A real look
inside the workbook.

INSIDE CONTENTS 00 Welcome: your money, your co-op 04 PA R T O N E — U N D E R S TA N D I T 01 Credit unions vs. banks 06 02 Is my money safe? 07 PA R T T WO — J O I N O N E 03 Can I join? The five doors in 09 04 Military, veteran & government paths 10 05 USVI & the territories 11 06 Find & compare your match 12 07 Join in seven steps 13 PA R T T H R E E — U S E I T W E L L 08 Build credit with your credit union 15 09 Save money: refinance & switch 16 PA R T F O U R — S TA R T O N E 10 The road to a new charter 18 11 Founder readiness worksheet 19 TOOLKIT — Membership questions · Glossary 20 T H E C R E D I T U N I O N A DVA N TAG E 03

00 WELCOME YOUR MONEY, YOUR CO-OP. A credit union is a financial cooperative. The people who keep their money there are the owners. There are no outside shareholders to pay — so profits typically come back to members as lower loan rates, better savings rates and fewer fees. Many people think credit unions are only for teachers, soldiers or one company’s employees. That used to be more true. Today, eligibility is broader than most people realize — through where you live, work, worship or volunteer, your family, or groups you can join. This workbook walks you from “Can I even join?” to an open account you’re using to build credit and save money — and, if you’re ambitious, through what it truly takes to start a credit union for your own community. HOW TO USE THIS WORKBOOK Take the eligibility quiz (Chapter 3). 1 Most people find two or three doors open to them. Compare at least three credit unions (Chapter 6). 2 The scorecard makes it quick. Join and put it to work (Chapters 7–9). 3 Open the account, then use it to build credit and lower costs. T H E C R E D I T U N I O N A DVA N TAG E 04