WHY A CREDIT UNION?
A credit union is a financial cooperative composed solely of member-owners who share the philosophy of “not for profit, but for service.” Unlike some financial institutions, the people on our volunteer Board of Directors are member-owners, who work in the best interest of other fellow member-owners. Since the Board of Directors are volunteers (unpaid), profits are returned to members in the form of lower loan rates, low or no-fee products and services, and higher savings rates. At a bank, the only people who benefit from profits are the investors.

Members at a credit union are member-owners because his or her deposit represents a share of ownership; however at a bank, the owners are typically small groups of investors. Credit union members are united by a common bond of membership.Financial markets fluctuate over time. When the market dips, banks tend to either raise loan interest rates or close altogether. Credit unions rely on financial reserves to absorb unexpected losses, so members are protected when times get tough. Also, credit unions are insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), a U.S. government agency, for deposits up to $250,000.

Click here to read the latest report on "Credit Union Member Benefits".