Many people believe credit unions aren't convenient. This is a myth! Credit unions have more locations and more ATMs than many of the largest banks. They belong to CO-OP Network, a network of 28,000 ATMs nationwide, which is available to 26 million credit union members across the country. And guess what -- CO-OP Network ATMs are all surcharge-free. Which means you won't pay a fee to access your money. Many are found in 7-Eleven stores, COSTCO, Walgreens, Publix grocery stores and many other retail locations and more than 9,000 ATMs take deposits.
Additionally, many credit unions share branches. There are 3,500 shared branch credit unions across the country....meaning you can go to a participating credit union and treat it as if it were your home branch.
Join a credit union -- they are all about their members and they are as convenient if not more so than big banks!
Samantha Smyth
of CA
@
Mar 06, 2009 14:49:53 PM
RFCU Insurance
Your article states the credit unions are covered by FDIC. Is this true?
frances
of GA
@
Mar 05, 2009 14:46:55 PM
Credit unions help with financial literacy
The Credit Union Associations of Colorado and Wyoming have just announced the availability of a free online financial literacy program for all residents of those two states.
The program - called FoolProof - is designed to teach people about financial responsibility. It's a Web-based program providing free financial literacy programs for everyone. It's a real tool for parents and teachers to help kids learn good money management skills for life.
One can only wonder - if more people had this type of knowledge would we still be in the current economic crisis? There are also programs geared for adults, this is important unbiased consumer info for everyone!
Check it out at: http://www.foolproofme.com
Kevin
of CO
@
Nov 19, 2008 18:28:11 PM
Credit unions help with financial literacy
The Credit Union Associations of Colorado and Wyoming and they have just announced the availability of a free online financial literacy program for all residents of those two states.
The program - called FoolProof - is designed to teach people about financial responsibility. It's a Web-based program providing free financial literacy programs for everyone. It's a real tool for parents and teachers to help kids learn good money management skills for life.
One can only wonder - if more people had this type of knowledge would we still be in the current economic crisis? There are also programs geared for adults, this is important unbiased consumer info for everyone!
Check it out at: http://www.foolproofme.com
Kevin
of CO
@
Nov 19, 2008 18:27:24 PM
Credit Union Health Might Have Prevented the Bail Out of Banks
In years past, credit unions were much more prominent than they are today, what with shipping of jobs overseas.
But credit unions have traditionally been a safer place than banks without the needless speculation and with membership owners of assets which contributes to their stability.
As an effort to restore banking credibility, healthy credit unions are essential to keep national labor thriving in a world where there is otherwise pressure to out-source overseas for lower costs.
Credit unions have always been insured by the FDIC and offer the alternative to speculation in commerical banks that much of the nation doesn't find favorable for their situations.
If credit unions had been more prominent as the alternative to banking speculation, it's possible that there would never have been the one size fits all default of banking bail outs to solve the nation's credit crunch.
And banks, in keeping with their predatory history, could have been allowed to fail just as they have forced onto unwitting consumers who get caught up in their usurious schemes that States and the Federal government have allowed to exist.
With the alternatives of natural competition, usury monopolists need not be served by pandering to their predatory appetites. Banks could have suffered what they have long dished out to the public.
pat
of MA
@
Nov 15, 2008 14:45:02 PM
Banks No Credit Unions Yes
Banks loan by creating a credit account (with a bookkeeping entry) and use it as a means of payment to the seller. Then bankers collect the same amount (plus interest and fees) from the buyer (with the credit account). This doubles the money supply for each transaction, causing inflation. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7065205277695921912 provides a detailed account in the Zeitgeist Addendum movie.
This is stopped when people STOP doing business with banks and START doing business with credit unions and their debit cards (which draw from money accounts, not bank credit accounts created from nothing that unjustly enrich banks while causing inflation. Using bank credit cards and checks that draw on creditlines in the place of money (when they are not money) is the passing of counterfeit money. The manufacture of credit cards (bank credit is not money) to be used as
money is counterfeiting by legal definition. It is fully explained in Zeitgeist Addendum.
Stopping bankers from their decades-old scam is simple. Transfer funds to credit unions and STOP
doing business (or working for) banks!
The Messenger
Darrell Miller
of AZ
@
Oct 25, 2008 14:46:33 PM
Banks hoarding bailout funds
The Arkansas Democrat Gazette (www.arkansasonline.com) ran an article this morning (October 24th, 2008) suggesting that Banks intend to hoard the bailout money rather than use it to unlock the credit crunch by extending loans.
Who didn't see that coming? Of course, a damaged bank would replenish their capital and calm the fears of their shareholders before loosening their purse strings to borrowers again!
I just hope that other news media outlets will spread the credit union message, as you have done, so people are aware of their ability to take advantage of credit union membership. I will definitley defend the credit union movement the next time the American Bankers Association decides to launch another attack on credit unions. We should all write our congress and let them know how much credit unions are appreciated and needed!
Dave
of AR
@
Oct 24, 2008 14:54:49 PM
CU Executive Salaries
Because credit unions are owned by members, the executive pay for senior executives is MUCH more reasonable than at a bank.
Based on what I've seen, credit unions were not as greedy or unresponsible as banks in going after no money down mortgages with inflated appraisals and unverified financial statements.
Contrarian
of NC
@
Oct 23, 2008 20:25:13 PM
people helping people
Credit unions were formed as a means of people pooling their resources to help eachother. As the movement has matured and new services have been added that philosophy remains at the heart of the industry. The first test, unlike at banks where profit is always the core calue, in almost all cases is will this new initiative help our members. WOW, isn't that a welcome change to banks????
Brad
of VA
@
Oct 22, 2008 06:37:59 AM
The difference is that, unlike banks, credit unions are organized as non-profits.
They don't have to mistreat customers in order to pay either shareholders or the IRS.
Kind of a socialism thing, really, and it works GREAT, just as advertised above.
NOW, did you know America could have single payer health insurance that would work just as well for citizens. People-owned, no scams, no shareholders and no tax bite. We're pretty stupid if we can't make this obvious leap.
Samantha Smyth of CA @ Mar 06, 2009 14:49:53 PM
frances of GA @ Mar 05, 2009 14:46:55 PM
Kevin of CO @ Nov 19, 2008 18:28:11 PM
Kevin of CO @ Nov 19, 2008 18:27:24 PM
pat of MA @ Nov 15, 2008 14:45:02 PM
Darrell Miller of AZ @ Oct 25, 2008 14:46:33 PM
Dave of AR @ Oct 24, 2008 14:54:49 PM
Contrarian of NC @ Oct 23, 2008 20:25:13 PM
Brad of VA @ Oct 22, 2008 06:37:59 AM
of @ Oct 21, 2008 14:10:49 PM
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