Community First Credit Union Review 2022: All-around Personal Finance
GOBankingRates Score
Community First Credit Union
-
APYs
4.2
-
Benefits
4.3
-
Products
4.6
-
Customer Service
4.1
Pros
- Competitive annual percentage yields
- Wide range of products and tools
- Numerous customer support options
Cons
- Minimum initial deposits required for some accounts
- Worse rates than competitors on certain lending products
- Only available in Wisconsin
Community First Credit Union Overview
Community First Credit Union has been in business for almost 70 years, and it now has 25 branches located in northeastern Wisconsin. It offers banking, loans and investments, as well as a range of business banking services.
Key Features
Here’s an overview of what members get with Community First Credit Union.
APYs
Community First Credit Union’s regular savings account has a APY. A $5 deposit is required to set up an account, and members must have at least a $100 balance in order to qualify for the APY.
Community First Credit Union also requires a $5 deposit to open a checking account. Once it’s set up, there will be a $5 monthly charge unless a minimum daily balance of $200 is maintained by the account owner. For the Regular Checking account, members will be able to earn interest on balances above $500. There are two rates depending on the amount in the account:
| Regular Checking Balance | APY |
|---|---|
| $500.00 to $4,999.99 | |
| $5,000+ |
Community First Credit Union’s Affordable Money Market account earns interest when a balance of $7,500 is maintained. The standard APY for accounts meeting this requirement is . Otherwise, members will not earn interest and will have to pay a $15 monthly fee.
Community First Credit Union has several options for certificates of deposit (CDs), with terms ranging from three months to five years. Here’s a breakdown of the APY for each:
| Term | Minimum Balance To Earn Interest | APY |
|---|---|---|
| 3 months | $2,500 | |
| 6 months | $2,500 | |
| 12 months | $1,000 | |
| 18 months | $1,000 | |
| 2 years | $1,000 | |
| 3 years | $1,000 | |
| 5 years | $1,000 |
Benefits
Customers can get exclusive offers on loans if they meet certain criteria. If members sign up for checking and automatically scheduled loan payments (autopay), they can get a 0.50% discount on their loan. If direct deposit is added on top of that, it’s a 1% discount.
There is a team of financial advisors available for 401(k) accounts, individual retirement accounts, Roth IRAs and retirement planning, as well as information on investing in stocks and bonds.
Various calculators are available to assist customers with their personal finances, too. These span from general budgeting to insurance, retirement, lending and debt.
Products
In addition to some of Community First Credit Union’s interest-earning accounts, it has several other beneficial financial products and services for its members.
Insurance coverage is available for numerous motor vehicles as well as boats, RVs and more. Additionally, homeowners, renters and life insurance policies can be secured through Community First Credit Union.
Members can browse Community First Credit Union’s range of lending products. Here is a breakdown of some of the options:
| Loan Type | Term Length | APR |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle loans | From 24 to 84 months | Starting from 2.50% |
| Home equity loans | From 6 to 30 years | Starting from 3.016% |
| Personal loans | From 36 to 84 months | Starting from 7.49% |
Community First Credit Union also provides instant loans with its Kwik Cash Line of Credit, starting from 13.90% APR, as well as private student loans.
Lastly, customers can also get a credit card with Community First Credit Union. No annual fees apply, and it offers a low APR.
Customer Service
Community First Credit Union has four points of contact for customer service:
- Phone
- Branches
- Online form or email
- Secure Message Center in-app or with online banking
The Community First Credit Union contact number is 920-830-7200, and it offers customer phone support six days per week, excluding national holidays. Members can contact live representatives from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. CST on Monday through Friday or 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. CST on Saturdays.
Alternatively, customers can speak with a professional at one of the local branches or fill out a form online and specify their preferred method of communication for correspondence.
If opting to use the Secure Message Center, members can send any information or documentation required.
How Does Community First Credit Union Stand Out?
Community First Credit Union stands out for its wide array of personal finance products as well as its advisory services, useful calculators and financial counseling solutions.
Comparable Options
Here’s how Community First Credit Union performs against some of its close competitors.
Shoreline Credit Union
Community First Credit Union has a higher minimum APR on Kwik Cash loans than Shoreline Credit Union does. Community First starts at 13.90%, whereas Shoreline’s rates are as low as 11.99%.
Landmark Credit Union
Both Community First Credit Union and Landmark Credit Union offer CDs with similar term lengths, but Community First’s APYs are higher in every instance. In some cases, Community First’s APYs are more than triple those of Landmark. For example, the six-month CD APY is with Community First and only with Landmark.
How To Apply
New members can join Community First Credit Union by visiting a branch, getting in touch by phone or signing up online. The following information will be needed to apply:
- Valid ID
- Social Security number
- Date of birth
- Contact details
- Proof of address
A minimum deposit may be required to sign up, such as $5 for a savings account.
Who Community First Credit Union Is Best For
Community First Credit Union has a broad selection of services that are suitable for everyone, no matter what stage in their life they’re in. If you’re located in northeastern Wisconsin, this credit union is worth a look.
Final Take
Community First Credit Union gives consumers a wide range of financial options and competitive APYs. It’s a great personal finance provider across the board.
Community First Credit Union FAQ
Here are a couple of questions people often ask about Community First Credit Union.- Does Community First Credit Union have internet banking?
- Yes, Community First Credit Union has online banking as well as a digital banking app available through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
- What is the Community First Credit Union routing number?
- Community First Credit Union's routing number is 275982801.
Rates are subject to change; unless otherwise noted, rates are updated periodically. All other information on accounts is accurate as of July 4, 2022.
Editorial Note: This content is not provided by Community First Credit Union. Any opinions, analyses, reviews, ratings or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author alone and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by Community First Credit Union.
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