Put a credit union credit card or personal loan head-to-head against a big bank's — using real federal average-rate data — before you sign anything.
We prefill the real national average rates for each side. Pick a specific LA credit union or bank from the dropdowns — the Get rates link opens their site so you can grab today's APR and type it in. The math updates instantly.
Reality check: credit union cards average 12.58% APR — and federal credit unions are capped at 18%. The average existing big-bank card charges 21–24% with no cap (NCUA Q4 2025 · Fed G.19). We compare interest only — card rewards, points, and sign-up bonuses aren't counted.
Calculators assume a fixed APR, on-time payments, and no fees; personal loans use standard amortization, credit cards assume no new purchases. Card comparisons measure interest only — rewards, points, cash back, and sign-up bonuses are not included. Prefilled rates are national averages (NCUA Q4 2025 · Fed G.19) — averages are not offers, and your rate depends on your credit profile, term, and lender. Estimates only, not financial advice.
Credit unions are not-for-profit financial co-ops. Profits go back to members as lower loan rates and fewer fees — not to shareholders. And the "members only" thing is mostly a myth: many LA credit unions accept anyone who lives or works in the county.
You're an owner, not a customer. One member, one vote — and no shareholders taking a cut.
New-car loans: 5.44% at credit unions vs 7.41% at banks on average (NCUA). Federal credit union card APRs are capped at 18% — bank cards have no cap.
Annual fees, over-limit fees, balance transfer fees — many credit unions simply don't charge them.
Deposits insured up to $250,000 by the NCUA — the credit-union equivalent of FDIC insurance.
Credit unions aren't just cheaper — they're built for exactly the people big banks tend to overlook.
First card, thin credit file, student budget? Credit unions look at the member, not just the score — starter and student cards without big-bank fees.
Same Visa or Mastercard network, roughly half the interest: credit union cards average 12.58%, and federal credit unions are capped at 18%.
Secured cards and credit-builder loans that report to all three bureaus, plus second-chance accounts — built to bring you back, not to profit off your past.
Member-owned means service is the product: real people in local branches, and loan officers who can actually hear you out instead of auto-declining.
What's debt consolidation? If you're juggling several card balances, a personal loan can pay them all off at once — leaving you one fixed monthly payment at a (usually much) lower APR. Run your numbers in the Personal Loan tab above.
These are the national average rate gaps, straight from federal data — no cherry-picking. LA County has 35+ credit unions, and many accept anyone who lives or works here. Tap Use to drop the credit-union average into the calculator above.
Opens Google Maps with credit unions around you — branches, hours, and reviews. Use the NCUA locator to confirm a credit union's field of membership, then bring its real rate back to the calculator above.
Sources: NCUA Credit Union & Bank Rates report (Q4 2025, national averages) and Federal Reserve G.19 Consumer Credit (average APR on interest-assessed bank cards). Averages are informational only — they are not offers, and your rate depends on your credit profile, term, and lender.