What is a Credit Union?

Banks are owned by shareholders and their primary mission is making a profit. In contrast, TCU, like other credit unions, is a not-for-profit institution. That allows us to put the focus on serving our members and not on meeting certain financial goals.

• Once a credit union covers its operating costs, it returns remaining revenues to its members in the form of lower fees and loan rates and higher returns on savings, money markets, certificates and other Share or savings accounts. At TCU, we even offer cash back on debit card use.
• Credit unions are led by boards of directors made up of their members. Every TCU member is technically a part-owner and, as such, gets to vote for members of the board.
• Because their leadership comes from members of the community, credit unions have a large stake in the well-being of local towns, cities and counties. They show their commitment by providing business owners with guidance on a wide range of issues; individual members with financial education and literacy programs; and the community at large with resources ranging from grants to non-profit groups to volunteer help for worthwhile local causes.
• In their efforts to offer better service, credit unions like to build personal relationships with individual members and local businesses. The more TCU professionals work with you and the more we know about you, the better we can help you succeed financially.
• Even though a credit union is not a bank, your deposits are still federally insured. Account balances of up to $250,000 are protected by the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (NCUSIF), an arm of the National Credit Union Association.