NASA Federal Credit Union is headquartered in Upper Marlboro and is the 3rd largest credit union in the state of Maryland. It is also the 93rd largest credit union in the nation. It was established in 1949 and as of September of 2020, it had grown to 333 employees and 188,244 members at 13 locations. NASA Federal Credit Union's money market rates are 25% higher than the national average, and it has an A health rating.
Field of Membership Restrictions
Membership in NASA Federal Credit Union is open to anyone through a complimentary membership to the National Space Society. Membership is also open to employees or retirees of NASA Headquarters or any NASA Center or Facility or NAS, employees or members of NASA Federal Credit Union partner companies or associations.
See current membership details
Related Posts
12/3 - NASA Federal Credit Union Ups 9-Month CD Special Rate
5/16 - NASA Federal Credit Union 9-Month CD Special Rate Makes A Comeback
3/1 - NASA FCU CD Specials Crash And Burn
2/6 - $300 Cash Bonus Premier Checking
2/1 - NASA FCU Lowers Rates On Certificate Specials
7/1 - NASA FCU Drops Rate Specials Again
6/8 - NASA Federal Credit Union Adds 9-Month CD Special, 2.60% APY
6/2 - 9-Month CD, 2.60% APY, $10,000
4/1 - NASA Rate Drops Continue
3/1 - The Party's Over
2/1 - NASA Federal Credit Union Brings Back 15-Month CD Special, 3.20% APY
9/3 - NASA Federal Credit Union Offers Top Rate 15-Month CD
9/1 - Raised Rates For Certificates
9/1 - 15 Month CD @ 3.25%
7/30 - $125 Bonus For Premier Echecking Account With DD Or Billpay+ And Estatement
7/3 - NASA FCU 15-Month Special 2.50%
4/2 - 2.25% 11 Month CD Has Expired
2/15 - 2.25% 11 Month CD
2/15 - NASA FCU Adds 11-Month Share Certificate Special
2/15 - 11-Month CD
1/2 - NASA FCU Boosts Rates On 49- and 15-Month Certificate Specials
1/1 - NASA FCU Hikes 49-Month And 15-Month Certificate Rates
4/1/17 - 49-Month CD 2.25% APY, Limited Time Offer.
2/14/17 - EWP Increased On New Cds At NASA Federal Credit Union
11/1/16 - NASA FCU Drops 15-Month CD Rate
10/19/16 - NASA FCU Offers Limited-Time 15-Month CD Rate Increase
7/6/16 - 49-Month Special Drops To 2.00%
6/2/16 - NASA FCU Increases 49-month CD Special Rate
6/1/16 - Rate Increase On 49-Month CD
3/7/16 - NASA FCU 49 Month CD Rate Drop.
1/3/16 - NASA FCU Raises Rate On Competitive 49-Month CD Special
1/1/16 - 49 Month Share Certificate Yield Increase
1/6/15 - NASA FCU Offers Nationally Available Top Rate 15- and 49-month CDs
10/27/14 - NASA Federal Credit Union Improves Its CD Terms Document
8/14/14 - Why You Should Always Read Account Disclosures
7/4/14 - 49-Month 2.25% CD Special Offer Extended
6/3/14 - Higher Special CD Rates at NASA Federal Credit Union
3/1/14 - 49-Month CD Special
2/20/14 - 2% 49 Month Cd Nasa CU
2/10/14 - 49-Month CD Special with a Top Rate at NASA FCU - Easy Membership
10/4/09 - 2.20% 18-Month CD at NASA Federal Credit Union - Easy Membership
9/1/09 - 3.50% 55-Month CD & 2.25% 18-Month CD at NASA Federal Credit Union - Easy Membership
7/26/09 - 4.00% 50-Month CD at NASA Federal Credit Union - Easy Membership
2/2/09 - 3.50% 18-Month CD at NASA Federal Credit Union - Easy Membership
9/1/08 - 4.25% 11-Month CD at NASA FCU - Easy Membership
8/1/08 - 4.00% 11-Month CD at NASA FCU - Easy Membership
6/1/08 - 5.00% 55-Month CD at NASA FCU - Easy Membership
5/13/08 - $175 New Checking Account and Credit Card Offer at NASA FCU (Easy Membership)
5/13/08 - 5.65% 7-Month CD at NASA FCU (Open to All)
11/3/07 - 5.25% 10-Month / 5.15% 5-Month CD at NASA FCU (Open to All)
4/30/07 - 5.80% 7-Month CD at NASA FCU (Open to All)
4/6/07 - 5.50% 5-Month / 5.50% 15-Month CD at NASA FCU
3/1/07 - 5.75% IRA CD / 5.50% 15-Month CD at NASA FCU
11/17/06 - 5.80% 7-Month CD at Credit Union Open to All (NASA FCU)
10/14/06 - 6.00% 7-Month CD at a Credit Union Open to All (NASA FCU).
10/6/06 - 5.75% 9-Month CD at NASA FCU - $100K (Open To All)
Take A Deep Breath Before You Start
The process to become a member and to open an account was long but once open it was easy to fund.
Wired funds posted in less than 24 hours.
2 minute phone call to buy 15 mo. 3.25% CD.
In retrospect, I am happy to jump through a few hoops to insure that my account is secure and that the bank isn't allowing any funny-business.
I feel like I am in good company (naIve as it may sound.) Feeling Happy!
2nd wire transfer posted approximately 3 hours after it was sent.
Easy To Get CD Approved But Not To Fund
I was approved for the 15 mo. CD, yet I suppose I have to call to fund my CD, yet I called 3 times until they closed without an answer. :-(
Update, 6/23/19: The bank is open Saturday so I was able to get a hold of a Rep and was explained how to fund first the Savings account, wire transfer is the best option, and then call to fund CD. You have 10 days to fund CD. For the POD or Beneficiary, you have to download/print the Member Application, fill out, including Beneficiary, and return via email to: [email protected] . I don't think I will fund a CD if the Beneficiary is not established first, so I hope they can process it quickly otherwise I won't take my chances.
Expect Junk Mail - Even If You Opt Out Of It
This review is only relevant if you hate getting junk mail - and as a gauge of the level of customer service you may receive.
I'm a member with NASA FCU due to their previously good rates on share certificates (no longer the case at the time of writing). In the first year of membership with them I received a mail offer for car insurance through them - something I'd expect from a big bank, but not a credit union (maybe I'm naive). As someone who hates such junk mail, I contacted them through the website requesting to opt out of such offers, and shortly after I was confirmed as opted out (a couple weeks later I did receive another such offer, but nothing after that).
Fast forward a couple years, and again I'm receiving junk mail. A minor annoyance, but I think it's telling about what you can expect from NASA FCU.
Edit: A couple other negative points.
1. I just noticed that while their website lists the rate for the Premier Preferred Checking account at 0.5%, the actual rate 0.4%.
2. The website logs you out after around 5 minutes (maybe less). Annoyingly short.
Opening Membership Account
I recently opened a new account, Share Savings. I was able to complete the process on-line in ~ 4 business days. In my case I had to provide a copy of my driver’s license, a utility bill and a notarized copy of my social security card. They also required a hard credit check via Experian. A $5.00 funding to open the membership was completed in the form of an ACH pull from my local credit union. To establish a POD payee, I completed a PDF fill-in Membership Application which was downloaded from their website. All required documentation was easily submitted using their provided secure portal link in the acceptable file formats, Word, PDF, JPG and TIFF. I believe I can fund the anticipated CD account via an ACH push from my local CU or a pull by NASA FCU.
The entire process was a little more involved than anything I’ve experienced in the past but well worth the effort as they have a well-structured user website, very fast message response system along with attractive CD rates.
Data as of Q3 2020
Learn why bank health mattersHealth Grade Components
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| NCUA # | 6328 |
| Year Chartered | 1949 |
| Employees | 333 |
| Primary Regulator | |
| Profit Margin | |
|---|---|
| Return on Assets - YTD | 0.9% |
| Return on Equity - YTD | 8.87% |
| Annual Interest Income | $99.6MM |
| Assets and Liabilities | ||
|---|---|---|
| Assets | Q3 2020vs Q3 2019 | $3.35B$2.81B |
| Loans | Q3 2020vs Q3 2019 | $2.39B$2.12B |
| Deposits | Q3 2020vs Q3 2019 | $2.71B$2.30B |
| Equity Capital | Q3 2020vs Q3 2019 | $338.1MM$289.3MM |
| Loan Loss Allowance | Q3 2020vs Q3 2019 | $26.3MM$25.4MM |
| Unbacked Noncurrent Loans | Q3 2020vs Q3 2019 | $13.2MM$16.8MM |
| Real Estate Owned | Q3 2020vs Q3 2019 | $0$275.00K |
