Credit unions are not-for-profit financial institutions and thus generally pay higher deposit rates and charge lower loan rates. The Golden 1 Credit Union has a variety of checking accounts to suit the different needs of its many different members. The yield on Golden 1 checking accounts currently range from 0% to 3.25% and is generally tied to the daily or average monthly balance. For more up-to-date information, visit golden1.com, any Golden 1 office, or call (916) 732-2900 or 1-877-GOLDEN 1 (1-877-465-3361).   [less]

A secured credit card is a great way to start building credit. The money in your savings account is placed on hold as collateral. This convenient card is a low-cost way to build or re-establish your credit history. In fact, some credit unions allow you to earn dividends on these funds used as collateral in your savings account. You can often get started with a secured credit card line of credit for as little as $250.  [less]

A term-share certificate account is a deposit account that allows a credit union member to lock in an interest rate for a specific time period, generally from as little as three months to as long as five years. Many term-savings accounts have a minimum deposit, typically $1,000 or more. The account is federally insured up to $100,000 by the NCUA.  [less]

By refinancing into a fixed-rate mortgage you will know the exact payment amount for the life of the mortgage. Therefore, you can budget for your payment each month with confidence that it will not change. Also, you may be able to lock in a relatively-low interest rate that will not be subject to rate adjustments in the future.  [less]

Banks are financial institutions owned by shareholders. A bank's customers are not owners of the bank (unless a bank customer also owns stock in the bank). The stock could be publicly traded on the stock market or non-publicly traded privately held stock. Any bank profits after expenses, capital and other requirements could potentially be paid out as dividends only to shareholders. Banks are federally insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Credit unions are owned by their customers, also known as members. Every dollar on deposit at a credit union is called a share. These shares or dollars belong to the members, and grant them ownership in the credit union. Interest paid on these shares is called dividends. Credit unions are federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA).   [less]