It seems to me that most do not do a HP just for membership.
@Cory88 wrote:What are some easy credit unions to join that are basically open to everyone and don't do a a HP for membership?
Building off what others have posted above, I am not aware of any credit unions who do a hard pull just for joining. So the next questions you need to decide are:
- Are you wanting to join a smaller local credit union?
- Are you wanting to join a federal credit union with local branches?
- Or do you not care about local branches and just want to join a federal credit union?
@Horseshoez wrote:
@Cory88 wrote:What are some easy credit unions to join that are basically open to everyone and don't do a a HP for membership?
Building off what others have posted above, I am not aware of any credit unions who do a hard pull just for joining. So the next questions you need to decide are:
- Are you wanting to join a smaller local credit union?
- Are you wanting to join a federal credit union with local branches?
- Or do you not care about local branches and just want to join a federal credit union?
Because your list, as I read it, implies a contrast between a small, local credit union and a federal credit union, I just want to clarify: a "federal" credit union just means that the credit union is federally chartered and thus regulated by the NCUA. You can have a federal credit union that has one branch with three employees, open only on Tues and Thurs afternoons. A credit union that isn't federal is just one that's state chartered and regulated by state-specific laws. You can have a state-chartered credit union with multiple branches across multiple states.
@Slabenstein wrote:
@Horseshoez wrote:
@Cory88 wrote:What are some easy credit unions to join that are basically open to everyone and don't do a a HP for membership?
Building off what others have posted above, I am not aware of any credit unions who do a hard pull just for joining. So the next questions you need to decide are:
- Are you wanting to join a smaller local credit union?
- Are you wanting to join a federal credit union with local branches?
- Or do you not care about local branches and just want to join a federal credit union?
Because your list, as I read it, implies a contrast between a small, local credit union and a federal credit union, I just want to clarify: a "federal" credit union just means that the credit union is federally chartered and thus regulated by the NCUA. You can have a federal credit union that has one branch with three employees, open only on Tues and Thurs afternoons. A credit union that isn't federal is just one that's state chartered and regulated by state-specific laws. You can have a state-chartered credit union with multiple branches across multiple states.
Interesting, thanks for the education. I have several smaller credit unions near me which do not state they are "Federal Credit Unions", however, they are NCUA regulated. The thrust of my post was to draw a line between the likes of say Triangle Credit Union (https://www.trianglecu.org) in my area and the likes of say PenFed and NFCU.
@Horseshoez wrote:
@Slabenstein wrote:
@Horseshoez wrote:
@Cory88 wrote:What are some easy credit unions to join that are basically open to everyone and don't do a a HP for membership?
Building off what others have posted above, I am not aware of any credit unions who do a hard pull just for joining. So the next questions you need to decide are:
- Are you wanting to join a smaller local credit union?
- Are you wanting to join a federal credit union with local branches?
- Or do you not care about local branches and just want to join a federal credit union?
Because your list, as I read it, implies a contrast between a small, local credit union and a federal credit union, I just want to clarify: a "federal" credit union just means that the credit union is federally chartered and thus regulated by the NCUA. You can have a federal credit union that has one branch with three employees, open only on Tues and Thurs afternoons. A credit union that isn't federal is just one that's state chartered and regulated by state-specific laws. You can have a state-chartered credit union with multiple branches across multiple states.
Interesting, thanks for the education. I have several smaller credit unions near me which do not state they are "Federal Credit Unions", however, they are NCUA regulated. The thrust of my post was to draw a line between the likes of say Triangle Credit Union (https://www.trianglecu.org) in my area and the likes of say PenFed and NFCU.
Are they regulated by the NCUA, or does the NCUA just insure their deposits? (The NCUA insures deposits at federally-insured state-chartered credit unions, as well as federally-chartered credit unions.)
And, yep, I agree, one thing to consider when thinking about what CU to join is whether you want a small, local CU or a big, national one. For me, even large-ish, statewide credit unions have been a different member experience from small, local ones.
@Cory88 wrote:What are some easy credit unions to join that are basically open to everyone and don't do a a HP for membership?
Some credit unions do a HP for membership, some do not. When I am interested in joining a credit union I reach out and ask them. You cannot rely on what you are told here or in online articles, because policies change.
As to credit unions open to all, I have formed the opinion that you can often get better deals with credit unions that are not open to all... i.e. those which are geographically or affiliation restricted. So I would look in that direction first.
Some credit unions that are open to all are Affinity FCU, Alliant CU, Unify FCU, PenFed, DCU, Jovia FCU, Dept of Interior FCU, Dept of Commerce FCU, BECU, Dow, Consumers, Members 1st (Enola PA), PSECU, SECU MD, Baxter, Langley, Service, and many others.
