Credit unions are safe and practice excellent customer service, said Dave Ramsey, a personal finance expert with Gatehouse News Service, in a response in his column to a reader's question.
www.CUNA.org/newsnow (04/23/2009) The reader asked "Considering the current state of the economy, [my husband and I] were wondering if a credit union would be a safer place than a traditional bank for some of our savings?" (
Norwich Bulletin.com April 22).
Ramsey said that the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) increased insurance coverage limits for deposits in 2008, just as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) did for banks. "Community banks and credit unions are both safe, and in most cases, they're both fabulous places to put your money," he concluded.
"The biggest thing you want to look at is the 'hassle factor' if your institution goes broke and closes up shop," Ramsey wrote. "I haven't done business with big banks for years, primarily because of the awful customer service you get at most of them. I like local, community banks, and I believe whole-heartedly in credit unions. As a rule, these institutions practice excellent customer service. Plus, most of them didn't get mixed up the sub-prime debacle,"- Dave Ramsey
Dave Ramsey is a nationally known personal finance expert. Visit his website at www.davesays.org for more financial advice.
For more information on the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, visit www.fdic.gov.
