How to Join a Credit Union in 3 Steps— Can Anyone Join?
Can we be honest? Here at UMe Credit Union, we are our members’ #1 most enthused, biggest fans! We are a whole organization dedicated to ensuring your financial success by providing financial education, offering loans, banking, insurance, and more. We truly love helping U and we’re on your side every step of the way!
If that feels like music to your ears then UMe is right for U! (But we knew that already. After all, we’re your biggest fans!)
A credit union, specifically UMe Credit Union, can offer U access to lots of benefits and services. UMe is a not-for-profit, member-owned, community organization, so the savings are passed on directly to U! Plus, you get to bank where your community is: Where you live, work, and play. Keep reading to learn how to join UMe and why our credit union is right for U.
Can Anyone Join UMe Credit Union?
Some people may wonder if anyone can join UMe. Well, we like to say that anyone who loves Burbank or supports a Burbank organization can join UMe!
If you meet any of the following criteria, you’re ready to get started with UMe:
- You live in Burbank
- You work in Burbank
- You go to school in Burbank
- You worship in Burbank
- You belong to an organization in Burbank
If you don’t meet any of these usual requirements, U can still join UMe! Simply make a $10 donation to the Burbank Arts & Education Foundation (which you can do when you open an account at UMe) and you are ready to get started with us! We’re here to help make Burbank the best place to be, and that means serving U!
How to Join a Credit Union
At UMe, you are not a ‘customer’ — you are a ‘member!’ And we absolutely love welcoming new members! We are thrilled that you are going to start enjoying all the benefits that come with a UMe membership. And you can do so in just three steps!
Step 1: Determine Eligibility
Like we said above, if you live, work, study, or worship in Burbank, you can join UMe. Or, you can also join by donating to the Burbank Arts & Education Foundation. Easy-peasy! It’s a win-win, if we do say so ourselves!
Step 2: Open an Account
Next, you’ll establish your UMe Credit Union membership by opening a savings account. You can open a UMe savings account online, in person, or by calling (818) 238-2900.
When you prepare to submit your application, you will need your Social Security Number or TIN (Tax Identification Number) and a current, valid, government-issued photo ID. If your ID does not list your current physical address, you will need to provide or upload a utility bill so we can verify your current residence.
Yep, applying is as easy as that!
Step 3: Start Using Your Account
Once you’ve opened your credit union account, you then have access to all UMe benefits and services.
If you’re switching from another institution, you’ll need to notify companies and financial institutions that make automatic withdrawals from your old account. Don’t worry. We can help with that too!
Why Join a Credit Union?
We’ve talked a lot about who can join a credit union and how to join a credit union. But why should you join a credit union? OMG, there are so many reasons!
No – or – Low Fees
As a credit union member, you are also a credit union owner. Like we mentioned above, UMe is a not-for-profit, member-owned organization. This means lower (or zero!) fees. Fees commonly charged by banks — annual fees, overdraft fees, cash advance fees (all the icky fees!) — are lower or eliminated entirely at credit unions.
For instance, at UMe, we offer free checking, among other lower, or no-fee benefits. We want to help U save money — not spend your hard-earned cash on added fees!
Better Rates
Um, did someone mention interest rates? Oh, we did! It was us. Because our interest rates are some of the most competitive around! UMe offers excellent rates on banking services, auto and home loans, mortgages (plus our HELOCs are the very best around), and more.
As a not-for-profit, our earnings directly benefit U. Since UMe isn’t driven by making a profit, we can concentrate on getting you the very best interest rates available.
Great Service
Our focus is U! Not to sound like a broken record, but our Personal Bankers don’t view you as just a ‘customer.’ We get to know you as an individual and provide personalized service that is unparalleled elsewhere. UMe may work with numbers, but we will never treat U like one!
Local Focus
UMe has called Burbank home since we were established in 1940 and we are so proud to support our community. We work to make our community the very best by offering excellent service and benefits to our members and supporting efforts such as our UMeHelps initiatives. We believe service and community go hand in hand.
Do U Have Questions?
We love questions! And all of our UMe staff will do our very best to get you some good answers. Let’s take a look at some common questions about how to join a credit union.
“How Do I Find a Credit Union?”
U found us! Because UMe is based in Burbank, we love to help and serve the Burbank community.
Membership is more than signing up with a financial institution. That’s why joining a credit union is such a great idea! It’s about supporting—and being supported by—your community!
“Do Credit Unions Offer Online Banking?”
Sometimes people hear ‘credit union’ and think that they are old-fashioned. That couldn’t be further from the truth. At UMe, we know technology is important to our members, so we prioritize new advances in tech to make sure you can access services and benefits on the go.
Tap into your UMe accounts at any time from your computer or device. Plus, our mobile app lets you send money, deposit checks, pay bills, secure your cards, check balances, send secure messages, and more! And there’s absolutely nothing old-fashioned about that!
“What Do I Get By Joining a Credit Union?”
Joining a credit union and being a bigger part of your community sounds great. But what do you get with a credit union? With a UMe membership, you get access to tons of services and benefits!
From checking and savings accounts, to retirement and investment accounts, to home and auto loans—we’ve got it all! We also have other financial products and services, including online banking, instant issue debit and credit cards, and more! We also offer access to discounts for our members, because U matter to Me, to all of us, at UMe!
As a UMe member, we will do all we can for U!
Join UMe Today!
Get access to all these benefits by joining UMe (aka: banking with the best financial institution in Burbank)! UMe is ready to start serving U—just click below to find out more.
Disclaimer: U matter to Me (all of us) at UMe — and that’s why we do our best to deliver helpful information on our blog. Please note the following: (1) UMe Credit Union works hard to make certain that the information we post here is as accurate as humanly possible. But as you know, information can change and evolve quickly. While we try to update the blog on a regular basis, the content of some older posts may not be correct or up-to-date. (2) Some destinations on the World Wide Web that we link you to will exist on external websites. UMe Credit Union does not officially endorse any connected sites, nor do/did we compensate or get compensated by any entities to be featured in our posts (unless otherwise noted). (3) Everyone’s situation is unique and we advise you to consult with our personal bankers or your finance, tax, or legal professional for advice individualized to you!