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Zia Credit Union Review: Overall Rating
| Feature | Insider rating (out of 5) |
| Savings | 3.75 |
| Checking | 4 |
| Share certificate | 3.75 |
| Trustworthiness | 5 |
| Total | 4.13 |
Zia Credit Union Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
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About Zia Credit Union
Zia Credit Union is a Hispanic American-led institution in New Mexico. It has a branch in Los Alamos, Espanola, and Santa Fe. You can use ATMs in the CO-OP and CU Anytime networks around the US for free.
Lobbies are open Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. MT; Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. MT (except for the first Tuesday of the month, when they open at 8 a.m.); and Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Branches are closed on the weekend.
To become a member, you must live, work, or worship in Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, Pojoaque, or Santa Fe Counties. You may also join if you're related to someone who is a member or if you used to be a member. You'll need to open a
Zia works with Kasasa, a financial company that partners with small banks and credit unions to offer competitive products. Through Zia, you can open a Kasasa high-yield savings or checking account, cash-back checking account, or checking account that refunds up to $10 per month in Amazon, Apple, and Google Play purchases. You'll have to meet certain qualifications to earn Kasasa rewards, such as making 12 debit card transactions each month.
The Zia mobile app doesn't have many online reviews yet. So far, the app has 4.8 out of 5 stars in the Apple store, and 4.8 out of 5 stars in the Google Play store.
Your deposits are federally insured by the NCUA for up to $250,000, or up to $500,000 for joint accounts.
Is Zia Credit Union Trustworthy?
Zia Credit Union does not have any public controversies.
The Better Business Bureau gives Zia an A+ rating. A strong BBB grade indicates that a company responds effectively to customer complaints, advertises honestly, and is transparent about business practices.
A good BBB score doesn't guarantee that you'll have a smooth relationship with a company, though. You may still want to ask friends and family about their experiences with Zia, or read online customer reviews.
The Role of Hispanic American-led Institutions
Many Hispanic American banks and credit unions provide services in both English and Spanish. There is a history of racial prejudice in banking and lending, specifically among Hispanic Americans, so working with a Hispanic American institution can help eliminate unfair bias.
Some of these institutions make it possible to open accounts if you are an immigrant or non-US citizen. Zia Credit Union does require a Social Security number to open an account, but you can see a list of banks that accept applications from immigrants and noncitizens without SSNs.
Zia contributes to the local community by donating to and volunteering at organizations such as Crisis Center of Northern New Mexico, UNM Children's Hospital, and New Mexico Wildlife Center. The credit union also provides college scholarships to local high school students.
Zia Credit Union Bank Account Reviews
Zia Credit Union Share Savings Account
Zia Credit Union Basic Checking Account
To waive the
If you want something more robust than a basic checking account, Zia also has Kasasa accounts. Choose from a high-yield or cash-back checking option, or one that refunds a certain amount in Apple, Google Play, and Amazon purchases.
Zia Credit Union Share Certificate
Zia Credit Union pays solid rates on share certificates, but it doesn't compound interest. This limits how much you will earn compared to the best CD rates at other banks that compound daily or monthly.
How Zia Credit Union Compares
Zia Credit Union vs. Guadalupe Credit Union
If you can make at least 12 debit card transactions each month, you may prefer Zia Credit Union for checking and savings accounts. Zia partners with Kasasa to offer high-yield and cash-back accounts, but you need to make 12 purchases every month to earn rewards.
You might like Guadalupe Credit Union if you don't qualify for Kasasa accounts through Zia, though. Guadalupe CU offers compound interest on their regular accounts, while Zia only compounds interest on Kasasa accounts. Compounding interest helps you earn more over time.
Zia Credit Union vs. Community 1st Bank Las Vegas
Choosing between Zia Credit Union and Community 1st Bank Las Vegas may depend on whether you favor credit unions or banks. To join Zia Credit Union, you or a family member must live, work, or worship in Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, Pojoaque, or Santa Fe Counties. Community 1s Bank Las Vegas doesn't have any requirements to join.
You'll also want to consider which types of bank account you'd like to open.
Zia Credit Union notably has a savings account that doesn't charge any monthly service fees. At Community 1st Bank Las Vegas, you'll have to meet certain requirements to waive a
If you'd like to open a money market account, though, Community 1st Bank Las Vegas will have to be your default option because Zia Credit Union doesn't offer one.
Community 1st Bank Las Vegas Review
Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed Zia Credit Union
At Personal Finance Insider, we rate savings, checking, CD, and money market accounts using our banking methodology and CD methodology.
Each account receives a rating between 0 and 5. We evaluate a bank's ethics, customer service, and mobile app for all accounts. We also consider different features for specific types of bank accounts. For example, we look at overdraft fees for checking accounts and early withdrawal penalties for CDs.