RANKING & REVIEWS
TOP RANKING CHARLOTTE BANKS & CREDIT UNIONS
6 Best Credit Unions & Best Banks in Charlotte, NC to Bank With (and 1 to Avoid)
The southern city of Charlotte, North Carolina has been ranked as one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the country. It’s the second largest city in the southeast and is home to an NFL team, NBA team, and the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
But sports isn’t the only thing this city is known for. It’s also known for being home to one of the best banks in Charlotte, NC and the nation, Bank of America. Charlotte has become a dominant financial center and has the third most banking assets of any U.S. city.
You may think that with those big Charlotte banks around, you’re going to have a have a hard time finding local credit unions in Charlotte, NC, but that’s not the case.
Award Emblem: Top 6 Best Credit Unions and Banks in Charlotte, NC
You have plenty of options for banking in this big city if you’re looking for the best credit union or best bank in Charlotte, NC for your needs. From large to small, they have them all.
Let’s get started reviewing our ranking of the top places to bank in the city of Charlotte. We’ll also take a brief look at how the Better Business Bureau does their ratings and then drill down into what makes these Charlotte, North Carolina credit unions and banks stand out.
Top 6 Best Credit Union and Banks in Charlotte, NC (Plus 1 to Avoid) | Brief Comparison & Ranking
| Top Charlotte, NC Banks & Credit Unions | Ratings |
| Bank of America | 5 |
| Charlotte Metro Credit Union | 5 |
| State Employees’ Credit Union | 5 |
| Truliant Federal Credit Union | 5 |
| Sharonview Federal Credit Union | 3 |
| SunTrust Bank | 3 |
| Blue Flame Credit Union | 1 |
Table: Top 6 Credit Unions & Banks in Charlotte, North Carolina (& 1 to Avoid) | Above list is sorted by rating
Charlotte Banks & Credit Unions FAQ | How Do the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Ratings Work?
When we’re ranking banks in various cities, such as the best credit unions and best banks in Charlotte, NC, one of the many references we use is the Better Business Bureau. They’re a well known and trusted source for setting standards for trust in the marketplace.
If you’re reviewing banks or credit unions in Charlotte, North Carolina on their website, you may be a little confused as to how their rankings work.
The difference with a BBB Accredited Business and one that is not is that accredited businesses have gone through a process to meet BBB accreditation standards, which includes resolving consumer complaints.
When the BBB gives a rating between A+ and F to a bank or credit union in Charlotte, NC or anywhere else, they use a number of data points for the rating, including:
- Customer satisfaction
- How they handle complaints
- Positive & negative customer reviews
- Time in business
- Government or licensing actions against a company
- Honesty in advertising
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AdvisoryHQ’s Selection Methodology
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Please click here “AdvisoryHQ’s Ranking Methodologies” for a detailed review of AdvisoryHQ’s selection methodologies for ranking top-rated credit cards, financial accounts, firms, products, and services.
Detailed Review – Top Ranking Best Credit Unions & Best Banks in Charlotte, NC (and 1 to Avoid)
Below, please find a detailed review of each firm on our list of top Charlotte, NC credit unions & banks. We have highlighted some of the factors that allowed each bank or credit union in Charlotte to score so highly in our selection ranking
Click on any of the names below to go directly to the review section for that firm.
- Bank of America
- Charlotte Metro Credit Union
- State Employees’ Credit Union
- Truliant Federal Credit Union
- Sharonview Federal Credit Union
- SunTrust Bank
- Blue Flame Credit Union
Bank of America Review
Bank of America is well-known as a best bank in Charlotte, NC because they’re headquartered there. They’re one of the largest banks in the country and serve 47 million individuals, families, and businesses in more than 35 countries.
Below are the highlights that make Bank of America stand out on this 2018 best banks & credit unions in Charlotte, NC ranking.
Bank of America Services at a Glance:
- 23 branch locations in Charlotte, North Carolina, & surrounding areas
- One of Fortune magazine’s 50 Best Workplaces for Parents
- Recognized by Euromoney with 11 awards for excellence in banking
- Investments through Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
- Better Business Bureau A- rating
Preferred Debit & Credit Card Rewards
Because of their size, Bank of America is able to offer some of the best debit and credit cards rewards in Charlotte, North Carolina. You can choose from cash back rewards, travel rewards, low interest cards, or earn points on personal or business cards to spend a number of ways.
Rating Summary
Bank of America is one of the few large banks that still has an excellent reputation for customer service, which is why they earned a 5 rating. They’re definitely one of the biggest and best banks in Charlotte, NC that works to maintain a great reputation.
Their investment division through Merrill Lynch offers a depth of experience and options that other Charlotte, NC banks just don’t have. And their breadth of banking options extend beyond personal banking to small and large businesses too.
Like a hometown bank that is also global? Then Bank of America is one of the best choices for Charlotte, North Carolina credit unions or banks in the city.
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Charlotte Metro Credit Union Review
This popular credit union in Charlotte, NC was founded by Charlotte’s first traffic engineer back in 1962. Today, Charlotte Metro Credit Union’s membership includes people that live, work, worship, or attend school in any of 10 counties throughout North & South Carolina.
Below are the highlights that make Charlotte Metro Credit Union stand out on this 2018 best banks & credit unions in Charlotte, NC ranking.
Charlotte Metro Credit Union Services at a Glance:
- 9 branch locations in Charlotte, North Carolina, & surrounding areas
- Named one of the Best Credit Unions to Work For by Credit Union Journal
- Ranked one of the Top 200 Healthiest Credit Unions by DepositAccounts.com
- Investments and insurance products
- Better Business Bureau A+ rating
Support for Business Needs
Charlotte Metro Credit Union is one of the Charlotte, NC credit unions that is friendly to small or medium businesses. They have multiple checking and savings account options to provide flexibility and value. Their business accounts also include eAlerts, online & mobile banking, night depository service, and more.
Rating Summary
We rated Charlotte Metro Credit Union a 5 on our list of the best banks or credit unions in Charlotte, NC. Customers note their excellent customer service as a reason they’re glad they switched from a big bank to this credit union in Charlotte.
Although they may be smaller than other Charlotte, North Carolina credit unions or banks, they still offer plenty of the services you expect. Such as, online and mobile banking, insurance, loans, and investments.
Their great service and helpful resources make Charlotte Metro Credit Union one of the top credit unions in Charlotte, North Carolina to consider for your banking needs.
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State Employees’ Credit Union Review
State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) was founded in 1937 in Raleigh, NC. It is one of the Charlotte, North Carolina credit unions that’s continued to grow since inception. It now serves over 2 million members and has over 255 total branch locations.
Below are the highlights that make State Employees’ Credit Union stand out on this 2018 Ranking of Best Banks & Credit Unions in Charlotte, NC.
State Employees’ Credit Union Services at a Glance:
- 8 branch locations in Charlotte, North Carolina, & surrounding areas
- Supports state, federal, & county employees throughout North Carolina
- Alerts & real-time account monitoring
- Estates & trusts
- Better Business Bureau A- rating
Auto Power Program
SECU is one of the Charlotte, NC banks or credit unions that makes new or used car shopping simple for their members. Their Auto Power Program facilitates both car reviews and shopping and securing a loan with fixed-rate financing for new vehicles for up to 96 months.
Rating Summary
State Employees’ Credit Unions gets stellar reviews across the board for being great to bank with on multiple review sites. We rated them a 5 on our 2018 Ranking of the Best Credit Unions & Banks in Charlotte, North Carolina even though their membership criteria is a little more difficult to quality for.
Most Charlotte, North Carolina credit unions have a requirement based upon where you live in addition to where you may work, but to quality for SECU, you need to work for one of the qualifying government agencies or be related to a member.
That being said, their excellent reviews and flexible banking products, still earn them a top rating as one of the best credit unions or banks in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Related: Commerce Bank Ranking & Review
Truliant Federal Credit Union Review
This next top credit union in Charlotte, NC was started in 1952 to serve the employees of Western Electric. Truliant Federal Credit Union now serves over 200,000 members throughout North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.
Below are the highlights that make Truliant Federal Credit Union stand out on this 2018 Ranking of the Best Banks & Credit unions in Charlotte, NC.
Truliant Credit Union Services at a Glance:
- 16 branch locations in Charlotte, North Carolina, & surrounding areas
- Awarded Desjardins Youth Financial Education Award & Dora Maxwell Social Community Service Award
- Offer over 4,500 shared branches through the CO-OP network
- Skip-A-Payment program
- Better Business Bureau A+ rating
TruFinancial Checkup
Need some help strengthening your finances and reaching your goals? Then Truliant is one of the best credit unions or best banks in Charlotte, NC to consider.
Their TruFinancial Checkup provides trusted experts to speak with for guidance on the best steps to you can take to reach your financial dreams.
Rating Summary
Truliant Federal Credit Union scored a 5 on our 2018 Ranking of the Best Credit Unions and Banks in Charlotte, NC. It’s easy to quality for membership, you only need to live in one of their service areas in NC, SC or VA. They’re also one of the larger Charlotte, NC credit unions if you like banking with a little larger, but not-for-profit financial institution.
This is a credit union in Charlotte, NC that makes it very easy to contact them. You can schedule an appointment right on their website or open an account online.
And if you like your credit union or bank of choice in Charlotte, NC to have perks like notary services and online calculators, you will not be disappointed with Truliant.
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Sharonview Federal Credit Union Review
Sharonview Federal Credit Union is another Carolinas-based best credit union in Charlotte that also has locations in New Jersey. It was started in 1955 by employees of the company, Celanese, and named for two neighboring roads in Charlotte, Sharon Road and Fairview Road.
Below are the highlights that make Sharonview Federal Credit Union stand out on this 2018 Ranking of Best Banks & Credit Unions in Charlotte, NC.
Sharonview Federal Credit Union Services at a Glance:
- 8 branch locations in Charlotte, North Carolina, & surrounding areas
- Part of the CO-OP Network of more than 5,000 shared branches
- Community involvement & scholarship programs
- Health savings accounts
- Better Business Bureau A+ rating
Short-Term CDs
Just because you may not have a lot of cash to leave in a CD for years, doesn’t mean you still can’t take advantage of this investment.
Sharonview is one of the credit unions in Charlotte, North Carolina that makes it easy. They have 7-month certificates with an APY of 1.0% and a 13-month CD with 1.50% APY.
Rating Summary
We gave Sharonview Federal Credit Union a high 3 on our Ranking of the Best Banks and Credit Unions in Charlotte, NC. The only thing keeping them from a higher score was a lack of few more dedicated branches. They currently have 17 branches across NC, SC, and NJ. A big plus is a that they are part of the CO-OP shared branch network.
If you like Charlotte, North Carolina credit unions and banks that give back to the local community, then you’ll appreciate this one. Besides awarding scholarships totaling $20,000 to 8 student members every year, they also make donations to community organizations.
If you’re all for finding a smaller, local credit union in Charlotte, NC to bank with, then Sharonview will definitely fit you perfectly.
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SunTrust Bank Review
This next best bank in Charlotte, NC traces its roots back to 1891, when it started as Commercial Travelers’ Savings Bank in Atlanta, GA. Today, SunTrust Bank is one of the country’s largest financial services companies that serves the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic states.
Below are the highlights that make SunTrust Bank stand out on this 2018 best banks & credit unions in Charlotte, NC ranking.
SunTrust Bank Services at a Glance:
- 13 branch locations in Charlotte, North Carolina, & surrounding areas
- Received a Corporate Social Responsibility Leadership Award from the Financial Services Roundtable
- Named as one of the Best-of-the-Best Corporations for Inclusion by the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
- Commercial & corporate services
- Better Business Bureau A+ rating
Loan Options to Fit Your Needs
Whether you need a home equity line of credit, a new auto loan, or money to cover your child’s education, SunTrust is one of the best banks in Charlotte, NC for plenty of loan options. You can even get a consumer loan for “almost anything” starting at 3.24% APR.
Rating Summary
We rated SunTrust Bank a 3 on our list of Best Credit Unions and Banks in Charlotte, NC. They’re a great choice if you’re looking for a mid-sized financial institution that fits in between large banks in Charlotte, North Carolina and the smaller Charlotte, NC credit unions. We did see a few issues with customer service, which is why they didn’t get a perfect score in this Charlotte banks ranking.
SunTrust is a great choice for a regional bank that has award-winning loan services and plenty of free checking account options. So if you’re looking for a great southern-based pick in your search of the best banks and credit unions in Charlotte, NC, you’ll want to take a look at them.
Related: First Niagara Bank Review | (Online Banking, Lending, Accounts Review)
Blue Flame Credit Union Review
Now it’s time for us to tell you which of the Charlotte, NC banks or credit unions we recommend you avoid for the time being. With only two locations in the Charlotte, NC area and intermittent online banking network issues, Blue Flame Credit Union is one to bypass for now.
Below are some of the improvements we feel would help Blue Flame Credit Union earn a better spot on our best banks in Charlotte, NC ranking in the future.
Open More Dedicated Branches
Blue Flame Credit Union is one of the Charlotte, North Carolina credit unions that’s part of the CO-OP network, which helps expand their reach. However, having just two dedicated locations, one of them being a Satellite branch, doesn’t show a big commitment to serving members.
Rating Summary
As a credit union in Charlotte we recommend avoiding until they improve in a few areas, we rated Blue Flame Credit Union a 1 in our 2018 Ranking of the Best Banks & Credit Unions in Charlotte, NC.
Besides the severe lack of dedicated branch locations, they also have a lack of any type of online reviews, both positive and negative. If they dedicated some time and effort to asking customers to post some positive online reviews, it would go a long way toward improving a future best banks in Charlotte, NC position.
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Conclusion – Top 6 Best Charlotte, North Carolina Credit Unions & Banks (Plus 1 to Avoid)
Charlotte, North Carolina has grown into a major financial capital in the U.S. with the help of large players in the banking industry, like Bank of America. However, it’s also important to note that they also offer top smaller banks & credit unions in Charlotte, NC to trust with your financial future.
A unique aspect of this city is that they have a “Goldilocks” answer if you’re looking for the best banks in Charlotte, NC to use. Meaning, whether you like your bank big, small, or medium sized, you can easily find one fits you just right in this town.
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