Consumers have many choices in the marketplace for financial services.The greatest difference between choosing a bank or a credit union is the not-for-profit local cooperative business structure that defines credit unions. We hope all consumers will choose credit unions over banks—for their own financial advantage. 

Take a look at how Westerra compares to banks in these critical areas:*

*Based on website data available as of 3/31/18.
 

Comparing Banks and Credit Unions

• Many people are surprised to learn that their bank headquarters is outside Colorado or even outside the United States.
• People often think banks are more convenient with more ATMs and branches, when in fact, credit unions have the nation’s second largest branch network and the second largest ATM networks.
• Credit unions use many of the same electronic banking service vendors that banks use, and in many cases have greater technology capabilities.
• Many people who come to credit unions say they were driven away by a bank and their high fees or poor service. 
• The volume and magnitude of lawsuits against large banks in recent years has generated a perception of greed among banks.
• Many people do not know what a credit union is, or think they do not qualify to join a credit union. 

Credit Unions Believe More Can be Accomplished by Working Together. 

• Many credit unions share their branches - through CO-OP Shared Branches, credit unions throughout Colorado, and across the US, make their branches available to members of other participating credit unions. 
• The credit union CO-OP ATM Network is the second largest ATM network in the United States - with more than 1,000 free ATMs in Colorado and 30,000 nationwide.