Here are a couple of strategies to join a credit union if you don’t have one in your area.
1. Join Pentagon Federal: https://www.penfed.org/
They serve primarily military, but members of a number of military related organizations can join. Join the National Museum of American Jewish Military History (anyone can join, $25) and you qualify for Penfed membership.
2. Join Navy Federal Credit Union. https://www.navyfederal.org/
Harder than Penfed to join if you’re not military, but much larger and in more locations. Eligible folks include:
-All Department of Defense (DoD) uniformed personnel—Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force retirees and annuitants
-All Department of Defense Reservists—Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force retirees and annuitants
-All Army and Air National Guard Personnel—civilian employees, retirees and annuitants
-All Delayed Entry Program (DEP) Personnel
-All DoD Officer Candidate programs—Midshipmen and cadets at the United States Naval Academy, United States Military Academy, United States Air Force Academy, United States Coast Guard Academy and the United States Merchant Marine Academy; Other Officer Programs*
-U.S. government employees assigned to DoD installations (including Coast Guard)
-All DoD civilian employees—including retirees and annuitants
-DoD contractors assigned to U.S. Government installations
-Family Members—including grandparents, parents, spouses, siblings, grandchildren, children (including adopted and stepchildren) and household members.