State Employees’ Credit Union Review: Checking, Savings and Certificates
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Overall institution rating
3.8
Established in 1937, State Employees’ Credit Union primarily serves people who work for the state of North Carolina and their families. Like other credit unions, SECU is member-owned and has specific fields of membership, or ways to join — in this case, mostly in North Carolina. Its ATM and branch networks are robust within the state, but they don’t extend beyond that. The account offering is solid for customers: low costs on checking and savings and up to two fee-free days a year in the event of overdrafts.
Best for: North Carolina state employees and families who prioritize access to in-person banking and 24/7 phone support over high savings rates.
» COMPARE: Best banks and credit unions
Pros
- Competitive rates on some share certificates.
- 24/7 customer service by phone.
Cons
- Low rates on savings accounts.
- Monthly fees (though some are avoidable).
- Limited membership.
- Limited branch access.
Methodology
NerdWallet’s overall ratings for banks and credit unions are weighted averages of several categories: checking, savings, certificates of deposit or credit union share certificates, banking experience and overdraft fees. Factors we consider, depending on the category, include rates and fees, ATM and branch access, account features and limits, user-facing technology, customer service and innovation. The stars represent ratings from poor (one star) to excellent (five stars). Ratings are rounded to the nearest half-star.
