Best of
Best Credit Union Credit Cards of October 2020
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Credit unions are member-owned cooperatives whose mission is to help the communities they serve succeed financially. Profits that a bank might distribute to its shareholders or owners are instead returned to members in the form of better interest rates and fees. As a result, some credit unions offer better credit cards than you might find at a bank, depending on what you're looking for.
To get a credit card from a credit union, you must be a member. You can usually qualify based on where you live, work or worship, or if you have a qualifying relative. If you don't meet the standard eligibility requirements, some credit unions allow you to join by donating to a partner organization. All of the issuers on NerdWallet's list of the best credit union cards allow membership by donation.
Credit unions are member-owned cooperatives whose mission is to help the communities they serve succeed financially. Profits that a bank might distribute to its shareholders or owners are instead returned to members in the form of better interest rates and fees. As a result, some credit unions offer better credit cards than you might find at a bank, depending on what you're looking for.
To get a credit card from a credit union, you must be a member. You can usually qualify based on where you live, work or worship, or if you have a qualifying relative. If you don't meet the standard eligibility requirements, some credit unions allow you to join by donating to a partner organization. All of the issuers on NerdWallet's list of the best credit union cards allow membership by donation.
Best Credit Union Credit Cards From Our Partners
Our pick for
Bad credit
Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
11.50% Variable
Intro APR
N/A
Recommended Credit Score
The DCU Visa® Platinum Secured Credit Card is an excellent credit-building tool. It reports to all three major credit bureaus (TransUnion, Equifax and Experian, companies that gather the information used to calculate your credit scores). It also offers the chance to upgrade to a regular Digital Federal Credit Union credit card if you keep up a good payment history.
The DCU Visa® Platinum Secured Credit Card is an excellent credit-building tool. It reports to all three major credit bureaus (TransUnion, Equifax and Experian, companies that gather the information used to calculate your credit scores). It also offers the chance to upgrade to a regular Digital Federal Credit Union credit card if you keep up a good payment history.
Pros
There's no limit on how much you can deposit — and, therefore, on your credit line. With a good payment history, you can eventually get that deposit back and possibly upgrade to a regular DCU credit card within a year. Your payment history — a key component in your credit score — will be reported to the bureaus that compile credit reports.
Cons
Though there's no maximum deposit, there's a relatively high minimum of $300. Plus, you’ll have to qualify for membership at Digital Federal Credit Union. You can get that deposit back eventually, but you’ll have to part with it for at least a year.
- Secured card rates well below the national average
- Borrow against your DCU savings account
- No Annual Fee*
- No Fees or Higher Rates for Cash Advances and Balance Transfers
- Works with Apple Pay®, Google Pay™, and Samsung Pay
- Insurance, car rental, travel, and warranty benefits
- Optional Overdraft Protection On Your DCU Checking
- Buy online easily and safely with Visa Checkout
- Embedded EMV chip to protect your card information
Last updated on October 8, 2020
Methodology
NerdWallet's credit cards team selects the best cards in each category based on overall consumer value. Factors in our evaluation include fees, promotional and ongoing APRs, and sign-up bonuses; for rewards cards, we consider earning and redemption rates, redemption options and redemption difficulty. A single card is eligible to be chosen in multiple categories.
