r/creditunions • u/ceades27 • May 03 '26

Looking to switch credit unions

Right now, I'm a member of a local-ish credit union (Florida Credit Union). I'm not satisfied with them, especially with how annoying their "fraud prevention" was when i was recently travelling abroad.

Basically, I just wanna switch credit unions (or switch to a bank if thats the right move). However, I'm moving from Florida at the end of the summer because I'm finishing school and won't be working in FL afterwards, but i dont actually know where I'll wind up moving to. Its possible i move abroad.

What are some good suggestions for new banks/CUs to switch to, given my situation? I'll keep my FCU account open while i finish paying my credit card off, but would rather start actively using a card from a different institution.

9 Upvotes

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4

u/likenedthus May 03 '26

Every credit union and bank is going to have different fraud prevention thresholds. Some are set too high, some aren’t set high enough. A lot of them struggle to find the happy medium.

That said, I’d personally stick with a credit union. Maybe look at the most popular credit unions in the state you’re moving to. Or check out this list of credit unions anyone can join.

2

u/electronautix May 03 '26

I’ll note that since OP mentioned the possibility of moving abroad, State Department Federal Credit Union is really difficult to beat in terms of affordances for expats. They do a lot to ensure that US peoples with non-US addresses are accommodated for, as far as permitting foreign addresses and foreign phone numbers, letting you use email in place of SMS for verification codes, helping to finance cars purchased abroad, integrating with Wise for transfers with foreign banks, etc. I’ve heard that Alliant, Navy Fed, PenFed, and BCU can all handle people abroad to varying extents too. And DCU’s debit card is actually one of exceptionally few credit union ones with no foreign exchange fee, I just didn’t list them bc I’m not up to date on how the merger with First Tech is changing things.

As far as banks, I’ll put in a good word for Charles Schwab Bank. No fees or minimums (including no foreign exchange fees or ATM withdrawal fees), free unlimited worldwide ATM fee reimbursements, and the 24/7 100% US-based customer service is really, really good. Even SDFCU and BCU have to outsource their support after regular US working hours, I’ve called Schwab past 1 AM and gotten to a rep with very little waiting time. Pretty much the best ‘large’ institution for customer service alongside NFCU, only way to do better is accepting limited daytime availability from a good local CU.

1

u/likenedthus May 03 '26

Thanks for this!

I will add that since State Department FCU serves expats, their fraud detection system is probably much less likely to give you trouble abroad.

1

u/ceades27 28d ago

awesome, this is all really great information, thank you! I'm already fairly familiar with charles schwab since i have a few savings and investment accounts with them.

1

u/8458001910 May 03 '26

I was with a credit union for 30 years. switched to charles schwab better perks. atm fees refunded worldwide, 3 free wire transfers per quarter.

1

u/imyoe_a May 03 '26

Dcu credit union

3

u/Salty_Permit4437 May 03 '26

Which is now going to be first tech

1

u/electronautix May 03 '26

Has any word come out yet on how the merger will actually change things at DCU/First Tech, besides the whole NCUA insurance thing? Or nothing yet? I’m hoping they cherry pick the best things about each so ppl can have a quality mobile app with a fee-free debit card and Zelle etc., but maybe thats optimistic

1

u/LOLandCool314 16d ago

It's gonna take some time before it is integrated together.

1

u/richardsequeira May 03 '26

I am going to echo with someone else on here, Credit Unions and Banks tend to give alerts when you are outside of a particular region.

Have you considered an online credit union? I have seen people on here recommend Alliant. As far as local credit unions, I tend to look for the large ones in the state you are moving to.

1

u/ceades27 28d ago

Yeah i've heard some about Alliant. I guess it really depend where i wind up for work, but both online and large, in-state CU seem to be the way to go

1

u/richardsequeira 28d ago

If you use Zelle, be sure to ask if their mobile app supports it.

1

u/Salty_Permit4437 May 03 '26

I’ve been with navy federal for years, since I was active duty.

1

u/ceades27 28d ago

heard good things, but i don't have any military association

1

u/Aggressive_Apple_919 May 03 '26

My advice is to open one in the state where you will be living for your primary account.

You can do a credit union or a very small community bank. Those should be the safest as far as I’m concerned.

For other accounts that you don’t need to access money right away, you can open high-yield savings account with other credit unions that are not in your state, but you definitely want something that if you have an issue, you can go into a local branch and sort things out

1

u/ReindeerPrudent3760 29d ago

Do you qualify for Navy Federal Credit Union? I was frustrated with my local offerings so I moved everything to NFCU about 6 years ago and I've never looked back, they're amazing. They have a part of their portal where I enter travel plans so my card isn't declined for possible fraud.

1

u/ceades27 28d ago

unfortunately i dont qualify, especially since most people that use it seem to laud it quite a bit