Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU) personal loans review
DCU personal loans isn't available on Finder right now.
- Max. Loan Amount
- $100,000
- APR
- 9.24% to 18%
- Min. credit score
- Not stated
Our verdict
Open-ended financing tailored to your needs with discounts for some members.
Digital Federal Credit Union is ideal for parents looking to take out a personal loan for their own needs, as well as to help cover the cost of school for their child. It's one of the only personal loan providers that allows you to use the funds for college expenses.
Plus, it offers an extremely wide range of loan amounts — from just $200 all the way up to $100,000. And it doesn't charge any origination fees.
But rates start relatively high. And you'll need to become a member of the credit union after you apply if you decide to take out the loan.
Don't think DCU is right for you? Compare your other options below.
Pros
-
Autopay rate discount of 0.5%
-
No origination fee
-
Loans can be used for college expenses
Cons
-
Must become a member of the credit union
-
Relatively high starting APR
-
Pricey late and returned payment fees
Details
Product details
| Min. Loan Amount | $200 |
| Loan Amount | $100,000 |
| APR | 9.24% to 18% |
| Interest Rate Type | Fixed |
| Min. credit score | Not stated |
| Loan term | Up to 5 years |
| Turnaround Time | 1 to 2 business days |
Contact info
| Phone number | 800-328-8797 |
| Customer service hours | 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. ET, Saturday |
| @DCUcreditunion | |
| @DigitalFederalCreditUnion |
How much will this loan cost me?
DCU personal loans come with rates that run from 9.24% to 18% APR. There’s no origination fee, but you might have to pay a fee of $25 to $35 if you miss a repayment.
You can borrow between $200 and $100,000 with terms as long as five years. Use the calculator below to see how much a DCU personal loan might cost you, based different loan amounts, terms and rates.
Monthly repayments calculator
Calculate how much you could expect to pay each month| Your loan |
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| Loan amount |
| $ |
| Loan terms (in years) |
| |
| Interest rate |
| % |
Fill out the form and click on “Calculate” to see your estimated monthly payment.
or
Compare business loans nowBased on your loan terms
| Principal | $ |
|---|---|
| Interest | $ |
| Total Cost | $ |
How does it work?
Not everyone can qualify for a 9.24% to 18% or $100,000 loan. The minimum rate includes a 0.5% APR discount that’s only available to Plus or Relationship Checking members who sign up for autopay.
Even if you qualify for the rate discount, you need near-perfect credit and a low debt-to-income ratio to qualify for the lowest rate and highest loan amounts.
DCU now offering deferment on new loans
DCU has started offering the option to defer payments for up to 60 days on all loans made after March 25, 2020. This option was announced in response to the coronavirus outbreak and is available until further notice.
However, interest still adds up as soon as your loan is disbursed, so make payments if you can. Otherwise you’ll end up with higher monthly payments and a larger loan amount than you originally signed up for.
What do I need to qualify?
DCU doesn’t have many hard eligibility requirements to apply for a personal loan. You just need to live in the US and join DCU before or after you apply. To be eligible for membership, you must meet one of the three following criteria:
You can find a list of eligible employers, organizations, communities and condo associations on DCU’s website.
What information do I need to apply?
You will need a few basic pieces of information to complete a personal loan application:
- Social Security number
- Date of birth
- Member number (optional)
You may need to submit proof of income, employment or residence after DCU processes your initial application.
Pros
- Funds can be used for college
- No origination fee
- Wide range of loan amounts
- Live chat on website
Cons
- Not much information available online
- Lowest rates only available to Plus and Relationship members
- Must become a DCU member to borrow
See other personal loan providers
What is the Finder Score?
The Finder Score crunches 6+ types of personal loans across 50+ lenders. It takes into account the product’s interest rate, fees and features, as well as the type of loan eg investor, variable, fixed rate – this gives you a simple score out of 10.
Is DCU legit?
Yes, DCU is a federal credit union, meaning that it has to meet standards set by the National Credit Union Association (NCUA) — like charging no more than 18% interest on loan products.
It uses SSL encryption to protect any information you send through its website. And it doesn’t share your information with other companies for anything other than everyday business purposes.
DCU reviews and complaints
| BBB accredited | No |
|---|---|
| BBB rating | A |
| BBB customer reviews | 1.4 out of 5 stars, based on 25 customer reviews |
| Trustpilot Score | 2.8 out of 5 stars, based on 6 customer reviews. |
| Customer reviews verified as of | 19 October 2020 |
DCU only has a handful of online reviews and most are complaints about its poor customer service. However this doesn’t mean you’ll necessarily have a bad experience. Most customers write reviews when they’re extremely pleased with or angry with a company.
How do I apply?
You can apply online, over the phone or in person at your local branch. Here’s how to start your online application:
- Go to the DCU website and navigate to thePersonal loanspage. ClickApply now.
- Follow the directions to complete the online form with your personal information, including Social Security number.
- Select eitherContinue with coapplicantorContinue without coapplicant.
- Review and submit your application.
What happens after I apply?
DCU will reach out to you with an offer and request documentation, typically within 24 hours. After you submit your documents and any additional information — and are approved — you will be able to review and sign your loan documents.
How do repayments work with DCU personal loan?
You can repay your loan several ways but you might want to consider signing up for automatic repayments so you don’t have to take the time to pay off your loan each month. If you have a Plus or Relationship Checking Account signing up for autopay can get you a hefty 0.5% discount off your APR.
If you notice any mistakes in your account or have any questions, reach out to DCU customer service by calling 800-328-8797. And if you won’t be able to make a repayment, get in contact as soon as possible. Otherwise, you may have to pay a late or returned payment fee of $25 to $35.
Want to learn about more lenders? Check outour credit union loans guideor visitour personal loans pageto learn more about how borrowing works in general.
Frequently asked questions
Personal loan ratings
DCU personal loans is not currently available on Finder
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