An alternative to a commercial bank is a credit union and there are both pros and cons for using either of these options. A bank differs from a commercial bank as it is a not-for-profit financial organization that pays out dividends to the members. On the other hand, banks are institutions which make a profit and they only pay dividends to stockholders. If you are considering joining a credit union, it is important to consider your own financial position and the pros and cons of credit unions before making your decision.
Here are 5 pros of credit unions:
1. You Are a Member
You are not just a customer at a credit union, you are a member. This will make you a part-owner of the credit union and you will receive dividends and voting rights.
2. They Have Lower Fees
Another way that credit unions spread savings to their members is as simple as giving them lower fees than commercial banks. Which means that in most circumstances, it costs less to have an account with a credit union than a traditional back.
3. They Offer Better Rates
If you take out a loan with a credit union, you will get lower rates than you'd with a traditional bank. You may also earn more on your deposits because they pass on surplus funds to members by giving them higher interest rates on their own accounts.
4. It is About the Community
Members of a common workplace or community run lending institutions and the members run this credit community. Credit unions are designed to benefit all members of the community.
5. The Customer Service is Better
Typically, you can expect better customer service from a credit union than from a commercial bank. One reason for this is that they are smaller organizations than most commercial banks. This means that the staff get to know the customers better and are more likely to focus on their needs. One more reason is that credit unions have a greater focus on benefiting everyone in the community and notice that customer service is an important element of this.
And now listed here are five cons of lending institutions:
1. You Have to Pay Membership
The first disadvantage of signing up for a credit union is that you must pay a membership fee to join. However, the membership fee is generally very low with most costing between $5 and $25. Most lending institutions also have minimum deposit requirements to spread out an account with them and these vary from one credit union to the next.
2. They Are Not All Insured
It is important to note that not all credit unions are insured. There are some that are insured by NCUA, but other medication is not. This is something you may want to check before taking a risk together with your money. Federal credit unions are insured through the US government and banks are insured through the FDIC.
3. There Are Limited Branches and ATMs
Many lending institutions are location-based. Therefore, they only operate in a small area. This means that they have limited branches where you can go to discuss your needs and make face-to-face financial transactions. Similarly, they merely have limited ATMs and you'll not have access to your money from ATMs owned by other banks or organizations.
4. They provide Fewer Services
Large commercial banks have the money and staffing to offer a wide range of services to their customers. Lending institutions have come a long way in improving the services they offer, but they still fall short of the commercial banks. For example, a credit union may not have the capacity to offer you a large commercial loan. If this sounds like a service you require, it is likely you will need to turn to a commercial bank that provides this service.
5. Poor Technology
As banks are organizations which make a profit, they have the money to purchase technology. Credit unions are not-for-profit organizations and don't have profits to put into technological developments. This means that if you are with a credit union, it's unlikely that you will have features such as mobile apps. On the other hand, most commercial banks have websites, online banking apps, and apps where you can use a smartphone to pay for goods while on an outing.
