Credit Union That You Can Join From Any State In Us

March 20, 2024

Some credit unions allow you to join online from anywhere in the US. To become a member, make a small payment to a foundation or create a savings account. You’ll prefer a credit union over a typical bank if you want to earn a greater interest rate.

To create a bank account or use credit union services, you must be a member. Typically, you’ll have to work for a specific employer or reside in a specific city or county.

However, some credit unions have relatively simple membership criteria and allow members to join from anywhere in the United States.

If you prefer to bank with a credit union than a bank, we’ve compiled a list of suitable credit unions for you to explore.

Table of Contents

What Are the Best Credit Unions That Anyone Can Join?

Whether you’re looking for a “credit union near me” to experience the perks of in-person banking and brick-and-mortar branches, or you’re looking into credit unions far away with substantial member benefits, you have many possibilities. Here are some of the greatest credit unions you can join:

Alliant Credit Union
Bethpage Federal Credit Union
PenFed Credit Union
Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union
Connexus Credit Union
Teachers Federal Credit Union
Consumers Credit Union
Lake Michigan Credit Union
NASA Federal Credit Union
Hope Credit Union
AgFed Credit Union
Kinecta Federal Credit Union
CommunityWide Federal Credit Union
Service Credit Union
Signature Federal Credit Union
Wings Credit Union
Quorum Federal Credit Union
Premier Members Credit Union
Pentagon Federal Credit Union
Latino Community Credit Union

1. Alliant Credit Union

Alliant offers high-yield checking and savings accounts with no overdraft fees. Savings accounts earn 3.10% per year, while checking accounts offer 0.25%. Alliant also provides share certificates (CDs) with APYs up to 5.45%.

Pros

high CD and savings account interest rates
Minimal opening deposit requirements
earning checking account with interest
reimburses out-of-network ATM fees up to $20.
No fines for overdrafts

Cons

No money market accounts

How To Join

Join the nonprofit Foster Care to Success by making a $5 one-time payment, which is covered by Alliant Credit Union. Additionally, if you are a current or former employee of one of the companies or organizations Alliant has partnered with, or if you reside in a qualifying community close to Chicago, you are eligible to participate.

Why it stands out

Low minimum startup deposits are required for high-interest savings and checking accounts offered by Alliant Credit Union.

Membership requirements

Foster Care to Success is a nonprofit that works with foster youngsters. By joining, you can become a member of Alliant Credit Union (Alliant pays the $5 membership fee). Additionally, if you reside in specific areas of Illinois or are employed by an approved employer, you may be qualified to join the credit union.

2. Bethpage Federal Credit Union

Customers can get the best of both worlds at Bethpage Federal Credit Union, which offers low-interest rates for home equity and vehicle loans in addition to excellent yields on savings, money markets, and certificates. A free checking account with no minimum balance limitations is another service provided by the credit union.

Product Details

32 locations in the state of New York
There are still 5,000 shared branches and 30,000 shared ATMs in the Co-op network where non-residents of New York can open accounts online.
Register as a member by depositing $5 to start a savings account.
federal insurance provided by NCUA

Pros

Anywhere in the United States, you can open an account at a branch or online.
vast ATM network available for free
Simple to join; all you need to do is deposit $5 to start a savings account.
Excessive interest rates on money market, certificate, and checking accounts
No recurring monthly charges
have fees for using ATMs outside of its network.

Cons

There are just branches in New York State.
Savings account interest rate is low
Not eligible for free overdraft protection; there is a $5 transfer fee from savings
refuses to reimburse any costs incurred by non-network ATM providers.

How To Join

Membership in BFCU is not required. Simply deposit $5 into a BFCU savings account once to become one of the 440,000 members around the country.

Insider’s Take

Our ranking of the top credit unions includes Bethpage Federal Credit Union. If you want to earn high interest rates on the money market, certificate, or checking accounts, this is a fantastic alternative. Since the savings account has a low interest rate, you could want to think about using a money market account or another bank, or you could choose to save with the savings account instead.

Why it stands out

Bethpage Federal Credit Union offers high interest rates on checking, certificate, and money market accounts. With only $50 required to create an account, the certificates are particularly alluring if you’re searching for an institution with a low minimum opening deposit.

Membership requirements

If you open a savings account with Bethpage Federal Credit Union and make a minimum $5 deposit, you can join online from anywhere in the United States.

3. PenFed Credit Union

Since its founding in 1935, PenFed, formerly known as the Pentagon Federal Credit Union, has expanded to become the nation’s second-largest federal credit union. PenFed offers many of the same benefits as online banks, with personalized service and branch locations. Its high-interest rate of 3.00% APY for online savings and money market certificates delivers up to 4.40% APY, with free checking and a network of 85,000 fee-free ATMs across the U.S.

How To Join

A $5 minimum deposit is all it takes to open a high-yield PenFed savings account and become a member of PenFed.

4. Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union

Plus Affinity The Minnesota-based Federal Credit Union provides free checking with no minimum balance requirements as well as an Interest Rewards Checking account that requires a $200 minimum balance to qualify for rewards and dividends as well as to avoid a $6 monthly fee.

Members can access over 60,000 fee-free ATMs, participate in the Stash Your Cash program, which allows you to round up your purchases and save the difference, and receive one free credit report annually in addition to earning rewards on debit card transactions.

Pros

Options for free checking, savings, certificate, and money market accounts
Minimal or non-existent opening deposit requirements
offers money market accounts and certificates at high-interest rates.
Rewards scheme
No fines for insufficient funds or overdrafts for withdrawals under $100

Cons

low savings interest rate
Monthly dividend compounding rather than daily overdraft fee of $15
If you remove more than $100, there is no overdraft protection.

Product Details

Minnesota has 29 branches.
The MoneyPass, Co-op, and SUM networks include more than 60,000 free ATMs and non-residents of
Minnesota can still open accounts online.
You can earn points through the MyPlus Rewards program by making purchases with your APFCU debit and credit cards, keeping a specific amount of money in your accounts, and applying for loans.
Use your points for things like vacation, cash back, charitable contributions, and lower loan interest rates.
Monthly compounding dividends that are federally insured by the NCUA

How To Join

You can become a member of Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union if you work for the state of Minnesota or one of Affinity’s Preferred Partners, live, work, worship, or attend school in one of the many Minnesota areas, have a relative who meets any of the requirements as mentioned earlier, or have graduated from a Minnesota institution.

Why it stands out

Plus Affinity For its CDs and money market accounts, Federal Credit Union offers competitive interest rates. Additionally, it features a rewards program that allows you to accrue points for using a bank credit card or maintaining a specific balance in your account.

Membership requirements

Opening a savings account and making a $25 donation to the Affinity Plus Foundation is the simplest method to become a member of Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union. In addition to its 26 branches, Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union offers additional membership options for those who reside or work in Minnesota.

5. Connexus Credit Union

Connexus has three free checking account products, one of which gives qualified users an annual percentage yield of 1.75%. Additionally, an adolescent account with up to 2.00% APY is available for checking. For balances of at least $5,000 and less than $100,000, the credit union is now providing a high-yield 17-month certificate that will give an annual percentage rate of 4.96%.

Pros

Simple to sign up as a member
high rates of interest
No recurring monthly charges
Many choices for overdraft protection

Cons

Only Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin have branches.
High initial certificate deposit requirements Interest compounded on a weekly or quarterly basis rather than daily

Insider’s Take

Our list of the top credit unions includes Connexus Credit Union. If you want to bank online, this credit union is a great option because it offers attractive interest rates on its accounts.

Product Details

fifteen locations in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois
The cooperative network has 5,000 shared branches, and MoneyPass and the cooperative networks have around 67,000 free ATMs.
Becoming a member requires meeting certain requirements.
These include working for specific companies or organizations, retiring, being a family member, being a student, or having graduated from college; residing in specific counties or cities in Illinois, Ohio, Minnesota, or Wisconsin; being a family member, household member, or spouse of an existing Connexus member;
joining the Connexus Association with $5.
Dividends compounded monthly or quarterly Federally insured by the NCUA

How To Join

Connexus serves a large number of citizens of different communities in Illinois, Ohio, Minnesota, and Wisconsin through its branches in these states. It also benefits staff members, retirees, former students, and members of other partner organizations.

However, anyone can become a member of Connexus by creating a Connexus savings account with a minimum deposit of $5 and making a one-time $5 gift to the Connexus Association.

Why it stands out

On all of its accounts, Connexus Credit Union offers low-interest rates. If obtaining a high-yield checking account is your first objective, the Connexus Extra Checking Account is a wise option.

Membership requirements

Joining Connexus Credit Union online is possible from any location in the United States as long as you contribute $5 to the Connexus Association. Check to determine whether you fulfill any additional requirements for credit union membership if you or a family member reside in Minnesota, Ohio, or Wisconsin.

6. Teachers Federal Credit Union

A Smart Checking account with 3.00% APY is available from Teachers Federal Credit Union for balances up to $15,000. To qualify for this rate, you must either have a $5,000 monthly average balance, $20,000 in total end-of-month deposit balances, or $500 in direct deposits per month plus ten debit card purchases. As an alternative, there is no minimum beginning deposit or balance requirement for the Share Draft Checking account, which is free.

How To Join

There are no entry requirements for Teachers Federal Credit Union, in contrast to many other credit unions. A person can join at any time. To utilize any other goods or services offered by the credit union, you need to make a minimum $1 deposit into a Teacher savings account.

7. Consumers Credit Union

A rewards checking account with a yield of up to 5.00% APY, no monthly fees, and no minimum balance requirements (beyond a $5 starting deposit) is available from Consumers Credit Union. To be eligible for 5.00%, you have to spend $1,000 or more on a CCU Visa credit card each month, among other conditions. For the first 12 months, there is currently a 0% intro APR on the card.

Pros

Anyone in the US is eligible to join (pay a $5 membership fee).
Non-US citizens and immigrants may be able to join
No cost rewards checking account
Competitive CD and checking interest rates
minimal initial deposits are required for all accounts
No recurring monthly charges

Cons

Only available in select Illinois cities are branches
Savings account interest rates are low
Monthly compound interest rather than daily

Insider’s Take

If you reside close to Chicago, Illinois, or like online banking, you may find Consumers Credit Union to be appealing. Right now, the credit union offers one of the greatest high-yield checking accounts anywhere, with no monthly fees and a low minimum initial deposit.

Product Details

There are 15 locations around Chicago, Illinois, and the surrounding areas. You can open an account online from any location in the US.
30,000 free ATMs and 5,000 shared branches make up the Co-op network.
Join by opening a Consumers Credit Union Membership Share Savings Account with at least $5, paying a one-time membership fee, and receiving monthly dividends that are compounded and paid by the NCUA.

How To Join

By paying $5 to the Consumers Cooperative Association once and placing $5 into your Membership Share/Savings account, anyone can become a member of the Consumers Credit Union. This one-time, nonrefundable contribution is required. For the duration of your CCU account, you have to have that $5 deposit in place.

Why it stands out

Consumers Credit Union offers a special high-yield checking account that pays you significant interest if you match the qualifications. Low minimum initial deposits are required for its bank accounts. Live chat customer service is also accessible around the clock.

Membership requirements

Consumers Credit Union is open to anyone in the US to join online. Just open a savings account and pay the $5 one-time membership charge.

Customers allow you to open an account using a permanent residency card or matricula consular ID in place of a US government ID if you are an immigrant or are not a citizen of the US.

8. Lake Michigan Credit Union

There are five checking account options offered by Lake Michigan Credit Union, including a dividend-earning account that pays 3.00% APY on balances up to $15,000 and has no minimum balance requirements or monthly fees. A 12-month CD yields 5.15% APY with a $500 minimum balance requirement, while the Max Savings account gives up to 2.25% APY with tiered interest rates.

How To Join

Anybody can start an account at Lake Michigan Credit Union with a valid photo ID and a $5 minimum opening deposit. If you reside, work, or attend church in Florida or the lower peninsula of Michigan, you are eligible to join the credit union. If you are a citizen of the United States and you have an immediate family member who is a credit union member, you can still join even if you don’t live in one of these places. Alternatively, you can join the credit union by making a $5 donation to the ALS Association if you are a citizen of the United States and do not reside in Michigan or Florida.

9. NASA Federal Credit Union

Based on your account balance, NASA Federal Credit Union offers four rewards membership tiers. A bronze checking account comes with a cash-back debit card and surcharge-free access to 5,600 shared branches and 36,000 ATMs nationwide. Members who rank Silver, Gold, or Platinum are entitled to numerous privileges, including free checking.

Pros

elevated certification rates
Various kinds of money markets, certificates, and checking accounts
no-cost savings account
early direct deposit
No-cost overdraft protection

Cons

the low pace of saving
Monthly compounded dividends rather than daily
fees for money market and checking accounts (waiver available)
$32 overdraft charge

Product Details

Maryland and Virginia have fourteen branches.
Free ATMs and shared branches within the cooperative network
If you have multiple affiliations with NASA, you are qualified for membership; or You will be eligible for membership in the National Space Society after receiving a complimentary one-year membership from NASA FCU.
Monthly compounded dividends are paid each month.
federal insurance provided by NCUA

How To Join

Anyone can become a member of NASA Federal Credit Union. You can join NASA Federal Credit Union and receive a complimentary one-year associated membership to the National Space Society from the credit union. Anyone working for one of the partner companies or groups, whether retired or now employed by NASA, as well as their families, are eligible to join.

Why it stands out

The best-selling items from NASA FCU are their CDs. It offers high-interest rates, particularly for maturities of nine and fifteen months.

Membership requirements

You can join the National Space Society with a complimentary one-year membership that the credit union provides.

10. Hope Credit Union

Hope Credit Union has a variety of checking account alternatives, such as a rewards account that pays back up to 3.01% APY and has no fees or minimum balance requirements. To qualify for that APY, you must fulfill certain monthly conditions; if not, the account will pay 0.10% interest on all balances. Hope also provides individual retirement accounts, share certificates, and high-yield savings accounts.

Pros

Black-owned credit union bank with a division that supports the neighborhood
Checking accounts with a high-yield

Cons

Only available in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee
Dividends compounded quarterly, not monthly or daily

Product Details

23 branches across Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee of a credit union led by Black people
30,000 free ATMs and 5,000 shared branches make up the Co-op network.
A community development finance institution (CDFI) certification
You must pay the $10 membership fee to join.
Quarterly compounded dividends
federal insurance provided by NCUA

How To Join

This credit union is open to everybody and is committed to assisting communities in underbanked areas of the United States.

Why it stands out

A financial company owned by Black people, Hope Credit Union makes charitable contributions to local communities in specific regions of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. It offers reliable checking and savings accounts without monthly service charges.

Hope Credit Union is a Juntos Avanzamos recognized credit union, therefore if you don’t have a US ID, you can use a foreign passport, permanent residence card, or matriculate Consular. Additionally, you will be able to use your ITIN rather than your social security number. However, you will need to apply in person rather than online if you intend to use a different kind of identification.

Membership requirements

You can sign up online for Hope Credit Union by paying a $10 membership fee.

11. AgFed Credit Union

Share checking and savings accounts from AgFed Credit Union can be opened with just a $5 minimum deposit. Your savings accounts can be further divided into a Vacation Club and Holiday Club, each of which earns 0.02% interest on balances from $100 to $2,499.99, 0.05% interest on balances from $2,500 to $9,999.99, and 0.07% interest on balances over $10,000.

How To Join

AgFed, like many credit unions, welcomes members who are workers, retirees, or family members of specific partner organizations. Additionally eligible to join is anyone who resides, works, worships, or attends school in Washington, D.C. However, you can also join AgFed by joining Friends of the National Arboretum, a nonprofit organization. You must pay $15 in one-time, nonrefundable membership dues to accomplish this.

12. Kinecta Federal Credit Union

Members of Kinecta enjoy some benefits, such as a nine-month share certificate with an annual percentage rate of 5.25% and a 12-month certificate with an APY of 3.10% on balances under $100,000. On balances of $100,000 or more, the credit union’s money market account offers an annual percentage rate (APY) of 0.50%. Additionally, Kinecta provides two checking account options with easily waived fees. Depending on your account balance, the Checking Plus account offers an interest rate ranging from 0.10% to 0.25%.

How To Join

Members who reside, work, or attend school in specific communities in California, Texas, Florida, Illinois, or New York are eligible to join Kinecta Federal Credit Union. Additionally, you can sign up with one of Kinecta’s Select Employer Group organizations as a student, employee, or retiree. For a $10 one-time fee, anyone can join the Innovision Society and become a member of Kinecta. Kinecta pays for this charge. A $5 minimum opening deposit is required.

13. CommunityWide Federal Credit Union

CommunityWide operates with a countrywide network of 5,500 shared branches in addition to its 11 branch sites in Northern Indiana. The APY on a CW savings account is 2.00%. An APY of 1.00% is offered by a free CW checking account, which has no monthly fees and only requires a $5 minimum amount to start. To get dividends, your balance must remain at least $1.

How To Join

Employees, retirees, and contributor members of numerous businesses and organizations are eligible to join CommunityWide Federal Credit Union. By making a one-time payment to St. Joseph Valley Marine Corps League, Goodwill Industries of Michigan, or Habitat for Humanity Helpers, anybody can become a member of the credit union.

14. Service Credit Union

A variety of solutions are available from Service Credit Union to assist you in managing your finances. The credit union has a free checking account in addition to a dividend checking account that pays 0.15% APY, savings with a yield of 5.00% APY on balances up to $500, and share certificates with APYs as high as 5.25%.

How To Join

Active-duty service members, veterans, their families, Department of Defense workers and contractors, as well as employees of Select Employer Groups affiliated with Service Credit Union, are all eligible to apply for membership in the credit union. But anyone else can join the credit union with ease as well. You can sign up by joining the Financial Fitness Association or the American Consumer Council, both of which offer free memberships.

15. Signature Federal Credit Union

If you’re searching for a high-yield checking account or certificate of deposit (what Signature refers to as “share certificates“), Signature Federal Credit Union may be an excellent option. Competitive interest rates are provided by both. However, the rates offered in its savings accounts are lower than the national average.

Pros

Competitive interest rates are available on share certificates, money market accounts, and high-yield checking accounts.
No recurring charges
No cost overdraft transfers from another account
There are numerous account kinds and conditions available, including ones that provide rewards.

Cons

savings account low-interest rates
On weekdays, only from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., is customer service available.
Transaction and withdrawal limits are present in many accounts.
If you don’t have another SFCU account from which to transfer money, there is a $30 overdraft fee.

Product Details

Create accounts online; to join, you must create a Signature FCU Savings Account.
The Co-op network has more than 5,000 shared branches, and the Co-op and CULIANCE networks together include tens of thousands of free ATMs.
To become a member, you must be a current Signature FCU member’s immediate family member or household member, a postmaster, postmaster relief, supervisor, or officer in charge of the United States Postal Service, a member or employee of the Marymount University Alumni Association, an employee of an approved organization, or pay $8 annually to join the American Consumer Council.
Federally insured by the NCUA, dividends are compounded every month for checking, money market, and certificate accounts and every quarter for savings accounts.

Why it stands out

The CD rates offered by Signature Federal Credit Union are among the finest available. Additionally, it offers a high-yield checking account with a terrific return of up to $20,000 in balance payments.

Membership requirements

The simplest way to join is to pay $8 a year to join the American Consumer Council. Employees of specific companies, members of the Marymount University Alumni Association, postmasters, postmaster relief, supervisors, officials in charge, and immediate family and household members of current Signature FCU members are also eligible to join.

16. Wings Credit Union

Wings Credit Union (previously called Wings Financial Credit Union) is one of the best credit unions out there. It offers many types of bank accounts, including high-yield checking and savings accounts. You’ll like Wings if you meet the requirements for at least one of the high-yield bank accounts.

Pros

It is simple to register online for a bank account and credit union
pays high-interest rates on certificates and checking accounts.
No recurring monthly charges
Several choices for overdraft protection
Free 10 ATM withdrawals outside of the network per statement cycle

Cons

Only Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, and Washington have branches.
High money market account opening deposit requirements
With the money market account, there are no check-writing capabilities, ATM cards, or debit cards.
Monthly or quarterly compounded interest rather than daily
$30 overdraft charge
There is a $2.50 fee per withdrawal after your monthly allotment of 10 free out-of-network ATM withdrawals.

Insider’s Take

Wings Credit Union is one of the best credit unions out there. It offers many types of bank accounts, including high-yield checking and savings accounts. You’ll like Wings if you meet the requirements for at least one of the high-yield bank accounts.

Product Details

29 locations in Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, and Washington.
There are around 80,000 free ATMs across the Allpoint, MoneyPass, and Co-op networks
Become a member by working in the aviation industry or living in an eligible county/metro area.
You can also join by donating $5 to the Wings Financial Foundation. Dividends are compounded quarterly for balances under $100,000 and monthly for balances over $100,000.
The account is federally insured by NCUA.

Why it stands out

Wings Credit Union provides high-yielding savings and checking accounts. If you meet the bank account requirements for either of these two accounts, you will earn a high rate.

Membership requirements

The most straightforward approach to joining Wings Credit Union is to pay $5 to the Wings Financial Foundation. However, if you or your family work in the aviation business or live in an eligible county or metro region, you may be eligible.

17. Quorum Federal Credit Union

If you are searching for a high-interest savings account or term account without any fees, Quorum Federal Credit Union might be a wise option. It offers nine-term options for its term accounts, which are similar to certificates of deposit (CDs), and pays some of the greatest rates available, contingent on the length of the term.

Pros

Easy to qualify for membership
Several types of checking, savings, and term accounts are available
Pays high rates on certain accounts
Most accounts have no monthly fees
Doesn’t charge a fee for 10 out-of-network ATM withdrawals each month

Cons

After an initial 10 out-of-network ATM withdrawals each month, Quorum charges $2 per withdrawal
Doesn’t reimburse any fees charged by out-of-network ATM providers
Overdraft fees as high as $37
Interest compounds monthly, not daily

Product Details

There are no physical branches; 90,000 free ATMs are available through MoneyPass, Allpoint, and several CVS and Walgreens locations.
To join, you must be an employee of a company affiliated with the Select Employee Group, or a family member of one; you can also join the American Consumer Council or Select Savers Clubs;
joining the ACC is free, and Quorum will pay the $ 5-lifetime membership fee with the SCC.
Monthly dividends compounded. Federally insured by NCUA

Insider’s Take

If you’re searching for a high-interest savings account or term account without any fees, Quorum Federal Credit Union can be a wise option. Term accounts from Quorum provide nine-term options and resemble CDs. Although Quorum is included in our list of the best CD rates, you may be able to find better deals elsewhere for the same period.

Why it stands out

Membership requirements

18. Premier Members Credit Union

Strong money market account at Premier Members Credit Union. It has no monthly service costs and earns a decent interest rate.

Pros

High-interest rates on money market accounts
Interest-earning checking account
No monthly service fees
Free overdraft protection

Cons

Pays low-interest rate on savings; certificate rates are so-so
$32 overdraft fee
Compounds interest monthly, not daily

Product Details

Colorado has 17 branches, including 4 student branches.
The Co-op network has over 30,000 free ATMs and 5,000 shared branches.
Colorado citizens can enroll in a few different ways. Alternatively, they can start an online savings account and join Impact on Education, a nonprofit organization in the Boulder Valley School District.
Monthly compounding of dividends
federal insurance provided by NCUA

Membership requirements

19. Pentagon Federal Credit Union

If you prefer a credit union than a bank, Pentagon Federal Credit Union is an excellent option. It’s one of the greatest credit unions available and joining is simple no matter where you live in the United States. PenFed accounts also provide higher interest rates than the usual bank accounts. However, other online banks may still provide more attractive interest rates.

Pros

Higher interest rates on savings accounts and share certificates than other accounts at brick-and-mortar financial institutions
Interest earned on your checking account balance
CD terms longer than five years

Cons

Other online banks may offer higher interest rates on savings accounts or CDs
Interest compounded monthly, not daily
Must qualify to earn interest on your checking account balance
Low interest on money market account
Monthly fees for the checking account (possible to waive them)
$1.50 out-of-network ATM fee

Product Details

Around 50 branches in California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and DC
Branches on military bases in Guam, Puerto Rico, and Japan
Around 85,000 free ATMs in the US
You’re eligible for membership if you have served in the military or work at qualifying associations or organizations, or simply open a savings account with a $5 minimum deposit
Dividends compounded monthly
Federally insured by the NCUA

Insider’s Take

If you prefer a credit union over a bank, Pentagon Federal Credit Union is a good choice. It’s one of the best credit unions out there, and it’s easy to become a member regardless of where you live in the US. You’ll also earn a higher interest rate with Pentagon Federal Credit Union bank accounts than with the average bank account. However, other online banks may still offer more competitive interest rates.

Why it stands out

Pentagon Federal Credit Union pays competitive interest rates on its savings account and CDs. You also may like it if you’re part of a military family.

Membership requirements

The easiest way to become a part of the Pentagon Federal Credit Union is by opening a savings account with at least $5. You’re also eligible for membership if you’ve served in the military or worked at a select employer.

20. Latino Community Credit Union

Latino Community Credit Union may be a good option if you want to bank with a local institution that services the Latino community. The institution offers branches throughout North Carolina, but you can also open an account online from another state. If you want to open bank accounts with greater interest rates and zero monthly service costs, try reading our best online bank guide.

Pros

A credit union that serves a Hispanic-American community
Open an account online from anywhere in the US
Low minimum opening deposits across accounts
Competitive CD rates compared to other brick-and-mortar banks
Possible to waive monthly service fees
$2 overdraft protection

Cons

Branches and ATM network only in North Carolina
Online banks offer higher interest rates on savings accounts
Monthly service fees
Interest isn’t compounded on CDs

Product Details

Hispanic American-led credit union with 15 branches in North Carolina.
Access 1,300 free ATMs through the CashPoints network.
Open an account online from anywhere in the US.
To join the Latino Community Development Center, pay a one-time $8 membership fee and open a $10 savings account. Dividends are compounded daily on most accounts, but not on certificates. Accounts are
federally insured by the NCUA.

Why it stands out

Latino Community Credit Union is a Hispanic-led financial institution in North Carolina that teaches financial literacy and offers bilingual services to local communities. You can open an account online from anywhere in the United States. It offers savings and checking accounts with minimal minimum initial deposits.

Membership requirements

If you do not live in North Carolina, you can apply online by completing an application and paying a $10 membership fee.

What is the easiest credit union to join?

Many credit unions are straightforward to join. Teachers Federal Credit Union is one of the easiest credit unions to join, with a $1 minimum deposit into a TFCU savings account.

Similarly, Alliant Credit Union is simple to join with a one-time $5 contribution to the Foster Care to Success organization. Best of all, Alliant covers the cost.

What is the best credit union to join?

When comparing credit unions to determine which one to join, consider their membership requirements, minimum deposits, interest rates, ATM availability, and product offerings. The credit unions on this list are easy to join, often with a nominal donation, membership fee, or minimal startup deposit.

Can anyone join Alliant Credit Union?

Yes, if you agree to have Alliant make a $5 payment in your name to Foster Care to Success, you can join Alliant Credit Union.

When Should You Bank With a Credit Union Over a Bank?

If you locate specific accounts or services that are suitable for your needs, you should use a bank rather than a credit union. Many of the credit unions mentioned provide high-yield bank accounts, so if you locate one that meets your needs, you won’t feel deprived because there are fewer products and services available.

You may also wish to consider a credit union if you have difficulty with standard banking services or criteria. Some credit unions provide 24-hour live customer support. Other highlighted institutions allow you to utilize a foreign ID or ITIN number if you aren’t a US citizen.

March 20, 2024