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Credit Union Advantages: Why Bank At A Credit Union
Higher returns, better savings, low interest on borrowings, and a sense of community – these are just a few of the benefits of credit union membership.
However, the main reason why you should make the Credit Union of Southern California (CU SoCal) your primary financial institution is that we are a not for profit organization. You aren’t just an account holder, you’re a Member.
CU SoCal has serviced the needs of Southern Californians for over six decades. We’re now officially the fastest-growing credit union in Southern California.
Our Members have access to 30,000+ free ATMs through the CO-OP Network, which is more ATMs than Bank of America, Chase, and Wells Fargo. Additionally, we provided $15.2 million in direct financial benefits to our members in 2019 alone.
Intrigued by the benefits of having a credit union account? Open your account today!
Get Started on Your Membership Today
Benefits of Joining a Credit Union
Credit Unions run on the principal that people should look out for each other — and at CU SoCal, every member is cared for. We are all about people, not profits.
This member-centric model makes the typical credit union more accessible than a bank, and each credit union member is far more likely to receive personalized customer service than they would from a bank.
If you are still wondering why are credit unions better than banks, let’s highlight some of the many benefits of joining a credit union.
Lower Rates
Since we are not-for-profit establishments, we set aside some of the earnings to cover operational costs and the rest is used to pave the way for low-interest auto loans, mortgages, credit cards, and other financial benefits for our members.
We also tend to offer better, longer payback periods, and discounts when installments are paid on time, all of which makes it cheaper to borrow money from a Credit Union compared to a bank!
Lower Fees
One of the other pros of a credit union is its remarkable fee structure – they offer quality financial services at minimal costs, with no hidden charges.
Naysayers may claim that exorbitant bank fees help facilitate an enhanced customer experience and better services such as mobile payments, online banking, reachability, etc.—but many credit unions, including CU SoCal, offer the same or better benefits as traditional banks, such as full service mobile apps and state-of-the-art fraud protection.
More Forgiving Qualifications Standards
If your credit history is compromised or you downright don’t have a credit history, a conventional bank might not accept your loan application or even let you open an account with them.
However, credit unions are far less likely to be so strict about your credit history.
They will analyze your current position, see how much you owe, and if you are making payments on time. Less than perfect credit is not always an obstacle with credit unions the way it usually is with banks.
Community Presence
Another reason why people use a credit union is the sense of community that comes along with it.
Credit unions only allow membership if you belong to a particular organization, work for a certain employer, or live, work, attend school or religious services in a certain geographical area, such as a city or county. Anyone who lives, works, attends school or religious services in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino or Riverside County can join Credit Union of Southern California.
To give back to the community, credit unions organize fundraisers, provide grants and scholarships to deserving students, donate money to the less fortunate, and do other community building efforts that help benefit members directly. CU SoCal gives hundreds of thousands of dollars to local communities every year!
Higher Rates On Savings Accounts
Credit union benefits include great rates on saving accounts, so if you want to make your money work harder for you, become a member of your local credit union!
Instead of distributing profits among shareholders in the form of dividends, credit unions share their “profits” with all of their members in the form of low rates on loans, higher rates on savings accounts and lower fees overall.
Personalized Service
From educating members on complex financial matters to providing tailored services to meet their needs — credit unions will do everything in their power to help their members thrive.
Since their end-game is not to make a profit, they pay more attention to their members.
Insured Deposits
Above all, one of the most acclaimed credit union advantages is that all deposits remain secured.
You won’t lose your hard-earned money because the National Credit Union Association (NCUA) backs credit union deposits. Each depositor’s account is insured for up to $250,000.
Why Choose CU SoCal’s Banking Products?
We offer modern tech innovations to facilitate our members in every way possible, providing the best possible service experience no matter how you want to access your funds or benefits.
We have 19 local locations and access to free CO-OP Network ATMs across the nation. Membership is open to anyone who lives, works, attends school or religious services in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside or San Bernardino County.
Don’t just take our word for it; read testimonials written by our members.
CA’s Best Credit Union Banking Products
Southern Californians opt choose our exceptional service and financial fairness services because they know we always support and provide solutions to our Members.
Checking Accounts
You have two options to choose from — either open a
ClassicChecking Account or a Rewards Checking Account. These checking products provide you access to online bill payments, mobile banking, nationwide ATM access, and a lot more.
You’ll get a Visa debit card with your CU SoCal Checking Account. You can use it fir purchases or to withdraw cash from ATMs.
Savings Accounts
It only takes a $10 deposit to open a
Savings Account, and you earn interest when you maintain a $500 balance.
Like conventional banks, we offer services like online banking, mobile banking, automatic transfers and much more.
CDs
We offer NCUA deposit-insured share certificates, and you can open a certificate of deposit with a minimum of $1,000.
These have flexible maturity dates of 1 to 60 months. Dividends are compounded every month and also on maturity.
Auto Loans
If you want an auto loan from CU SoCal — we offer up to 120% financing on new or used cars, competitive interest rates, and extended terms up to 84 months for the lowest possible monthly payment.
Personal Loans
You can get a personal loan for a minimum of $500 and a maximum of $30,000.
You can opt for a signature loan, savings secured loan, certificate secured loan, or a line of credit.
Emergency Loans
Our Members can apply for an emergency loan of up to $10,000.
They don’t have to pay anything for three months, and then they have a max 60-month limit to settle their dues at a low fixed interest rate. A personal hardship letter is required at the time of application.
Mortgages
Are you looking for a home loan?
CU SoCal offers a full range of mortgage options to meet your specific needs. Register free for our exclusive Home Rewards program to find your new home online!
Join CU SoCal Today!
Now that you know why credit unions are better than banks, are you ready to become a member?
Sign up for an account online with CU SoCal today and see what you’ve been missing!
Get Started on Your Membership Today
