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Published January 12, 2023

Northern Credit Union Review

Northern Credit Union is an Ontario-based financial co-operative with an array of savings and chequing accounts, loan products and investment vehicles.

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Northern Credit Union at a glance

Northern Credit Union was founded in 1957 and currently manages $1.6 billion in assets.

  • Northern Credit Union account options
    Savings
    Chequing
    Visa credit cards
    Investing
  • Other Northern Credit Union services
    Mortgages
    Loans and lines of credit
    Loan protection
    Business accounts and financing

Northern Credit Union overview

With 70,000 members in 28 communities, Northern Credit Union is the largest credit union in Northern Ontario. Northern offers many of the same products and services you’d find at a traditional bank, including savings accounts, chequing accounts, mortgages and investment products. Members of Northern Credit Union enjoy competitive interest rates on both savings accounts and loan products, and have the ability to vote on matters that affect the institution.

Online banking capabilities at Northern Credit Union

Getting the most out of a Northern Credit Union membership generally means living close to one of its service areas, but members can also do their banking remotely through Northern’s website (www.northerncu.com) and its mobile banking app. Members can open accounts, pay bills, transfer money and deposit cheques online.

Is my money safe at Northern Credit Union?

Northern Credit Union insures member deposits in the event the institution suddenly becomes insolvent. Deposit insurance coverage is provided through the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario’s Deposit Insurance Reserve Fund.

Non-registered deposits, like savings and chequing accounts, are insured to a maximum of $250,000. Registered accounts such as registered retirement savings plans (RRSPs) and tax-free savings accounts (TFSAs) have unlimited coverage.

Northern Credit Union account types

Northern Credit Union offers a full menu of accounts for members to choose from.

 Northern Credit Union savings accounts

Northern Credit Union chequing accounts

Northern Credit Union credit card accounts

Northern offers a variety of low rate, no-fee and travel Visa credit cards, including:

Northern Credit Union investing accounts

Other Northern Credit Union services

Northern Credit Union fees

Banking fees can vary based on the accounts you have and how you use them. Here are some of the common fees you may encounter using Northern’s financial products and services:

Who Northern Credit Union is best for:

Ontarians looking for typical banking products and competitive interest rates who don’t mind paying fees.

Northern Credit Union offers a range of services for individuals and businesses, including a solid range of investment accounts. Members are likely to get more out of dealing with Northern if they live close to a branch, where they can get personalized advice and take full advantage of the mortgage and business services on offer.

Pros and cons of Northern Credit Union

There’s plenty to like about Northern Credit Union, but no bank or credit union is without its drawbacks. Here’s what to consider before you open an account.

Pros of Northern Credit Union

Cons of Northern Credit Union

How Northern Credit Union compares to other credit unions

Northern Credit UnionAccess Credit UnionInnovation Credit Union
Primary region of serviceNorthern OntarioManitobaSaskatchewan
Number of branches31More than 5024
Mobile app?YesYesYes
Are deposits insured?Yes, by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario’s Deposit Insurance Reserve Fund.Yes, by the Deposit Guarantee Corporation of Manitoba.Yes, by the Credit Union Deposit Guarantee Corporation.

Northern Credit Union frequently asked questions

Can anyone become a member of Northern Credit Union?

You don’t have to be a resident of Ontario to become a member at Northern Credit Union, but living close to its service areas could make being a member more convenient and rewarding.

Are credit unions better than banks?

Most credit unions provide the same services offered by traditional banks, but offer their members higher interest rates on savings products and lower rates on loans and mortgages.

What Is a Credit Union?

What Is a Credit Union?

Credit unions provide traditional banking services to Canadians across the country, but they are different from Big Banks in two key ways: they are not-for-profit and are owned by their customers, who are often referred to as members.  Millions of Canadians are members of a credit union, according to the Canadian Credit Union Association. Credit […]

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