Washington credit unions provide banking services such as loans to its membership. Members of credit unions in Washington state must meet a set of well-defined criteria such as membership in a non-profit group or residency within a geographical area.

Washington state federal credit unions 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.

WA federal credit unions appear to be similar to banks but their tax exempt status mandates three important differences:

1. State of Washington credit unions must be non-profit, democratic corporations the members own.

2. Members must elect the board of directors for a credit union and they must serve as unpaid volunteers.

3. Federal credit unions in Washington 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 Washington state credit unions by name

You can easily locate a credit unions in Washington state 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: Manta displays federally chartered credit unions in Washington alphabetically by name and allows the list to be further narrowed by city. The Credit Union Service Center provides detailed information on all of its registered credit unions within Washington.

Find state of Washington credit unions by location

Resources are available to locate all of the credit unions based in your area, which you may wish to do because residency is a common membership requirement for many credit unions.

I recommend: The National Credit Union Administration can locate a credit union by charter number and or by location. CU Village.com allows you to find credit unions within your zip code. If you don't find any, this locator will list the credit unions that are closest to you.

Choose one of the Washington state credit unions 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: Pacific Northwest Credit Union is open to any resident of Washington and employees of Alcoa Intalco Works. Blue Mountain Credit Union provides memberships to Seventh Day Adventists in Washington in addition to anyone affiliated with Walla Walla University, Walla Walla General Hospital, Blue Mountain Medical Group or Andy's Market.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  A federal credit union in WA frequently allows a broader membership base than its name implies. Smaller credit unions may merge into a single credit union with a disparate set of membership qualifications. Additionally, an individual may usually remain a member of a credit union even after he no longer meet the membership requirements, as when a member moves or changes jobs.