# Credit union loans - easier or harder?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-union-loans-easier-or-harder/563150>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [December 6, 2010, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-union-loans-easier-or-harder/563150 "2010-12-06T15:20:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\
**Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-union-loans-easier-or-harder/563150/1 "2010-12-06T15:20:57Z")

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My friend is looking to get a used car loan, probably from a private seller.

We’ve looked around at the Web sites for various banks with local branches, and are pretty familiar with which banks might grant the loan - based on the sale (private seller, $5000, 2005 car, 60k miles).

We also found out he qualifies to be a member at 4 different local credit unions.

Is it easier for a person with poor credit to get a loan at a bank or a CU? What if you are a new-as-of-today member of the CU? Do CUs typically allow private seller loans?

I’ve actually been a member of a CU my whole life but I’ve never had to have a loan through them so I don’t know.

Thanks!

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**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\
**Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-union-loans-easier-or-harder/563150/2 "2010-12-06T22:20:19Z")

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The first car loan I got from a non-relative was from a credit union.

Easy **and** cheap!

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**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\
**Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-union-loans-easier-or-harder/563150/3 "2010-12-06T22:39:13Z")

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**Bosda** , were you a member of the CU before you got the loan, or did you join the CU expressly for getting a loan?

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**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\
**Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-union-loans-easier-or-harder/563150/4 "2010-12-06T23:15:36Z")

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I joined a CU specifically to obtain a car loan, and I was rejected. My regular bank, where I’ve been a member for well over a decade, also turned me down. A few days later, I went straight to a car dealership and got approved. Not at an ideal interest rate, of course.

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**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\
**Post date:** [December 7, 2010, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-union-loans-easier-or-harder/563150/5 "2010-12-07T23:05:10Z")

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> [@ZipperJJ](#):
>
> **Bosda** , were you a member of the CU before you got the loan, or did you join the CU expressly for getting a loan?

I joined the CU for my needs.

Later, I applied for the loan.

Accepted.