Most consumer credit counselors work for financial institutions such
as banks and credit unions as well as nonprofit credit counseling services.
Money market accounts are high - yield accounts offered
by banks and credit unions that are like a hybrid of a savings account and a checking account.
Private student loans are available, but every expert, even those who work
for banks and credit unions, advise students to exhaust all avenues for federal aid first.
That said, many
regional banks and credit unions offer both unsecured and secured personal loans and lines of credit without the same strict eligibility criteria.
Because regional
banks and credit unions often operate on a smaller scale, customers can have a much more intimate relationship with these financial institutions.
Now that you know the difference
between banks and credit unions, you might think credit unions are the obvious choice when it comes to picking somewhere to park your money.
While banks and credit unions require dozens of documents to be provided and to fill out multiple forms, we only ask that some basic documentation is provided.
Most
banks and credit unions require a low initial deposit to set up a savings account, and most do not charge a monthly maintenance fee if you retain a certain deposit level.
There was a tough time when
banks and credit unions used almost the same low rates for savings accounts but today the situation is different.
Most of the industry for credit lines is dominated by
big banks and credit unions, entities with sufficient capital to sustain a revolving credit type service.
For the first time in 13 years, the list of the top 5 best customer service experience amongst
Canadian banking and credit union firms does not include a major bank.
Foreign transaction fee:
Banks and credit unions charge fees for credit card transactions that are made in foreign countries or use foreign banks to process the transaction.