An Ohio federal credit union provides banking services such as loans to the members of that credit union. Government credit unions in Ohio must meet a set of well-defined criteria such as membership in a non-profit group or residency within a geographical area.

Government credit unions in Ohio also may serve specific employee groups, known as Select Employee Groups, such as teachers or employees of a specific company. These credit unions may be able to change to a community charter, which allows them to serve anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school within a defined area.

Federally chartered credit unions in Ohio appear to be similar to banks but their tax exempt status mandates three important differences:

1. Members must own a federal credit union in Ohio and run it as a non-profit, financial cooperative.

2. Members must elect a credit union’s board of directors, who must be unpaid volunteers.

3. Federally chartered credit unions in Ohio have social missions that include service to members of modest means. A credit union has restrictions on the services and products that it provides and must place restrictions on its membership.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Locate specific Ohio federal credit unions by name

You can easily locate federal credit unions in OH if you have some basic information about it such as its name or the location of one of its branches. A credit union's name will normally give you an idea of the basis of its membership, although the requirements for membership are frequently broader than this.

I recommend: Credit Unions Online displays the credit unions in its network that are in Ohio alphabetically by name. Cudata.com shows credit unions in Ohio by name, along with the city, assets and number of members. Click on any credit union name to get contact information.

Find Ohio federal credit unions by location

Some sources help you locate Ohio federal credit union listings for your area because residency is a common membership requirement for a credit union.

I recommend: CU Village.com allows you to find credit unions within your zip code. If you receive no matches, this locator will list the credit unions that are closest to you. Credit Unions US has a credit union locator on its home page that allows you to specify your city and state.

Select individual federal credit unions in Ohio for which you are eligible

Examine the membership requirements of a particular federally chartered credit union and the services that it provides to know if you are eligible to join and if it will provide the services you need.

I recommend: The field of membership for Summit Federal Credit Union includes employees of Summit County as well as other employee groups and family members. Community United Credit Union membership is based on residency in Strongsville or employment by a specified list of local companies.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Ohio chartered credit unions frequently allow a broader membership base than their names imply. Several smaller credit unions may be merged into a single credit union with a disparate set of membership qualifications. Additionally, an individual usually may remain a member of a credit union even after they no longer meet the membership requirements, as when a member moves or changes jobs.