Disadvantages Of Credit Unions

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If you are like most new car buyers, you probably will go to either a bank or directly through the car dealer to get financing for the new vehicle. But there is an alternative for car loans, one that will probably work out better for most buyers. Credit unions offer a number of advantages over banks when it comes to getting loans, and that includes car loans.

At Credit Unions You’re the Owner

When you work with a bank, you’re a customer. But when you work with a credit union, you are a member. And the difference is much more than cosmetic.

Banks are owned by shareholders, and their primary loyalty is to those shareholders. That means they must maximize profits in order to increase the company’s stock price, as well as to fund dividends paid on the stock. That creates a …show more content…

A bank on the other hand, has only a limited capacity to do so, and will not do so if it will compromise the profitability of the institution.

Greater Likelihood of Loan Approval

All of these advantages make it more likely that your loan will be approved at a credit union. Because you are a member – and not just a customer – the credit union will have more incentive to work with you, even if your situation does not easily fit within lending guidelines.

For example, credit unions are known to be more flexible in regard to people with credit problems. In banks, it’s all about credit scores, and your loan application will typically be denied if your credit report shows a major credit issue, such as a bankruptcy, foreclosure, or tax lien.

A credit union is likely to show more flexibility in any of those circumstances, if you can show that the derogatory credit notations result from past events, and it’s since been rectified. While this doesn’t mean that a credit union will approve your loan even if you have poor credit, it does mean that they will do whatever they can to make your loan.

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