Name: Anonymous 2011-01-22 23:07
Join a fucking credit union. A credit union is an alternative to a bank.
Banks serve shareholders. Credit unions are co-operatives which means that all members of the credit union are owners, and each have an equal democratic voice. Credit unions are non-profits, and money they make goes to giving free services, paying their members a higher interest rate, or loaning money out at a lower rate.
Credit unions reserve membership to certain groups, either a certain geographic area (your city, or state), business, church, industry, or other group- this means that your money goes to helping people who are like-minded to you, or are members of your community, instead of some fat-cat businessman a thousand miles away.
Unlike banks they don't need to be bailed out, and actually handled well during the GFC.
You are almost guaranteed to have a local credit union that allows anyone in the area to join. Google "[yourcity] credit union" to find one.
If you are in the U.S. military, there is the Navy Federal Credit Union (for all branches, and the DoD, not just the Navy). This is the world's largest credit union, and you can help out fellow veterans, while receiving good service yourself. There is also a good chance your specific branch has it's own credit union if you'd prefer that.
If you belong to a religious group, they are bound to have one, and you can feel better knowing any profit made benefits members of your church.
There are so many reason to join one: You want better service, without excessive fees and bad rates. You dislike the banking industry. You want to help the local community, or like-minded people.
Banks serve shareholders. Credit unions are co-operatives which means that all members of the credit union are owners, and each have an equal democratic voice. Credit unions are non-profits, and money they make goes to giving free services, paying their members a higher interest rate, or loaning money out at a lower rate.
Credit unions reserve membership to certain groups, either a certain geographic area (your city, or state), business, church, industry, or other group- this means that your money goes to helping people who are like-minded to you, or are members of your community, instead of some fat-cat businessman a thousand miles away.
Unlike banks they don't need to be bailed out, and actually handled well during the GFC.
You are almost guaranteed to have a local credit union that allows anyone in the area to join. Google "[yourcity] credit union" to find one.
If you are in the U.S. military, there is the Navy Federal Credit Union (for all branches, and the DoD, not just the Navy). This is the world's largest credit union, and you can help out fellow veterans, while receiving good service yourself. There is also a good chance your specific branch has it's own credit union if you'd prefer that.
If you belong to a religious group, they are bound to have one, and you can feel better knowing any profit made benefits members of your church.
There are so many reason to join one: You want better service, without excessive fees and bad rates. You dislike the banking industry. You want to help the local community, or like-minded people.