Your money is safe in a credit union.
Credit union deposits are federally insured to at least $250,000 by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). The NCUA coverage for credit unions is the same as the FDIC coverage for banks. Both funds are backed by the “full faith and credit” of the U.S. government. This is the backbone of banking safety for consumers and it applies to your credit union savings, checking, money market, certificates, trusts or retirement accounts.
What’s more, in the entire history of U.S. credit unions, taxpayer funds have never been used to bail out a credit union. Media including CNN, the Wall Street Journal and USA Today have pointed to credit unions as safe harbor during troubled times because they avoided the bad lending practices that caused today’s financial crisis.
Credit unions are sound.
Credit unions are among the most stable institutions in America. Credit unions are not-for-profit, financial cooperatives whose members are the owners. They have always been in the business of protecting the interests of their member-owners and ensuring that their financial needs are met. Because of this cooperative structure there is little encouragement of excessive risk taking. As a result, credit unions experience extremely low net loss rates in general and even in current conditions. The conservative operating style of credit unions also explains why they remain very well capitalized today. Right now, credit unions are prepared to help members on Main Street and actually have money to lend.
American consumers continue to turn to credit unions for safe and affordable loans in good times and in bad times.
Every credit union is regulated and examined consistently by either the NCUA or a state credit union government agency to ensure the safety and soundness of its operations.
Credit unions are local.
Every credit union is locally owned and managed. No matter where they are, credit unions are structured to serve the communities where they operate. Their members are local and their members are also the owners. Credit unions give back to the community by providing financial education and literacy programs and by reinvesting in the communities they serve. Remember, credit unions are not-for-profit financial institutions. They still make money, but they give it back to their member-owners in the form of better rates and lower fees on services and by way of dividends. This is what credit unions mean by their motto of “people helping people”. Credit unions don’t have Wall Street investors; they’re dedicated to serving Main Street.