Is My Money Safe in a Credit Union? (2024)

FAQs

Is My Money Safe in a Credit Union? ›

NCUA insures up to $250,000 per depositor, per institution, per ownership category (the single or joint account owner) FDIC insures up to $250,000 per depositor, per FDIC- insured bank, per ownership category.

Your money is safer in a Credit Unions hands because all accounts are federally insured up to $250,000 and backed by the U.S. government.

Money deposited into bank accounts will be safe as long as your financial institution is federally insured. The FDIC and National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) oversee banks and credit unions, respectively. These federal agencies also provide deposit insurance.

Federally insured credit unions offer a safe place for you to save your money, with deposits insured up to at least $250,000 per individual depositor. The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) is the independent agency that administers the NCUSIF.

Which is Safer, a Bank or a Credit Union? As long as you are banking at a federally insured institution, whether it is a credit union insured by the NCUA or a bank by the FDIC, your money is equally safe. Credit unions are owned by the members—your savings account at a credit union is a share of ownership.

Experts told us that credit unions do fail, like banks (which are also generally safe), but rarely. And deposits up to $250,000 at federally insured credit unions are guaranteed, just as they are at banks.

However, because credit unions serve mostly individuals and small businesses (rather than large investors) and are known to take fewer risks, credit unions are generally viewed as safer than banks in the event of a collapse. Regardless, both types of financial institutions are equally protected.

If a credit union is placed into liquidation, the NCUA's Asset Management and Assistance Center (AMAC) will oversee the liquidation and set up an asset management estate (AME) to manage assets, settle members' insurance claims, and attempt to recover value from the closed credit union's assets.

The short answer is no. Banks cannot take your money without your permission, at least not legally. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insures deposits up to $250,000 per account holder, per bank. If the bank fails, you will return your money to the insured limit.

All deposits at federally insured credit unions are protected by the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund, with deposits insured up to at least $250,000 per individual depositor. Credit union members have never lost a penny of insured savings at a federally insured credit union.

How do I know if my credit union is safe? ›

While you can contact the FDIC, you should also search for the financial institution at the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation's website. If the financial institution is listed, it is licensed by the Department and you can file a complaint with the DFPI right at this website.

One of the only differences between NCUA and FDIC coverage is that the FDIC will also insure cashier's checks and money orders. Otherwise, banks and credit unions are equally protected, and your deposit accounts are safe with either option.

The limit on Current Accounts remains unchanged at €20,000. The Current Account limit is in addition to the Share Account limit and provides a total available savings limit of €50,000 for our members who operate current accounts. The change will take effect from 24th January 2024.

Credit unions are federally insured by the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (NCUSIF), which is backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. The bank equivalent is the (more widely known) Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

Limited accessibility. Credit unions tend to have fewer branches than traditional banks. A credit union may not be close to where you live or work, which could be a problem unless your credit union is part of a shared branch network and/or a large ATM network such as Allpoint or MoneyPass.

If you're looking for a short answer, you'll be happy to know that we're not making you read the whole post: Credit Unions and banks are roughly identical in safety because deposits at both are insured by the Federal government to $250,000.

Membership required. Credit unions require their customers to be members. Account holders must meet eligibility requirements to use the products and services.

Like banks, which are federally insured by the FDIC, credit unions are insured by the NCUA, making them just as safe as banks.

ATMs and Branches Might Not Be Convenient

If you're considering a credit union that's on the smaller side, it might have a limited number of locations in your community. Finding time to visit the branch can be difficult, especially since some credit unions don't have the most flexible hours.