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Generally speaking, Credit Unions have lower interest rates on loans and credit cards, and higher interest rates on deposits (Savings, CDs, etc) compared to Banks. On the down side, they are usually small, which means less branches, less ATMs.
Generally speaking, the lowest interest rates can be found at community credit unions or other credit unions. Credit Unions are not for profit and generally make less money on loans. Major banks are a for-profit business and usually charge more than credit unions.
You can get a credit card with less interest through banks like Bank of America, Wachovia, Chase Manhattan, Wells Fargo, Citibank, and your local credit unions.
You can get a credit card with less interest through banks like Bank of America, Wachovia, Chase Manhattan, Wells Fargo, Citibank, and your local credit unions.
You can get a loan with less interest through banks like Bank of America, Wachovia, Chase Manhattan, Wells Fargo, Citibank, and your local credit unions.
You can get a credit card or loan even with poor credit with less interest through banks like Bank of America, Wachovia, Chase Manhattan, Wells Fargo, Citibank, and your local credit unions.
Most banks have similar options for checking accounts. Often smaller local banks or credit unions offer free checking or lower required balances than do national banks. If one wants to use a larger bank, Wells Fargo is a good choice.
When looking to purchase a new or used car, credit unions can be a great financing option. Credit unions are typically formed on a local basis and function as non-profit organizations, allowing borrowers to cut down on fees and get better service than they might with a large bank. Certain companies offer membership in credit unions to their employees, as do professional organizations like unions, and sometimes even churches. Towns and municipalities also sometimes offer credit unions. Although a person's credit history, income, and other factors are considered, it is often possible to get cheaper loans through credit unions.
Credit unions were first formed in the United States in 1934 as an alternative to for-profit banks. As a non-profit business, a credit unions can use more of its accounts receivable to directly serve its customers. The result of this is usually lower interest rates on loans, lower or non-existent account fees and an increased focus on customer service.How to Qualify for Credit Union MembershipIn decades gone by, people could generally only attain credit union membership through their employer or a trade organization that they or their employer belonged to. For example, if you were a teacher in a certain school district, you would be eligible for credit union membership if that school district made it available to you. Today, the only membership requirement is often that you live or work in a certain community. If you are interested in being a credit union member, it would be worthwhile to look up ones in your area and inquire as to their membership qualifications.Benefits of Credit Unions over BanksWithout executive salaries to pay or expensive overhead to maintain, credit unions are free to provide services to members that are more to their advantage than banks can. You will often find credit unions offering higher interest paid on savings accounts and certificates of deposit, while at the same time charging less interest on home loans, auto loans and credit cards. When credit union members are asked directly why they chose to join a credit union, favorable interest rates is often the top reason given.When it comes to account maintenance fees, such as imposing a non-sufficient funds fee, they are usually much lower at credit unions than they would be at banks. Also, the average customer can expect to see credit union fees remain fairly stable over time without the introduction of a lot of new fees used to penalize or promote certain financial behavior.Credit unions are community based, so the emphasis on customer service is usually higher than a bank which may be part of a very large national organization. There tends to be a small town feel with credit unions that many people come to appreciate. Finally, with so many people being eligible for credit union membership these days, it has had the effect of forcing banks to offer more competitive products and services.
Some of the benefits of using a credit union are they are member owned, lower interest rates, lower fees and fewer restrictions. Credit Unions are smaller than bank and therefore may not be able to provide the lending opportunities for a larger business loan. Credit Unions also have less influence in the federal banking sector.
You can get a loan with less interest through banks like Bank of America, Wachovia, Chase Manhattan, Wells Fargo, Citibank, and your local credit unions.
You can get a loan with less interest and no money down through banks like Bank of America, Wachovia, Chase Manhattan, Wells Fargo, Citibank, and your local credit unions.