Welcome
BD Associates!
As a BD Associate, you and your family have exclusive access to Credit Union membership from BCU.
You’ll find lower rates, greater rewards, and exceptional service – delivered by people who are committed to putting you first.
Enjoy an Early Payday
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Download the Digital Banking app today!
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is a Credit Union?
A credit union is a not-for-profit, cooperative financial institution owned by its members. Credit unions offer the same services as banks, but the profit cycles back to members instead of stockholders. As a result, members benefit from higher earnings on deposit accounts, lower rates on loan products that typically have lower to no fees—bringing savings to the entire membership.
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Who can join?
US and Puerto Rico employees, contractors, temps of partner companies and their extended families nationwide are eligible for credit union membership. See if you qualify based on one or more of the following criteria:
Employment-based eligibility: You are a permanent, temporary or contract employee of one of the several elite employer groups offering the Credit Union’s services as a valuable employee benefit.
Community-based eligibility: You live or work in one of six local community charter counties: Lake, McHenry, DuPage, Kane or Cook (north of 95th Street on the south side of Chicago) County in Illinois, or Kenosha County in Wisconsin.
Family-based eligibility: You are the immediate or extended qualifying family of an existing member related by blood, marriage, fostering or adoption. Eligible family members include: spouses, parents, children, siblings, domestic partners, grandchildren, grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Life. Money. You.® eligibility: You are a subscriber of the Life. Money. You.® Financial Well-Being program. -
How do I join the Credit Union?
The easiest way is online and completing the 10-minute online membership application. Be assured that this process is safe and secure. You can also contact us if you have any problems in the process. Click the Join Today button at the top of the page to begin.
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What if I open an account and then move or leave my company?
Once a member, always a member! Benefits of Credit Union membership will always be available to you and your family, no matter where life takes you. Relocating to a new area? No problem! Changing jobs? The Credit Union goes with you. Retiring? We're Here Today For Your Tomorrow. Our commitment to your financial well-being is truly a lifelong promise. We’re accessible 24 hours a day in all 50 states and abroad using our digital banking services and have many members who never set foot in a branch.
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What benefits come with Credit Union membership?
Our members are the reason we exist and is why we help our members maximize their benefits with products and services like:
- Access to your payroll funds up to a day early with Enhanced Direct Deposit™
- High-interest Checking with ATM fee reimbursement
- Low rate loans for homes, vehicles, college tuition and more
- Easy access to your free online credit score with SavvyMoney®
- Complimentary financial education resources provided by Life. Money. You.®
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Will my employer have access to my financial standing or account details?
No. Although we share a common interest in each employee’s Financial Well-being, your company and BCU are separate business entities. Furthermore, as your financial institution, BCU protects your private financial data and complies with stringent security standards.
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What if I have limited access to a branch location?
At the Credit Union, we're always looking to make it easier for you to Connect Your Way, so you can bank when and where you want through Digital Banking. Plus, once you’re a member, you’ll have access to thousands of surcharge-free ATMs and Shared Branches nationwide.
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What is a Certificate of Deposit (CD)?
A Certificate of Deposit (CD) is a savings account that holds a fixed amount of money for a fixed period of time, such as six months, one year, or five years, and in exchange, the issuing institution pays interest. When you cash in or redeem your CD, you receive the money you originally invested plus any interest.
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Disclosure
2ATo earn monthly dividends and reimbursements of other banks’ ATM surcharge fees up to $5.00 per transaction, your account must meet all three of these requirements monthly to qualify for Level 1 or Level 2. Please note, ATM surcharge fees are covered up to $5.00 per transaction, any remaining ATM surcharge fee over $5.00 will not be reimbursed.
To achieve Level 1, you must have monthly direct deposits totaling at least $1000 into your PowerPlus Checking account on an ongoing monthly basis, enrollment in eStatements and completion of at least fifteen (15) qualified transactions.
To achieve Level 2, you must have direct deposits totaling at least $3000 into your PowerPlus Checking account on an ongoing monthly basis, enrollment in eStatements and completion of at least thirty (30) qualified transactions.
Qualified transactions include any combination of the following: BCU Debit Card PIN, Debit Card signature, credit card purchases, Online Bill Pay or ACH payments, which will apply toward the monthly requirements in the month they post to your account. Credit card transactions that post on the last day of the month will be applied toward the following month’s transaction total. Accounts not meeting all monthly requirements will not earn dividends and will not receive reimbursements of other banks’ ATM surcharge fees. Rates accurate as of 2/1/2023.
The dividend rate and annual percentage yield (APY) may change at any time. Balances up to $15,000 will earn the stated higher rate and the portion of the balance over $15,000 will earn the stated lower rate. See rate sheet or website for current rates. There is no minimum balance required to earn dividends. Dividends are paid monthly and calculated based on the average daily balance method. Fees may reduce earnings.
PowerPlus Checking is available as a personal account only and is limited to one account per member. When Opted In, if you do not have sufficient available funds in your checking account to clear a presented item, funds may automatically transfer from your savings or money market share and may count towards withdrawal limitations for that savings or money market share (Electronic funds transfers from savings and money market shares, which include overdraft transfers are limited to six per month). Each electronic funds transfer in excess of six per month is subject to a $3 excessive withdrawal fee. See Service Charges and Fees Schedule in Consumer Member Service Agreement for further details. PowerPlus™ Checking is a trademark of BCU.
2B Direct deposit allows you to receive payroll and other electronic deposits up to two days ahead of your scheduled payday. It’s important to note, funds are not AVAILABLE for you to spend until they are reflected in the AVAILABLE BALANCE. Please be sure to confirm available funds in your account before withdrawing against this deposit. While BCU will try wherever possible to advance payroll direct deposits by up to 2 days, availability of funds ahead of the original scheduled pay date is not guaranteed. You should not rely on direct deposit to satisfy the needs of scheduled bill or loan payments, or any other date-sensitive financial obligations.
3Rates and Annual Percentage Yields (APYs) accurate as of 6/1/2023. Offer valid for new Money Market Special account with a minimum balance of $15,000 in new money. New money is defined as money not on deposit with BCU at or within 90 days prior to account opening. This is a tiered rate account. Balances below $15,000 will earn the stated lower rate of 0.05% APY. Balances of $15,000 and greater will earn the introductory rate 4.00% APY for 12 months from the account open date. The 12-month introductory rate period begins the month the account is opened and ends the last calendar day of the 12th month. After the 12-month introductory period, balances of $15,000 and greater will earn the rate of 1.75% APY. The rates and APYs are variable and may change without notice. Dividends are calculated by using the Daily Balance method, which applies a periodic rate to the balance in the account each day in the period. The dividend rate for a particular tier will apply to the entire balance if the daily account balance is within the balance range for that tier. Dividends will be compounded and credited monthly. The dividend period begins on the first calendar day of the period and ends on the last calendar day of the period. Dividends will begin to accrue on non-cash deposits (e.g. checks) on the day after you make the deposit to your account. If you close your account before accrued dividends are credited, accrued dividends will not be paid. Fees could reduce earnings. Six withdrawal transaction per month are allowed. No more than six preauthorized, automatic, or telephone transfers may be made from this account to another account of yours or to a third party in any month. If you exceed the transfer or withdrawals limitations, your account may be subject to a $3 excessive withdrawal fee for each transaction that exceeds the monthly six transaction limit and closure by BCU. See Service and Fee Schedule in BCU Consumer Member Service Agreement at http://www.BCU.org for a list of fees applicable to this account.
4Promotional rate accurate as of 05/01/2023. Offer available to BCU members, who fund the 18 Month certificate with new money. New money is defined as money not on deposit with BCU at or within 30 days prior to account opening. The minimum balance required to open a Certificate Account and obtain the promotional annual percentage yield (APY) is $500. The APY is based on the assumption that dividends will remain in the account until maturity. A penalty may be imposed for early withdrawal. Penalty may reduce earnings.5Offer available to current BD employees. You may need to provide proof of employment or affiliation. For first mortgage purchase and refinance transactions of a primary residence, the maximum corporate mortgage benefit program discount is 0.125% off current BCU published rates. Rate discount and relationship pricing rate discount may be eligible to be combined. Corporate mortgage benefit program rate discount may not be combined with any Relocation Services program benefits, or any other home loan promotional offers. Certain mortgage types and/or terms may not be eligible for the stated rate discount. Loan approval is subject to credit approval and program guidelines. Not all loan programs are available in all states for all loan amounts. Interest rates and program terms are subject to change without notice.
6Upon disbursement of the loan, no payments will be required and no interest will accrue during a three-month promotional period. After this three-month promotional period ends, this loan requires full payments of principal and interest. The repayment term of the loan will begin three months after disbursement, when the promotional period ends. The Credit Union reserves the right to modify the terms of this offer at any point in the future for new applications.