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The best credit union available nationwide is First Tech Federal Credit Union, which features extra-high annual percentage yields (APYs) on its accounts. Depending on who you work for and what you're looking for, however, another credit union may be a better fit.
We've rounded up the top options for credit unions across a range of different factors to help you find the best banking partner.
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Key takeaways
- Credit unions often feature higher rates on savings accounts and lower rates on loans than banks.
- Credit unions are nonprofit banking institutions that are collectively owned by all of the members together.
- You'll need to fit within a credit union's "field of membership" in order to join, usually limited to people in a certain area, working for certain employers, or members of partner associations. There are some credit unions anyone can join, however.
- Make sure that the credit union you join is protected by National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) insurance, similar to the FDIC insurance offered at banks.
The best credit unions compared
| Best for… | Depository products offered | Checking APY | Savings APY | |
| Quorum Federal Credit Union | High APYs on savings |
|
Up to 4.00% (as of 08/13/25) | Up to 3.50% (as of 08/13/26) |
| Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU) | Regional banking |
|
None | Up to 5.00% (as of 11/09/26) |
| Navy Federal Credit Union | Military members, family, and DoD contractors |
|
Up to 0.35%-0.45% (as of 11/09/26) | 0.25% (as of 11/09/26) |
| Andrews Federal Credit Union | Debit card rewards |
|
Up to 5.25% (as of 11/04/26) | Up to 3.15% (as of 11/04/26) |
| Alliant Credit Union | ATM fee refunds |
|
0.25% (as of 06/17/26) | Up to 3.01% (as of 06/17/26) |
| Connexus Credit Union | Personal assistance |
|
Up to 4.50% (as of 11/09/26) | 0.01% (as of 11/09/26) |
| PenFed Credit Union | Rewards credit cards |
|
Up to 0.05% (as of 11/06/26) | Up to 2.70% (as of 11/06/26) |
Quorum Federal Credit Union
- Competitive savings APY
- No minimum balance for HighQ Savings
- Free membership eligibility through a partner organization
- $10 monthly fee for paper statements on HighQ Savings
- Savings APY can change
- Must join a partner organization if you don't otherwise qualify
Membership requirements: If you don't qualify through another membership pathway, you can join Quorum by becoming a member of the American Consumer Council, which is free.
Quorum Federal Credit Union is a good choice if you want to earn a competitive rate on your savings without maintaining a large balance. Its HighQ Savings account has no minimum balance requirement and no monthly fee when you enroll in electronic statements. That makes it a practical option for building an emergency fund or saving for a vacation.
Quorum was named FinanceBuzz's 2026 award winner for best credit union for savings accounts. It also offers checking accounts, mortgages, and home equity products if you prefer to manage several financial needs in one place.
Quorum is federally insured by the NCUA.
Visit Quorum Federal Credit Union
Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU)
- High savings APY on your first $1,000
- Extensive nationwide ATM network
- Online banking plus branches in Massachusetts and New Hampshire
- Highest Primary Savings APY applies only to the first $1,000
- DCU branches are limited to two states
- Must maintain $5 in Primary Savings to keep your membership
Membership requirements: You can qualify through an eligible family relationship, employer, organization, or community. If you don't otherwise qualify, you can join a participating nonprofit organization. Members must open a Primary Savings account and maintain a $5 balance.
Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU) is a good choice if you want online banking convenience with access to in-person service in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. FinanceBuzz's 2026 award winner for best regional credit union also offers an extensive ATM network for accessing cash nationwide.
DCU offers several checking and savings options, including Free Checking and HSA Checking. Its Primary Savings account pays its highest APY on the first $1,000, making it particularly appealing for someone starting an emergency fund. If you're saving a larger amount, compare its other savings options, since balances above that threshold earn a lower rate. DCU is federally insured by the NCUA.
Visit Digital Federal Credit Union
Navy Federal Credit Union
- Excellent borrowing options
- Many branches near military bases
- Highly rated for customer satisfaction
- Not open to general public
- Low rates on savings accounts
- Some accounts charge monthly fees
Membership requirements: You'll need to be associated with the military in order to be eligible. Members must also maintain $5 in a savings account.
Navy Federal Credit Union offers decent checking and savings accounts, although they unfortunately don't come with a high APY compared with other credit unions.
If you place a high priority on quality customer service, however, and you need to borrow money, it's hard to find a better financial institution than Navy Federal. You'll have an abundance of credit card and loan options to choose from, and the credit union gets consistently high customer satisfaction ratings as judged by J.D. Power.
As a military-first credit union, Navy Federal isn't available for anyone to join. It still casts a wide net, however, and you can still qualify even if only a grandparent served in the armed forces or if you're a government employee assigned to work on a military base.
Navy Federal is insured by the NCUA.
Visit Navy Federal Credit Union
Andrews Federal Credit Union
- Cash back on qualifying debit card purchases
- No monthly fees or minimum balance for Kasasa Cash Back Checking
- Up to $25 in monthly ATM fee refunds when you qualify
- Cash back capped at $9 per monthly qualification cycle
- Must meet several requirements to earn rewards
- Limited geographic coverage for Andrews branches
Membership requirements: You can qualify through eligible employment, military service, family relationships, or location. If you don't otherwise qualify, you can join through the American Consumer Council. Members must maintain $5 in a Base Share Savings account.
Andrews Federal Credit Union is a good choice if you prefer paying with a debit card and want to earn rewards on everyday purchases. FinanceBuzz's 2026 award winner for best credit union for debit card users offers Kasasa Cash Back Checking, which pays 3% cash back on up to $300 in qualifying purchases per monthly cycle. To earn rewards, you must make at least 15 qualifying debit card purchases, have at least one direct deposit or ACH transaction, and enroll in digital banking and electronic statements.
Meeting the requirements also gives you access to up to $25 in monthly refunds for ATM withdrawal fees charged by other institutions. The checking account has no monthly maintenance fee or minimum opening deposit. You can also link a Kasasa Saver account to automatically transfer your rewards into savings. Andrews Federal Credit Union is federally insured by the NCUA.
Visit Andrews Federal Credit Union
Alliant Credit Union
- Excellent mobile app
- 24/7 customer support
- Family-friendly account options
- No in-person branches
- Low-ish rates on savings
- Higher-than-average loan rates
Membership requirements: Anyone can join Alliant Credit Union. If you don't work for an Alliant partner employer or live or work in Chicago, Alliant will make a one-time $5 contribution to its nonprofit organization on your behalf. You'll also need to deposit $5 into a High-Rate Savings account to get your membership started.
Alliant Credit Union may not offer the highest rates on savings that you'll find among many online credit unions, but it's not too far off either. It's a particularly good choice for families, as the credit union offers a Kids Savings and Teen Checking account for parents looking to teach their children about how to manage their money.
Busy families and people working odd schedules will also appreciate the 24/7 customer support phone lines. It's also easy to get cash on the go no matter where you are since the credit union offers up to $20 each month in ATM fee refunds.
Alliant is a member of the NCUA and is insured.
Connexus Credit Union
- Well-designed mobile app
- High-yield checking account
- Excellent customer support options
- Low savings account rates
- Inactivity and excess withdrawal fees
- High minimum deposits for higher-earning accounts
Membership requirements: Anyone can join Connexus by donating $5 to the Connexus Association. Residents of certain towns in the Midwest and people working for certain employers can also join without making a donation. All members must keep at least $5 in a savings account.
If you're annoyed by the low rate offered on most checking accounts (if interest is offered at all), then consider Connexus. Its flagship product is its "Xtraordinary Checking" account offering up to 4.50% (as of 11/09/26) APY as long as you're signed up for electronic statements, deposit at least $500 monthly, and either make 15 debit card purchases each month or spend $500 on your debit card. You can even set up reminders to make sure you hit these targets with Connexus's mobile app, which comes highly rated.
Connexus is also a good choice if you yearn for more personal service but you're not stoked by the options available in your area. You can schedule an appointment to talk to a Connexus banker via phone to set up new accounts, and live chat is available for 12 hours most weekdays, plus five hours on Saturday, on its website.
This credit union is NCUA insured.
PenFed Credit Union
- Easy to join
- Excellent rewards credit cards
- Financial hardship assistance programs
- Relatively low rates
- High monthly maintenance fees
- Pesky requirements to earn higher APY
Membership requirements: PenFed membership is open to anyone, so there's no need to join an ancillary organization first like many nationwide credit unions require. You'll still need to deposit $5 in a savings account to kick off your membership, though.
If you're not too concerned about earning the highest APY (perhaps because you have a better savings account elsewhere), then PenFed is a good choice, particularly if you're looking for a rewards credit card. The credit union offers several to choose from, including a flat-rate cash-back card, a gas and groceries card, a travel card, and a balance transfer card.
The downside is that there are several annoying fees and requirements for many of its everyday accounts. For example, the Access America Checking comes with a $10 monthly fee. You can get this fee waived fairly easily by keeping at least $500 in your account or having at least $500 in direct deposits each month, but that's still a burden to remember.
PenFed is NCUA insured.
What's the difference between a bank and a credit union?
Banks and credit unions are both places where you can do your everyday banking. Banks tend to be for-profit companies that charge higher rates and fees in general while offering lower-yielding savings accounts, although the best online banks are competitive with many credit unions.
In contrast, credit unions are nonprofit institutions that are owned collectively by the members themselves. They often feature more customer-friendly products and rates because of this member-centric focus, rather than being driven solely by profits.
To become a member, you'll need to meet certain criteria, such as being a member of specific organizations, working for certain employers, or living in a certain area.
Credit unions and banks both generally offer the same types of accounts: checking accounts, money market accounts, savings accounts, loans, and others. You might come across different names for things at each institution, however.
For example, you can open a "CD" at a bank, versus a "certificate" or "share certificate" at a credit union. Your funds are generally insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation at a bank, versus the National Credit Union Association at a credit union.
How to join a credit union
Joining a credit union can be rewarding, but it typically takes a little bit more work than opening an account at a bank. Here's how to do it:
- Decide on what's important to you: Credit unions differ in terms of the rates they offer, the types of accounts available, loan options, member support services, online offerings, in-person branches, and more.
- Shop around: Check with different credit unions that fit your criteria to see what they offer. It's easy to find the best rates online for nationwide credit unions.
- Check membership eligibility: Make sure you fit within the membership criteria. Large nationwide credit unions may allow you to join if you first become a member of another organization, while smaller credit unions may only be open to people in certain areas.
- Apply for membership: Submit an application to join the credit union, either online or in person. You'll typically need to provide ID and basic information about yourself, and you'll get to choose which accounts you want to open at this time.
- Make a small savings account deposit: Most credit unions require that you make a small deposit (usually around $5) into a savings account to establish your membership. You'll need to keep this in the account to keep your membership active.
How to choose the best credit union for you
There can be a lot of differences between credit unions that can make or break your experience. Here are a few factors to consider as you shop around:
- Is it insured by the NCUA? Most credit unions are, but it's worth double-checking.
- Does it offer in-person branches? If so, how many, and are they convenient to you?
- What types of accounts are offered? How many choices do you get for each account type?
- What rates are offered on the accounts? If there are special requirements to earn a higher rate, how realistic will it be for you to meet these each month?
- Are there minimum balance requirements? And can you meet them?
- What are the fees? Monthly fees, overdraft charges, inactivity fees, wire transfer fees?
- What support services are provided? Does it offer credit counseling, discounts, or financial wellness programs?
- What do the online and mobile interfaces look like, and how easy are they to use? What are their ratings in the app stores?
- How well do current members rate the credit union as a whole? Make sure to consult actual reviews and complaints.
- How does your chosen credit union compare to the best banks? Does it come with higher rates or better features?
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FAQ about the best credit unions
Do credit unions help build credit?
Not directly, unless you apply for credit. Most people use credit unions for banking services like checking and savings accounts, and these are not recorded on your credit report.
But if you apply for a loan or a credit card and make all of your payments on time, credit unions can help you build credit just the same as any other lender. Some credit unions also offer financial education and credit counseling that can help you learn good credit habits.
Do credit unions check your credit to open an account?
No, unless you apply for credit. Credit unions may check with banking reporting agencies like ChexSystems to make sure you haven't mismanaged past bank accounts, but they typically won't check your actual FICO credit score unless you apply for a loan or credit card.
Is the money in credit union accounts safe?
Yes, as long as it's insured by the NCUA. Most credit unions offer this insurance, but not all. This insurance is similar to FDIC insurance for banks, and it means that all of your deposits (up to $250,000) with a credit union are protected in case the credit union fails.
What is the best credit union to use?
The best credit union to use is the one that meets your needs the best, and that will be different for everyone. Some people prefer to do their banking in person at a local credit union. Other people want the best rates and online offerings available at nationwide digitally based credit unions.
Best credit unions: bottom line
First Tech Federal Credit Union is an all-around great choice for the best credit union due to its high interest rates, while Alliant Credit Union is a good choice if you use ATMs frequently. Consumers Credit Union and Navy Federal Credit Union are good choices for families, while Connexus Credit Union and FourLeaf Federal Credit Union offer strong digital options.
Finally, PenFed Credit Union is a good choice if you're looking for credit cards. Credit unions in your local area may also offer good options, so be sure to check with them too.
Methodology
The companies we chose for our best credit union list may be current or past FinanceBuzz partners. We did not review all credit unions in the market. When evaluating these credit unions, we considered factors such as APY, products offered, and membership requirements.
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