What do I Need to Join a Credit Union?
About $5 to $25
That's generally the cost of purchasing one par value share at a credit union in order to establish a membership account. Some credit unions may also charge a nominal fee to process the account opening.
To Pick a Credit Union to Join
Anybody can join a credit union. Each credit union serves what's called their “field of membership” - that's the commonality between the members. You may be eligible to join a credit union based on your:
- Employer - many employers sponsor their own credit unions
- Geographic Location - many credit unions serve anyone that lives, works, worships, or attends school in a particular geographic area
- Family - most credit unions allow members' families to join. So if someone in your family is already a member of a credit union - you may be eligible too!
- Membership in a group - like a church, school or alumni, labor union, homeowners' association, etc.
How Do I Know Which Credit Union(s) to Pick?
You can look for a credit union near you by using NCUA’s Credit Union Locator Tool . For information on how to use this tool, go to “How to Find a Credit Union in Your Area.”