Am I Eligible to Join?

If you live, work, worship, attend school or run a business in Putnam County, New York, then you are eligible to join our credit union. Take advantage of GREAT rates and no/low account fees!

Membership Information

Membership Information --There's no membership fee to join. Simply make a minimum deposit of $5 or more in a Share Savings account and you can take advantage any service that we offer.

Once you join, you are a member for life...even if you should leave Putnam County (as long as you maintain a $5 minimum deposit in this account). And when you are a member, all of your immediate family is also eligible to join - even if they are not located here in Putnam County.

All you have to do to join is complete a Membership Application and send it with your opening deposit and a copy of your photo identification. Submit completed Checking Account and/or consumer loan applications together with your new membership request and all of your new accounts will be processed at once.

Don't forget…To take advantage of ANY credit union service, you must become a member.

Should you have questions or need further assistance, please call us at (845) 225-8962.

Why Join Putnam FCU?

There is a wide range of financial service providers available today. So why join Putnam Federal Credit Union over the rest? The answer is easy… we offer the range of products and services found at the nation's largest banks AND very competitive rates and fees. But we think you'll agree that our member service truly sets us apart. Did you know that in the 2002 American Banker/Gallup Consumer Survey, credit unions ranked #1 in consumer satisfaction- that makes it 18 years and counting!

Best of all, Putnam FCU empowers you to manage your money from anywhere in the world. Whether you are at home, at work, or traveling, you have a variety of options for handling your finances!

• PAR - 24-Hour Automated Telephone
• Online banking - Account management via your computer.
• Bill Payment - Pay your bills online and avoid writing checks.
• VISA Check Card - Use this convenient card as a debit and/or ATM card anywhere you see the VISA logo worldwide.
• Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) - Get cash from any ATM in the NYCE, Plus or Cirrus network.
• Credit Card History - Get the history of your credit card account using www.ezcardinfo.com.

No matter where you are, you can manage your accounts, transfer funds, verify that checks have cleared, pay bills, withdraw cash, apply for a loan, order checks, get check copies and much more! Other convenient programs, like direct deposit and payroll deduction, round out our convenience services.

The Credit Union Difference

The credit union industry is unrivaled for its member focus and customer service! Credit unions continually score higher than all other financial institutions in consumer satisfaction surveys because they consistently offer better interest rates, lower fees and more personal service.

Putnam FCU is a not-for-profit financial cooperative serving the Putnam County community. We are owned by our members! While banks make money for their stockholders, credit unions take profits and return them to their member-owners. That means lower rates on loans, competitive earnings on savings, convenient online access and access to additional new services. When you join, you become a member-owner, and benefit from all the exceptional value we have to offer.

If you have questions about the benefits of membership, please call us at (845) 225-8962.

Difference between a credit union & bank?

When you walk into our lobby, or call a loan officer, what makes Putnam FCU different from a bank isn't immediately apparent. The two financial institutions may offer similar products and services - but there the similarities stop. Crucial differences exist - in ownership, cost of borrowing money, and use of services.

• You are an Owner. Credit unions are member-owned nonprofit financial cooperatives dedicated to improving members' lives. More than 80 million members own 10,500 U.S. credit unions with combined assets of $450 billion. Stockholders own banks (with combined assets of $6.2 trillion). Banks make money for stockholders, not for customers.
• Credit unions are the only democratically controlled financial institutions in the United States. You and other members elect a volunteer board of directors to oversee the credit union. The manager or president/chief executive officer reports to this board. Bank directors, however, are paid and legally bound to make decisions that benefit stockholders, not customers.
• Credit unions have the best rates. Credit unions price loans, pay interest on funds you've deposited, and charge fees to provide you with high-quality, low-cost services. Banks price products and services to make a profit. You earn more on your savings - in some cases up to one percentage point - at Putnam FCU. And loan rates also are better - the average credit card interest rate is four percentage points better at credit unions vs. banks. Auto loans average almost one and one-half percentage points less than banks'. Credit unions make consumer loans and some member business loans, while banks offer consumer loans, but really emphasize business loans.

Because you're an owner of Putnam FCU, you have a say in how we do business. Let us know how you think we're doing, and what changes you would like to see in our future.