The data shows it clearly: Credit unions of every size are uniquely focused on Main Street, positively impacting households in a way that big banks and community banks don’t.  

America’s Credit Unions analyzed NCUA and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) data, and it shows that the majority of credit unions - at every asset size -  make approximately 75% of their loans to households, while the percentage is less than 30% for big banks and less than 50% for most community banks.  

Sharing this and other points on the credit union difference are a key part of credit union engagement with policymakers, especially with banks’ recent shift calling for credit unions with more than $1 billion in assets to be taxed.

“This information is very illustrative and makes an extremely effective argument that credit unions are focused on Main Street, our teachers, our military, while banks are focused on Wall Street,” said America’s Credit Unions Chief Advocacy Officer Carrie Hunt. “You look at banks, and they’re focused on businesses. This data shows that credit unions, no matter what the size, are focused on consumers.”

America’s Credit Unions’ Credit Union Impact Dashboard contains information on member and non-member financial benefits (including at the national, state, and district level), economic impact, and more.