CBartowski]

Op- thank your grandpops for his service, I imagine he was in when conditions were far less than favorable. 

I can't speak to bureau pulls but Ive had both for about a decade now so I can speak to experience.

USAA: PROs: Many options for insurance (including even pet insurance), banking, loans, etc. (they moved their investments to Schwab), great customer service, different checking account options (cashback checking or unlimited free ATMs) and okay credit card offerings. CONs: Banking rates are garbage, loans had less favorable rates, non-24 hr assistance line, insurance was seriously more expensive than others (I keep trying to give them my business but just can't they're so much more expensive)

NFCU: PROs: Also great options for banking, decent CC offerings, 24 hour assistance line, more favorable loan rates (YMMV), actual branches (though not terribly prevelant), large amount of varied checking account options (to include one that pays .35% interest), Money market pays 0.40 - 0.50% (which sucks but right now its pretty oaky), still has investment options and advisors (never used though so I can't comment further) CONs: No insurance offerings

Frankly you likely can't go wrong with either depending what you are looking for. I use my USAA account as my "hub account" and my NFCU for mortgage, car loan (when I had one), and an option for my nest egg as their money market is higher than most nowadays. Both support Zelle which is nice. I just moved my nest egg from PenFed to NF because they're so much easier to work with and the interest is almost identical now.

NF even include the Space Force now!

You could theoretically look at PenFed too if you wanted. Some people really like it, I have mixed feelings but I won't ellaborate unless you're curious to keep useless info off the posts .

Good luck on the choice, both good options for different solutions. Hope this helps