How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

2026 Southeast Financial Credit Union Auto Loan Review

We are committed to providing accurate content that helps you make informed money decisions. Our partners have not commissioned or endorsed this content. Read our editorial guidelines here.

Best for diverse vehicle financing at competitive rates: Southeast Financial Credit Union (SFCU) offers flexible options for vehicle financing with low starting rates. Unlike most lenders, SFCU doesn’t have limitations on the year and mileage of the car you’re purchasing.  Financing for private sales, boats, RVs and powersports is also available. 

Southeast Financial Credit Union auto loan rates and terms

Southeast Financial Credit Union logo
Starting annual percentage rate (APR)Loan termsLoan amountsFees Minimum credit score
New auto loans3.50%12 – 84 monthsUp to $100,000No doc fees600
Used auto loans4.00%12 – 84 monthsUp to $100,000No doc fees600
Refinance auto loans3.50%12 – 84 monthsUp to $100,000No doc fees600

Southeast Financial Credit Union pros and cons

Pros

  • Low rates
  • No mileage or model year restrictions on vehicles
  • Options for diverse vehicle financing, such as boats, RVs and motorcycles 
  • Private-party loans offered with no added costs
  • Graduate Auto Loan Program can help recent grads qualify for auto financing

Cons

  • Have to join the credit union to get a loan
  •  Can skip a payment, but it will cost you $60
  •  No published rate discounts

What you need to get a car loan with Southeast Financial Credit Union

  • Minimum credit score: 600+
  • Membership requirements: To become an SFCU member, you must open an account with a minimum $5 deposit and meet one of the following criteria:
    • Work for or be a retiree for a partner employer
  • Be related to a current member
  • Live, work, worship, go to school or volunteer in certain parts of Kentucky, Mississippi or Tennessee
  • Make a one-time $5 donation to Autism Tennessee

Notably, SFCU does not have restrictions on how old your car is or how many miles it has, making it a good option for those purchasing used cars. 

Instead, Southeast Financial Credit Union uses your credit score, income and current expenses to determine your eligibility, not the car you’re buying. You can also buy a car from a dealership or an individual.

How Southeast Financial Credit Union’s starting rates compare to LendingTree’s lowest offers

Southeast Financial Credit Union’s starting rates are at 3.50% for new vehicles and 4.00% for used vehicles, but your rate will depend on factors like your loan terms, credit history, debt-to-income ratio (DTI) and more. 

If you have an active offer from SFCU, you can use the table below to see if it’s competitive based on industry standards. Remember to compare your rate with the lowest offers through the Lending Tree marketplace for your credit band.

Credit rangeAverage lowest APR for new auto loan offersAverage lowest APR for used auto loan offersAverage lowest APR for auto refi loan offers
Excellent (800+)7.16%9.34%5.06%
Very good (740 – 799)8.07%8.47%5.29%
Good (670 – 739)11.34%13.30%6.13%
Fair (580 – 669)20.51%22.36%9.02%
Poor (under 580)22.85%24.35%13.70%
Source: Figures represent the average lowest offered APRs received on the LendingTree platform in Q3 2025. Borrowers may receive multiple offers from up to five lenders. Refinance offers apply only to used vehicles.

Estimate your monthly payment

About 5% of people with an auto loan are behind on payments, according to a LendingTree study. Using an auto loan calculator before signing on the dotted line can help you avoid taking on more than you can handle.

Types of Southeast Financial Credit Union auto loans

SFCU offers all sorts of auto and powersports loans, including:

When banks compete, you win

Customers who used LendingTree to shop for car loans in July 2025 saved an average of $2,346 by choosing the offer with the lowest APR. Here’s how it works.

Tell us what you need

Take two minutes to tell us who you are and how much money you need for your vehicle. We’ll take care of the rest. It’s free, simple and secure.

Shop your offers

We’ll send you offers from up to five trusted lenders. Compare your offers side by side to see which one will save you the most money.

Get your money

It’s smooth sailing once you finalize your loan with your lender — you could see money in your account as soon as 24 hours.

Is a Southeast Financial Credit Union auto loan right for you?

An SFCU auto loan could be right for you if you plan on paying your car off quickly in exchange for competitive interest rates, and don’t mind joining a credit union. Rates are generally low, but they’re especially low on 12-month loan terms (3.50%). Longer-term loans typically have higher rates. 

Reading Southeast Financial Credit Union reviews like this is a good place to start. Still, the best way to find the right lender is by shopping around. Each lender has its own way of calculating rates. You’ll get different quotes from each lender, with varying loan terms, fees, and interest rates. 

Make sure you compare all the details of each offer against each other. One loan may have higher origination fees but lower interest rates than a competing offer, which ultimately could save you money over the lifetime of a loan.

Don’t forget to budget for car insurance

Shop around for car insurance on the LendingTree marketplace to find affordable rates. Among consumers who switched providers, 92% said they saved money and nearly two-thirds saved at least $100 on their annual car insurance rate, according to a LendingTree survey.

How Southeast Financial Credit Union auto loans compare

Southeast Financial Credit Union is a solid choice if you qualify for some of the lowest rates on the market. However, you have to pay your car off in a year to qualify. Here are a few other options to consider.

Please note that the rates below apply to new car purchase loans.

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?
Southeast Financial Credit UnionPenFed Credit UnionCapital One
Starting APR3.50%4.19%5.12%  
Loan terms12 – 84 months36 – 84 months24 – 84 months
Loan amountsUp to $100,000Up to $150,000Starting at $4,000
Fees No doc feesNot specifiedNot specified
Minimum credit score600Not specified500

You can learn more about how Southeast Financial Credit Union compares to these lenders in our PenFed Credit Union auto loan review and our Capital One auto loan review

Frequently asked questions

Southeast Financial Credit Union requires a credit score of at least 600 to get an auto loan. This is not to be confused with Southeast Financial Credit Union, which is a powersports loan lender, not a credit union. Southeast Financial Credit Union has a minimum credit score of 575.

Credit unions are nonprofit and member-owned. As a result, they can have more lenient loan requirements. Credit unions tend to share a common goal, and that’s to improve the financial situation of its members.

That said, every credit union has its own borrower requirements. Some only lend to good credit, while others accept good and bad.

Also, keep in mind that some credit unions have strict membership requirements. SFCU does not. You can join with a $5 minimum deposit for savings accounts. 

Credit unions have their downsides, just like any financial institution. The biggest is that you have to join, and not all credit unions have open membership.

Many credit unions require that you work for a certain employer, live in a certain area or have a military tie. Others, like PenFed Credit Union, take anyone. SFCU does have some membership requirements, but you can bypass them by donating $5 to Autism Tennessee.

Get auto loan offers from up to 5 lenders in minutes