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What is a Credit Union?

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Use the Web to Take Charge of Your Credit

We use credit to make many substantial business deals, such as buying a home or car, or obtaining a loan. Other times, we simply want to use a credit card to make our daily lives a little easier. Whether you want to learn how to select the right credit card, protect yourself from identity theft, or learn how your credit score affects the loans you receive, the Web can serve as your guide to understanding, establishing, and maintaining good credit. For a Spanish-language version of the Guide, click here.

What is Credit?

The credit card industry mailed more than six billion credit card offers to households during 2005. ... read more »

Finding and Improving Your Credit Score

Your credit score can have an impact on many aspects of your financial life, perhaps none more ... read more »

Choosing the Right Credit Card

There are credit cards to suit a unique array of personal needs. Flight miles, cash-back rewards, ... read more »

Credit Card Debt

If you're even asking this question, the answer is probably yes. In fact, because credit card debt ... read more »

Teens, Young Adults, and Credit

Approximately 83 percent of undergraduate college students possessed at least one credit card in ... read more »

Protecting My Credit

With so many people using credit cards, credit card fraud has become a lucrative ... read more »

What is a Credit Union?

If interest rates are starting to look too intimidating, it might be time to consider a credit union, where members pool their money and loan it to each other at relatively low rates. The sites we've selected can teach you more about credit unions and help you find one in your area.

Dulcinea's Insight

  • If you want to verify the security of a credit union, you can either check its "Safe & Sound" ratings at Bankrate or request a financial memorandum or recent financial statements straight from the credit union.
  • To answer more specific questions you may have about credit unions, search for a "Consumer" page on the Web sites we've listed below.

Dulcinea's Picks

To learn about credit unions ...
America's Credit Unions explains the history and philosophy behind credit unions and teaches you how to join a credit union. The "Financial Calculators" section can help you determine how much money you qualify to borrow and how you can save money in your financing maneuvers.
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Current Issues in Credit Unions is a podcast about credit unions and the current challenges they face. Lawyers who work with credit unions host the podcasts.
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To find a credit union ...
Credit Unions Online is a directory of credit union Web sites. Choose your state on the map to find credit unions in your area. Searches are also available for credit unions in Canada and Australia: use the "Quick Links" in the upper right corner of the page to search outside the United States.
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Top 100 Credit Unions has ranked the top 100 lending unions based on performance. The institutions can be sorted by state or by assets.
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Home Equity Loans and Lines of Credit

Home equity lines of credit have much lower interest rates than credit cards and are more flexible ... read more »

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