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A credit union is a cooperative that is owned and controlled by the people who use
its services. These people are members. Credit unions serve people that share something in
common, such as where they work, live, or go to church. A credit union's "field of
membership" is outlined in its state or federal charter. Credit unions are
not-for-profit, and exist to provide a safe, convenient place for members to save money
and to get loans at reasonable rates.
There are three types of credit unions, and several ways you may qualify for
membership
Where you work -- Occupational Credit Unions
Occupational credit unions serve people who are employed by a particular company.
Some credit unions serve the employees of more than one company. For example, employees of
Intermountain Gas can join Mountain View Credit Union and East Idaho
Federal Credit Union serves the employees of federal and local governments, as well as
several small employee groups.
Association or Church Membership -- Associational Credit Unions
Associational credit unions serve members of a particular association or church.
For example, Northwest Christian Credit Union serves members of the Nazarene Church.
Where You Live -- Community Credit Unions
Community credit unions serve the residents of a particular area or
community. For example, Kamiah Community Credit Union serves residents of Idaho and Lewis
counties.
Steps to take to find a credit union to join
 | Contact your employer to see if your company provides this benefit. |
| Contact family members to see if you can join through their affiliation with a
credit union. |
| Contact occupational, fraternal, religious and alumni organizations you are
affiliated with to see if they have a credit union you can join. |
| Review a list of credit unions in your area. If you're
having difficulty finding a credit union you may be eligible for, pay special attention to
community, associational, and multiple group credit unions. |
| Visit www.joinacu.org
to use a search engine to find a credit union. |
| Call the Idaho Credit Union League at 800-627-1820 and we'll help you find a
credit union. |
Last modified:
August 30, 2007
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