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

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

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

1. Federal credit unions in Wisconsin 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. Wisconsin federal credit unions 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 Wisconsin federal credit unions by name

You can easily locate a credit union 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 Wisconsin alphabetically by name and allows the list to be further narrowed by city. Credit Unions Online displays the credit unions in its network that are located in Wisconsin alphabetically by name.

Find a federal credit union in Wisconsin by location

Resources are available to locate all of the Wisconsin 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. Credit Union Access provides, by city, all of registered federally chartered credit unions in Wisconsin.

Join a federal credit union in Wisconsin for which you are eligible

Examine the membership requirements of different federal credit unions in Wisconsin and the services that they provide to know if you are eligible to join and if they will provide the services you need.

I recommend: Community First Credit Union is available to residents or employees in Brown, Calumet, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Manitowoc, Oconto, Outagamie, Shawano, Sheboygan, Waupaca, Winnebago and Waushara counties. Peoples Credit Union serves Milwaukee, Racine and Waukesha counties.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Federal credit unions in WI frequently allow a broader membership base than their 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 meets the membership requirements, as when a member moves or changes jobs.