Best Credit Union Personal Loans in 2026
Credit union personal loans typically have lower rates, but you have to join to borrow
| Lender | Best for | APR | Term | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Large loans | Starting at 8.74% (with autopay) | 12 to 60 months |
$1k – $100k |
|
Member-focused perks | 9.74% – 19.99% | Up to 72 months | Up to $30k |
|
Short-term and small loans | 6.99% – 18.00% | 6 to 84 months |
$500 – $50k |
|
Borrowers with military ties | 8.74% – 18.00% | Up to 60 months |
$250 – $50k |
|
Checking rates with no damage to credit | 6.74% – 17.99% (with autopay) | 12 to 60 months |
$600 – $50k |
| Lender |
|
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Large loans | Member-focused perks | Short-term and small loans | Borrowers with military ties | Checking rates with no damage to credit |
| APR | |||||
| Term | 12 to 60 months | Up to 72 months | 6 to 84 months | Up to 60 months | 12 to 60 months |
| Amount | $1k – $100k | Up to $30k | $500 – $50k | $250 – $50k | $600 – $50k |
Read more about how we made our picks for best credit union personal loans.
Best credit union personal loans at a glance
Best for: Large loans – Alliant Credit Union
- APR (with autopay)
- Starting at 8.74%
- Offers loans as high as $100,000
- Same-day funding possible
- Loan assistance program available in case of layoff, illness or other financial hardship
- Might find lower rates somewhere else if you have excellent credit
- No physical branches
- Can’t check rates without hurting credit
- Must be a member for 90 days before you can apply for a personal loan
Many credit unions offer personal loans of $50,000 or less. With Alliant Credit Union, you could borrow up to $100,000. And you won’t have to leave your house to apply since it’s an online-only credit union.
You might find lower starting rates with an online lender, so be sure to shop around and compare rates if you have excellent credit.
Technically, Alliant Credit Union membership isn’t open to everyone, but it’s easy to join. As long as you meet one of the eligibility requirements below, you can become a member:
- Are currently employed with (or retired from) an affiliated employer
- Are an immediate family member to a current Alliant account holder
- Live or work in an eligible community (which are all located near Alliant’s Chicago headquarters)
- Are willing to make a donation of at least $5 to the Alliant Credit Union Foundation
Best for: Member-focused perks – BECU
- APR
- 9.74% – 19.99%
- May lower your rate midterm if you’ve improved your credit since taking out your loan
- Free financial coaching sessions and on-demand virtual video appointments
- Can temporarily postpone or reduce your monthly payments in the event of a hardship
- Small loan amounts might not provide the funding you need
- Can’t check rates without hurting your credit score or before becoming a member
- Must make a donation to an affiliated program if you don’t meet traditional eligibility requirements
Boeing Employees Credit Union (BECU) offers unique perks that you might not find with other lenders. Remarkably, if you’ve improved your credit score since taking out your loan, BECU might lower your rate mid term. Normally, the only way to change your rate on an active loan is to refinance it.
That said, you can only borrow $30,000 with BECU. If you need a large loan, you will need to look elsewhere.
BECU isn’t only for Boeing employees. The following individuals can join:
- Those who live, work, go to school or worship in Washington state
- Residents of certain counties in Oregon and Idaho
- South Carolinians who donate at least $1 to the BECU Foundation
- BECU employees, as well as employees of any credit union
- Eligible business owners
If none of those apply to you, you can become eligible by making a donation to the following organizations:
- University of Washington Alumni Association
- Washington State University Alumni Association
- BECU Foundation
- KEXP radio station
- GoWest Foundation
- Sea Hawkers Booster Club
Best for: Short-term and small loans – First Tech Federal Credit Union
- APR
- 6.99% – 18.00%
- Can add debt protection that may cancel some or part of what you owe in the case of death or disability
- Offers both short-term and long-term loans
- Can add another person to your loan to increase approval odds
- Only has branches in a handful of states
- Fewer membership perks compared to some credit unions
First Tech offers both short-term loans and long-term loans, so you can choose the loan term that works best for you. And while many lenders require you to take out at least $1,000, you can borrow as little as $500 with First Tech. This makes First Tech loans a great alternative to payday loans with high rates.
Like most of the credit unions on this list, First Tech primarily operates online. However, it doesn’t offer as many perks as some. Often, credit unions offer discounts on third-party products and services (rental cars, for instance) when you join. First Tech does not.
You must meet at least one of the following criteria to join First Tech:
- Work for a partnering employer
- Be related to a current First Tech member
- Live in Lane County, Ore.
- Become a member of the Computer History Museum or Financial Fitness Association (First Tech may pay for your first year of membership, and you don’t have to maintain membership to keep your First Tech account)
Best for: Those with military ties – Navy Federal Credit Union
- APR
- 8.74% – 18.00%
- Active duty and retired military can get a 0.25% APR discount
- Juniors and seniors in military academy and officers in training may be eligible for ultra-low rates on a Career Kickoff Loan
- Offers joint loans, which can help military spouses build credit
- Must be affiliated with the military to become a member
- No online applications for home improvement and debt consolidation loans
- Must join before you can apply, and no option to check rates without damaging your credit score
Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU) offers military-centric benefits you might not find with other lenders. For instance, with rates between 0.75% and 2.99%, a Career Kickoff Loan could help you transition to military life on the right foot. Also, active duty and retired military automatically qualify for a discounted rate.
The biggest hurdle with NFCU is its membership eligibility requirements (more on that below).
Navy Federal Credit Union only offers loans to people with military connections, including:
- Active duty members of the military (regardless of branch)
- Veterans, retirees and annuitants
- Those in the Delayed Entry Program (DEP)
- Department of Defense (DoD) Officer Candidates and ROTC
- DoD Reservists
- DoD civilian personnel
- Immediate family of military members, as well as household members
You’ll need to meet the following requirements:
- Administrative: Provide your Social Security number, home address, credit card or bank account number and a form of government identification
- Membership: Create a Membership Savings Account and maintain a $5 balance to join and continue membership in the credit union
Best for: Good-credit borrowers – PenFed Credit Union
- APR (with autopay)
- 6.74% – 17.99%
- Can check rates without damaging your credit score (and before you become a member)
- Anyone can become a member
- Able to pay bi-weekly if you set up autopay with a PenFed checking account
- Will need to wait at least one day after approval to receive your loan
PenFed makes it easy to shop around for a personal loan. Not only does it offer prequalification, but you can check your eligibility before becoming a member. Aside from competitive loans, PenFed membership comes with discounts on auto insurance, tax software and more.
PenFed doesn’t specify its minimum credit score requirements. However, historical internal LendingTree data shows that it tends to only work with borrowers with strong credit.
What is a credit union personal loan?
You may have heard from friends or family that credit unions are the best places to bank and get a personal loan. Depending on your needs, they might be right.
Credit unions are member-owned nonprofits that are consumer friendly and offer low annual percentage rates (APRs). Membership also typically comes with benefits like discounts and financial planning.
However, you have to join the credit union to take advantage of these perks. Some credit unions have strict membership requirements (such as Navy Fed). Others (like PenFed) allow anyone to join.
Federal credit unions are regulated by a federal government agency called the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). By law, federal credit unions cannot charge APRs higher than 18.00%.
State-chartered credit unions are regulated by the state in which they are located.
Employee credit unions are offered by businesses for their employees. Sometimes, non-employees can join if they are affiliated with a partner organization or live in a certain area.
Community development credit unions help low- and moderate-income communities access loans and banking products. These credit unions focus on helping their members borrow at a reasonable rate, gaining financial literacy in the process.
How to get a personal loan from a credit union
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Do the math
When used responsibly, a personal loan can be a great financial tool. Still, it’s important to only borrow what you need to avoid unnecessary interest. Use a personal loan calculator to figure out how much you can afford to borrow. -
Find credit unions that you’re eligible to join
You probably won’t be eligible to join every credit union you come across. Before checking out a credit union’s loan offerings, make sure you meet its membership requirements. You can usually find these in the FAQ section on the credit union’s website. -
Shop around and prequalify (when possible)
Not all credit unions allow you to prequalify for a personal loan. Prequalification lets you see what rates you might get without taking a hard credit hit. If you can’t prequalify, be sure to get your applications in within 14 days. If you do, only one hard hit will count against you. Try to get at least three offers so you can compare. -
Compare your offers
To get the cheapest loan, choose the one with the lowest APR. This measures how much your loan costs, including interest and fees.Also, pay attention to loan terms (or, how long you’ll have to pay back what you borrow). Paying off your loan faster usually means you’ll pay less overall interest. At the same time, a shorter loan term typically results in a higher monthly payment. -
Apply for membership and your loan
With some credit unions, you have to apply for membership before you can apply for your loan. Others will allow you to apply for membership and your loan at the same time. Either way, the application process should be straightforward, just follow the instructions the credit union provides.
Credit unions vs. banks vs. online lenders
Credit unions are great, but they aren’t right for everyone. Here’s what to consider when choosing between a credit union loan, a bank loan and an online loan.
| Financial institution | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Credit unions |
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| Banks |
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| Online lenders |
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Alternatives to credit union personal loans
Online personal loans can offer quick funding and are easier to qualify for if you have rocky credit. And if you have excellent credit, many online lenders have rates that are on par with banks and credit unions.
No matter where you get your loan, taking on debt is a major money move. It’s essential that you get more than one offer before signing on the dotted line. On LendingTree’s loan marketplace, you could get up to five online offers at once. It’s free, and checking rates won’t hurt your credit score.
Similar to personal loans, buy now, pay later (BNPL) works like an installment loan. There are multiple types of BNPL plans, but one of the most common is the zero-interest “Pay in 4” plan. With this, your purchase is split into four equal payments, which you’ll repay over a six-week period.
Not all BNPL sites and apps report payments to credit bureaus. If you’re looking to improve your credit score, this option might not be your best bet.
0% APR credit cards come with an introductory period that usually spans between six and 21 months. As long as you pay off your balance by the time your introductory period ends, you won’t pay any interest.
Beware, though. Making a late payment could cause the credit card company to put a premature end to your introductory period. Also, unlike a loan (which comes as a lump sum of money), you can use a credit card as much as you want, up to your spending limit. This might lead you to overspend.
How we chose the best credit union personal loans
We reviewed more than 16 credit unions to determine the overall best five credit union personal loans. To make our list, credit unions must offer personal loans with competitive APRs.
From there, we assessed each lender or marketplace across four categories: eligibility and access; cost to borrow; loan terms and options; repayment support and tools.
According to our systematic rating and review process, the best credit union loans come from Alliant Credit Union, Boeing Employees Credit Union, First Tech Federal Credit Union, Navy Federal Credit Union and PenFed Credit Union.
Our categories
We assess how easy it is for people to qualify and apply. This includes state availability, soft-credit prequalification, membership requirements, funding speed and whether borrowers with less-than-excellent credit can get a loan.
We evaluate how affordable the loans are based on minimum and maximum APRs, loan fees and rate discounts. Lenders with unclear or potentially predatory costs receive lower scores.
We consider repayment term flexibility, loan amount ranges and whether options like secured loans, joint loans or direct-to-creditor payments are offered — plus whether the lender clearly communicates these options.
We evaluate borrower experience after funding: customer service access, hardship or forbearance programs, payment flexibility and digital tools like mobile apps or credit monitoring.
Our process
We gather data directly from lenders through their websites, disclosures and direct communication with company representatives. Our editorial team verifies and updates information regularly. We value transparency and award less favorable scores when lenders obscure or omit details.
Our editorial team applies the same scoring model and standards to every lender. Lenders cannot pay to influence our ratings.
Why trust LendingTree’s methodology?
Our writers and editors dig through the facts, contact lenders directly and even go through the application process ourselves if it helps better explain what you can expect. As a Certified Financial Education Instructor℠, I’m committed to breaking down complex financial details so people can make confident, informed decisions with their money.
Jessica’s experience in editing and financial education helps shape LendingTree articles that are clear, accurate and truly useful to readers. Her certification means our recommendations are built on a foundation of consumer-first financial knowledge — not just numbers.
Frequently asked questions
It can be. Compared to banks and online lenders, credit unions usually offer lower rates. In fact, federal credit unions aren’t allowed to charge more than 18.00% APR.
One thing to consider, though, is time. If you aren’t already a member, you’ll have to join before you can get a loan. This could be a cause for concern if you need money fast.
Every credit union has its own personal loan requirements, and these are rarely disclosed. You’ll need to prequalify or apply to see if you’re eligible.
PenFed is the easiest credit union to join on this list. It doesn’t require you to have any specific affiliation to become a member. If you don’t meet Alliant’s, BECU’s or First Tech’s traditional membership guidelines, you just need to make a small donation to a partner charity or organization.
Usually, you need a credit score of at least 670 to get an affordable personal loan. If your score is lower than that, explore fair credit and bad credit loans. First, figure out where you stand by checking your credit score for free with LendingTree Spring.