About Us

The FDIC provides oversight and insurance for banks and thrifts, while credit unions are insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). Both institutions insure accounts up to $250,000.

You can learn more about the difference between banks and credit unions by watching our short video.

Not a member yet? Join today!

If you want a banking experience that delivers lower home and vehicle loan rates, higher savings and investment rates, and leading-edge Digital Banking access, Stanford Federal Credit Union is the banking choice for you. We’re a member-owned financial cooperative providing personal service along with convenient nationwide access through Co-op shared branches.

Joining is easy! You can open an account online with as little as $5.00. Open your account today!

A credit union and a bank are both financial institutions that provide checking and savings accounts, credit cards and other financial services, but they have some key differences in how they are run and organized.

Credit unions

• Not-for-profit
• Members have a voice!
• Board of Directors are volunteers
• Income goes back to members (that's you!)
• Low to no fees for members
• Compelling savings rates
• Federally insured by NCUA

Banks

• For profit
• Stockholders have a voice
• Board of Directors are paid by the bank
• Income goes to the stockholders (boo!)
• Higher fees
• Average savings rates
• Federally insured by FDIC

Credit unions are member-owned. That means members have an active voice in how the credit union is run and the decisions the credit union makes. In contrast, banks are owned by their shareholders. Bank customers aren’t invited to shareholder meetings (unless they are also a shareholder), but all credit union members are regularly invited to the credit union’s annual meeting.

Another key difference is what the financial institutions do with their profits. Banks are for profit and need to pay their Board of Directors and shareholders. Since the goal is to make money, they may charge higher fees and offer lower savings rates. Credit unions, on the other hand, are not-for-profit. Any extra income they make goes back to the members in the form of better savings rates, lower loan rates, and reduced or waived fees.

Both credit unions and banks carry federal insurance for their members’ and customers’ money. Banks are insured through the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and credit unions are insured through the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). The insurance limits through both agencies are the same.

Both credit unions and banks are safe places for your money, but we believe that credit unions are something truly special. A credit union like Stanford FCU cares about you as a person (and not just an account number) and will bend over backwards to find ways to say YES to your financial success. We put our members first, and we invite you to experience the credit union difference for yourself.

Join now.

For a list of shared branch locations and hours, visit our ATM and Branch Locator.

Shared branches are available through the Co-op, a cooperative effort between credit unions nationwide to assist each other’s members. As a result, you can conduct business on your Stanford FCU accounts at other credit unions throughout the country as though you were at your local Stanford FCU branch. You can also find 30,000 fee-free ATMs through our ATM and Branch Locator.

You can view our convenient hours and locations by visiting our ATM and Branch Locator.

We also participate in shared branching with Co-op, a cooperative effort between credit unions nationwide to assist each other’s members. As a result, you can conduct business on your Stanford FCU accounts at other credit unions throughout the country as though you were at your local branch!

You can find a nearby shared branch or fee-free ATM by visiting our ATM and Branch Locator.

Not a member yet? Joining is easy! You can open an account online with Stanford FCU with as little as $5.00. Open your account today!

The transactions you can complete at the shared branches vary by institution and branch, so we recommend checking their website or calling ahead after you find a convenient location.

Some examples of transactions allowed at Co-op shared branches are:

• Cash withdrawals up to $500
• Deposits to your account
• Get account information
• Make loan payments
• Transfer money to another account
• Purchase money orders, travelers checks or official checks
• And more!

For a list of shared branch locations and hours, visit our ATM and Branch Locator.

The hours of each shared branch will vary. For a list of shared branch locations and hours, visit our ATM and Branch Locator.

Shared branches are available through the Co-op, a cooperative effort between credit unions nationwide to assist each other’s members. As a result, you can conduct business on your Stanford FCU accounts at other credit unions throughout the country as though you were at your local Stanford FCU branch (some services may be limited). You can also find 30,000 fee-free ATMs through our ATM and Branch Locator.

If you’re local, visit us at a Stanford FCU branch.

You can view our convenient hours and locations by visiting our ATM and Branch Locator. ATMs and Digital Banking are always open!

Yes! We allow members of other credit unions to come into our branches to conduct transactions.

The following transactions are allowed at a Co-op shared branch:

• Cash withdrawals up to $500
• Deposits to your account
• Obtain account information
• Make loan payments
• Transfer money to another account
• Get cashier’s checks
• And more!

Be sure to bring a photo ID. For a complete list of participating shared branches please visit our ATM and Branch Locator.

Not a member yet? Join today!

If you want a banking experience that delivers lower home and vehicle loan rates, higher savings and investment rates, and leading-edge Digital Banking access, Stanford Federal Credit Union is the banking choice for you. We’re a member-owned financial cooperative providing personal service along with convenient nationwide access through Co-op shared branches.

Joining is easy! You can open an account online with as little as $5.00. Open your account today!

We participate in shared branching with Co-op, a cooperative effort between credit unions nationwide to assist each other’s members. As a result, you can conduct business on your Stanford FCU accounts at other credit unions throughout the country as though you were at your local branch (with some service restrictions).

You can find a nearby shared branch or fee-free ATM by visiting our ATM and Branch Locator.

Not a member yet? Joining is easy! You can open an account with Stanford FCU with as little as $5.00. Open your account today!

No! You’re a member for life and we don’t want to see you go! You can access your accounts and perform most transactions worldwide 24/7 through Digital Banking or schedule an appointment at our Virtual Branch. We also have over 6,000 shared branch locations with other credit unions, where you can conduct business as if you were at one of our local branches.

Form W-8BEN, a Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner for U.S. Tax Withholding, is used by a foreign person to establish both foreign status and beneficial ownership, and to claim income tax treaty benefits with respect to income other than compensation for personal services. We must have this form on file to guide us on the tax withholding for any interest-bearing accounts that you have with us. You can complete the W-8BEN form in Digital Banking.

A Select Employer Group (SEG) is a company that partners with Stanford FCU to offer financial services and education as a benefit to its employees.

We proudly serve the banking needs of employees of over 100 employers throughout the Bay Area. As a not-for-profit credit union, employees will benefit from higher rates on accounts, lower rates on loans, and they won’t have to worry about hidden fees and surprises. Check out the full list of companies we serve.

If your company is interested in becoming one of our SEGs, you can learn more on our Company Benefits page.

We proudly serve the banking needs of individuals and families who comprise the Stanford community, including Stanford University and Hospital staff, faculty, students and alumni. We also serve employees of over 100 companies throughout the Bay Area. Family members of existing Stanford FCU members are also eligible to join.

Not a member yet? Join today!

If you want a banking experience that delivers lower home and vehicle loan rates, higher savings and investment rates, and leading-edge Digital Banking access, Stanford Federal Credit Union is the banking choice for you. We’re a member-owned financial cooperative providing personal service along with convenient nationwide access through Co-op shared branches.

Joining is easy! You can open a digital account with as little as $5.00. Open your account today!

Yes! You will be asked to submit an additional tax form along with the membership application and a government-issued picture ID.

Join today!

If you want a banking experience that delivers lower home and vehicle loan rates, higher savings and investment rates, and leading-edge Digital Banking access, Stanford Federal Credit Union is the banking choice for you. We’re a member-owned financial cooperative providing personal service along with convenient nationwide access through Co-op shared branches.

Joining is easy! You can open a digital account with as little as $5.00. Open your account today!

You can open your new membership online or at a local Stanford FCU branch. You’ll need a current government-issued photo ID, a U.S. address, and $5.00 as your membership share (normally paid by Stanford FCU).

We’re a not-for-profit credit union that’s owned by 92,000 members! We give back to our members every day with low rates on loans, high rates on savings, low fees and personal service. Our focus is always on our member/owners, and we’re constantly searching for new ways to offer greater value.

Joining is easy! Open your account today!

Credit union members receive a number of benefits, including:

• Fewer fees
• Lower loan rates 
• Higher rates of return on savings accounts
• Personal attention
• Free financial education
• And more!

Your dreams matter to your credit union. Watch now.

Not a member yet? Joining is easy! You can open an account with Stanford FCU with as little as $5.00. Open your account today!

Although we serve employees of select companies, anyone can join Stanford FCU! Click here to learn about our amazing benefits, and click here to join online in minutes!

We absolutely will accept coin deposits! We do not have coin counting machines, so you will need to roll your coins before you bring them in for deposit.

You can find a Stanford FCU branch or fee-free ATM near you by visiting our ATM and Branch Locator.

Questions? Contact us at 888.723.7328 or use Chat.

It’s easy to get even more value from your Stanford FCU membership - just deposit your payroll with us or use our debit or credit card for your everyday expenses to access your Loyalty+ rewards (formerly Membership Rewards)!

At Stanford FCU, we want to help you make the most of your banking experience. That’s what Loyalty+ is all about. You get more value when you do more business with us. There are two levels of membership based on your engagement: Partner and Ambassador.

You’ll enjoy exclusive benefits like bonus deposit rates, loan discount rates, and unlimited free worldwide ATMs.

Learn more on our Loyalty+ web page, and view your Loyalty+ status in Digital Banking.

All of our credit card options have no annual fee, no balance transfer fees, no cash advance fees, and no foreign transaction fees! Most options earn rewards points with every purchase. Visit our Credit Cards web page to view our different card options, and visit our Card Benefits web page to explore the additional benefits available for each card.