“Selected as an Excellent Choice Credit Union, Rivermark Community CU sets itself apart as a truly innovative customer-centric community credit union.
By: Allan R Kirby
We review Credit Unions:
Mysmallbank.com feels compelled to find the best credit unions and community banks in order to write a small review. These reviews are to help you learn more about community banking, possibly one that's in your area that you might be interested in. In this review we are choosing the following local Credit Union:
Location: Beaverton, Oregon
Headquartered: 8505 SW Creekside PL
Branches: 8
Year Established: 1951
Review:
Rivermark Community Credit Union is a modern 8 branch customer centric credit union with a long history of providing high quality financial services to their members. We made the decision to take a closer look at this credit union after doing research on customers reviews, services offered as well as their modern approach in providing financial services. We think potential members will not be disappointed by making the decisions to bank at Rivermark Community CU.
Rivermark Community Credit Union currently has just over $1 billion in assets and nearly 86,000 members. ibanknet. Rivermark was founded in February 1951 by 140 grocery store employees who formed Safeway Portland Employees Federal Credit Union. In 2004, the credit union was approved for a community charter and changed its name to Rivermark Community Credit Union.
"I love it! Video Banking Beta at Rivermark Community Credit Union
Rivermark Community CU is a great example of how credit unions can stay relevant in the age of high tech and stiff competition from major banks. They're doing this by refreshing their branches to be much more customer centric as well as developing a modern approach to service delivery such as video banking. We also love Rivermarks Community CU approach to banking by offering a Free Checking Account. Yes, you can still find places that offer free banking and guess what, no hidden fees either. I like to highling this because I had a teller at a major bank once tell me there is no such thing as free banking. She was loud enough that every customer in the bank could hear but she was wrong.
We also took the time to review all of the customer reviews we could find on various websites not only from customers but employees as well. Overall given the size of the credit union, the types of complaints raised as well as the working experiences of employees, we could not find any issues with the credit union. In fact we found the credit union to be open and transparent in responding to problems and concerns. I would like to highlight that my major bank has never responded to my problems or concerns so I do appreciate when a financial institution does try.
Rivermark Community Fund
Finally we need mentioned that Rivermark Community CU truly thinks about the communities they serve by giving back through the Rivermark Community Fund which was
established in February 2016. The purpose of the Rivermark Community Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation is to provide grants to local nonprofit organizations that fit the credit unions mission to create sustainable, affordable, fair, and equitable housing.
Other Service offerings we highlight
The following highlights additional services we liked, at Rivermark Community Credit Union which include credit cards and savings accounts to help younger generations.
Credit Cards
We took a look at all the credit cards and found all three are perfect for members depending on their financial needs. The Savings secured Visa is of interest because the credit card helps people build their credit.
Rates as low as 5.40% APR
No annual fee or balance transfer fee
Earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases*
No annual fee or balance transfer fee
No annual fee
Build a positive payment history
Helping out the Younger Generations.
We were pleased to see Rivermark Community CU is providing banking services to younger members, with a Kids Savings account (ages 0-12) and Go Money for teens (ages 13-17) – both available at no cost to Rivermark members.
Free savings accounts
Easy to open
Perfect for kids and teens
Financial education focus
Dollar Dog Account
With a Dollar Dog Savings account, your child will have fun learning to save and you'll be teaching them to be financially responsible.
Helps children ages 0 to 12 have fun learning to save.
Earns higher interest than regular savings.
Unlimited transactions.
$5 minimum balance.
Go Money for Teens
Free checking, savings, and youth CD accounts help your teen become financially responsible.
Start saving with a Go Money Savings or Youth Certificate of Deposit.
Free checking with debit card.
Free Online and Mobile Banking.
Student Loans.
Rivermark Visa helps teens establish good credit.
Excellent Choice Credit Union
This is truly a great innovation credit union that provides a customer centric approach through their branches and technology. We firmly believe potential members, especially younger adults will like the approach the credit union has taken to improve the banking experience. Overall Mysmallbank.com believes Rivermark Community Credit Union is well deserved to receive the designation of Excellent choice, Credit Union. (Note 2). So if you're looking for a great community based credit union and you live or plan to live in the areas Rivermark Community CU operates this could be a great financial institution for you.
Finally we found that Rivermark Community Credit Union is a federally insured credit union through NCUA (Note 1) .
Who is Eligible
As per their website: Rivermark membership is available to anyone who lives or works in the Oregon counties we serve. Membership is also open to immediate family or domestic partners of existing members or of anyone residing in our eleven-county area. Immediate family includes spouse, parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles. This also includes half or step siblings, parents and grandparents.
The 11 counties we serve are:
Clackamas
Gilliam
Hood River
Marion
Multnomah
Polk
Sherman
Wasco
Washington
Wheeler
Yamhill
Membership is established by opening a Regular Shares savings account. There is a $5 minimum to open a Regular Shares Account and a $25 minimum deposit to open a Checking Account.
The following provides additional information on Rivermark Community CU services, branches as well as fees.
Services Offered:
Full Service Credit Union: Yes
Rivermark Community CU Routing Number: 323076012
Banking:
Checking
Savings
Youth Accounts
Business Accounts
Credit Union Loans:
Auto Loans
Credit Cards
Home Loans
Home Equity
Other Loans (Motorcycles, RVs and boats, personal loans).
Business Loans
Credit Cards: VISA
Rivermark CCU Online
Online and Mobile Banking: Yes
Rivermark Community CU Branch and Kiosk Locations:
2537 SE Hawthorne Blvd
Portland, OR 97214
2905 SW Cedar Hills Blvd
Beaverton, OR 97005
14985 SW Barrows Road
Beaverton, OR 97007
15963 SE Happy Valley Town Center Drive
Happy Valley, OR 97086
1058 Sleret Avenue
Gresham, OR 97030
1240 W 6th St.
The Dalles, OR 97058
501 Deschutes Avenue
Maupin, OR 97037
2414 Portland Road
Newberg, OR 97132
4875 SW Griffith Drive
Beaverton, OR 97005
8235 SW Tualatin-Sherwood Road
Tualatin, OR 97062
Fee Schedule:
Yes: Click Here
Are Credit Unions Better than Banks?
Credit Unions are local banks that provide financial services to smaller communities and tend to be better than major banks for a number of reason which include:
Better rates on savings accounts and certificates of deposits.
Competitive mortgage rates.
Fees tend to be lower at community banks.
Local deposits are used to make loans to local businesses.
Credit Unions tend to have a better understanding of the communities they serve.
Credit Unions tend to have a more personalized customer service experience and have higher customer satisfaction rates.
Credit Unions provide local jobs and support local charities.
Is my money safe in credit unions?
Yes, Your money is safe in credit unions, Credit unions are regulated financial institutions that are required to ensure their customers' deposits are insured in case of failure. Most credit unions in the USA are insured under The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) which insures customers deposits to a maximum of $250,000.00. [1]
Notes:
1. The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) is one of two agencies that provide deposit insurance to depositors in U.S. depository institutions. NCUA's standard maximum share insurance amount at $250,000.00.
2. Periodically Mysmallbank.com will name a credit union as a top choice (Top credit union) based on a number of criteria such as customer and employee reviews, complaints, satisfaction, growth, locations, brand and social responsibility. We only select the best credit unions, so they must meet minimum standards of excellences (Excellent Choice) in order to be reviewed by Mysmallbank.com
Note: We take care when looking at reviews, especially emotional charged negative reviews based on unique circumstances. These reviews may not accurately reflect the true experience you will receive when visiting a credit union.
In Review is a segment of the MySmallBank.com blog written by Allan R Kirby, who writes and produces Personal Finance articles and videos.
Disclosure: mysmallbank.com nor the author received any compensation from the mentioned credit union for this article. The article is our opinion only and is written to help readers learn more about local credit unions.