Financing an auto with a credit union is the better choice. That may sound like a bold statement, but there’s a lot of reasons to believe it. If you’re contemplating a new car purchase, credit union membership can help you get a car loan that is affordable and convenient.
In this article, we’ll cover all of the credit union auto loan benefits you won’t get from a bank. In other words, we’ll tell you all the ways that getting an auto loan from a credit union can save you time, money, and worry.
Lower Interest Rates on Loans
When you take out a car loan from a credit union, the auto loan rates are often lower than those offered by traditional commercial banks.
Why is this?
Well, as member-owned, not for profits, credit unions don’t send profits away to shareholders somewhere on the other side of the country (or the world!). No, we keep our members’ money right where it belongs, where it can do the most good: in our communities where we live and work.
Once a credit union has met its expenses like overhead and employee salaries, profits are injected back into their members’ wallets in the form of lower interest rates on loans and higher dividends on savings accounts.
Personalized Service, Approvals, And Decisions
Because credit unions are smaller and community-based, they’re able to offer more personalized customer service than your typical bank. In addition, credit unions are local and always ready to help when you need it.
That personal service is partly why borrowers at credit unions are often able to obtain loan approvals easier than they would at banks. Loan decisions are made after a credit union has taken the time to consider the entire picture, not simply based on what a computer-generated algorithm says.
But if you need to work to boost your credit score to get the loan amount, interest rate, or monthly payment that works for you, your credit union can work with you to help you get there. Whether it’s financial education and counseling, or a secured credit card, a credit union can help you build or establish solid credit so that you can qualify for affordable loans in the future.
Special Programs, Products, and Services
A credit union auto loan helps you through the entire life of the loan, even before you purchase your car. For example, Excite Credit Union offers a 1st Time Auto Buyer Program, which helps you buy your first new or used car, with no credit history required. You can borrow up to 110% of the Kelley Blue Book value of your vehicle and enjoy a loan term of up to 72 months.
Our members also have access to AutoSMART technology and Enterprise car sales so that you can shop for your new car quickly and conveniently. Repayment is also convenient, with online and mobile banking.
Buy a Car, Help the Community
There is nothing like the feeling of helping others. How often do you get to know you’ve made a difference in your community by buying a new car?
When you take out an auto loan from a credit union, you’re not just benefiting from reduced fees and rates and user-friendly financial services. You’re also keeping money local by partnering with a not-for-profit that gives back to the community.
And auto loans aren’t the only loan options available to our members. We also offer home loans, student loans, personal loans, and credit cards with cash and travel rewards.
If you work in any of our network of 400 employer partners, or you’re a resident of the six California and three North Carolina counties in our field of membership, you’re eligible to join ExciteCU! It’s as simple as opening a Go Savings account, and you’re ready to apply for an affordable auto loan to get you where you want to go.
