The Credit Union Difference
The bottom line:
Banks are for-profit institutions. Credit Unions are not-for-profit cooperatives.
Credit unions exist to serve members, not stockholders. They are an economic democracy where each credit union member has equal ownership and one vote, regardless of how much money a member has on deposit. At a credit union, every single customer is both a member and an owner.
“Credit unions are member-owned, democratically operated, not-for-profit organizations... they have the specified mission of meeting the credit and savings needs of consumers.”
Credit union earnings are returned to members in the form of lowered loan rates, reduced fees, and higher interest. They have an invested interest in the financial education of their members and positively affect spending and savings habits through partnership with the National Endowment for Financial Education.
Use CUNA’s tool to find a credit union: Research a Credit Union
How NetGiver fits in
NetGiver was developed by credit unions with a focus on supporting members and the communities in which we live. Credit unions exist to help people, and NetGiver is one of the many ways that credit unions continue to find innovative ways to serve their members as well as philanthropic organizations and worthwhile causes. You don’t need to be a member of a credit union to use NetGiver. Anyone can use NetGiver regardless of where you bank.
Obviously, we’d love it if you considered a credit union.
