New in 2019, GBAR will be highlighting our Platinum Partner Sponsors via industry-focused articles, which contain information for our REALTOR® members. Below is our first in our series this year, presented by Metro Credit Union.
Metro Credit Union is a leader in residential mortgage lending, offering a wide variety of mortgage products that meet the varied needs of borrowers, including purchase mortgages, refinances, and home equity loans. With a focus on first-time homebuyers, we offer ongoing Informational seminars and multiple programs including HomeReady™, HomePossible® and Operation Welcome Home. The Portfolio Plus Mortgage, one of the more innovative programs available, was specifically created to give those with less savings but good credit the chance to become homeowners. Our credit union also participates in many government programs including the FHA, MassHousing and At Home mortgage programs. Most mortgages are kept in-portfolio and are serviced by our team in Chelsea, Massachusetts, providing our members with local service and support. Visit MetroCU.org for more information about our mortgage options.
Do you know about 100 million Americans have chosen a credit union for their banking needs? What is a credit union, and why should you join Metro?
A credit union is a member-owned, community-oriented, not-for-profit financial institution. Banks and credit unions work similarly, but have different goals. You are a customer of a bank, but a co-owner of a credit union. Because banks are for-profit institutions, their goal is often to generate profit for their stock holders. Credit unions are nonprofits whose goal is to help their members.
Metro Credit Union was founded on the principal of People Helping People. As part of their mission, our credit union gives back to its local communities by volunteering and supporting local organizations. The credit union’s earnings are returned to members in the form of better rates, lower fees, and competitive products and services. By design, all credit unions are democratically run, and as a member you have the opportunity to vote on important topics at membership meetings. Unlike at large financial institutions, credit union boards are comprised of democratically-elected volunteers who are not paid.
There are many benefits to joining Metro: lower loan interest rates and fees, higher savings rates, and access to trusted professionals who help members plan for their future. Plus, the credit union offers tools and services geared towards increasing members’ financial wellness. These include free credit report monitoring, free seminars on important financial education topics, and workplace banking programs. And deposits are fully insured with combined deposit insurance through the National Credit Union Administration and the Massachusetts Credit Union Share Insurance Corporation, offering our members peace of mind in knowing their deposits are protected.
In addition to comprehensive mortgage loans, Metro offers home equity, car, and business loans, and credit cards, as well as different types of insurance and investment programs. Our credit union offers the full range of deposit products including checking accounts, savings accounts, Christmas and Vacation Club Accounts, certificates of deposit, and money market accounts. Plus, with a My Reward Checking account, members enjoy no ATM fees nationwide and even internationally!
Becoming a member of Metro is easy. All that is required is a $5.00 deposit, which is considered your share of ownership in the credit union. You are eligible to join if you live, work or have a place of business in Barnstable, Bristol, Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, or Worcester county in Massachusetts, and Rockingham or Hillsborough county in New Hampshire.
Interested in joining a banking institution that values members over profits? Achieve your financial goals and join the more than 213,000 members who enjoy the benefits of Metro Credit Union! Visit MetroCU.org or call 877.696.3876 today!