Credit Unions in my opinion are a really wonderful thing. They work very similar to bigger banks with one huge exception, they are not for profit! Credit Unions tend to give a combination of lower rates and better fees. When it comes to looking into credit unions though, there’s no better than Navy Federal, the largest credit union in the country.
Membership Requirements
According the Navy Federal’s own website, the requirements to join are as follows:
- Active Duty members, reservists, veterans, retirees and annuitants of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard
- Army and Air National Guard personnel
- Delayed Entry Program personnel
- Department of Defense civilians
- U.S. government employees assigned to DoD installations
- Contractors assigned to DoD installations
- Family members of one of the above
A Roundabout Way That No Longer Works
Up until the middle of 2017, there was a back way into Navy Federal Without having any affiliation to the military. This involved joining the Navy League of San Diego Council and paying $25. Once you became a member, you would then be eligible and could join through a paper application by mail. This no longer works! However, if you have gotten in using this method, then you are grandfathered in and your membership will stay active.
Final Thoughts
For me, and others in my situation, it stinks that there is no backend way of getting into Navy Federal. However, for those that are either eligible or related to someone that is, Navy Federal is a pretty good credit union. They offer pretty good credit limits on their credit cards and can be a good option for those military families out there.
Are you part of Navy Federal Credit Union? Share your experience with us down in the comment section below.
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