Have you ever wondered what the difference is between a credit union and a bank? Both financial institutions provide an array of financial services from everyday banking to loans, but the main difference between them is in the ownership.

Banks have customers. Credit unions have members.

What difference does this make? If you ask us, a big one. We like to call it the credit union difference.

Credit unions are…

Not-for-profit and owned by members
A bank is a for-profit financial institution owned by stockholders. You already know how stocks work, but as a recap, companies have a vested interest in turning a profit for their stockholders — even when that’s accomplished at the expense of the customers through higher fees and higher interest rates on loans. In contrast, a credit union is owned by its members. We have an interest in doing what’s best for the membership as a whole and returning financial benefits to our members.

Saving our members money
We help members keep more money in their pockets. How? Lower fees and better rates. You don’t have to take our word for it. The Credit Union National Association (CUNA) says that credit unions provide direct financial benefits equivalent to $149 per member or $313 per member household when compared with banks, based on the 12 months up to and including June 2023.* CUNA calculated the difference between the average credit union and bank pricing, including savings account yields, loan interest rates and fees, and documented significant savings for credit union members. For example, financing a $25,000 new car for 60 months at a credit union saves members approximately $1,000 over five years compared to banks, and members save an average of $210 on mortgage closing costs. Talk about money that adds up!

Focused on relationships and service
At a credit union, the team members want to get to know you — not just your name but also your financial needs and goals. We’re here to learn about where you are and help you get where you want to go. When you call us, you’ll talk to a real person who lives in the communities we serve. We like to think we’re more human and less robotic than the faceless banks out there.

Involved in the community
Credit unions are all about giving back to our members and the communities we serve through many activities, including involvement in charities and financial literacy initiatives. Find out more about what we’ve been up to lately in our Community News. At Grow Financial, we care about your financial well-being and want to help you grow real wealth in your life, so we make financial literacy education a priority. We share educational content regularly on our Education page and through our social media. Follow us on Instagram or Facebook to stay in the know.

Insured by NCUA
Your money is safe with a federally insured credit union. While the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insures the banks, the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund insures share accounts in federally insured credit unions for $250,000 per qualifying account. Find out more about how your funds are insured.

Serving people, not profit
So, why choose a credit union over a bank? As a not-for-profit financial cooperative, we work for the benefit of our members, not the pocketbooks of corporate stockholders. Every day, our members are at the heart of what we do, and member service is what we’re all about. At Grow, our mission is to serve people, not profit.

Ready to experience the credit union difference?

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^*CUNA U.S. Membership Benefits Report, Mid-Year 2023. Accessed October 11, 2023. https://www.cuna.org/advocacy/credit-union—economic-data/Benefits-of-Credit-Union-Membership.html.

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• General Education