The Credit Union Difference

Credit Unions vs. Banks

	Credit Unions	Banks
Purpose	For people, not profits	For profit
Ownership	All Members	Private investors & stockholders
Decision	Democratically controlled by members	Controlled by a paid Board & officials
Profits	Returned to members as fewer/lower fees, better interest rates	Returned to stockholders
Products	Savings & Checking Accounts, Loans, etc.	Savings & Checking Accounts, Loans, etc.

The Real Difference? It's You.

Are Credit Unions and Banks the Same

In some ways, yes — but in the ways that matter most, no. Both credit unions and banks offer similar financial services and protect your savings up to $250,000 under strict federal regulations. But how we operate — and who we operate for — makes all the difference.

At ARC Federal Credit Union, you’re not just a customer — you’re a member and an owner. Our structure is built around you. Unlike banks that answer to shareholders, we answer to our members, working every day to keep you financially strong, independent, and informed. Credit unions started as a bold idea: people helping people by pooling their savings and lending to one another. What started as an experiment grew into a movement — one that’s still going strong today. 

And while credit unions are tax-exempt, it’s no free ride — we pay property taxes, we deduct payroll taxes, and we invest directly back into our communities, all while keeping our focus where it belongs: on you.

We could go on forever about credit unions and all the benefits of becoming a member, but we’d rather you experience it yourself. Visit the link below to learn more about why we love what we do!

iBelong.org