What’s the Difference Between a Credit Union and a Bank? (2024)

FAQs

What’s the Difference Between a Credit Union and a Bank? ›

But while banks are for-profit institutions anyone can do business with, a credit union is a nonprofit that only offers services and products to its member-owners.

The Bottom Line. Credit unions can be ideal for a low-interest loan, lower mortgage closing costs, or reduced fees, but you'll need to qualify for membership. Larger banks may offer you more choices regarding products, apps, and international or commercial products and services, and anyone can join.

Credit unions tend to have fewer branches than traditional banks. A credit union may not be close to where you live or work, which could be a problem unless your credit union is part of a shared branch network and/or a large ATM network such as Allpoint or MoneyPass.

Generally, credit unions are viewed as safer than banks, although deposits at both types of financial institutions are usually insured at the same dollar amounts. The FDIC insures deposits at most banks, and the NCUA insures deposits at most credit unions.

But compared to banks, credit unions tend to be smaller, operate regionally and are not-for-profit. In many instances, they offer lower rates on loans, charge fewer fees and offer better interest rates for deposit accounts than traditional banks.

Instead of distributing profits among shareholders in the form of dividends, credit unions share their “profits” with all of their members in the form of low rates on loans, higher rates on savings accounts and lower fees overall.

Some have argued that credit unions are inherently inefficient because of their one-member, one-vote governance structure.

Just like banks, credit unions are federally insured; however, credit unions are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Instead, the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) is the federal insurer of credit unions, making them just as safe as traditional banks.

While the individual options may differ from one to the next, most credit unions offer custom loan programs designed to help borrowers establish credit for the first time or rebuild damaged credit. Some credit unions use aptly-named “credit builder loans” that function much like secured credit cards.

Can the government take your money from a credit union? ›

Through right of offset, the government allows banks and credit unions to access the savings of their account holders under certain circ*mstances. This is allowed when the consumer misses a debt payment owed to that same financial institution.

The decision to go with a bank or a credit union is dependent upon for what you're looking. People choose banks primarily because of the convenience of multiple branches across the country, along with better technology.

Stocks, mutual funds and other investments aren't guaranteed in a recession. But money held in a federal credit union, and most state-chartered credit unions, is protected. Credit unions are regulated by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), the federal insurer of credit unions.

While credit unions have a stronger focus on personal relationships and physical locations, online banks provide convenience through digital platforms. However, the presence of physical locations at credit unions offers numerous advantages.

NCUA vs. FDIC. The NCUA and FDIC are very similar; they provide government-backed deposit account insurance. While the NCUA applies to federally insured credit unions, the FDIC insures bank deposits.

One of the major downsides of traditional banking is the potential for fees. Traditional banks often charge various fees for services such as overdrafts, ATM withdrawals, and account maintenance. These fees can quickly add up and eat into your savings if you're not careful.