Premier America Credit Union

Popular Accounts at this Credit Union

APY	ACCOUNT TYPE	ACCOUNT NAME
1.15%	1-year CD	12 Month CD 1.35% - Ally Bank High Yield 12-Month CD
1.15%	1-year IRA	12 Month IRA (Traditional, Roth, CESA) 0.55% - National Average
1.80%	5-year CD	60 Month CD 2.25% - Ally Bank High Yield 5 Year CD

View all Premier America Credit Union rates »

Overview / Commentary

www.premieramerica.com

800-772-4000

19867 Prairie St
Chatsworth, CA 91313-2177

Premier America Credit Union is headquartered in Chatsworth and is the 17^th largest credit union in the state of California. It is also the 91^st largest credit union in the nation. It was established in 1957 and as of December of 2016, it had grown to 280 employees and 99,138 members at 20 locations. Premier America Credit Union's CD rates are 28% higher than the national average, and it has an A health rating.

Field of Membership Restrictions

Membership in Premier America Credit Union is open anyone through joining The Alliance for the Arts. Membership is also open to the following: (1) those who live, work, or attend school within a 10-mile radius of the credit union’s Westchase branch in Houston, Texas; (2) those who live, work, or attend school in Ventura County, San Fernando County, Santa Clarita Valley, or select areas of Los Angeles County in California; (3) employees of Global Communications, AIDS Healthcare Foundation and over 200 Select Employer Groups. (membership requirements are listed in the credit union’s online application)
See current membership details

Good Public Relations

Posted by: adityanm | May 15, 2011

you can earn 5% on $500 without too much of hassle that is $25 in a year.

Comment

1

Mediocre at best

Posted by: BriannaFaith | Dec 6, 2015

I have been a client of Premier America Credit Union for a few years now and am honestly not very happy with them. I have a checking account and a savings account there, both of which require ridiculous minimum balances in order to avoid fees. Their products are not very competitive, they are pretty standard compared to other banks. They are also not very good about doing fee reversals. I had a returned check (through no fault of my own) a few weeks ago and was charged a $34 fee. When I called their customer service to ask about reversing the fee, their answer was a flat-out no. They treated me like an inconvenience and it made me really mad. I also do not care for their website or mobile app. I think they are both poorly designed and do not work well. Overall I am considering switching banks and would not recommend this credit union to others.

Comment

1

A Convenient Credit Union, Plus Reference Bonus

Posted by: wahs | Jun 18, 2010

There are two reasons I open account at Premier Credit Union:

1. It has a branch and an ATM machine next to my office which is very convinient to me to get cash.

2. It offers Reference Bonus (currently $50) for both old and new members. This bonus is easily surpass the balance of your savings.

Their loans interests are not as low as other credit unions (PenFed, for example). But your mileage may varies.

Comment

2

Terrible Financial Institution

Posted by: Abused | Mar 13, 2015

This is the worst possible financial institution -- combining all the disadvantages of a small bank AND a big bank.

My husband and I have been customers of this credit union's Santa Monica branch for over 10 years, clearing hundreds of thousands of dollars through our accounts with them.

The problem with their Santa Monica branch --located in "Fort Knox" RAND on Main Street-- is that, unless you're a RAND employee, they just treat you like a second rate citizen. And forget about easy parking or ATMs.

Also, the Santa Monica branch is incapable of dealing with any matters other than simple check deposits, so they refer you to their "mum" HQs in Chatsworth, who treat you like they don't know who you are.

You don't get an account manager, and never talk to anyone specific. Rather, you're thrown into a robocall maelstrom where, whenever you try to resolve an issue, you're told "We don't know you" (after over 10 years of banking with them!)

Case in point: We used to have a Visa with NBC Universal FCU, another credit union that was acquired recently, and unfortunately, by Premier America. Premier totally botched the job, which generated countless issues and confusion for NBC customers. We have spent numerous hours trying to resolve those issues with them for the past 6 weeks --every time dealing with their autistic, incompetent and unhelpful Chatsworth HQs-- and we're still nowhere near a resolution.

And this is only the latest in a long serious of problems and frustrations, including their financial management arm LPL Financial costing us thousands of dollars by not processing buy/sell orders on time, outrageous fees on international transfers, etc.

Needless to say: After years of procrastination, I finally closed all my accounts with Premier, and moved them to another, more professional and customer-friendly institution. My husband is anxiously waiting for Premier to (hopefully!) resolve the final hurdles of this latest issue before he does the same.

Do not bank with Premier, ever. Even though their members are technically their shareholders, they don't care about you, and are totally unprofessional and incompetent -- and leave you to pick up the mess for them.

We've had such a horrific experience with them that we're contemplating filing complaints with the NCUA, as well as other state and federal authorities, which we'll probably end up doing.

Comment

4

Warning: Not Responsible For Their Actions

Posted by: Daniel A. Dubay | Dec 5, 2014

Absolutely horrible customer service. They do not take responsibility for their actions. Was ashamed to see a culture of people who were quick to throw their co-workers under the bus. The opposite of what a credit 'union' should be.

Comment

2

After 37 Years I Am So Disappointed And Distrustful

Posted by: Anonymous | Sep 13, 2011

Beware. I have been using Premier bill pay for many years. Recently a check that should have been for $525 was printed for $5525. The party it was written to made me aware immediately as they received it a day early I then immediately phoned my branch to handle the matter. I knew that using bill pay the funds are pulled when the check is issued so I wanted to stop pay or do whatever needed to be done to prevent being overdrawn, as I had a large payment come out the next day. I was told by teller at my Santa Monica branch, that since it was written to an individual and not a business the funds would not be pulled unless the actual check was "negotiated", deposited or cashed. I needed to do nothing further. I trusted the voice at my branch, as he also checked with his manager when I questioned that it did not sound right from my experience. I was assured. 9 days later I find out I am overdrawn since midnight of the day following my call.

It took 3 days of calls and approximately 5 hours of my time and frustration being sent to wrong numbers being promised call backs that never came, etc and the bottom line is....I will not get my money back for 3 to 5 days! No one will fix it. "This is our standard ploicy" regardless that I did everything to prevent this, was given false information by at least 2 employees at the branch. The manager of branch finally said he would honor any paper checks that came through.... great except this account is all debit and electronic use. I believe he in fact was the ultimate source of confirmation that the teller asked when I originally phoned. In the mean time the account is missing $5525 and there is not enough in it to handle affairs. I asked" if this was all the money I had and needed to pay my mortgage, and it meant loosing my home or disqualified me from a refinance or something many people are going through what would happen? "Our policy is it takes 3 to 5 days"....was all the answer I got.

This was not even my error to begin with, and insult to injury it could have been fixed even if I had to suffer the 3 to 5 days in a timely manner. I feel they are keeping my money illegally and could cause me undue irreparable damage. I am completely dissatisfied of the total lack of integrity to correct a mistake that was not mine. If Premier had mistakenly put and extra $5000 in my account and I withdrew it what would happen if I said it will take 3 to 5 days for me to give it back?

I am without trust or any sense of security in what had been a very long relationship.

Where is the integrity?

Feeling abused in LA

Comment

4

Health

A

Data as of Q4 2016

Learn why bank health matters

Health Grade Components

Overall
NCUA #	68428
Year Chartered	1957
Employees	280
Primary Regulator

Profit Margin
Return on Assets - YTD	0.96%
Return on Equity - YTD	9.36%
Annual Interest Income	$66.4MM

Assets and Liabilities
Assets	Q4 2016vs Q4 2015	$2.29B$2.15B
Loans	Q4 2016vs Q4 2015	$1.73B$1.50B
Deposits	Q4 2016vs Q4 2015	$2.04B$1.91B
Equity Capital	Q4 2016vs Q4 2015	$232.6MM$210.8MM
Loan Loss Allowance	Q4 2016vs Q4 2015	$17.2MM$21.9MM
Unbacked Noncurrent Loans	Q4 2016vs Q4 2015	$6.1MM$11.5MM
Real Estate Owned	Q4 2016vs Q4 2015	$515.00K$829.00K

User-submitted Promotions & Notices

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This section lists recent deals, promotions and rate changes submitted by our community within the past 90 days. Always verify official rates and promotions with the bank or credit union.

1.25% APY On A 13-Month Certificate In Socal & Houston

Jake9 | Mar 27, 2017

Props to Premier America Credit Union for this tag line: Meet Your Soul-Rate!

Promotion Valid: March 1 - April 8, 2017
Term: 13 Months
APY: 1.25%*
Minimum Deposit: $12,000
https://www.premieramerica.com/soulrate

They’re still offering the $100 Refer-a-Friend Bonus (You get $100, They get $100)
https://www.premieramerica.com/raf100

Comment

1

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