The credit union card is the plain vanilla variety with no frills. The cooperatives also are stickier with credit lines. And not all credit unions offer credit cards. CUNA statistics show that only 47 percent of institutions provide plastic. Having access to credit union benefits is, of course, contingent upon membership eligibility.
Credit unions serve people who have something in common, such as where they work or live.
Some of the nation's largest credit unions include Navy Federal , the Pentagon Federal Credit Union , the Boeing Employee Credit Union and United Airlines Employee Credit Union . Some of them have very broad membership bonds. Banks and credit unions are locking legal horns because credit unions are fighting to expand their reach. And banks take issue with the fact that credit unions don't pay taxes . Because of the bonds between members, there's usually more of a personal touch.