| Credit Union | Banks |
|---|---|
| Not-for-profit | Profit-oriented |
| Returns profits to members in the form of lower loan rates, higher savings rates, and free or low-cost services. | Returns profits to stockholders |
| Each person who deposits money is a member with a share of ownership | Customers have no ownership in the corporation |
| Members elect a volunteer Board of Directors to represent their interests | Controlled by stockholders and paid officials |
| Member-service driven | Profit-driven |
| Are federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration or a private insurer (CSLA-FCU is Federally Insured.) | Are federally insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation |
| Can serve only those individuals within their field of membership | Can serve anyone in the general public |
From A Smarter Choice
Credit Unions are the only democratically run financial institution. A federal credit union is member-owned and controlled. Member's interests are represented by a volunteer board of directors drawn from the membership and elected by the membership. All members of the credit union have equal voting rights (whether they have $25 or $250,000) to elect the volunteer Board members.
Cal State L.A. Federal Credit Union has 7 Board members. Elections are held at the Annual Meeting. Volunteer Board members may be nominated by 1% of the membership, or the Board's Nominating Committee. If you would like to volunteer for the Credit Union's Board, you may write to the Nominating Committee at Cal State L.A. FCU, 2445 Mariondale Ave, Los Angeles CA 90032 for more information. Nominations packets are available each January.
Credit Unions are not-for-profit and member owned. That means more free services and better rates on savings and loans, because all profit goes back to the members - the owners of the credit union - in the form of better rates and lower fees.
