Service Credit Union Review 2024 (2024)

Personal Finance Banking Savings

Written by Laura Grace Tarpley, CEPF; edited by Sarah Silbert; reviewed by Evelyn He

  • Overall credit union rating
  • Pros and cons
  • Savings account
  • Checking account
  • Certificate
  • Money market account
  • How Service Credit Union works
  • How to join Service Credit Union
  • Is Service Credit Union trustworthy?
  • How Service Credit Union compares

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The bottom line: Service Credit Union is one of the best military banks out there. It's a good option if you want to earn high interest rates on your savings and certificate balances. You also may like it if you're looking for a financial institution with 24/7 customer support.

Overall credit union rating

FeatureInsider rating (out of 5)
Savings4.5
Checking4.5
Certificate4.5
Money market account3.75
Trustworthiness5
Total4.5

Pros and cons

ProsCons
  • You don't have to live near a branch to open accounts

  • Large shared branch and ATM networks

  • Free checking and savings accounts

  • Pays high interest rates

  • Membership is limited to certain people, such as military members and Department of Defense employees
  • Branches are only in New Hampshire, North Dakota, Massachusetts, and Germany
  • Interest compounds monthly, not daily
  • $2,500 minimum opening deposit for the money market account

How Service Credit Union accounts compare

  • Service Credit Union Review 2024 (1)

    Service Credit Union Primary Savings Account

  • Service Credit Union Review 2024 (2)

    Service Everyday Checking Account

  • Service Credit Union Review 2024 (3)

    Service Credit Union Certificate

  • Service Credit Union Review 2024 (4)

    Service Credit Union Money Market Account

Editor's Rating

4.5/5

Annual Percentage Yield (APY)

0.25% to 5.00%

Minimum Deposit

$5

Editor's Rating

4.5/5

Annual Percentage Yield (APY)

Minimum Deposit

$0

Editor's Rating

4.5/5

Annual Percentage Yield (APY)

0.80% to 5.15%

Minimum Deposit

$500

Editor's Rating

3.75/5

Annual Percentage Yield (APY)

0.55% to 1.70%

Minimum Deposit

$2,500

Start saving

Service Credit Union, NCUA insured.

Start banking

Service Credit Union, Member NCUA

Start saving

Service Credit Union, NCUA insured.

Start banking

Service Credit Union, NCUA insured.

Service Credit Union Primary Savings Account

Service Credit Union Primary Savings Account

Read Review

Insider’s Rating

4.5/5

Fees

no monthly service fee

Annual Percentage Yield (APY)

0.25% to 5.00%

Minimum Opening Deposit

$5

Pros

  • High interest rate, especially on balances under $500
  • $5 minimum opening deposit
  • No monthly service fees

Cons

  • Interest compounds monthly, not daily

Service Credit Union Primary Savings Account review External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user."

Product Details

  • Join Service Credit Union as an active or veteran military member, former or current employee of the Department of Defense, employee of a Select Employer Group, or member of the American Consumer Council
  • Branches and ATMs in the US and Europe
  • Must open a Primary Savings Account to join the credit union
  • Earn the highest interest rate on balances of $500 and under
  • Interest compounded monthly, paid monthly
  • Federally insured by the NCUA

As with most credit unions, you'll need to open a savings account to join Service Credit Union. This account pays higher interest rates than most credit unions do on their mandatory accounts, especially on balances of $500 or less.

Service Everyday Checking Account

Service Everyday Checking Account

Read Review

Insider’s Rating

4.5/5

Fees

no monthly service fee

Annual Percentage Yield (APY)

None

Minimum Opening Deposit

$0

Pros

  • No minimum opening deposit
  • No monthly service fees
  • No out-of-network ATM fee
  • Earn up to $30 per month in out-of-network ATM refunds, depending on tier level
  • Earn up to 0.75% discount on certain loans, depending on tier level
  • Get paid up to 2 days early
  • Transfer funds from savings for overdraft protection

Cons

  • No ATM fee refunds or loan discounts for Basic tier
  • Limited fee refunds and loan discounts for Direct Deposit tier
  • $5 overdraft transfer fee (no fee for Direct Deposit + tier)

Service Everyday Checking Account review External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user."

Product Details

  • Join Service Credit Union as an active or veteran military member, former or current employee of the Department of Defense, employee of a Select Employer Group, or member of the American Consumer Council
  • Branches and ATMs in the US and Europe
  • Three Everyday Checking tiers: Basic, Direct Deposit, and Direct Deposit +
  • Basic doesn't reimburse out-of-network ATM fees or offer loan discounts; Direct Deposit reimburses up to $15 per month in out-of-network ATM fees and offers 0.50% discounts on certain loans; Direct Deposit + reimburses up to $30 per month in out-of-network ATM fees and offers 0.75% on certain loans
  • Qualify for Direct Deposit tier by setting up direct deposits (minimum $500 in direct deposits each month to qualify for perks); qualify for Direct Deposit + by setting up DFAS direct deposits, OR by setting up direct deposits and making at least 5 payments per month
  • Federally insured by the NCUA

The Service Everyday Checking Account is a good option for no monthly service fee and receiving your paycheck up to two days early. If you receive your paychecks as direct deposits and make regular debit card transactions, you're eligible for extra perks, including ATM fee refunds and discounts on loans.

Service Credit Union Certificate

Service Credit Union Certificate

Start saving

Service Credit Union, NCUA insured.

Insider’s Rating

4.5/5

Annual Percentage Yield (APY)

0.80% to 5.15%

Minimum Opening Deposit

$500

Pros

  • $500 minimum deposit
  • High interest rates

Cons

  • Interest compounds monthly, not daily
  • Must contact customer support to ask about your early withdrawal penalties

Service Credit Union Certificate review External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user."

Product Details

  • Join Service Credit Union as an active or veteran military member, former or current employee of the Department of Defense, employee of a Select Employer Group, or member of the American Consumer Council
  • Branches and ATMs in the US and Europe
  • Terms range from 3 months to 5 years
  • Interest compounded monthly, paid monthly
  • Federally insured by the NCUA

Service Credit Union pays high interest rates on certificates, and you only need $500 to open an account.

Service Credit Union Money Market Account

Service Credit Union Money Market Account

Start banking

Service Credit Union, NCUA insured.

Insider’s Rating

3.75/5

Fees

$5 monthly service fee

Annual Percentage Yield (APY)

0.55% to 1.70%

Minimum Opening Deposit

$2,500

Pros

  • High interest rates
  • Includes paper checks

Cons

  • $2,500 minimum opening deposit
  • No interest earned in months when your balance falls under $2,500
  • $5 monthly service fee
  • No debit or ATM card

Service CU Money Market Account review External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user."

Product Details

  • Join Service Credit Union as an active or veteran military member, former or current employee of the Department of Defense, employee of a Select Employer Group, or member of the American Consumer Council
  • Branches and ATMs in the US and Europe
  • To waive $5 monthly service fee, maintain $2,500 balance
  • Tiered interest rates: Earn interest with a $2,500 balance, then earn higher rates when your balance reaches $25,000 and $100,000
  • Interest compounded monthly, paid monthly
  • Federally insured by the NCUA

You might like the Service Credit Union Money Market Account if you have at least $2,500. You'll need $2,500 to open the account, then maintain a $2,500 balance to earn interest and avoid the $5 monthly service fee.

How Service Credit Union works

Most US branches are in New Hampshire. There is also a branch in Falmouth, Massachusetts, and on the Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota. There are several branches in Germany.

You have access to over 5,000 shared branches in the CO-OP network. You can't open an account at a shared branch, but you may visit and receive assistance. You also have free access to over 85,000 ATMs combined in the CO-OP and Allpoint networks.

The credit union has 24/7 customer service over the phone, or you can use live online chat.

The Service Credit Union mobile app has 4.8 out of 5 stars in the Apple store and 4.6 out of 5 stars in the Google Play store.

Your deposits are FDIC insured for up to $250,000, or up to $500,000 for a joint account. This means your money is safe even if the credit union shuts down.

How to join Service Credit Union

You can join Service Credit Union if you meet any of the following qualifications:

  • Are an active military member, veteran, or family member
  • Are a current or former employee of the Department of Defense, or a family member of an employee
  • Work for a Select Employer Group (see the full list here)
  • Are a member of the American Consumer Council

You also must open a Service Credit Union Primary Savings Account to become a member.

Service Credit Union trustworthiness and BBB rating

The Better Business Bureau gives Service Credit Union an A+ rating. A strong BBB grade indicates that a company responds effectively to customer complaints, has transparent business practices, and advertises honestly.

Service Credit Union doesn't have any recent public controversies.

How Service Credit Union compares

All three institutions process your paychecks earlier than most banks — Navy Federal and USAA can process the check one day early, and you may receive it two days early with Service Credit Union.

You might prefer Service Credit Union or Navy Federal if you want 24/7 live customer support. USAA's customer service is only available on weekdays.

Service Credit Union and Navy Federal are also better choices for earning high interest rates. But you might like USAA for its cash-back checking account.

Laura Grace Tarpley, CEPF

Personal Finance Reviews Editor

Laura Grace Tarpley (she/her) is an expert in mortgage rates, refinance rates, lenders, bank accounts, and borrowing and savings tips for Personal Finance Insider. She worked on Business Insider's "The Road to Home" series, which won a Silver award from the National Associate of Real Estate Editors.She has written about personal finance for over seven years. Before joining the Business Insider team, she was a freelance finance writer for companies like SoFi and The Penny Hoarder, as well as an editor at FluentU.

Evelyn He

Compliance and Operations Associate

Evelyn He is a Compliance and Operations Associate on the Personal Finance team to ensure content accuracy and editorial independence so readers get up-to-date and objective financial advice.The compliance team's mission is to provide readers with fact-checked and current stories so they can make informed financial decisions. The team also works to minimize risk for partners by ensuring language is clear, precise, and fully compliant with regulatory and partner marketing guidelines that align with the editorial team.

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Service Credit Union Review 2024 (11)

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FAQs

Service Credit Union Review 2024? ›

The bottom line: Service Credit Union is one of the best military banks out there. It's a good option if you want to earn high interest rates on your savings and certificate balances. You also may like it if you're looking for a financial institution with 24/7 customer support.

Are credit unions safe from collapse? ›

Credit unions are insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). Just like the FDIC insures up to $250,000 for individuals' accounts of a bank, the NCUA insures up to $250,000 for individuals' accounts of a credit union. Beyond that amount, the bank or credit union takes an uninsured risk.

Who are the top 5 credit unions? ›

The five largest credit unions are Navy Federal Credit Union, State Employees' Credit Union, PenFed Credit Union, SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union and Boeing Employees Credit Union. The largest, Navy Federal Credit Union, has more in assets than the rest of the top five combined.

Is there a downside to a credit union? ›

Limited accessibility.

Credit unions tend to have fewer branches than traditional banks. A credit union may not be close to where you live or work, which could be a problem unless your credit union is part of a shared branch network and/or a large ATM network such as Allpoint or MoneyPass.

How safe is my credit union? ›

Just like banks, credit unions are federally insured; however, credit unions are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Instead, the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) is the federal insurer of credit unions, making them just as safe as traditional banks.

Are any credit unions in financial trouble? ›

National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) credit unions had five conservatorships/liquidations in 2023, and one so far in 2024. Similarly, there were five Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) bank failures in 2023 and one bank failure so far this year.

Can credit unions go bust? ›

If a credit union is placed into liquidation, the NCUA's Asset Management and Assistance Center (AMAC) will oversee the liquidation and set up an asset management estate (AME) to manage assets, settle members' insurance claims, and attempt to recover value from the closed credit union's assets.

What are the safest credit unions in the US? ›

Compare the Best Credit Unions
Financial InstitutionWhy We Picked It
Blue Federal Credit UnionBest Overall
Liberty Federal Credit UnionBest for Checking
Alliant Credit UnionBest for a Savings Account
Service Credit UnionBest for Military Individuals & Families
1 more row

What is the hardest credit union to get? ›

Progressive Credit Union - You must be recommended by another member. This might be the most unique credit union requirement, and it also seems to be the toughest.

Are credit unions safer than big banks? ›

Credit unions are generally considered to be safer than banks during economic downturns due to their conservative approach to risk and their emphasis on financial robustness.

Why avoid credit unions? ›

Credit unions may be local or regional, with limited branches outside of your area. If you travel or move, this can make getting in-person help difficult. May have fewer services. While many larger credit unions offer all of the same services banks do, some provide a limited range of products and services.

How to tell if a credit union is good? ›

Make sure your account will be insured—Whether it is a state or federally licensed (or chartered) financial institution, you want to ask if it's a member of, or that is insured by, either the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (or FDIC) or, in the case of a credit union, the National Credit Union Association (or ...

Should I move all my money to a credit union? ›

What Are the Major Advantages of Credit Unions? Credit unions typically offer lower closing costs for home mortgage loans, and lower rates for lending, particularly with credit card and auto loan interest rates. They also have generally lower fees and higher savings rates for CDs and money market accounts.

Is my money at risk in a credit union? ›

Like banks, which are federally insured by the FDIC, credit unions are insured by the NCUA, making them just as safe as banks. The National Credit Union Administration is a US government agency that regulates and supervises credit unions.

What happens to my money if a credit union fails? ›

Both the NCUA and FDIC are responsible for insuring funds in the event that a financial institution fails. The NCUA insures credit union accounts, while the FDIC provides insurance for bank accounts. They both come with the same limits on insurance coverage.

Are credit unions safe during this banking crisis? ›

Greater stability and lower risk

Credit unions and banks are both insured, with most banks being insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) for up to $250,000 per customer. Most credit unions are similarly insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) for up to $250,000.

Is your money at risk in a credit union? ›

If you're looking for a short answer, you'll be happy to know that we're not making you read the whole post: Credit Unions and banks are roughly identical in safety because deposits at both are insured by the Federal government to $250,000.

Is a credit union safer than a bank right now? ›

Generally, credit unions are viewed as safer than banks, although deposits at both types of financial institutions are usually insured at the same dollar amounts. The FDIC insures deposits at most banks, and the NCUA insures deposits at most credit unions.

Is my money safe in a credit union during a recession? ›

Both can be hit hard by tough economic conditions, but credit unions were statistically less likely to fail during the Great Recession. But no matter which you go with, you shouldn't worry about losing money. Both credit unions and banks have deposit insurance and are generally safe places for your money.

Can a credit union lose your money? ›

Most Deposits Are Insured Through the NCUA

This insurance provides peace of mind that money won't be lost should a bank fail. While credit unions aren't covered by the FDIC, their deposits are insured. All federal credit unions and many state-chartered credit unions are federally insured by the NCUA.

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