With a large membership, credit unions can dish out lots of useful, fun discounts. BECU offers discount on sports tickets, tax preparation software and amusement parks, among other perks.
"We keep offering more every year," Pietzsch says. "It's got to be a quality product, though, that appeals to a broad base."
Based in Richmond, Va., Virginia Credit Union, which currently offers nine discounts on amusement parks, tax preparation and even travel, also offers a mortgage rebate of up to $1,500.
Also, Landmark Credit Union has services aimed at its Hispanic clients, including money transfer services to Mexico for people to send money back home, Ransom says.