The Dime Daily

Best Credit Unions of 2026

By The Dime Daily Editorial Team · Published June 2025 · Updated June 2026

Skip the fluff — TL;DR

Best anyone-can-join credit union: Alliant ($5 donation, done). Competitive savings rates, 80,000+ free ATMs, and a top-rated mobile app. Military? Navy Federal is in a class of its own for loan rates. Want stellar auto loans or gas credit cards? PenFed. Best for tech workers: First Tech Federal. Want interest on your checking account: Connexus.

What is a credit union — and how is it different from a bank?

A credit union is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative. When you join a credit union, you become a part-owner. Instead of shareholders, the profits go back to members in the form of lower loan rates, higher savings rates, and lower fees.

At a bank, your savings account earns interest — set by the bank to attract deposits. At a credit union, the same account is called a share account and earns dividends — because you're a part-owner sharing in the credit union's earnings. Functionally the same thing, different name.

Credit union deposits are insured by the NCUA (National Credit Union Administration) — the federal equivalent of FDIC for banks. Both insure up to $250,000 per depositor, per institution. Your money is equally safe at a federally insured credit union as it is at a federally insured bank.

Credit unions require membership, defined by a field of membership — typically your employer, geographic area, association membership, or family connection to an existing member. Many credit unions now have open membership options that anyone can use.

Best credit unions — comparison table

Credit unionAnyone can join?Savings rateFree ATMsRating
Alliant Credit Union
💰 Dime's Pick		3.10% APY (High-Rate Savings)80,000+ ATMs free + $20/mo ATM fee reimbursement10/10
Navy Federal Credit Union
0.25% APY standard (up to 4.75% on special CDs)30,000+ free ATMs10/10
PenFed Credit Union
3.00% APY (Premium Online Savings)85,000+ free ATMs (Allpoint + CO-OP + PenFed)9/10
First Tech Federal Credit Union
Up to 5.00% APY on special savings30,000+ CO-OP ATMs9/10
Connexus Credit Union
Up to 3.50% APY54,000+ ATMs (CO-OP network)9/10

Top credit unions — reviewed

Best Overall
AlliantCREDIT UNION

Alliant Credit Union

Best anyone-can-join credit union

10/10

Eligibility: Anyone can join (donate $5 to Foster Care to Success)

Anyone can join with a $5 charitable donation
Competitive savings rates
80,000+ free ATMs + $20/mo reimbursement
Excellent mobile app rated 4.8 stars
No monthly fees with e-statements
No physical branches
Savings rate lags behind top online banks
Limited credit card options vs big banks
Join Now *Sponsored — we may earn a commission at no cost to you.
Navy FederalCREDIT UNION

Navy Federal Credit Union

Best for military + veterans — unbeatable loan rates

10/10

Eligibility: Military, veterans, DoD employees, and their family members

Best auto loan rates in the industry for members
No-fee checking and savings
Excellent mortgage rates for military
Strong member loyalty and customer service
Business and investment accounts available
Restricted membership — military/DoD/family only
Standard savings rate is low (use a HYSA elsewhere)
Limited non-military perks vs general CUs
Join Now *Sponsored — we may earn a commission at no cost to you.
PenFedCREDIT UNION

PenFed Credit Union

Best credit union for auto loans + credit cards

9/10

Eligibility: Anyone can join (open a savings account with $5)

Anyone can join with $5 opening deposit
Excellent auto loan rates (often best nationwide)
Strong credit card lineup (PenFed Platinum 5x gas)
85,000+ free ATMs
Federally insured by NCUA
Online savings rate is lower than top HYSAs
In-person branches limited outside DC/military bases
Some accounts require minimum balances
Join Now *Sponsored — we may earn a commission at no cost to you.
First TechCREDIT UNION

First Tech Federal Credit Union

Best for tech workers — competitive rates + modern experience

9/10

Eligibility: Tech industry employees (Amazon, Microsoft, etc.) OR live/work/worship in Lane County, OR, OR family of existing members, OR join Computer History Museum ($15/yr)

5.00% APY on Certificate specials
Modern digital banking experience for tech-oriented users
Competitive personal loan and auto loan rates
Strong HELOCs and mortgage products
Eligibility restricted — not truly open to anyone
Smaller ATM network than Alliant/PenFed
Fewer branch locations
Join Now *Sponsored — we may earn a commission at no cost to you.
ConnexusCREDIT UNION

Connexus Credit Union

Best for high-interest checking

9/10

Eligibility: Anyone can join (join Connexus Association for $5)

Anyone can join for $5
Xtraordinary Checking earns 1.75% APY (one of the best checking rates)
Competitive CD rates
54,000+ free ATMs
Great mobile app
High-yield checking has monthly requirements (12 debit transactions, e-statements)
Savings rate below top HYSAs
Limited physical locations outside Wisconsin
Join Now *Sponsored — we may earn a commission at no cost to you.

Are credit unions safe? (NCUA insurance explained)

Federally insured credit unions are covered by the NCUA up to $250,000 per depositor, per institution — identical coverage to FDIC at banks. The NCUA is a US government agency. If a federally insured credit union fails (extremely rare), the federal government guarantees your deposits up to the limit. Look for "federally insured by NCUA" in the credit union's disclosures.

How to join a credit union — 3 steps

  1. 1Confirm eligibility: Check if you qualify through your employer, location, family, or open membership option.
  2. 2Complete the membership application online — most now take 10–15 minutes.
  3. 3Fund your share account: Most require a $5–$25 minimum deposit to become a member-owner.

💰 Dime's Take

Credit unions are where banks should have been all along — member-owned, not-for-profit, with lower fees and better loan rates. If you qualify for Navy Federal, get in — it's the best financial institution most Americans can access. If you're not military, Alliant is your entry point: $5 donation, world-class ATM network, and a modern app that competes with any bank.

Frequently asked questions

Technically credit unions have membership requirements — but 'anyone can join' credit unions exist that anyone can join with a small charitable donation or nominal fee. Alliant Credit Union lets anyone join by donating $5 to Foster Care to Success. PenFed accepts anyone who opens a $5 savings account. Connexus lets anyone join for $5. If you want the benefits of a credit union but don't qualify for a restricted one, these are your best options.

Credit unions are equally safe as banks for federally insured accounts. Banks are covered by FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation), which insures up to $250,000 per depositor per institution. Credit unions are covered by NCUA (National Credit Union Administration), which provides the same $250,000 per depositor coverage. NCUA is a federal agency, just like the FDIC. Both types of institutions have similar regulatory oversight.

It depends on your priorities. Credit unions typically offer lower loan rates, fewer fees, and more member-friendly service. Banks typically offer more locations, more advanced digital features (though this gap is closing), and more product variety (investment accounts, business banking, etc.). Credit unions are often better for: auto loans, mortgages, personal loans, and basic checking/savings. Banks are often better for: breadth of services, national ATM footprints, and advanced digital tools.

Yes — deposits at federally insured credit unions are covered by NCUA up to $250,000 per depositor, per institution, per account category. This is the same coverage limit as FDIC at banks. Look for 'federally insured by NCUA' in the credit union's materials. State-chartered credit unions may be insured by their state's equivalent (e.g., California has the CCFU), but most major credit unions carry federal NCUA insurance.

Alliant Credit Union is our top pick for 'anyone can join' credit unions. The $5 charitable donation opens membership and gives you access to competitive savings rates, 80,000+ free ATMs, $20/month in ATM fee reimbursement, and a highly rated mobile app. PenFed is a close second with strong auto loan rates and a massive ATM network. Connexus is the pick if earning interest on your checking account is your priority.
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