This post is sponsored by Make Your Money Matter, in association with PSCU, though all views expressed are my own.

I don’t like dealing with big banking chains.  For as long as I can remember, we’ve used small, locally-owned banks – at least for the primary checking and savings accounts we use all the time.  That way, instead of dealing with “big business,” we get personalized service provided by members of our own community, and the interest we pay is poured back into the community, as well, to build up even more small business.  (Our bank’s current slogan is, “not accepting government bailout money since…” whatever the year is.  That about sums it up!)

As I mentioned in my last post about credit unions, I always thought they (credit unions) were exclusive to members of a few particular organizations, companies, or professions (like the Armed Forces).  But it turns out they are more widely accessible than that, and they offer all the benefits of my small-town bank – and then some!

According to PSCU, “credit unions are not-for-profit cooperatives that exist solely to provide financial services to their members….Unlike banks, it’s the members, not corporate shareholders, who own the credit unions.”  So it’s like an electric co-op, except it’s for banking.

Crazy as it might sound, one of the reasons I like this concept is for preparedness reasons.  I don’t like the idea that if something huge and horrible happened, some giant corporation (or worse, the government) would be in control of my money.  I’m far more comfortable keeping it in a context like this, where even though it works like I bank, I have a closer connection to it.

Unfortunately, I am one of the very few people in my area who (as far as I’ve been able to figure out) isn’t eligible to join a local credit union.  I was able to find two in my area.  One is fairly exclusive, open only to a few select companies’ employees.  The other is extremely accessible.  Among other options, like working for certain corporations or belonging to a particular organization (and the list is fairly long), anyone with a student in our county’s schools – or any of the surrounding counties’ schools – in his household may apply.  That covers a pretty significant portion of the local population!  But not us, because we homeschool.

Still, it’s worth checking out whether there’s a credit union in your area that you’re eligible for, because perks like being a part-owner rather than being subject to outside shareholders are definitely not to be passed up if you have the option!

Click on “take action” at the bottom of the Make Your Money Matter page to find a credit union near you.