Credit unions have existed for almost 200 years, but many people still aren’t sure how they differ from traditional banks. Some people think credit unions work just like banks, while others believe there are strict rules that make it hard to join. In reality, credit unions are designed to serve their members, offer competitive rates on mortgages, auto loans, and savings, and help people build and improve their credit score and financial health.
The History of Credit Unions
Credit unions first began in Germany in the min-1800s. During that time, many farmers and working-class people could not get loans from banks. Instead, they were often forced to borrow money from loan sharks who charged extremely high interest rates. To solve this problem, Franz Hermann Schulze-Delitzsch established a “community bank,” where community members would pool their money to and offer loans to members for necessities like seeds or equipment.
The first official credit unions opened in Germany in 1864, in Canada in 1901, and eventually in the United States in 1909 with St. Mary's Cooperative Credit Association in Manchester, New Hampshire. From then on, credit unions continued to grow as safe, member-focused financial institutions built to help everyday people succeed.
The Credit Union Difference
Banks are for-profit businesses owned by stockholders or investors and are focused on making money for their shareholders. Credit unions are different. They focus on people first and follow the philosophy of “people helping people.” Here are some important things to know about credit unions:
- Credit unions are member-owned and nonprofit. Instead of paying profits to shareholders, credit unions reinvest earnings back into members through dividends, competitive rates, higher savings APYs, fewer and lower fees.
- Your money is protected. Credit unions are federally insured by the NCUA which protects your money up to $250,000. There is no need to apply, this protection is automatically applied when you join a credit union.
- Credit unions are local and community-focused. Because they are owned by members, they focus on local needs. Employees usually live in the community they serve and provide personalized, human service, investment in the local economy and locally based loan decisions (You won’t have approvals on your mortgage or auto loans made by AI).
- Ease and accessibility isn’t restricted. With shared branching/co-op ATM network, you can walk into any of over 5,000 credit unions nationwide or visit over 30,000 ATMs and conduct your business exactly as you would at your home credit union.
- Secure, Top-Notch Technology. You won’t have to compromise technology for personalized, local service. Credit unions provide online and mobile banking services so you can bank where you want, when you want on a secure, easy to use platform. Members can:
- Deposit checks from your phone with remote deposit capture
- Set account alerts
- Transfer money
- Pay bills online
- And much more!
Credit unions combine personal service with modern tools, making it easier to manage your money and feel confident about your financial future.
The Bright Way to Bank
Since 1937, Sunmark Credit Union has been dedicated to helping people achieve goals and find financial empowerment. It is our mission to work together to create value and enrich the lives of our members, achieved through tools and resources that educate and inform, products and services that provide solutions, and people there to guide you along the way. Here’s how we help you bank brighter:
- Financial wellness and education
- Free review of credit
- People first. We get to know our members and provide tailored solutions
- Financial products to help you reach your goals:
Who can Join?
- You live, work, worship, attend school, own a business, or volunteer in Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie and Montgomery counties
- You’re employed by one of Sunmark’s Community Business Partners
- You are an immediate family member of someone who already banks with Sunmark or who is eligible to have a Sunmark account
How to Join
Are you ready to bank brighter and experience the credit union difference? Visit your nearest Sunmark Financial Center, call 866.SUNMARK, or open an account online.
