<img height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=331510594798275&amp;ev=PageView&amp;noscript=1">
Skip to Content Oregonians Credit Union Oregonians Credit Union
  • Save & Spend
    Save & Spend See an Overview
    • Current Rates
    • Disclosures
    • Fee Schedule
    • Credit Calculators
    • Savings
      • Regular Share Accounts
      • Youth Savings
      • Homebuyer Savings
      • Money Market Accounts
      • Club Accounts
      • Share Certificates
      • IRA Accounts
    • Checking
      • My Rewards Checking
      • My Interest Checking
      • Checking Comparison
    • Credit
      • Credit Cards
      • Overdraft Line of Credit
    • Digital
      • Digital Banking Online
      • Mobile App
      • Digital Payments
      • Mobile Wallets
  • Borrow
    Borrow See an Overview
    • Current Rates
    • Mortgage Rates
    • Loan Calculators
    • Mortgage Calculators
    • Auto
      • New & Used
      • First Time Auto Buyer
      • Local Car Search
    • Home
      • HELOCs
      • Fixed Rate Equity
      • Mortgages
      • Home Improvement
    • Personal
      • Personal Loans
      • Line of Credit
      • Share Secured Loans
    • Recreational
      • Bicycles & Electric Bikes
      • RVs & ATVs
      • Motorcycles
  • Plan
    Plan See an Overview
    • Retirement Calculators
    • Financial Planning
    • Insurance
      • Auto
      • Home
      • AD&D
      • Life
    • Protections
      • Guaranteed Auto Protection (GAP)
      • Mechanical Repair Coverage (MRC)
      • Debt Protection

    Featured Program

    Oregonians Financial Planning image with father and baby walking

    Oregonians Financial Planning

    Plan for the road ahead and manage your wealth along the way.

    Learn more
  • Business
    Business
    • Current Rates
    • Disclosures
    • Fee Schedule
    • Business Checking
      • Business Membership
      • Small Business Checking
      • Business Interest Checking
    • Business Loans
      • Commercial Real Estate
      • Investment & Rental Property
      • Equipment Loans
      • Term Loans
      • Credit Cards
      • Line of Credit
    • Business Resources
      • See all
  • Learn
    Learn See an Overview
    • Education Explore videos, blogs, fraud prevention tips, and our knowledge base of information..
      • InfORmed Blog
      • FAQs Knowledge Base
      • Fraud Watch
    • Financial Tools Browse calculators, applications, disclosures, and apply for hardship assistance.
      • Resources & Disclosures
      • Calculators
      • Hardship Assistance

    Featured Resource

    It’s a Money Thing

    Get money savvy fast with fun videos and lesson plans on earning, saving, and more!

    Learn more
  • About
    About
    • About Us
      • Who Can Join
      • Community Involvement
      • Scholarships
      • Latest Annual Report
      • Careers
    • Locations
      • Beaverton
      • Gresham
      • Milwaukie
      • NE Portland
      • Oregon City
      • Prineville
      • St. Johns

    CO-OP logo

    30,000+ fee-free ATMs

    Get cash at 30,000 fee-free ATMs nationwide, many of which will take deposits into your Oregonians accounts.

    Find an ATM
  • I want to...
    • Become a Member
    • Talk to Someone
    • Apply for a Loan
    • Open an Account
    • Check Loan Status
    • See Current Rates
Account Access
  • Forgot Password
  • Forgot User Name

Don't have an account?

Enroll
Routing #: 323075709
  • Locations
  • Rates
  • Contact
Call or Text: 503-239-5336
Join
  • I want to...
    • Become a Member
    • Talk to Someone
    • Apply for a Loan
    • Open an Account
    • Check Loan Status
    • See Current Rates
  • Locations
  • Rates
  • Contact
Account Access
  • Forgot Password
  • Forgot User Name

Don't have an account?

Enroll
It's a Money Thing
    • Earning Income
    • Spending
    • Borrowing
    • Investing
    • It's A Money Thing Junior
    • Saving
    • Credit
    • Credit Union Advantage
    • Managing Risk
  • Credit Union Advantage

Choosing Your Financial Institution

IAMT-Icon
What was the very first financial choice you ever made?


Think about it: it likely took place before your first job, even as far back as when your annual income consisted of Tooth Fairy money and lucky pennies. The very first financial decision you ever made is also one of the most important choices—it’s where to keep your money.
When you first made that decision, piggy banks, sock drawers and buried-in-the-sandbox-like-pirate-treasure all seemed like perfectly acceptable options. As it turns out, they aren’t nearly as super-secret as you might have hoped. Opening a bank account is the best solution, but in order to do that, you first need to choose a financial institution—so, your choice is between a bank and a credit union.

Banks vs Credit UnionsBanks and credit unions offer essentially the same products and services, but there are huge differences in the way they operate. Despite this, many people put more thought into building their Netflix queue than they do choosing their financial institution. It’s a Money Thing is here to help fill in the gaps and show you how the differences can affect your dollars. Whether you’re just starting out or rethinking your current financial setup, here is what you need to know.

The main difference between banks and credit unions is in their structure. Banks are for profit, while credit unions are member-owned and -operated. This means that banks have numerous expenses that credit unions simply don’t have. Banks have to pay their shareholders, their private investors and even their board of directors (credit union boards are typically volunteers elected by credit union members)—and all this is in addition to regular operating costs. Banks are set up in a way that allows a select group of people to make money off of your banking activity.

Credit unions, on the other hand, are set up in a way that allows all of their members to benefit from their profits. Once the operating costs are covered and reserves are set aside, the profits are distributed back to members in the form of free banking products, lower interest rates on loans and higher interest rates on savings accounts. Credit unions in the United States are also exempt from federal and state income taxes, which translates to even more profit that comes back to members.

Think About Your MoneyCredit unions sound pretty great, right? You might be wondering why some people choose banks over credit unions, even though credit unions consistently outperform banks when it comes to deposit and loan rates and customer service.

The simple answer is that banks are bigger, and some people believe bigger is better. A more effective approach would be to figure out your banking priorities. Here are some factors to consider:

1) Am I eligible for an account? Banks are open to anyone. Credit unions have membership requirements, but don’t let that intimidate you! Requirements can be as simple as living in a certain community or working in a certain field.

2) How much does it cost to get set up? Are there any fees associated with opening an account? Is there a minimum balance required? Joining a credit union involves purchasing a share (they’re usually $5), but this is different from a fee—it means you’re a member-owner of the credit union.

3) Will I have good access to ATMs? You might feel as though you see larger bank ATMs everywhere, but credit union ATMs are just as accessible. In fact, the largest credit union ATM network is actually larger than the largest bank ATM network. Find out which other financial institutions share your local credit union’s network—free ATM transactions are not limited to machines with a particular credit union name on them.

4) What can I do online? More and more financial institutions are offering online banking services. Find out what you can do from your computer and smartphone. Can you check your balance? Schedule payments? Transfer money between accounts? Taking advantage of online products can be super-convenient, and can avoid a trip to the ATM or the nearest branch.

5) And speaking of the nearest branch, where is it? Find out what the hours of operation are and how they work with your schedule. Find out if you can bank through other branches, too. This could come in handy if there’s a location close to work or school.

6) What can my financial institution do for me? Ask about products that are tailored to your situation. How do the interest rates compare to other financial institutions? Are there free products you’re eligible for? Don’t settle for a financial institution just because you need an account—you should also want to have an account there.

At the end of the day, choosing a financial institution is a personal decision with a huge influence on how you manage your money and your time. If you make the effort to ask questions and compare services, you’ll find the best home for your finances.


Choosing Your FI Infographic


Was this information useful? Visit our  It's A Money Thing home page for more quick videos and helpful articles to help you make sense of your money, one topic at a time! Check back, new topics will be introduced regularly.

 

Topics Covered

  • Credit Union Advantage

Related Lessons

Credit 4 min
Comparing Payment Cards
Investing 4 min
Saving for Retirement
Investing 4 min
Investment Vehicles

Oregonians Credit Union

6915 SE Lake Road, Milwaukie, OR 97267 

Call or Text

503-239-5336

Out of Area

800-982-2974

Routing #

323075709

Download our App

  • App Store Download
  • Google Play Store Download
  • Save & Spend
    • Open a New Account
    • Savings
    • Checking
    • Credit
    • Digital Banking
  • Borrow
    • Apply for a Loan
    • Vehicle Loans
    • Home Loans
    • Recreational Loans
    • Personal Loans
    • Business Loans
  • Plan
    • Insurance
    • Protections
    • Financial Planning
  • Learn
    • Informed Blog
    • Fraud Watch
    • It's a Money Thing
    • Calculators
    • Hardship Assistance
  • Business
    • Business Accounts
    • Business Loans
    • Business Resources
  • About
    • Become a Member
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Locations
    • Careers
    • Privacy & Disclosures
    • Accessibility Policy
    • Site Map
    • Digital Banking Login

  • NCUA
  • Equal Housing Opportunity
©2025 Oregonians Credit Union All rights reserved.

You are leaving OregoniansCU.com

By accessing this link, you will be leaving Oregonian Credit Union's website and entering a website hosted by another party. Please be advised that you will no longer be subject to, or under the protection of, the privacy and security policies of Oregonian Credit Union's website. We encourage you to read and evaluate the privacy and security policies of the site you are entering, which may be different than those of Oregonian Credit Union.

 

Subscribe

It's a Money Thing