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Credit Unions

Different from traditional banks, credit unions offer member-focused financial services and a community-oriented approach, making them an attractive choice for consumers seeking personalized banking experiences.

Explore credit union basics

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Evaluate the benefits and drawbacks to decide if a credit union is right for you.
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Here’s how to find the credit union that will best fit with your financial needs.
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Here’s what you need to do to become a credit union member.

Compare products offered by credit unions

Mortgages

Credit union vs. bank mortgages: How to choose

Discover the benefits and disadvantages of getting a mortgage loan from a credit union and how to choose the right lender with expert insights from Bankrate.

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Loans

Getting a personal loan from a credit union

When considering personal loans offered by credit unions, use this guide to make an informed decision about your borrowing needs.

Credit Cards

Best credit union credit cards

These credit cards may not be as widely known or used compared to traditional issuers, but many offer lower interest rates to help you save money if you can’t pay your balance in full.

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Banking

Banks vs. credit unions: Where to keep your money

Bankrate helps you compare the advantages of banks and credit unions to make the smartest choice for housing your finances.

 

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Experts in all things banking

Our expert writers and editors bring you timely news and reliable information - backed by data and first-hand experience.

About Bankrate's team
Greg McBride

Greg McBride, CFA Arrow Right Icon

Chief Financial Analyst

Sarah Foster

Sarah Foster Arrow Right Icon

Principal U.S. Economy Reporter

Mark Hamrick

Mark Hamrick Arrow Right Icon

Senior Economic Analyst

Latest articles

A friendly female customer service representative
These are the 10 largest credit unions in the United States based on assets.
Credit sign on stone wall building
Evaluate the benefits and drawbacks to decide if a credit union is right for you.
Whimsical artwork of four piggy banks standing atop of four stacks of coins, gradually increasing in height
If you’re looking to save with a credit union, here are the top rates available.
Coworkers discussing a project
Here’s how to find the credit union that will best fit with your financial needs.
Closeup of someone counting money
The National Credit Union Administration is similar to the FDIC, which covers banks.
Credit Union
Check out this list of credit unions that have failed since 2012.
vystar credit union building in jacksonville, FL
Technology upgrades are at the heart of the outage, which has gone on for days.
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One Florida credit union aims to offer an alternative to check-cashing stores by starting their own, offering lower interest rates and fees. Elsewhere, middle-income consumers and college students are [...]
Illustration of Fed Chair Jerome Powell with torn pieces of money falling around him and a jagged arrow rising from the lower left to the upper right. There is also a Now Hiring sign behind him in the upper left of the image.
A slowdown may already be underway in the once formidable U.S. job market.
Mother and daughter looking at savings account info on a cellphone
The best savings accounts for teenagers offer competitive rates and charge no fees.
Male friends walk on a college campus.
Here are top accounts for features like ATM fee waivers, overdraft forgiveness and more.
Bank building
Even the smallest of these big banks has enormously deep pockets.
Currently, you can lock in annual percentage yields (APYs) on certificates of deposit (CDs) above 4 percent on many nationally available CDs, while a select few financial institutions offer promotional [...]
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Here’s how much $100,000 in a high-yield savings account can earn you.
female soldier and her husband use a banking app to check the state of their finances
Savings APYs remain high as the Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady.
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Chime offers checking and savings accounts via partnerships with FDIC-insured banks.
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