Buying a Car? Reasons to Finance with a Local Credit Union

1. Lower interest rates

Because credit unions reinvest their profits into their members, they aren't focused on maximizing profit margins the same way a traditional lender is looking to generate revenue. As a result, credit unions can often offer competitive rates that beat the offers from traditional banks and dealership financing departments.¹

2. A personalized customer service experience

To take out an auto loan with a credit union, you will have to become a member of that institution. While there are often many ways to qualify for membership at a credit union, the end result is often a more personalized banking experience than what you may be accustomed to.²

Credit unions prioritize member service and support over the organization's profits, which means you're more likely to receive personalized customer service that improves your borrowing experience. It can also lead to more flexible borrowing terms: If you're struggling to get a good financing offer elsewhere, a strong history as a member of your credit union might be accounted for when deciding whether to fund your auto loan. Oklahoma Central Credit Union can help you with this.

3. Lower minimum-loan amounts

At some financial institutions, small loan amounts for vehicle purchases may be turned down. This is because those smaller loans involve a lot of processing and loan origination relative to the total revenue they generate, which turns those loans into a poor source of profits—and may convince some lenders to set a higher minimum loan amount.

"If you only require a small loan to finance your car purchase, credit unions will likely be more willing to work with you," says Scheidt. "And because those credit unions view the loan as a service provided to members rather than a revenue-generating product, you won't feel like the lender is choosing between their profits and their service to you as a customer."

If you've never used a credit union to finance a vehicle or other type of loan, it's worth your time to get a rate quote and find out whether this lending option can save you money and stress as you pursue your next vehicle.

Sources:

1. 4 reasons to consider a car loan