Joining a credit union can have many advantages over opening an account with a traditional bank, including access to lower fees and potentially higher yields. If you’re ready to make the switch, here are the six best credit unions available today.
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What are some of the best credit unions available?
Here are our picks for the six best credit unions across the country:
| 6 best credit unions | |||||
| Credit union | Best for | Banking products offered | Membership fee | Online only | |
 Alliant Credit Union |
Best overall | Checking, savings, custodial accounts, CDs (called shared certificates when offered by credit unions) | $0 | Yes |
|
 Boeing Employees Credit Union (BECU) |
Child and teen accounts | Checking, savings, CDs, money market accounts | $0 (although there may be fees associated with joining one of its partner organizations) | No |
|
 FourLeaf Federal Credit Union (FourLeaf) |
Special Purpose Accounts | Checking, savings, CDs, money market accounts | $5 | No |
|
 Navy Federal Credit Union |
Military members | Checking, savings, CDs, money market accounts | $5 | No |
|
 PenFed Credit Union |
ATM access | Checking, savings, CDs, money market accounts | $5 | No |
|
 Service Credit Union |
Fee-free checking | Checking, savings, CDs, money market accounts | $5 | No |
|
Summary of the 6 best credit unions available
Here’s a quick look at some of the best credit unions you can join.
Alliant Credit Union
Best overall
Why we picked it: Alliant Credit Union is our best overall pick for a credit union because of its nationwide availability and free membership for anyone who wishes to join. It’s an online-only credit union, which allows it to offer higher-than-average interest rates and charge relatively few fees. Plus, it boasts a network of over 80,000 fee-free ATMs.
PROS
- Provides a network of over 80,000 fee-free ATMs and up to $20 refunded in out-of-network ATM fees per month
- Charges no monthly maintenance or overdraft fees
- Offers higher-than-average interest rates
CONS
- Operates without physical branches
- Issues no business checking or savings accounts
- Omits money market accounts
Membership criteria: Alliant Credit Union membership is open to anyone who becomes a digital inclusion advocate through the Alliant Credit Union Foundation. Membership is also available to immediate family members of current Alliant Credit Union members and to individuals who have worked for Alliant Credit Union’s partner organizations or live in certain communities near Chicago.
Read our full Alliant Credit Union review.
Boeing Employees Credit Union (BECU)
Best for child and teen accounts
Why we picked it: If you’re looking for a savings account for your child, Boeing Employees Credit Union (BECU) could be a solid choice. Its Early Saver Savings account is a joint ownership account for kids and parents that offers 5.38% annual percentage yield (APY) on the first $500 saved and 0.30% APY after that. Once the children are ready for a debit card, you can combine the account with a Teen & Youth Checking Account, which offers a 0.05% APY on all balances.
PROS
- Offers a competitive APY on the first $500 for some savings accounts
- Provides a wider branch network than many competitors (Washington state and South Carolina)
- Sets no monthly service fees or minimum balance requirements
CONS
- Earns a lower APY on larger savings balances
- Charges stop payment and nonsufficient funds fees
- Imposes high outgoing wire transfer fees ($25 to $35)
Membership criteria: Anyone can join Boeing Employees Credit Union (BECU) by becoming a member of one of its partner organizations. You can also qualify if you live in certain Pacific Northwest counties, or have worked for or retired from Boeing Employees Credit Union (BECU) or another credit union.
Read our full Boeing Employees Credit Union (BECU) review.
FourLeaf Federal Credit Union (formerly Bethpage Federal Credit Union)
Best for Special Purpose Accounts
Why we picked it: FourLeaf Federal Credit Union is our top pick for Special Purpose Accounts. As the name suggests, these accounts can help you dedicate money to save toward a specific savings goal, such as a home renovation, vacation, or down payment on a house or car. FourLeaf Federal Credit Union’s Special Purpose Accounts requires just $1 to open, imposes no restrictions on withdrawals, and earns an APY of 0.10%.
PROS
- Sets lenient membership requirements
- Charges no ATM fees
- Partners with a shared network of credit union branches across the country, allowing access to your money anywhere
CONS
- Limits branches (outside of the shared network) to New York state and New Jersey
- Imposes a high insufficient funds fee ($30)
- Buries certain account details online
Membership criteria: You can qualify to become a member of FourLeaf Federal Credit Union by opening a share account, essentially a savings account, with a minimum of $5. To open an account, you’ll need to be at least 21.
Read our full FourLeaf Federal Credit Union review.
Navy Federal Credit Union
Best for military members
Why we picked it: We chose Navy Federal Credit Union as the best option for military members because many of its branch locations are strategically located near military installations or overseas, allowing easy access for members of the armed forces. In addition, membership offers significant perks, such as a fee-free ATM network and interest-bearing checking accounts.
PROS
- Provides branch locations near military installations and overseas
- Offers fee-free ATM network
- Pays interest on checking accounts
CONS
- Requires affiliation with the armed forces to join
- Earns lower APYs on savings accounts than some competitors
- Charges a per-transaction fee for overdraft protection
Membership criteria: Navy Federal Credit Union membership is limited to current and former members of the armed forces, their family members and Department of Defense civilian employees.
Read our full Navy Federal Credit Union review.
PenFed Credit Union
Best for ATM access
Why we picked it: PenFed Credit Union membership offers access to a network of over 85,000 fee-free ATMs and branch locations, making it our top pick for ATM access. Additionally, PenFed Credit Union provides membership discounts with a variety of partner providers and a higher-than-average APY on its Premium Online Savings account.
PROS
- Provides extensive fee-free ATM network
- Delivers membership discounts
- Earns 2.80% APY on Premium Online Savings
CONS
- Requires an active savings account to maintain membership
- Charges steeps early withdrawal penalties on money market certificates
- Expects direct deposit or minimum balance to earn dividends on interest-bearing checking account
Membership criteria: Anyone can join by filling out the membership application and opening a savings account with a $5 minimum balance, which must then be maintained.
Read our full PenFed Credit Union review.
Service Credit Union
Best for fee-free checking
Why we picked it: Service Credit Union is our front-runner for fee-free checking because its Everyday Checking Account is free and offers plenty of perks, including debit card rewards, early payments on direct deposits, loan discounts, and ATM fee reimbursements. Its Dividend Checking has a $10 monthly maintenance fee that is waived if you maintain a minimum daily balance of $1,500, and you can earn 0.15% APY on all balances.
PROS
- Offers fee-free checking with tiered rewards
- Provides an interest-bearing checking account
- Sets up trust accounts
CONS
- Charges a low balance fee on money market accounts under $2,500
- Sets a steep stop payment fee ($30)
- Requires a minimum daily balance to earn interest on checking
Membership criteria: Service Credit Union membership is open to active-duty military members, veterans and their families, as well as members of certain employer groups, including the Department of Defense. However, anyone can join by becoming a member of the American Consumer Council or the Financial Fitness Association.
Read our full Service Credit Union review.
What is a credit union?
Credit unions are not-for-profit financial institutions that offer many of the same services as traditional banks, including accepting deposits and making loans. However, there are a few key differences:
- Credit unions require membership, and most members share a common bond, such as geographic location, employer or group affiliation.
- Unlike banks, which are in business to turn a profit, credit unions exist to serve their members and may be member-managed.
- Any profit the credit union makes is returned to its members in the form of lower interest rates or reduced fees.
- Credit unions may offer financial education or other assistance to their members.
Pros and cons of credit unions
Like any financial decision, the choice to join a credit union has distinct pros and cons. What to consider:
PROS
- Credit unions may offer better interest rates compared with traditional banks.
- Credit unions may charge fewer fees than traditional banks.
- Credit unions are managed by a board of directors voted in by the other members, which helps to ensure that members’ needs are met.
CONS
- Credit unions have membership criteria, and you may not be eligible to join all credit unions.
- Credit unions may charge a nominal fee to join.
- Credit unions are often smaller than traditional banks, so they may not be able to offer the same variety of products, services and branch locations.
How to choose a credit union
If you think that joining a credit union may be right for you, keep the following criteria in mind as you explore your options:
- Eligibility requirements. Many credit unions have specific membership eligibility requirements. Make sure you’re eligible to join.
- Products offered. Find out which products the credit union offers. Consider both the ones you’re interested in now and those you might need in the future.
- Rates and fees. Review the credit union’s current interest rates and fee schedule to make sure your money will work for you.
- Branch and ATM locations. How accessible are branches and ATMs? Learn where the closest ATMs and branch locations are in relation to you.
- Insurance coverage. Protect your money by checking that it is insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA).
Frequently asked questions
Why is a credit union better than a bank?
The advantage of credit unions is that any profit they make goes directly back to members. This enables many credit unions to charge fewer fees, offer lower interest rates on loans and provide higher deposit yields than traditional banks.
What is the downside of credit unions?
The downside of credit unions is that sometimes their reach can be fairly small. They often cannot offer the same wide range of products and services as traditional banks, and they may not have as many ATMs or branch locations.
Which is safer: credit unions or banks?
Your money should be safe at either a credit union or a bank, as long as the financial institution is properly insured. Banks are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) and credit unions are insured by the NCUA.
Methodology
To compile our list of the best credit unions, we analyzed over 34 credit unions across the country.
Credit unions that made the list needed to:
- Offer deposit accounts with competitive APYs
- Impose relatively simple membership criteria
- Charge few if any service fees
- Function as credit unions
- Provide NCUA insurance coverage