6 Major Pros and Cons Before You Borrow Credit Union Student Loans

Borrowing from a member-owned, nonprofit credit union that isn’t out to make a buck probably sounds pretty good. But while credit union student loans have their advantages, there are some downsides to consider, too.

Take a look at our list of pros and cons before you decide if a credit union student loan is right for you.

Advantages of credit union student loans

When it comes to student loans, credit unions typically offer many of the same basic features as other private lenders. For instance, you might find a credit union that allows you to make low payments (or no payments) while in school. You might even reduce your interest rate by setting up automatic payments with the credit union.

Here are a few other key ways credit union student loans might benefit you.

1. Interest rates could be lower
2. Customer service might be better
3. Lending standards are often more relaxed

1. Interest rates could be lower

Just because credit unions are usually smaller than national banks doesn’t mean they can’t offer competitive interest rates to borrowers. Because credit unions are nonprofit institutions, they can often offer loans at cheaper rates.

That doesn’t mean every credit union will always have a lower interest rate than big banks or online lenders. You still need to comparison-shop among all different types of private student loan lenders, whether you’re looking to borrow for school or refinance your student loans. But you might find the unique business model of credit unions means you could get a better deal.

2. Customer service might be better

Since credit unions are member-owned institutions, customers are treated fairly. In fact, members typically elect a volunteer board of directors to run the organization. That means you can get a say in how things are managed.

And because credit unions aren’t “too big to fail”, as many big banks that can weather scandals and multimillion-dollar penalties are, they know they have to treat their customers right to survive.

Again, this doesn’t mean every credit union is perfect. Before joining one, check out its reviews in the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s complaint database and on the Better Business Bureau website.

3. Lending standards are often more relaxed

Unlike federal student loans, your credit and income matter when applying for private student loans. If you don’t have a good credit score and proof of steady income, you’ll usually need a cosigner to get approved for a private loan.

Credit unions will also consider your credit and income when you apply for a loan. But if you or your cosigner are members of the credit union and have an established relationship, lending standards might not be quite as stringent.

You might be able to get approved for a loan when a big bank would deny you. Or you could get a better rate because the credit union takes your existing relationship into account.

Disadvantages of credit union student loans

The possibility of lower interest rates and better service might have you convinced that credit union student loans are an ideal choice, but there are also some disadvantages to consider. Here are three possible cons of using a credit union to fund your education.

You need to be a member
Finding a student loan might be more challenging
Credit unions might not offer the same perks as other lenders

1. You need to be a member

To use a credit union’s services, you must first become a member. Many credit unions might simply require you to make a small donation to a chosen charitable organization to become a member. Others might only accept members who live in a given area, work for a specific employer, or are affiliated with a local school, labor union or another group.

Some credit unions also require you not just to become a member but to have other products with them, such as a checking account. If you don’t want to start a full banking relationship with a credit union, meeting these requirements might be inconvenient.

You can visit MyCreditUnion.gov to research credit unions in your area and find out membership requirements.

2. Finding a student loan might be more challenging

Big banks typically operate in nearly every state, and almost everyone has heard of them. But with local credit unions spread across the country, finding the best deal on a loan can be a big challenge.

To complicate things further, not all credit unions will offer the kinds of loans you’re looking for. Some credit unions don’t offer student loans at all. Others might limit loan options to undergraduate students, or only offer refinancing loans.

However, services such as LendKey and Splash Financial (refinancing only) allow you to shop for loans among many different community banks and credit unions. This streamlines the process and makes it easier to find a credit union to borrow from. You could also check out this list of nationally available credit union student loans as you start your search.

3. Credit unions might not offer the same perks as other lenders

Big, private lenders have the revenue and customer base to support special programs and services that credit unions might not be able to match.

For example, private lender SoFi, which offers in-school loans and refinancing, provides unemployment protection for borrowers. In fact, you could pause your repayment for up to 12 months if you lose your job involuntarily, although interest would accrue on your balance in the interim.

Though help during unemployment is nice, the most important student loan features to look for include low interest rates, minimal fees and flexible repayment terms. If a credit union offers these, it might be right for you.

Andrew Pentis contributed to this report.