16 Credit Unions Anyone Can Join

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Credit unions are well-known for their community focus and member-friendly approach, but some people assume membership is off-limits unless you live in a specific area or work for a certain employer.

The good news? There are credit unions anyone can join, often by making a small donation or paying a modest fee.

1. Alliant Credit Union

Alliant offers high-yield checking and savings, along with no overdraft fees. Earn APY on savings and checking accounts. Alliant also offers CD rates up to APY.

• Why Join: Alliant focuses on high-yield online checking and savings accounts, frequently offering no overdraft fees and better-than-average APYs.
• How to Join: Make a small donation to the Alliant Credit Union Foundation (covered by Alliant on your behalf). You can also qualify if you live near certain Chicago communities or if your current/retired employer is an Alliant partner.
• Standout Perks: Interest-bearing checking with great APYs, plus no monthly maintenance charges.

2. Bethpage Federal Credit Union

Bethpage Federal Credit Union offers high yields on savings, money markets and certificates, along with low interest rates for home equity and auto loans, delivering the best of both worlds to consumers. The credit union also offers a free checking account with no minimum balance requirements.

• Why Join: Known for consistently competitive APYs on savings, money market accounts and CDs. Their free checking has no minimum balance.
• How to Join: All it takes is a $5 deposit in a Bethpage savings account. No other requirements apply.
• Standout Perks: Large network of free ATMs nationwide and a user-friendly digital banking platform.

3. PenFed Credit Union

PenFed, or Pentagon Federal Credit Union, was established in 1935 and has grown into the second-largest federal credit union in the U.S.

With a high interest rate of APY for online savings and money market certificates offering up to APY, plus free checking and a network of 85,000 fee-free ATMs across the U.S., PenFed offers many of the same benefits as online banks, with personalized service and branch locations.

• Why Join: Originally serving military personnel, PenFed is now open to everyone. The credit union features a high-yield online savings account and money market certificates with strong APYs.
• How to Join: A $5 minimum deposit into a PenFed savings account does the trick. PenFed often covers it if you sign up online.
• Standout Perks: Over 85,000 surcharge-free ATMs, along with no monthly fees on standard checking.

4. Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union

Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union, based in Minnesota, offers free checking with no minimum balance requirements and an Interest Rewards Checking account with a $200 minimum balance to earn dividends and avoid the $6 monthly fee.

In addition to earning rewards on debit card purchases, members gain access to 60,000-plus fee-free ATMs, a Stash Your Cash program to round your purchases up and deposit the balance in savings and one free yearly credit report.

• Why Join: A Minnesota-based credit union with free checking, annual free credit reports, and a “Stash Your Cash” round-up feature.
• How to Join: Reside, work, attend school, or worship in particular Minnesota communities — or donate $25 to the Affinity Plus Foundation if you don’t meet the other criteria.
• Standout Perks: Socially conscious ethos, community-based financial education, and a robust ATM network.

5. Connexus Credit Union

Connexus offers three free checking account products, including one that delivers a APY to qualifying customers. It also has a teen account that offers up to APY for checking. The credit union offers certificates of deposit accounts and money market accounts.

• Why Join: Earn high APYs on checking, plus free checking options and top-tier certificate rates.
• How to Join: Either live in parts of Illinois, Minnesota, or Wisconsin, or just give $5 to the Connexus Association. You’ll also deposit $5 in a Connexus savings account.
• Standout Perks: Generous ATM fee rebates and multi-tiered interest on checking.

6. Teachers Federal Credit Union

Teachers Federal Credit Union offers a Smart Checking account with APY on balances up to $15,000. To earn this rate, you must maintain an average monthly balance of $5,000 or have $20,000 in combined end-of-month deposit balances, or have monthly direct deposits of $500 plus 10 debit card purchases per month.

• Why Join: No membership requirements — just deposit $1 to open a savings account. Strong checking account APY.
• Standout Perks: Plenty of student-focused products and services, plus extended customer service hours.

7. Consumers Credit Union

Consumers Credit Union offers a rewards Checking account with a yield as high as APY, with no minimum balance requirements (beyond a $5 opening deposit) and no monthly fees. There are some requirements you must meet to earn that high APY, which include spending $1,000 or more per month on a CCU Visa Credit Card.

• Why Join: Boasts a Rewards Checking that can pay extremely high APYs if you meet certain debit-card usage and deposit thresholds.
• How to Join: A $5 donation to the Consumers Cooperative Association and a $5 deposit in a share savings.
• Standout Perks: Tiered interest on checking, meaning the more you fulfill monthly activity requirements, the higher your APY.

8. Lake Michigan Credit Union

Lake Michigan Credit Union has a choice of five checking accounts, including a no-fee checking account and a dividend-earning checking account that pays APY on balances up to $15,000, with no monthly fees and no minimum balance requirements. The Max Savings account offers up to APY with tiered interest rates.

• Why Join: Features a Max Checking account offering interest on balances up to $15,000, plus no fees or minimums.
• How to Join: A $5 deposit is all you need.
• Standout Perks: Full-service offerings (mortgages, loans, checking, savings) with an array of local branches and digital tools.

9. NASA Federal Credit Union

NASA Federal Credit Union offers four tiers of rewards membership depending on your account balance. A Bronze checking account delivers surcharge-free access to 36,000 ATMs and 5,300 shared branches nationwide and a cash-back debit card. Silver, Gold and Platinum members enjoy free checking and a host of other benefits.

• Why Join: Although it started to serve NASA employees, it’s now open to all with a broad product lineup and decent interest rates.
• How to Join: You can get a free membership to the National Space Society through NASA FCU, which qualifies you immediately.
• Standout Perks: Ties to NASA’s community for events and seminars, plus a wide range of mortgage and credit card options.

10. Hope Credit Union

Hope Credit Union offers multiple options for checking accounts, including a rewards checking account with no fees and no minimum balance that pays up to 5.127% APY. You’ll need to meet some monthly requirements to earn that APY; otherwise, the account pays .10% APY on all balances. Hope also offers high-yield savings accounts, share certificates and individual retirement accounts.

• Why Join: Known for focusing on underserved and low-income communities, offering straightforward checking with potential high APYs.
• Membership: Open to anyone who applies.
• Standout Perks: Robust financial education and easy, no-hassle sign-up.

11. AgFed Credit Union

AgFed Credit Union offers share savings and share checking accounts that require just a $5 minimum deposit to open. You can further divide your savings accounts into a Vacation Club or Holiday Club, all earning .02% interest on balances of $100 or more.

• Why Join: Offers share savings and checking with just a $5 minimum. Also has specialized savings clubs for holidays or vacations.
• Membership: Typically for USDA affiliates, but you can become a “Friends of the National Arboretum” donor to qualify.
• Standout Perks: Virtual branch system and low loan rates.

12. Kinecta Federal Credit Union

Kinecta offers a host of advantages to its members, including share certificates with competitive APYs. The credit union’s money market account delivers an APY of on balances of $100,000 or more. Kinecta also offers a choice of two checking accounts with fees that are easily waived. The Checking Plus account offers between APY and APY depending on your account balance.

• Why Join: Competitive money market accounts, plus a good range of checking account options. Often known for decent mortgage products.
• Membership: Sign up for the Innovision Society for a $10 one-time fee, which Kinecta usually covers.
• Standout Perks: Mix of digital capabilities and physical branches. Decent interest rates on deposit accounts.

13. CommunityWide Federal Credit Union

CommunityWide has 11 branch locations in Northern Indiana, but it also works with a network of 5,500 shared branches nationwide. A CW savings account offers an APY of . A free CW checking account delivers an APY of with no monthly fees and just a $5 minimum balance to open an account. You’ll need to maintain a balance of at least $1 to earn dividends.

• Why Join: A free checking account that pays dividends, with a $5 deposit to open. The share savings also earns a fair APY.
• Membership: Located in Northern Indiana, but you can donate $5 to certain partner nonprofits.
• Standout Perks: Access to a shared branching network of 5,500-plus branches, helpful if you travel or move.

14. Service Credit Union

Service Credit Union offers a wide range of products to help you manage your money. The credit union offers share certificates with high APYs, savings with a yield of APY on balances up to $500 and a free checking account along with a dividend checking account that pays APY.

• Why Join: Perfect for military personnel, though open to everyone via partner associations. Offers robust online banking, no monthly fee checking, and strong certificate APYs.
• Membership: A free membership with the American Consumer Council or Financial Fitness Association qualifies you.
• Standout Perks: Debit card rewards program and low mortgage or auto-loan rates, especially for service members.

15. Blue Federal Credit Union

If you are someone who works odd hours or just needs round-the-clock banking support, Blue Federal Credit Union could be best for you as it offers 24/7 customer service. It also offers competitive rates, which is a great way to grow your money faster.

• Why Join: Round-the-clock customer service — great if you need to handle finances outside standard business hours.
• Membership: A $10 deposit, with $5 going to the Blue Foundation, is enough to join.
• Standout Perks: High rates on certain deposit accounts and a philanthropic bent supporting local communities.

16. Credit Human Federal Credit Union

Credit Human Federal Credit Union offers high CD rates along with a variety of other financial products including checking and savings accounts, credit cards, vehicle loans, personal loans and IRA certificates.

• Why Join: Offers competitive CD rates and a full menu of loan products.
• Membership: Sign up with the American Consumer Council and Credit Human waives the membership fee.
• Standout Perks: Known for appealing certificates and quick online applications.

Final Take to GO

Finding credit unions anyone can join opens the door to better rates, lower fees and a down-to-earth banking experience — without limiting yourself to a certain region or employer. Whether you choose Alliant for its online focus, Bethpage for no-frills membership or PenFed for military roots (but open membership), there’s likely a credit union that fits your priorities perfectly.

Evaluate what matters most: high-yield checking, robust loans, or a user-friendly mobile app? Then check membership details — often as simple as making a small donation — and get started.

With so many inclusive options, you’re just a few clicks away from joining a credit union that treats you more like a partner than a customer.

Caitlyn Moorhead contributed to the reporting for this article.

Rates are subject to change; unless otherwise noted, rates are updated periodically. All other information on accounts is accurate as of March 6, 2025.

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