Delta Community Credit Union Review: Top Credit Union for Select Atlanta-Area Individuals and Airline Employees
GOBankingRates Score
Delta Community Credit Union
-
Reward Points
5.0
-
Rates
5.0
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Breadth of Products
5.0
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Service Area
4.0
Pros
- No monthly maintenance fees
- Higher-than-average interest rates
- Owned by members, not shareholders
Cons
- Membership requirement based on where you live or work
- Limited branch locations
About Delta Community Credit Union
Delta Community Credit Union was founded in 1940 by eight employees of Delta Airlines. They used $45 in capital to open the credit union. Now, it is Georgia’s largest credit union and one of the 25 largest in the country, with over 460,000 members and $9 billion in assets. It ranks among GOBankingRates’ Best Credit Unions and Top 100 Banks for 2022.
Credit unions limit financial services to qualifying individuals. Membership at Delta Community Credit Union is open to anyone who lives or works in metro Atlanta, as well as employees of over 130 other businesses including Chick-Fil-A, Delta Air Lines, RaceTrac and UPS.
Checking Accounts
Delta Community Credit Union has a free Personal Checking Account that offers Reward Points for checking account purchases made with the Visa Debit Card. There are no monthly maintenance fees nor minimum balance requirements. With account protection features, Delta Community keeps fees to a minimum by automatically moving funds from a linked savings account to help avoid overdraft fees and returned checks.
Savings Account
Delta Community Credit Union members can open a personal savings account with just a $5 initial deposit. For children up to age 12, Delta Community has a Youth Savings Account with a free Kid’s Club program which offers financial education and periodic interactive contests. Delta Community Credit Union savings accounts earn a modest rate of interest from the first penny. You can open an account with as little as $5, and there is no minimum balance, although a low-balance fee may be charged if you have no activity for six months.
Money Market Account
The Delta Community Credit Union money market account earns a competitive rate of interest starting at 0.13% APY. Balances of $100,000 and above earn 0.32%. There’s a $1,000 minimum balance to get started.
Money market accounts are a savings vehicle that allows you to write checks, make withdrawals and pay bills. However, there is a limit of six withdrawals per month.
Certificates of Deposit
Because credit unions are not-for-profit institutions, they can often offer higher interest rates than publicly traded banks that must provide a return for their investors. As an example, CD rates at Delta Community Credit Union range from 0.75% APY for a six-month term to 0.95% for 60 months.
To open one, you’ll need to start with a deposit of $1,000 or more. Rates depend on the term you choose. Interest compounds monthly and can be transferred to a checking or saving account without penalty.
Best Features
GOBankingRates uses a rating system to score a financial institution’s most important features. DCCU scored highest in four categories: rewards points, rates, breadth of products and service area.
DCCU’s variety of accounts and services makes it easy for customers to take advantage of competitive rates. Debit and credit card transactions can help you earn rewards points, which can be applied toward future purchases, travel, merchandise or cash back. As for service area, DCCU has locations throughout Georgia as well as a branch in Salt Lake City’s airport and locations in Florence, Kentucky, and Southlake, Texas.
Editor’s Favorite
The DCCU Visa Debit card offers rewards points. When you use it like a credit card, you get one reward point for every $3 you spend. These points can be combined with the points you earn on your Delta Community Visa Credit Card (which earns one point per dollar on eligible purchases). You also can get bonus points in select categories, and your points can be gifted to friends or family.
Banking Experience
Banking at Delta Community Credit Union provides all the products and features most people need. Branches are concentrated in the metro Atlanta area, so you’ll need to be comfortable with mobile and online banking if you’re outside that area. But the interest rates may more than make up for the scarce branches.
Customer Service
Customer service is available 24/7 by calling 1-800-544-3328. Or you can visit a local branch during business hours.
Mobile App and Digital Experience
Delta Community Credit Union has a robust mobile app with a high average rating (4.7 and 4.9 out of 5) from Android and Apple users, which is important since branches are mainly limited to Georgia. You can use the mobile app to perform just about any banking transaction, including checking your balances and paying bills. Download the app from Google Play or the App Store.
How To Open an Account
You’ll need to become a member of the credit union before you can open an account. You’ll need to start with $5 to open a savings account. You can visit a branch or open an account online. It takes about 10 minutes to complete the process, which will ask you for personal information including your date of birth and Social Security number.
Fees
Some of the fees you could see are included in the following table. In many cases, they can be avoided by managing your accounts carefully and being aware of them.
| Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Overdraft | $35 |
| Stop payment | $25 |
| Returned deposited item | $15 |
| Money orders | $5 |
Delta Community Credit Union vs. Competitors
Here’s how Delta Community Credit Union stacks up to other banks you may be considering.
| Bank | Best For |
|---|---|
| Delta Community Credit Union | Anyone who lives or works in metro Atlanta, as well as employees of 130 businesses, including Chick-Fil-A, Delta Air Lines, RaceTrac and UPS. |
| Navy Federal Credit Union | Military |
| Georgia’s Own Credit Union | Georgia residents |
Delta Community Credit Union vs. Navy Federal Credit Union
Membership in Delta Community Credit Union is available to anyone who lives in the 16-county metro Atlanta area, plus employees of 130 businesses and their families. Navy Federal Credit Union requires that you be active or retired military, or a family member, in order to be eligible for membership. That said, active-duty military get a 0.25% reduction in the interest rate on some loans.
Delta Community Credit Union vs. Georgia’s Own Credit Union
Delta Community Credit Union offers banking, loans and financial planning services from certified financial planners to help you get a handle on your entire financial picture, including spending, saving, investing and planning for education or retirement. However, membership is limited to employees those who live in the 16-county metro Atlanta area and employees of 130 businesses and their families. Georgia’s Own Credit Union offers membership to a wider reach of Georgia residents.
Final Take
Delta Community Credit Union is a solid choice for full-service banking if you qualify to be a member. You can have all of your accounts in one place and even get financial planning advice. You also get fee-free accounts and very good interest rates. The teen and student accounts are a good way to help your teenage children learn how to manage money.
Delta Community Credit Union FAQ
Here are answers to some of the more commonly asked questions about Delta Community Credit Union.- Is Delta Community Credit Union affiliated with Delta Air Lines?
- DCCU was founded as a credit union for Delta Airlines employees. DCCU supports the Delta Employee and Retiree Care Fund and the Delta Scholarship Fund but is a separate entity from the airline.
- Does Zelle work with Delta Community Credit Union?
- You can use Zelle to send and receive money with your DCCU mobile app or via online banking.
- Is Delta Community Credit Union FDIC insured?
- Like other credit unions, deposits at DCCU are not FDIC insured, but they are insured by National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) up to $250,000.
- Does Delta Community Credit Union offer free money for signing up for an account?
- DCCU does not currently offer any account opening bonus promotions.
Karen Doyle contributed to the reporting for this article.
This article was updated on Feb. 4, 2022 to reflect Delta Community’s current service area and community, as well as to clarify checking account and savings account product information.
Rates are subject to change; unless otherwise noted, rates are updated periodically. All other information on accounts is accurate as of Apr. 25, 2022.
This content is not provided by Delta Community Credit Union. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author alone and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by Delta Community Credit Union.
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