Police and Fire Federal Credit Union

 

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248

Kimberly P.

Philadelphia, PA

The Police and Fire Federal Credit Union is a great place to hold your money is you don't like traditional banks. As a credit union, PFFCU usually offers better interest rates and more personalized service. A great thing about it is that it's exclusive to police and firemen and their families. There aren't as many locations as a regular bank and definitely not as many ATM's but they online banking makes everything so much easier.

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Elite '08

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289

Kelly S.

Philadelphia, PA

If you want to avoid the impersonality and frustration of dealing with a large corporate bank (which is likely to change names several times in just a few years), then the Police and Fire Federal Credit Union is for you.  For me, choosing to do my banking through the PFFCU was a no-brainer.  My parents already had accounts there, and I knew that they had always had a positive experience with the credit union, whether it was for their banking needs or for auto and mortgage loans.  So I opened my first account with them I think when I was about 13 or so, and I have been a satisfied customer ever since.

I bank at the Grant & Academy Shopping Center branch.  It is clean, the tellers are all friendly, and the wait time is always minimal (even if the line is long).  There is also a convenient quick deposit box inside the bank, so, if you just want to deposit a check and don't want to wait in line, you just fill out an envelope, put your signed checks inside, put the envelope in the box, and your checks will be deposited into your account by the end of the business day.  They also have a coin sorting machine, where you can dump in your spare change and get a receipt, which you can take to the teller and exchange for cash or deposit into your account.  

They also have a convenient online banking service, which is extremely secure.  From their site, you can check your balance, pay bills, make account transfers, pay your credit card, make loan payments, etc.  It's a great tool for keeping your check book balanced and up-to-date.  

What I really like about this place is the personal service and reasonable interest rates.  The money market savings account (as opposed to the regular savings account - you can get both) has a pretty good interest rate (I think about 5%), and there are no crazy fees for things like overdrawing your account or using the ATM (wherever you draw out money - you just have to pay the fee for the bank where you're taking money out).  I usually take out money at Wawa, which doesn't have a fee, either, so that I don't have to pay any fees to withdraw my own money.  I also have a Visa card through them because their rates are reasonable, unlike the usurious rates of corporate bank-issued credit cards.  The credit union also offers auto loans, mortgages, educational loans, personal loans, etc., and they often have special deals on auto loans from time to time.  Overall, I've always been extremely happy with this bank, and I wouldn't switch to a big  bank for anything.

The PFFCU used to only service police officers, fire fighters, and their families, but they opened their doors to the general public a few years ago.  They also expanded their branches.  In addition to the main branch on Arch Street and the Grant & Academy branch that I frequent, they also have branches at 7500 Castor Ave., the City Avenue Shopping Center near Haverford Ave., the Andorra Shopping Center on Ridge Ave., a stadium branch on S. Broad St., a Leo Mall branch on Bustleton Ave., and, coming soon, a branch in Davisville.  Check out their services and locations on their website at: www.pffcu.org.  You won't regret it.

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