Looking for Credit Union

[enveri.livejournal.com]

So!  My spouse and I have finally decided that lack of a local bank account is bad, and we're looking to open accounts with a credit union locally.

We require the ability to have separate checking accounts and to be able to transfer funds between them.  (So I can transfer money to/from his checking account and vice versa)  We had this at our old CU back in Illinois, but apparently it's a completely foreign concept out here, because when we went to CPCU, they cheerfully told us 'Of course you can do that!' until we opened the accounts, and then the bank officer gave us a deer in the headlights look and said 'No that's not possible.'

I surfed through the tags for banking, and as this is a pretty specific question, didn't find anything.  Does anyone out there have a similar setup to what we want?  (I'd be really surprised of other couples don't)  Do you love your CU?

We live in Magoun Square and work in Cambridge and Charlestown respectively, but if there's a CU that meets our requirements, we're willing to travel for a branch/ATM.

Thanks!

Comments

[smammy]

You can do this easily if you're willing to make both accounts be (technically) "joint" accounts. If you do that, you can associate them both with the the same online banking profile and transfer money between them.

[enveri.livejournal.com]

CPCU told us this wasn't possible... is this the CU you're talking about?

[smammy]

Yes, CPCU supports this as long as both of your names are on both accounts. (Perhaps you were asking about linking individual accounts?)

[ceo]

I have a personal account and a joint account with my spouse at Align Credit Union (formerly Northern MA Telephone Workers Credit Union, but now they'll let just anyone join). They're up in Lowell, but I have almost never had to actually go there.

[lizzielizzie.livejournal.com]

I did this with my roommate when we were both members of DCU (Digital Federal Credit Union) - we had to fill out a form in order to do it, but it was easy. He paid me rent this way.

[veek.livejournal.com]

I haven't done this with DCU, but love them madly. Insofar as I bear any emotions toward a financial institution.

[bikergeek.livejournal.com]

I don't know if Metro Credit Union can do what you're looking for, but I've been banking there for over 10 years and have been very happy. They have a T accessible branch on the BU campus, on Comm Ave across from the Agganis Arena. If you're stuck taking a car over there during the day, parking at a meter isn't horrible either.

[somerfriend.livejournal.com]

Metro Credit Union does NOT have the ability to transfer to other Metro Credit Union members (at least they did not when I inquired a year or so ago. My tenant has Metro credit union and we wanted her to pay rent that way)

DCU does have that ability.

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

my car loan is with them (great rate!) and they seem to not be able to do anything at all when it comes to convenience.

[ifotismeni]

I am pretty sure Metro Credit Union lets you do this - my husband and I both have personal accounts there as well as a joint account and the're all loosely tied together.

[desiringsubject.livejournal.com]

I have 3 bank accounts and they all have the ability to link an "external" account. I can't imagine why an external account couldn't be an internal account as well.

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

Just find any CU with free unlimited/morethanyouneed electronic billpay/checking and write echecks back and forth. When it's the same bank it shows up instantly. Almost all of them fit this bill.

Alternately, have a joint savings account linked to separate checking accounts. Again, this would be possible pretty much everywhere, though savings accounts generally limit the number of withdrawals a month.