Everything You Need To Know About Latino Credit Unions & Where to Find One

Written By
Julija A.
Updated
May 17,2024

Owning a bank account means gaining access to credit to help you acquire a home, a car, or get a student or personal loan. Banks tend to favor existing customers, particularly those who manage their money well. The only problem is that some people have difficulty getting the documentation needed to open a bank account.

Immigrants have difficulty getting access to credit unions and subsequently can't get loans with good rates or sometimes even satisfactory customer service to point them in the right direction. This is why Latino credit unions offer vital services to this minority group in our society.

What is a Latino Credit Union?

Latino-friendly credit unions are non-profit corporations targeting the Hispanic community. Members can borrow from pooled resources at low-interest rates. A Hispanic credit union can also provide traditional banking services to its clients. Some of these credit unions have grown over the years, accommodating thousands of Hispanic members.

Large corporations, organizations, and other entities can form a credit union for Latino employees. Credit unions are created, managed and run by their members. Because of this makeup, these are non-profit enterprises that enjoy tax-free status.

Here are a few credit union facts you should know:

  • Credit unions are exempt from paying taxes only if they operate as a non-profit
  • Credit unions provide traditional banking services for their clients and offer the best banking services for those who need good loan interest rates.
  • Credit Unions have fewer options than a traditional bank. On the flip side, the very low interest rates more than make up for that. The unions can afford these rates because they are not publicly traded and only need to make enough money to sustain daily operations.
  • In addition, credit unions have considerably fewer physical locations than banks which makes them cheaper to run but harder to offer in-person customer services.

The Different Types of Hispanic Credit Unions

There are many ways to categorize credit unions. We have split Latino credit unions into three different types based on the target audience, but there is also the categorization based on whether they are federal or state-backed and regulated.

1. Community Credit Unions

These are credit unions that offer their services to people who live and work in a particular area. These organizations provide various benefits to the community, including employment opportunities and community improvement initiatives. An excellent example of a Latino community credit union is Cooperativa Latino.

2. Latino-Friendly Military Credit Unions

Many departments and industries offer employees an opportunity to join a credit union, including military service members. To make access to their services easier, Latino-friendly credit unions for service personnel have their offices located close to the military bases, sometimes even within the premises.

3. Latino College Credit Unions

Many tertiary learning institutions offer credit union accounts for students and staff members. They are an excellent way to start one’s financial life on the right note. Numerous college campuses set up a credit union on the premises that allow students to access it quickly.

Federal vs. State Credit Unions

We can split government-backed credit unions into state and federal chattered unions. Both provide similar services to their account holders. The only difference between the two is that federal credit unions are regulated by the National Credit Union Administration.

In contrast, State-chartered credit unions like those in California are regulated and supervised by the State's supervisory authority. Both of these governing bodies oversee the insurance of your deposits up to a certain pre-determined amount, usually $250,000.

Hispanic-American Banks and Credit Unions By State

These are some of the Juntos Avanzamos-designated credit unions dedicated to helping Latino communities across the US:

Alabama Address / Phone

Alabama CU

Alabama CU, 3101 AL-157, Cullman, AL 35058(888) 817-2002
Demopolis FCU Demopolis FCU, 106 E Washington St., Demopolis, AL 36732 / (334) 289-4686
Sixth Avenue Baptist FCU Sixth Avenue Baptist FCU, 1101 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. SW, Birmingham, AL 35211 / (205) 322-6654
Alaska  
Tongass FCU Tongass FCU, 2000 Tongass Ave., Ketchikan, AK 99901 / (907) 225-9063
Arizona  

AEA FCU

AEA FCU, 1780 S 1st Ave., Yuma, AZ 85364 / (928) 783-8881
First American CU First American CU, 1001 N. Pinal Ave., Casa Grande, AZ 85122 / (520) 836-8848
MariSol FCU MariSol FCU, 1515 W. Roosevelt St., Phoenix, AZ 85007 / (602) 252-6831
Pyramid FCU Pyramid FCU, 7740 E. Speedway Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85710 / (520) 721-5099 
Tucson Old Pueblo CU Tucson Old Pueblo CU, 2500 E. 22nd St., Tucson, AZ 85713 / (520) 881-6262
Arkansas  
Diamond Lakes FCU Diamond Lakes FCU, 7333 Hwy 270, Malvern, AR 72104 / (501) 332-6530 |
TruService Community FCU TruService Community FCU, 11001 Hermitage Rd., Little Rock, AR 72221 / (501) 225-3636 |
UP FCU UP FCU, 1101 Vine St. North Little Rock, AR 72115 / (501) 374-2190 |
California  
Cooperative Center FCU Cooperative Center FCU, 2001 Ashby Ave., Berkeley, CA 94703 / (510) 845-6428
Educational Employees CU Educational Employees CU, 2222 W Shaw Ave., Fresno, CA 93755 / (800) 538-3328
Episcopal Community FCU Episcopal Community FCU, 840 Echo Park Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90026 / (213) 482-2040 |
Kinecta FCU Kinecta FCU, 1440 Rosecrans Ave., Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 / (800) 854-9846
Mission FCU Mission FCU, P.O. Box 919023, San Diego, CA 92191 / (858) 524-2850
Northeast Community FCU Northeast Community FCU, 683 Clay St., San Francisco, CA 94111 / (415) 434-0738
Pasadena Service FCU Pasadena Service FCU, 670 N Rosemead Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91107 / (626) 351-9655
Santa Ana FCU Santa Ana FCU, 800 W Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana, CA 92701 / (714) 834-1341

Santa Cruz Community CU

Santa Cruz Community CU, 324 Front St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060 / (831) 425-7708
Self-Help FCU Self-Help FCU, 1330 Broadway, Ste. 604, Oakland, CA 94612 / (707) 552-4550
Strata FCU Strata FCU, 1717 Truxtun Ave Bakersfield, CA 93302 / (661) 327-9461
USC CU USC CU, 3720 S Flower St., Fl. 4, Los Angeles, CA 90007 / (213) 821-7100
Wescom Central FCU Wescom Central FCU, 123 S Marengo Ave., Pasadena, CA 91101 / (888) 493-7266
Colorado  
Aventa CU Aventa CU, 2735 Dublin Blvd. Colorado Springs, CO 80918 / (719) 482-7600
Community Choice CU Community Choice CU, 6921 E. 72nd Ave., Commerce City, CO 80022 / (303) 287-8025
Air Academy CU Air Academy CU, P.O. Box 62910 Colorado Springs, CO 80962-2910 / (719) 593-8600 | (800) 223-1983
NuVista FCU NuVista FCU, 2711 Commercial Way, Montrose, CO 81401 / (970) 249-8813
Connecticut  
Cencap FCU Cencap FCU, 443 Franklin Ave., Hartford,  CT 06114 / (860) 722-8110
CrossPoint FCU CrossPoint FCU, 105 Sanford St, Hamden, CT 06514 / (203) 288-1695
East End Baptist Tabernacle FCU East End Baptist Tabernacle FCU, 548 Central Ave., Bridgeport, CT 06607 / (203) 333-3036
Members CU Members CU, 126 E Putnam Ave., Cos Cob, CT 06807 / (203) 622-6050
Delaware  
Stepping Stones Community FCU Stepping Stones Community FCU, 603 N. Church St., Wilmington, DE 19801 / (302) 883-4582
Tidemark FCU Tidemark FCU, 1941 Bridgeville Hwy, Seaford, DE 19973 / (302) 629-0100 
District of Columbia (DC)  
DC CU DC CU, 2000 14th St. NW, 2nd Fl., Washington, DC  20009 / (877) 784-5551
Mount Airy Baptist Church FCU Mount Airy Baptist Church FCU, 1100 N. Capitol St., NW, Washington, DC 20002 / (202) 789-2271
Florida  
Alive CU Alive CU, 9790 Touchton Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32246 / (904) 296-1292
Florida A & M University (FAMU) FCU Florida A & M University (FAMU) FCU, 1610 South Monroe St., Tallahassee, FL 32301 / (850) 222-4541
Grow Financial FCU Grow Financial FCU, P.O. Box 89909 Tampa, FL 33689 / (800) 839-6328
Guardians CU Guardians CU, 3469 Summit Blvd., West Palm Beach, FL 33406 / (561) 686-4006

Orlando FCU

Orlando FCU, 1117 S. Westmoreland Drive, Orlando, FL  32805 / (407) 835-3521
Priority CU Priority CU, 301 E. Michigan St., Orlando, FL  32806 / (407) 425-2561
Tampa Bay FCU Tampa Bay FCU, 3815 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa, FL 33603 / (813) 247-4414
Georgia  
1st Choice CU 1st Choice CU, 315 Auburn Ave., NE, Atlanta, GA 30303 / (404) 832-5800

B.O.N.D. Community FCU

B.O.N.D. Community FCU, 433 Moreland Ave., NE, Atlanta, GA 30307 / (404) 525-0619
CU of Atlanta CU of Atlanta, 670 Metropolitan Pkwy., Atlanta, GA 30310 / (404) 658-6465
Idaho  
Clarity CU Clarity CU, 1822 N Midland Blvd., Nampa, ID 83653 / (208) 467-6583
Latah FCU Latah FCU, 912 S. Washington St., Moscow, ID 83843 / (208) 882-0232
Lewis Clark CU Lewis Clark CU, 1626 17th St., Lewiston, ID 83501 / (208) 746-7233
Illinois  
Chicago Municipal Employees FCU Chicago Municipal Employees FCU, 18 S Michigan Ave., Ste 1000, 60603 / (312) 236-2326
Fellowship Baptist Church CU Fellowship Baptist Church CU, 4543 S. Princeton Ave., Chicago, IL 60609(773) 924-3232
Lampco FCU Lampco FCU, 5411 Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd., Anderson, IN 46013 / (765) 649-9226
South Side Community FCU South Side Community FCU, 5401 S. Wentworth Ave., Ste. 25, Chicago, IL 60609 / (773) 548-5500
Unified Homeowners of Illinois FCU Unified Homeowners of Illinois FCU, 4464 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL  60630 / 773-283-9340
Indiana  
Financial Health FCU Financial Health FCU, 1515 N Senate Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46202 / (317) 963-1199
Natco CU Natco CU, 582 S. Round Barn Rd., Richmond, IN 47375 / (765) 962-2561 
Notre Dame FCU Notre Dame FCU, 1828 Moreau Dr., Notre Dame, IN 46556 / (574) 400-4660 
Iowa  
Affinity CU Affinity CU, 475 NW Hoffman Ln., Des Moines, IA 50313 / (515) 288-7225 
Collins Community FCU Collins Community FCU, 1150 42nd St. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52410 / (319) 393-9000
The Family FCU The Family FCU, 1530 W 53rd St., Davenport, IA 52806 / (563) 388-8328 
Kansas  
EquiShare CU EquiShare CU, 405 E. Central Ave., Wichita, KS 67202 / (316) 263-6171
Heartland CU Heartland CU, 900 E. 23rd Ave, Hutchinson, KS 67502 / (800) 428-8472
Kentucky  
Park Community CU Park Community CU, 2515 Blankenbaker Pkwy., Louisville, KY 40299 / (502) 968-3681
Louisiana  
East Baton Rouge Teachers FCU East Baton Rouge Teachers FCU, 4836 Plank Rd., Baton Rouge, LA 70805 / (225) 355-8896
Iberville FCU Iberville FCU, 57920 Fort Street, Plaquemine, LA 70764 / (225) 687-4836
Maple FCU Maple FCU, 105 Toledo Dr, Lafayette, LA 70506(337) 233-6264
NAS JRB CU NAS JRB CU, 400 Russell Ave., New Orleans, LA 70143 / (504) 678-9595 
New Orleans Firemen's FCU New Orleans Firemen's FCU, 4401 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie, LA 70001 / (504) 889-9090
Section 705 FCU Section 705 FCU, 1455 W Willow St. Lafayette, LA 70506 / (337) 232-8450 
Southern Teachers & Parents FCU Southern Teachers & Parents FCU, 728 Harding Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70807 / (225) 775-8597
Maine  
Community CU Community CU, 144 Pine St. Lewiston, ME 04240 / (207) 783-2096
Maryland  
MECU of Baltimore, Inc. MECU of Baltimore, Inc., One South St., Baltimore, MD 21202 / (410) 752-8313
Mount Lebanon FCU Mount Lebanon FCU, 2812 Reisterstown Rd., Baltimore, MD 21215 / (410) 225-0030
Mid-Atlantic FCU Mid-Atlantic FCU, 12820 Wisteria Dr, Germantown, MD 20874(301) 944-1800
Massachusetts  
Freedom CU Freedom CU, 1976 Main St. Springfield, MA 01103 / (413) 774-9909
Greylock FCU Greylock FCU, 150 W. St., Pittsfield, MA 01201 / (413) 236-4000
Michigan  
Astera CU Astera CU, 111 S. Waverly Rd., Lansing, MI 48917 / (517) 323-3696
United Bay Community CU United Bay Community CU, 1309 North Lincoln Ave., Bay City, MI 48708 / (989) 892-4597
Advia FCU Advia FCU, 4308 West Main St., Kalamazoo, MI 49006 / (269) 382-9845
Minnesota  
Hiway CU Hiway CU, 111 Empire Dr., St. Paul, MN 55103 / (651) 291-1515
Mississippi  
Hope CU Hope CU, 4 Old River Pl., Ste. A, Jackson, MS 39202 / (601) 944-1100 
Mississippi FCU Mississippi FCU, 2500 N State St. Jackson, MS 39296 / (601) 351-9200
Missouri  

Assemblies Of God CU

Assemblies Of God CU, 1535 N. Campbell Ave., Springfield, MO 65803 / (417) 831-4398
Holy Rosary CU Holy Rosary CU, 533 Campbell, Kansas City, MO 64106 / (816) 221-2734
St. Louis Community CU St. Louis Community CU, 3651 Forest Park Ave.,  St. Louis, MO 63108 / (314) 534-7610
Montana  
Clearwater CU Clearwater CU, 3600 Brooks St., Missoula, MT 59801 / (406) 523-3300
Nebraska  
Trius FCU Trius FCU, 2915 2nd Ave., Kearney, NE 68847 / (308) 234-9311
New Jersey  

New Community FCU

New Community FCU, 274 S. Orange Ave., Newark, NJ 07103 / (973) 621-5624 
1st Bergen FCU 1st Bergen FCU, 93-95 Main St., Hackensack, NJ 7601 / (201) 968-0202
New Mexico  
First Financial CU First Financial CU, 6100 Coors Blvd. NW STE J, Albuquerque, NM 87120(505) 766-5600 
Guadalupe CU Guadalupe CU, 3601 Mimbres Ln., Santa Fe, NM 87507 / (505) 982-8942
Rio Grande CU Rio Grande CU, 301 Rio Bravo Blvd. SE, Albuquerque, NM 87105 / (505) 262-1401
US Eagle FCU US Eagle FCU, 5201 Antequera Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87120(505) 342-8888
New York  
1199 SEIU FCU 1199 SEIU FCU, 310 W. 43rd St., New York, NY 10036 / (212) 957-1055
Brooklyn Cooperative FCU Brooklyn Cooperative FCU, 1474 Myrtle Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11237 / (718) 418-8232
Lower East Side People's FCU Lower East Side People's FCU, 37 Ave. B, New York, NY 10009 / (212) 529-8197
NY Firefighters Bravest FCU NY Firefighters Bravest FCU, 532 Central Ave. Albany, NY 12206 / (518) 453-9748
Transfiguration Parish FCU Transfiguration Parish FCU, 429 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11211 / (718) 388-0729
Urban UpBound FCU Urban UpBound FCU, 13-03B 40th Ave., Long Island City, NY 11101 / (718) 784-5050
North Carolina  
Charlotte Metro FCU Charlotte Metro FCU, 718 Central Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204 / (704) 375-0183
Civic FCU Civic FCU, 3600 Wake Forest Rd., Raleigh, NC 27609 / (919) 755-0534
Ohio  
Greater Cleveland Community CU Greater Cleveland Community CU, 601 Lakeside Avenue Room 3, Cleveland, OH, 44114 / (216) 664-2217
Oklahoma  
Allegiance CU Allegiance CU, 4235 N. Meridian Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73157 / (405) 717-9136
Tinker FCU Tinker FCU, 4140 West I-40 Service Road, Oklahoma City, OK 73108 / (405) 732-0324
Oregon  
Ironworkers USA FCU Ironworkers USA FCU, 11620 NE. Ainsworth Cir. #400, Portland, OR 97220 / (503) 774-3848
Point West CU Point West CU, 718 NE. 12th Ave., Portland, OR 97232 / (503) 546-5000
Cutting Edge FCU Cutting Edge FCU, 4620 SE International Way Ste. 105, Milwaukie, OR 97222 / (503) 653-4392
Pennsylvania  
East End Food Co-op FCU East End Food Co-op FCU, 7516 Meade St., Pittsburgh, PA 15208 / (412) 243-2574
Everence FCU Everence FCU, 2160 Lincoln Hwy. E., Ste. 20, Lancaster, PA 17602 / (800) 451-5719
South Carolina  
Brookland FCU Brookland FCU, 1058 Sunset Blvd., West Columbia, SC 29169 / (803) 794-9201
Caro FCU Caro FCU, 4480 Rosewood Dr., Columbia, SC 29209 / (803) 227-5555
Neighbors United FCU Neighbors United FCU, 218 Birchtree Dr., Greenwood, SC 29649 / (864) 941-890
South Dakota  
Lakota FCU Lakota FCU, Lakota Trade Center, Ste. 103/104, Kyle, SD 60619 / (605) 455-1515
Tennessee  

Leaders FCU

Leaders FCU, P.O. Box 10008 Jackson, TN 38308 / (800) 227-1893
Texas  
Coastal Community FCU Coastal Community FCU, 2302 Church St., Galveston, TX 77550 / (409) 765-6067
El Paso Area Teachers FCU El Paso Area Teachers FCU, 12020 Rojas Dr. El Paso, TX 79936 / (915) 843-8328
Empowerment CD FCU Empowerment CD FCU, 6011 W. Orem, Houston, TX 77085 / (713) 728-2515

First Central FCU

First Central FCU, 6201 Sanger Ave., Waco, TX 76710 / (254) 776-9333
GECU of El Paso GECU of El Paso, 1225 Airway Blvd., El Paso, TX 79925 / (915) 778-9221 
Light Commerce CU Light Commerce CU, 11235 Crown Park,  Houston, TX 77067 / (281) 876-7576
Resource One CU Resource One CU, 1200 Belleview St., Dallas, TX 75215 / (888) 679-5054
River City FCU River City FCU, 610 Augusta St., San Antonio, TX 78215 / (210) 225-6866 
Star of Texas FCU Star of Texas FCU, 114 E. Huntland Dr., Austin, TX 78752 / (512) 458-8253
Utah  
American United FCU American United FCU, 2687 W 7800 S. West Jordan, UT 84088 / (801) 359-9600
Vermont  
Opportunities CU Opportunities CU, 25 Winooski Falls Way, Ste. 203, Winooski, VT 05404 / (802) 654-4540
Virginia  
Richmond Heritage FCU Richmond Heritage FCU, 50 W Commerce Rd, Richmond, VA 23224 / (804) 233-8872
Chartway FCU Chartway FCU, 160 Newtown Rd., Virginia Beach, VA 23462 / (757) 552-1000
Washington  
Express CU Express CU, 1930 6th Ave. S #104, Seattle, WA 98134 / (206) 622-1850
Gesa CU Gesa CU, 51 Gage Blvd. Richland, WA 99352 / (509) 378-3100
Sound CU Sound CU, P.O. Box 1595 Tacoma, WA 98401 / (253) 383-2016
West Virginia  
Element FCU Element FCU, 3418 MacCorkle Ave, SE, Charleston, WV 25304 / (304) 721-4145
Wisconsin  
Brewery CU Brewery CU, 1351 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., Milwaukee, WI 53212 / (414) 273-3170
Altra FCU Altra FCU, 1700 Oak Forest Drive, Onalaska, WI 54650 / (608) 787-4500

How to Choose the Right Latino Credit Union

When choosing a bank or a credit union, these are the factors you should take into consideration.

Size

Larger credit unions and organizations usually offer more services and flexibility with transactions. On the other hand, smaller organizations might have better customer service.

Insurance Policy

All credit unions should be insured, so your money is protected. This ensures that members can be reimbursed in the unfortunate event that the credit union should fail. 

Accessibility

Think about how long it would take you to get to the union's offices if you need in-person services right away. If it takes more than an hour to get there, it probably isn’t a good idea to open an account there.

Benefits

A customer care agent can offer any information you need concerning company-specific protocols and offers that can benefit you as a client. You can also go online and read some of the reviews left by previous and current account holders. You can tell a lot about how a credit union values its clients by observing how they respond to customer complaints.

The Benefits of Joining a Latino Credit Union

The main benefits of Latino Credit unions are:

Lower Interest Rates

Joining a Latino credit union allows you to borrow money at low-interest rates giving you the chance to pay back your loan comfortably.

Creating a Savings Culture

Being able to save a portion of your income plays a crucial role in good money management. Credit unions encourage their members to save by offering higher loan limits to those with better savings.

High Dividends

Credit union savings are known to attract a sizable dividend based on the amount of money you have saved up. The unions can afford this because they do not have to pay taxes, thanks to their non-profit status.

How to Join a Latino Community Credit Union

It is not hard to join a credit union as a Latino. Applicants can provide foreign identification such as a Hispanic passport or national ID. Once you have presented your application papers online, you will receive a response within a few working days. A credit union like Cooperativa Latino will also let you present documents such as your credit history, including records of rent or utility payments.

FAQ

What is the main purpose of a credit union?

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A credit union's primary purpose is to encourage members to save a portion of their income. A secondary function of any such institution is to offer its clients loans at low interest rates. Credit union clients also enjoy higher dividends for their savings because they are non-profit organizations. This means that instead of using their profits to pay stockholders, they plow back the returns to members in the form of dividends or improved services.

What are the two types of credit unions?

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There are many ways to group credit unions. The primary division is between federal and state credit unions.  Membership rules and other factors are similar - the difference is that federal unions are regulated and insured by the National Credit Union Administration while state ones are within the jurisdiction of the state governments.

Which credit union is best for credit?

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The Navy Federal credit union offers the best credit options for its members. Their clients enjoy accessible ATMs that Latinos can access across the United States. The Cooperativa Latino Credit Union is also a good option as they offer the best credit rates in most states.

How do I choose a credit union?

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When selecting a credit union, look for the union's benefits and match them with your current goals and needs. Then look into how accessible the union's banking services are to clients in different regions. Don't forget to check whether the union is insured. A larger Latino credit union is likely to offer more services and features, while smaller institutions provide better support. Make sure to do your research thoroughly before signing up with any credit union.

About author

Albert Einstein is said to have identified compound interest as mankind’s greatest invention. That story’s probably apocryphal, but it conveys a deep truth about the power of fiscal policy to change the world along with our daily lives. Civilization became possible only when Sumerians of the Bronze Age invented money. Today, economic issues influence every aspect of daily life. My job at Fortunly is an opportunity to analyze government policies and banking practices, sharing the results of my research in articles that can help you make better, smarter decisions for yourself and your family.

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