Credit unions are democratic, not-for-profit, member-owned cooperatives that exist to
help people and their communities. The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA)
provides all members of federally insured credit unions with $250,000 in coverage for
their individual accounts, much like the FDIC does for banks. So you get all the same
financial services, but loan rates are lower, interest rates are higher, profits are
returned to members and unlike a bank customer, you are an owner with a say in how your
credit union is run.