A+ Federal Credit Union

I honestly do not know what branch my loan is at. All I know is recently my wife and I switched duties on doing the bills. A+ does not send out loan statements so eventually after I took over I got a call stating I was late and I needed to make two payments to get caught up. I admit there is a possibility I did not understand exactly what the collections dept. was saying but regardless I made two payments thinking I was caught up. I was told if I work with them, they will work with me and I won’t get a negative mark on my credit report. Well surprise! I received a negative remark on my report. So I called back the woman who I spoke to would not help in any way shape or form. Her only response was that I should do the automatic draw from my account. Maybe I’m old school but I just to like nor trust when banks have the ability to draw funds from my account. I agree I have capability here, but don’t bullshit me with «hey we are good guys here» and «we are here to help you». All they want is what they want and will screw you over in the process. Do not trust anything they say!!!

Avoid this credit union. They do not disclose BEFORE you sign up all of the loopholes. Like your paycheck will be held for 7 to 10 business days for months before it goes into your account the day you deposit. If you find in the first 180 days that you don’t like this credit union and want to cancel your account, they will make you pay for the option to get away from them. They put a hold on money (not a check, but money) when you make your opening deposit. We opened a week ago and they are holding cash for ten days. Avoid these frauds at all costs. We are going to have to pay to get our money back and we never even used any of their services. THIEFS.

I recently paid off a loan I had through this credit union. This not-​so-​great review isn’t aimed at the people (they were nice enough), but the credit union’s processes.
I went to their website (which apparently uses proprietary time traveling technology to be hosted on Geocities in 1996) to get my loan pay-​off amount. There was a disclaimer stating that it was an estimated amount and that I should speak with a teller for the real amount (why the website doesn’t simply map to the same data source the teller looks at is beyond me).
Since I waited on hold for twelve minutes with the credit union earlier in the day (before I knew I needed to ask for this), I impulsively threw caution to the wind and paid what the website told me. Well, I was two bucks short (and they charge $ 3.50 to make a payment online which is also mysterious since I’m now paying to do the work of their teller for them… so maybe it’s a role playing charge), so I called and waited on hold for over ten minutes again to be told that it would cost $ 7.50 to make my two dollar payment over the phone. Oh cool. I declined the offer to pay them two convenience fees for me to pay off my loan.
I used the website’s Contact form to ask that one of the fees be waived and was sent an encrypted PDF as a response, which I had to go to their website and create another, different password to access. Super convenient, but Geocities has rules, I guess. It said I can print out a request to close my account and send it to them but I still owe them two bucks. At this point, I become convinced that the bank is run by the «I want my two dollars» kid from Better Off Dead.
I went to the local branch because this was getting ridiculous in a hurry. The teller was able to take my two dollars but informed me that I’d have to speak with a banker to close my savings account. My savings account that I was unaware of. When I took out my car loan, they were kind enough to surreptitiously take ten dollars from me and put it in a secret savings account and somehow not allow me to apply that to the two dollars I owed them. I guess this is done to force you to explain why you’re leaving them and give them a chance to change your mind by holding up a boombox and playing Peter Gabriel’s «In Your Eyes» because the banker is John Cusack from one of his other movie roles because of course he is.
So in the end, John Cusack watched Nicholas Cage smoosh John Malkovich’s head in a pneumatic press while Con Air flew overhead. It was a disappointing ending to a loveless banking affair. I wouldn’t watch the sequel.

The credit union overall is fine, I have few complaints. This review is for this location.
The wait is a

My review is primarily regarding their loan department.
We’ve been with A+ for about 8 years now due to my wife being a teacher and having set up our main account with them. I’ve been with different credit unions for decades now and have always preferred them over banks. Until now.
I’ve been through the loan process with A+ three times and every time has been an absolute nightmare.
The first time I went in for pre-​approval knowing exactly what vehicle I was looking for. I gave A+ the general info they needed and they pre-​approved the loan and gave me the terms. Great. I found the exact vehicle I’d pre-​approved for in Corpus Christi and drove all the way down to test drive it and decided to go ahead with the purchase. It was the same year range/​price range/​mileage range as the pre-​approval info. I went back in to finalize the loan and they increased the monthly payment by almost $ 150/​mo. I was so mad I cancelled the whole thing.
The second loan went through at the agreed upon terms but took over 2 ½ weeks for them to complete. I quite literally had to do ALL of the legwork calling the sellers credit union to request paperwork then call A+ and ask them to check their fax and complete the paperwork with each step of the process. They made zero effort through the entire process including never once calling me to let me know the status at any given time. I had to call on an almost daily basis and almost lost the vehicle due to the seller being understandably fed-​up with waiting.
The most recent loan process was the same way, no effort on their part to communicate any information whatsoever.
Since my wife set up the account through her work her name shows as ‘primary’, which would be fine… Except that if your name is considered ‘secondary’ on the account you have very few privileges. I can deposit and take out money and that’s about it. Spouses can’t apply for a loan under their own name and must be cosigned for by the account ‘primary’ even though my whole paycheck has been going in there for 8 years. It’s very insulting and a poor business practice.
I’m strongly considering changing my direct deposit to a different credit union altogether.
Very poor marks for A+ Federal.

This is a copy of an email I sent to the member support address.
Dear A-​Plus FCU,
I want to thank Raul for his persistance. He sent several versions of a PDF to two separate email accounts. Sadly, I couldn’t open any of them without being prompted for a password neither Raul or I knew. Yes, I changed my password twice online, still no dice.
This document is supposed to show proof of ownership. It is still insufficient. It doesn’t show the date the loan was paid off (2÷5÷14) nor does it have a signature. Perhaps the PDF Raul sent me several times contained this information. Due to some technical challenges, I could never open the document so I will never know.
I give up. I will wait for the hard copy to come in the mail, assuming it ever shows. The orginial title never did so I hold no expectations of ever seeing this document either.
I feel like I held up my end of our contract. You know, the one where I pay the note every month, you hold on to the title and in the end I get it to show that I was a good borrower.
I also expected A Plus FCU to have a modicum of customer service. The ladies that answer the phones are alway happy and cheerful and very willing to assist. Raul, too, did an excellent job, as near as I can tell. However, whoever the person is who answers the «I have put a note in your file to have the loan department call you» messages, should be fired. I NEVER recieved a call from that person.
I pay off the loan, you send the tile to the address on file. Fair enough. However, when it gets returned because I no longer live there, how about some customer service and a phone call. «Mr. Fontenot, your title was returned to sender. Where would you like us to send it?» But no. I wait and wait. Finally I call to find this out from the nice lady who answered the phone, Michelina, I think. So, I send the change of address form and wait some more… no title. I call again. «Yeah…, we never got that.» So I send the change of address form again and wait some more… no title.
It must have been lost in the mail, you say. I STRONGLY doubt it.
So here I am still waiting. I pray that something arrives in the mail so I can give it to the VERY PATIENT person who bought the dang ATV in NOVEMBER 2013. I also pray that I never have to call A Plus Federal Credit Union, formerly Teachers Federal Credit Union, ever, ever again.
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A Follow-​up: I got a phone call from an underling. They are going to send me a copy of the title. Not one person in management ever bothered to contact me. Buyer and Borrower beware!

I Have been banking here for approximately 10 years. I would not recommend using them for your banking needs. I most often use the location in Pflugerville. The drive thru at this location is incredibly slow. I do not care for their website even though they have updated it several times during my time as a member. I find it outdated even though it is brand new and not intuitive. It is difficult to use and they do not have 24 hour customer service to assist you during times when the website is not working or if you get locked out. Make sure you don’t forget your password after hours because there is no one to help you! Changing banks is such a hassle and I planned to change several times without finding the time to go in and close my account. One of these days I will switch banking institutions because of how frustrated I am with my experience with a plus Federal Credit Union. But do yourself a favor and find another institution to use.
UPDATE
The branch manager from my local branch contacted me to personally discuss my concerns. She discussed her desire to improve the wait time after branch and noted some solutions they will be trying. I appreciated the personal gesture and feel that this is one of the benefits of using a local banking institution. I will continue to update with any improvements I see.

Since I was off Friday I went to put my fiancée’s check in. We’ve done this a dozen times without a problem. This time the teller said she filled it out wrong and would not do the transfer. I could a) put it in the night box which they wouldn’t touch until monday, b) put it in as is (which I did), c) make a special trip (which we ended up doing on Saturday so she could give me my money out of her check. I said «why dont you call her… with the number you have on her account» which the teller refused to do. However if she had called in they would do it… for $ 3! She said we could do it online, but you have to both go in together to sign up. Wasn’t allowed to talk to a supervisor, either. Plus, they have no locations in west austin which has become a pain for us. I had a similar problem once before and stuck around. I’ve been with them for 7 years and once my checks clear, I’m done.

We’ve been banking at this institution since it’s name was Teacher’s Credit Union. Their rates tend to be better than all banks I’ve investigated, and the personnel-​well, we’ve gotten great service. And I’ve noticed that the employees seem to stay with this institution a long time.
When I became executor of my mother-in-law’s accounts she banked at Wells Fargo; they made numerous promises about not charging fees, but every month there was another issue. We closed that account and moved her assets to APlus. Everything went very easily from that time onward– no issues, even when we had to set up an estate account, they were very helpful because we had no idea what we were doing. APlus’s website now includes a free link to watch over their patrons’ credit scores– it varies each month and will show whether the score has gone up or down.
I am not a fan of the website as it requires password changes every six months or so and I tend to forget them easily.
This credit union has also been voted one of the top employers in Austin– I like knowing that places I patronize treat their employees well.

I been with A+ since 1990’s their service and customer service is the best, it is only lately they move to a «new» ebill payment system that is the worse, the old one was simple, accurate not too many click here and click there to get to the schedule payment window, the new system is difficult to navigate, some of my electronic bill payments now are «check» only, therefore couple of my payments are been late.
in my experience too many bells and whistles are not always the best for most people.
Please make simple and got back to the old system.

This is my bank. I love them. Others have tried to lure me away with their fancy promises of air miles, cash, gift cards, etc. but I don’t stray.
Their customer service is outstanding.
Their online banking is soooo easy.
Their online bill pay is awesome.
Their loan department is understanding and very helpful in all situations.
Their Christmas Loan (usually $ 1000) has made so many Christmas’ doable.
They are probably the most kid friendly bank I’ve ever dealt with.
Locations all over, free CU ATMs all over, free checking, etc. etc.

My mother had an account with a 24 month CD at A+. When she died, I decided to wait until the CD matured to cash it in, to avoid penalties. I went to a branch with her death certificate and signed paperwork to transfer the account to my name, about 3 months after her death. About two months later, I realized I was wasn’t getting any statements from her account. I called and found out it was set up for online access. When I requested mailed paper statements, I was told that my mother had to call to make the change. I explained that she was dead. Hmmm. Embarrassed silence. Well, could I send them a death certificate? I obliged, along with the letters testamentary, designating me as her executor. I then had to call again, to get the statements sent out. Fast forward 6 months to today. I just received a «courtesy» phone call, asking to speak to my mother, to notify her that the CD is maturing in 10 days. … Hmmm… another embarrassed silence when I informed the caller that she is [still] dead. Oh, after some digging, the caller found that noted in the file. Somehow, I don’t want to keep my money in a credit union that can’t keep track of who is dead and who is alive. I’m just picky that way.

I love using their website to check my account. Always friendly service. I’ve been with this bank for twenty three years and i never received any telemarketing calls or junk mail like they send from other banks.

I never liked banks, the whole for-​profit thing at the expense of bankers. I have always preferred credit unions. You know, for the people by the people. And all realized profits go to enhance services for members.
That is true of A+ FCU, formerly Austin Area Teachers Federal Credit Union. Very much an Austin-​centric institution. I do my checking and have savings here. They have financed cars for us as well.
They have all the services associated with banks to include on-​line banking MINUS THE FEES!
They are part of a network of credit unions that allow you to perform many transactions at affiliated credit unions. Any ATM at an affiliated credit union can be accessed without a fee. So it’s like your credit union is all over the place.
Once you go credit union you never go back. At least I won’t.