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Navy Federal Credit Union membership is limited so not everyone can join. But, if you're an active duty servicemember, veteran (no matter length of service), immediate family member, or a Department of Defense employee, you can join this military friendly credit union.
In this post:
Who can join Navy Federal?
For more than 90 years, NFCU provides financial support to the military, Veterans and their families. So, who’s eligible?
- Active Duty—including members of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard and Space Force
- Veterans—no matter how long you served, you’re in!
- Immediate Family Members—including spouses, siblings, parents, children, grandparents and grandchildren
- Department of Defense (DoD) employees
Delayed Entry Program (DEP), officer candidates of all branches, ROTC cadets and midshipmen, military academy cadets and midshipmen, DOD reservists, and annuitants of the VA or DOD are also all eligible.
Children and grandchildren of existing members can also be added as minor members by their parent, grandparents, or guardians.
Navy Federal Branches
While you never need to walk into a Navy Federal location, you have that option. Navy Federal is built from the ground up for a seamless online, and app-centric financial institution. But, NFCU also has 360 branches worldwide. This combines the best of mobile, online banking and in person interaction when you need it.
Locations include Italy, Spain, Japan, Bahrain, Guantanamo Bay, South Korea, and many US states. That means that even if you are stationed OCONUS, you probably will have access to a Navy Federal branch near your military installation.
Navy Federal Accounts
Navy Federal offers all the standard banking accounts: checking, savings, and certificates of deposit. They also offer the standard debt tools: auto loans, credit cards, mortgages, and home equity lines of credit.
A common setup for a military family might be direct deposit of your military pay check into your Free Active Duty Checking account. Then, you might have a savings account for your emergency fund. Finally, you might have a certificate of deposit (CD) to invest your house down payment that you're planning in a few years.
Free Active Duty Checking offers active duty or military retirees access to your military pay 1 business day early and no monthly fees.
You also can get up to $240 per year in ATM fee refunds. You can also deposit checks remotely through the Navy Federal mobile app, using your phone's camera.
Difference Between Credit Union and Bank
While deposits at banks are insured by the Federal Depository Insurance Corporation, credit unions are insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). This is also a US government agency and insures members savings and IRA funds up to $250,000.
Navy Federal has over $190 billion in assets and nearly 15 million members. It's a large organization but thanks to local branches and excellent customer support can still feel like a local, hometown credit union.
Support During Government Shutdowns
Navy Federal has consistently supported US military servicemembers and their families through government shutdowns. During the 2025 government shutdown, the longest in US history, 195,000 loans were dispersed worth more than $350 million. There was zero impact on member's credit history and no interest was charged.
How to Join Navy Federal
Joining Navy Federal couldn't be easier. You'll need a Social Security Number, a driver's license or government ID (military ID works), a current home address, and a credit card or bank account to fund your account. You'll start off with $5 Membership deposit.
The application process takes about 5 minutes and can be completed through the Navy Federal app on Apple App store or Google Play.