Navy FCU officially does NOT recognize the U.S. Coast Guard as a Branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.

According to Navy FCU President Cutler Dawson, "We are now offering the benefits of Navy Federal membership to all branches of the armed forces."

Furthermore, he states, "There are two reasons why we are doing this. Today, all branches of our military conduct joint operations and share military installations, base exchanges, commissaries and medical facilities. In fact, Navy Federal already has more than 30,000 Army and Air Force members who, during their military careers, served on a naval installation and have joined our credit union. Now, all service personnel can — no matter where they are stationed ."

And finally, he states, "Navy Federal is proud to serve the men and women of the United States Military."



However, if you call Navy FCU at 1-888-842-NFCU (6328) and tell them you are an Active/Reserve Duty Member of the USCG and would like to open an account, they will tell you that Navy FCU does not offer membership to Coast Guard personnel unless you are stationed near the CG Academy (they have a small branch there), District 9 (Cleveland), or attached to a Navy base.


So, Coasties with an Armed Forces of the United States ID Card, with listed Pay Grade and Rank, paid according to the same Pay Scales as the other four branches of the U.S. Military, and subject to the same UCMJ are NOT ELIGIBLE to join Navy Federal Credit Union! But, if you are a Contractor or Government employee who works on a DOD Base you have better standing with Navy FCU than a Military Member of the USCG.


Navy FCU, Thank-you for joining the uneducated and forgetting about the U.S. Coast Guard as one of the FIVE Military Branches of the Armed Forces of the United States. I think I will just take my money and banking business to USAA - who does fully recognize my Military Rank and Service! (Wray, I know you do not recognize my Service either due to my lack of profile but that is ok - I don't bank with you!)

Although I love to get into the fight and defend our livelihood. I am a member of NFCU. There was never a problem and always have been. My military standing has never been called into question. Has anybody ever run into this?

I am also a member of NFCU. I've even gone into the branch office they have here in Cleveland with my uniform on with no issues.

I am a member and have been. I am no longer active duty, but with the honorable discharge I maintained my rights to keeping my accounts. Never had a problem!

I'm a member and have been for probably close to 17 years.

Also, there is a NFCU on the bottom floor of the 7th CG District in Miami. Full Service Branch. I can guarantee you most members served there are Coasties.

I'll third or fourth that. I have had several chances to join NFCU on my own. I am currently a member and have been treated EXCEPTIONALLY by them. I happened to join them here in DC but used my wife's account (as a former employee) to do so. When I called to shop for a loan with them, as soon as I answered the Question "What is your paygrade?", every sentence started or ended with "Master Chief."

You got to know that Credit Unions, by law, have restrictions on who they may allow as members. They have to jump through a bunch of hurdles to expand that. Don't allow a couple of folks to tilt your view of them.

BEEN A MEMBER OF NFCU FOR 20 YEARS JOINED IT IN JACKSONVILLE FLORIDA WITH NO PROBLEMS BOTH MY SONS ARE MEMBERS ONE A CIVILLIAN ONE IN THE AIRFORCE GREAT SERVICE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM

Whether they do or not, I will stay w/ USAA. Nevertheless, if in fact the NFCU has issues w/ the CG, the fact is that many other service members, especially those in the USN do have issues w/ the CG. That's a fact and looking the other way is like being on denial.

I originally was a member of the 7th Coast Guard District Federal Credit Union in the the early 80's. In the early 90's it merged with the NFCU. Over all these years - no problems.

I am too but first attempt to join in 05 NFCU was a big no. Katrina forced us around a bit and ended up at NSA east bank. They did let me join then. No problems since.

It seems that all you pro NFCU folks are from the limited area, where they allow Coast Guard personnel to join. I was told less than a month ago as a Coast Guard retiree, and not from the 7th or 9th district( i believe those were the districts mentioned) or assigned to a Navy base, I could NOT join the NFCU.

Originaly joined the NFCU in 1981, Corpus Christi. Closed that account due to transfeer to an area where no local office. Joined again in 2001, Puerto Rico... walked into the office to get a car loan and got the account then the loan. No problems either time and love the service, much better than BofA.

quote:

Originally posted by EMC_:
It seems that all you pro NFCU folks are from the limited area, where they allow Coast Guard personnel to join. I was told less than a month ago as a Coast Guard retiree, and not from the 7th or 9th district( i believe those were the districts mentioned) or assigned to a Navy base, I could NOT join the NFCU.

Chief - that is probably true. Like I said above, and to be more specific, the National Credit Union Association is actually the people who decide who can join ANY credit union. It is a convoluted process. Again - I only got a membership as a spouse of a former employee. But - now that I am one, I will make a phone call or email as a 'part-owner' and make sure they are making an effort to open to us too. It is entirely probable that they attempted too and where not allowed too by the NCUA. I am interested enough to ask!

quote:

Originally posted by kekojones123:
...the fact is that many other service members, especially those in the USN do have issues w/ the CG. That's a fact and looking the other way is like being on denial.

Kekojones123,

Many in the CG have issues w/ other service members and their parent services as well, and this adversion to "outsiders" is even more pronounced at the location of your workplace.

quote:

Originally posted by BM4EVR2:
Although I love to get into the fight and defend our livelihood. I am a member of NFCU. There was never a problem and always have been. My military standing has never been called into question. Has anybody ever run into this?

When I was in Hawaii (86), I went to open an account was told the same thing. Except, you had to be near Great Lakes IL, D9 and that was it. So, they wouldn't let me. Joined the CG CU instead at petaluma (then known as SEA WEST). Soo.. when I went from Commsta Hono to the D9 Commcen.. I marched right down/or up (not sure but think they were on the 25th floor) and joined the NFCU. Been a member since then. However, I'm not happy with this attitude. Why would a grunt (no offense to those ground pounders) in Ft. Knox KY have more rights to join then a Coastie in Attu AK?

quote:

Originally posted by kekojones123:
Whether they do or not, I will stay w/ USAA. Nevertheless, if in fact the NFCU has issues w/ the CG, the fact is that many other service members, especially those in the USN do have issues w/ the CG. That's a fact and looking the other way is like being on denial.

When I retired, I tried to join up with USAA. They pretty much told me to pack sand. But they would give me a credit card but nothing else (I was looking for insurance). I didn't find out till a year later that I could have pressed the issue and became a member but now that I had ben out for a year, it was too late. I wouldn't give them the light of day now even though they send me spam every so offten. Love stuffing the prepaid envelope and sending it back..

Ok.. just got off the phone with a NFCU operator. The story is. The Coast Guard IS NOT PART OF THE Dept OF DEF. So that's why we cannot join form anywhere. Even though the Pres of NFCU said ALL BRANCHES of the ARMED FORCES, that's not the case. He lied or is ignorante to the facts. So there you have it. If your in ATTU AK or Owensboro KY, for get it. Your not worthy (yet).

I have been a member since 1997 and joined in Portsmouth, VA since my step dad's father (yeah, that's pretty far off) was in the Navy and retired in the 70's.

I just sent this story to Fox News.

Thanks for the great info. I always go into the Navy hospital branch here in Portsmouth and they have two plackards there on the wall...one for the Marines and one for the Navy. None for Coast Guard members. They even turned me down for a home loan and they pay later than USAA on payday, so I switched every account over to USAA.

By the way, I tried to cash Coast Guard issued traveler's checks there a couple weeks ago and they said they don't cash them there anymore, only to find out the lady I talked to at the 1800 number for NFCU said she used to be a teller at a branch office and that the info I was given was completely incorrect.

What is this??? The CG is the oldest service in the US. I belong to a CG credit union, I'm in CA.
I'd be insulted if the credit union didn't take Coast Guard.

I might add that any and all USCG members on this board who are currently a NFCU member have partial ownership of NFCU. These members can write NFCU and request that NFCU bylaws are changed to add USCG. As a member of NFCU, the NFCU has a duty to respond to your requests. As I see it you are the only ones who can make a change. You have the power to make change...either vote or you don't...

At one time you could join any Credit Union. The banks got mad because it was competition they can't compete with. Banks have to make a profit and charge fees that can add up quickly. Credit Unions are owned by the members and are non-profit.

Now to join any Credit Union you must meet some type of prerequisite. If NFCU bylaws stipulate DOD then USCG is out.

The Federal Reserve and Banks forced this condition on all Credit Unions. Until the NFCU changes their bylaw condition to allow USCG members then we have to meet other conditions they have stipulated.

Again, I've seen many responses to this thread by members who are active members of NFCU. Rather then tease those who are not I would like to challenge you to write your NFCU and request change to your bylaws adding the USCG. As a member of NFCU you already own a piece of the rock and your requests must be considered.

If USCG members who are NFCU members remain silent then nothing is likely to ever change. AS NFCU members you are the the only ones with power to make change, so please do something for those USCG members who would like to join but can't. Don't just say I'm a member and enjoy their service bla...bla...bla, help out those who can't join by exercising your rights as a member of NFCU.