Best Credit Union Personal Loans in 2026
Credit union personal loans typically have lower rates, but you have to join to borrow
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- Credit unions often offer lower APRs than banks and online lenders, but you’ll need to become a member first.
- The best credit union depends on your needs, whether that’s $100,000 loans, military benefits or small-dollar borrowing.
- Check membership rules, APRs and funding speed before applying.
- Whenever possible, prequalify to compare rates without hurting your credit.
| Lender | Best for | APR | Term | Amount | See Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Large loans | Starting at 8.99% (with autopay) | 12 to 60 months |
$1k – $100k |
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Member-focused perks | 9.74% to 19.99% | Up to 84 months | Up to $50k | |
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Short-term and small loans | 6.99% to 18.00% | 6 to 84 months |
$500 – $50k |
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Borrowers with military ties | 8.74% to 18.00% | Up to 60 months |
$250 – $150k |
|
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Checking rates with no damage to credit | 6.09% to 17.99% (with autopay) | 12 to 60 months |
$600 – $50k |
| Lender |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Large loans | Member-focused perks | Short-term and small loans | Borrowers with military ties | Checking rates with no damage to credit |
| APR | Starting at 8.99% (with autopay) | 9.74% to 19.99% | 6.99% to 18.00% | 8.74% to 18.00% | 6.09% to 17.99% (with autopay) |
| Term | 12 to 60 months | Up to 84 months | 6 to 84 months | Up to 60 months | 12 to 60 months |
| Amount | $1k – $100k | Up to $50k | $500 – $50k | $250 – $150k | $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 8.99%
- Offers loans as high as $100,000
- Same-day funding possible
- Loan assistance program available in case of layoff, illness or other financial hardship
- Online lenders may offer lower starting rates to borrowers with 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
Alliant Credit Union earns the pick for large loans by doubling what most credit unions offer. Where competitors cap personal loans at $50,000 or less, Alliant goes up to $100,000, and you won’t have to leave your house to apply since it’s an online-only credit union.
If you have excellent credit, shop online lenders too. They sometimes beat Alliant’s starting rate for the strongest borrowers.
→ Check out LendingTree’s full Alliant Credit Union personal loan review.
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 of 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% to 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
- 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) stands out for a perk almost no other lender offers: a midterm rate reduction. If your credit score improves after you take out the loan, BECU might lower your rate without requiring a refinance, which is normally the only way to change the rate on an active loan.
That said, you may not be able to check your rates with BECU without going through a hard credit pull.
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
- Employees (or family members of employees) of BECU, Boeing or 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
- GoWest Foundation
- KEXP radio station
- Sea Hawkers Booster Club
Best for: Short-term and small loans – First Tech Federal Credit Union
- APR
- 6.99% to 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 Federal Credit Union has a minimum as low as $500, a real advantage if you need a smaller loan. That makes it a solid alternative to high-rate payday loans. It also offers both short-term loans and long-term loans, so you can pick a timeline that fits your budget.
Like most of the credit unions on this list, First Tech operates primarily online. Unlike some competitors, it doesn’t offer discounts on third-party products and services when you join.
→ Check out LendingTree’s full First Tech personal loan review.
You must meet at least one of the following criteria to join First Tech Federal Credit Union:
- Have a family or household member who’s already a First Tech member
- Work for a partnering employer or the State of Oregon
- Live or work in Lane County, Oregon
- Become a member of the Computer History Museum or Financial Fitness Association
Best for: Those with military ties – Navy Federal Credit Union
- APR
- 8.74% to 18.00%
If you need to borrow more than $50,000 for a personal expense loan, home improvement loan or debt consolidation loan, you’ll need a qualifying co-applicant.
- 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 few other lenders can match. Its Career Kickoff Loan offers rates between 0.75% and 2.99% for military academy juniors, seniors and officers in training, and active-duty or retired military automatically qualify for a 0.25% rate discount.
The tradeoff is membership. NFCU only lends to those with a military connection, which rules out most civilian borrowers.
→ Check out LendingTree’s full Navy Federal personal loan review.
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)
- 6.09% to 17.99%
- Can check rates without damaging your credit score
- Anyone can become a member
- Lowers your interest rate by 0.25% when you set up autopay
- Will need to wait at least one day after approval to receive your loan
PenFed Credit Union rewards good-credit borrowers with the easiest way to shop around on this list. You can get prequalified with no impact to your credit score, a feature not every credit union provides. PenFed membership also comes with discounts on auto insurance, tax software and more.
However, funding isn’t instant, so you’ll wait at least one business day after approval to receive your loan.
→ Check out LendingTree’s full PenFed Personal loan review.
To qualify for a PenFed Credit Union loan, you must meet the following requirements:
- Membership: PenFed membership (anyone can apply)
- Administrative: Open a PenFed savings account with a $5 deposit; may need to submit documents to verify your identity and income
What is a credit union personal loan?
Credit unions are member-owned, nonprofit financial institutions that typically offer lower annual percentage rates (APRs) than banks and online lenders. Membership often comes with added perks, such as discounts and financial planning services.
The tradeoff is access. You have to join a credit union to borrow from it, and requirements vary widely. Some, like Navy Federal Credit Union, restrict membership to people with military ties. Others, like PenFed Credit Union, let anyone 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, nonemployees 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
- Do the math. When used responsibly, a personal loan can be a great financial tool. Still, it’s important to borrow only what you need to avoid unnecessary interest. Use our 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.
A denial isn’t the end of the road. If a credit union rejects your application, a few options can still get you funded.
A secured personal loan backs your loan with collateral, like a savings account or CD, which can make approval easier since the lender has less risk. Adding a cosigner with strong credit is another path. Lenders weigh a cosigner’s credit and income alongside yours, which can improve your odds and land you a lower rate.
If neither of those fit, loans built for bad credit are designed specifically for borrowers with lower scores — though expect higher APRs in exchange for easier approval.
Credit unions vs. banks vs. online lenders
Credit unions typically offer the lowest rates but require membership. Banks and online lenders trade some of that rate advantage for faster access and fewer eligibility hurdles. Here’s what to consider when choosing between a credit union loan, a bank loan and an online loan.
| Financial institution | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Credit unions | Competitive rates, low fees and personalized service | Membership requirements and limited mobile banking |
| Banks | Lower rates than online lenders, plus relationship discounts for existing customers | Needing good credit and possibly an in-person application |
| Online lenders | Fast funding and easier approval with bad credit | Higher rates, fewer fee protections and predatory lending risk |
Alternatives to credit union personal loans
Online personal loans can offer quick funding and are easier to qualify for if you have rocky credit. If you have excellent credit, shop around; some online lenders can match bank and credit union rates for the strongest borrowers.
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.
Not all BNPL sites and apps report payments to credit bureaus, so this option won’t necessarily help you build credit history. Worth noting, too: According to a LendingTree survey, 68% of BNPL users say the loans cause them to overspend, and nearly half have paid late on a BNPL loan in the past year.
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 — a late payment can end your introductory period early. And unlike a loan, which arrives as a lump sum, a credit card lets you keep spending up to your limit, making it easier 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. Read more about our editorial guidelines.
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 or BECU’s traditional membership guidelines, you just need to make a small donation to a partner charity or organization.
None of the credit unions on this list publish a minimum credit score, and requirements vary by lender. As a general benchmark, a credit score of at least 670 tends to unlock more affordable rates industry-wide. If your score is lower than that, look into fair credit and bad credit loan options, or check your score for free with the LendingTree app to see where you stand before applying.
It varies by lender, but expect anywhere from the same day to a few business days after approval. Alliant Credit Union offers same-day funding, while PenFed Credit Union requires at least one business day after approval before your loan is disbursed. Credit unions that require you to join before applying can add time upfront, since you’ll need to complete membership before your loan application even starts.