CNN Money: Credit Unions are the best borrowing alternative
Credit unions are the best borrowing alternative for consumers who are fed up with big U.S. banks, according to a Friday CNNMoney article.
Although they offer similar services to banks, credit unions are not held captive by the bottom lines of their balance sheets or shareholders, the article said.
That structure usually allows credit unions to provide more favorable terms for borrowers, Bankrate.com's Greg McBride told CNNMoney.
The average five-year new-car loan is 3.5% at credit unions versus 4.9% at banks, according to Informa Research Services, a Credit Union National Association Strategic Service provider quoted in the article.
For home equity lines of credit, credit unions offer a 4.4% interest rate, and banks 4.7%, on average, said CNNMoney.
Although fixed-rate mortgages are roughly the same at credit unions and banks, consumers likely will save hundreds in fees and have more direct access to decision-makers at a credit union, the publication said.
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