www.nfcu.org: When I first joined the credit union it was because I had to – I was about to get shopped overseas and needed to have a bank where my check could be sent. In total I’ve spent 15 years in the navy, and ever since signing up with the Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU) I’ve had a great relationship with them. The only reason they aren’t my main bank is that they don’t have a large number of ATM units around the country.

They have always been great at looking after me, and you only need a small deposit for them to keep your savings account open. When I first joined there were certain restrictions which have now changed a little. However, there are certain lists of people who are eligible for an account, including:

• Officers,
• Midshipmen,
• Office candidates,
• Enlisted Personnel,
• Inactive reserve personnel,
• Civilian employees,
• Coast guard personnel,
• Un-remarried spouses of those who have died.

There are individual requirements for each group, so it’s worth doing a little research beforehand.

One of the best things about NFCU is that my wife and children, and other family members, can all open other accounts! They can even retain their accounts if I choose to close mine. And they all have access to the great loans and services provided by the NFCU.

When I retired back in 1995, I decided to keep going with my membership and used it for services such as automobile loans – they had some great rates. There are also a number of other services offered by the credit union, including savings accounts, checking accounts, car loans, mortgages and more.

Just like any other banking institution would, the NFCU also provides an internet banking service for free. This can give you access to all the main functions plus the Navy Federal Online Account Access services. You can perform whatever transaction you need to through this service. nfcu.org

NFCU also provides its customers with the ability to pay bills over the internet. This service is free for the first three months, and will stay free if you carry on making 3 or more payments each and every month, but otherwise the charge is only very small at $4.95, which is taken automatically from your saving account. nfcu.org

The website itself was once not very functional but it’s now a great resource for all of its customers. It has been updated, improving many of the functions that are available to match websites of much larger banks. It also has a partnership with a number of insurance and financial services as a way of helping you get access to whatever kind of service you need. nfcu.org

So, if you are a member of the Navy or Marines, I certainly recommend you to join NFCU. You won’t regret it. And even if you only keep $5 in your account, this is enough to keep your account open. This is one of the many reasons why I truly believe that NFCU is a top choice! nfcu.org