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Most of the Service Credit Union branches are in New Hampshire.
Service Credit Union; Rachel Mendelson/Insider
The bottom line: Service Credit Union Primary Savings Account is in our guide of the best institutions for military families. It’s a good option if you want to earn high interest rates on your savings and certificate balances. You also may like it if you’re looking for a financial institution with 24/7 customer support.
Overall credit union rating
FeatureInsider rating (out of 5)Savings4.5Checking4.5Certificate4.5Money market account3.75Trustworthiness5Total4.5
Pros and cons
ProsCons
You don’t have to live near a branch to open accounts
Large shared branch and ATM networks
Free checking and savings accounts
Pays high interest rates
Membership is limited to certain people, such as military members and Department of Defense employeesBranches are only in New Hampshire, North Dakota, Massachusetts, and GermanyInterest compounds monthly, not daily$2,500 minimum opening deposit for the money market account
Service Credit Union Primary Savings Account
As with most credit unions, you’ll need to open a Service Credit Union Primary Savings Account to join Service Credit Union. This account pays higher interest rates than most credit unions do on their mandatory accounts, especially on balances of $500 or less.
Service Everyday Checking Account
The Service Everyday Checking Account is a good option for no monthly fees and receiving your paycheck up to two days early. If you receive your paychecks as direct deposits and make regular debit card transactions, you’re eligible for extra perks, including ATM fee refunds and discounts on loans.
Service Credit Union Certificate
Service Credit Union pays high interest rates on Service Credit Union Certificate, and you only need Service Credit Union Certificate to open an account.
Security Service Federal Credit Union Money Market Account
You might like the Service Credit Union Money Market Account if you have at least Service Credit Union Money Market Account. You’ll need Service Credit Union Money Market Account to open the account, then maintain a $2,500 balance to earn interest and avoid the $5 monthly service fee.
How Service Credit Union works
Most US branches are in New Hampshire. There is also a branch in Falmouth, Massachusetts, and on the Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota. There are several branches in Germany.
You have access to over 5,000 shared branches in the CO-OP network. You can’t open an account at a shared branch, but you may visit and receive assistance. You also have free access to over 85,000 ATMs combined in the CO-OP and Allpoint networks.
The credit union has 24/7 customer service over the phone, or you can use live online chat.
The Service Credit Union mobile app has 4.8 out of 5 stars in the Apple store and 4.6 out of 5 stars in the Google Play store.
Your deposits are FDIC insured for up to $250,000, or up to $500,000 for a joint account. This means your money is safe even if the credit union shuts down.
How to join Service Credit Union
You can join Service Credit Union Primary Savings Account if you meet any of the following qualifications:
Are an active military member, veteran, or family memberAre a current or former employee of the Department of Defense, or a family member of an employeeWork for a Select Employer Group (see the full list here)Are a member of the American Consumer Council
You also must open a Service Credit Union Primary Savings Account to become a member.
Service Credit Union trustworthiness and BBB rating
The Better Business Bureau gives Service Credit Union an A+ rating. A strong BBB grade indicates that a company responds effectively to customer complaints, has transparent business practices, and advertises honestly.
A good BBB score doesn’t guarantee that you’ll have a strong relationship with a company, though. You may want to ask friends and family about their experiences with Service Credit Union or read online customer reviews.
How Service Credit Union compares
We’ve compared Service Credit Union to two other institutions from our guide of the best banks and credit unions for military members: Navy Federal Credit Union and USAA.
Service Credit Union
Navy Federal Credit Union
USAA
Savings APY
Service Credit Union Primary Savings Account
Savings APY
Navy Federal Credit Union Share Savings Account
Savings APY
USAA Savings Account
Certificate APY
Service Credit Union Certificate
Certificate APY
Navy Federal Credit Union Standard Certificate
Certificate APY
USAA Bank Certificate of Deposit (CD)
Service Credit Union Primary Savings AccountNavy Federal Credit Union Share Savings AccountUSAA Savings Account
All three institutions process your paychecks earlier than most banks — Navy Federal and USAA can process the check one day early, and you may receive it two days early with Service Credit Union.
You might prefer Service Credit Union or Navy Federal if you want 24/7 live customer support. USAA’s customer service is only available on weekdays.
Service Credit Union and Navy Federal are also better choices for earning high interest rates. But you might like USAA for its cash-back checking account.