2018 RANKING & REVIEWS
BEST CREDIT UNIONS & BANKS IN LOUISVILLE, KY
Looking for a Better Banking Option in Louisville, KY? Check Out These Top 5, Plus 1 to Avoid
Louisville Residents: Have you been frustrated with poor customer service? Inconvenienced with short branch hours that end before you even get off work? Then it might be time to look into finding a new bank or credit union in Louisville, KY.
Known as the home of the iconic Louisville Slugger baseball bat, this city is also the largest in Kentucky. Because it’s located just across the Ohio River from Indiana, there are some unique considerations when choosing the best banks in Lousville, KY to open an account.
Award Emblem: Top 5 Best Banks & Credit Unions in Louisville, KY
One of those considerations is whether a particular credit union or bank in Louisville, Kentucky has locations in out of state towns, like Jeffersonville, IN; which is only 3 miles away.
In this ranking article, we’ll tell you all about the Top 5 Best Louisville, Kentucky Banks and Credit Unions, and why each gets high marks. We’ll also let you in on one that we recommend avoiding for the time being. By the end, you’ll have all the information you need to find a better bank or credit union in Louisille, KY (or have a “Plan B” when you need it.)
Top 5 Best Credit Unions & Best Banks in Louisville, KY (Plus 1 to Avoid) | 2018 Brief Comparison & Ranking
| Credit Union or Bank in Louisville, KY | Ratings |
| Fifth Third Bank | 5 |
| Jefferson County Federal Credit Union | 5 |
| Park Community Credit Union | 5 |
| Republic Bank | 5 |
| River City Bank | 3 |
| Louisville Federal Credit Union | 1 |
Table: Top 5 Louisville, Kentucky Credit Unions & Banks (Plus 1 to Avoid) | Above list is sorted by rating
Banks & Credit Unions in Louisville, KY FAQ | How to Shop for a New Bank
Even if you’re not quite happy with where you currently bank, it’s easy to put off shopping for a new Louisville, KY credit union or bank because of the hassle factor. Many people aren’t sure where to start or even what to look for.
Here are some quick tips to get you started finding a better bank in Louisville, KY:
- Choose about 3 to 4 other Louisville, Kentucky banks or credit unions to compare with your current one.
- Make a spreadsheet and compare things like checking/savings account fees, mobile banking tools, loan interest rates, perks/discounts, and convenience.
- Don’t forget to check the bank’s reputation by Google searching “name of bank reviews.”
- Check to see if they offer special discounts for opening more than one account (checking/savings/auto loan, for example).
- Visit a branch in person to check out the ambience and customer service.
- Many Louisville, Kentucky credit unions and banks have “switch kits” designed to make it easy to transfer all your accounts and bill payments over to them.
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Detailed Review – Top Ranking Best Credit Unions & Best Banks in Louisville, KY (and 1 to Avoid)
Below, please find a detailed review of each firm on our list of top Louisville, Kentucky credit unions and banks. We have highlighted some of the factors that allowed each bank or credit union in Louisville, KY 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
- Fifth Third Bank
- Jefferson County Federal Credit Union
- Park Community Credit Union
- Republic Bank
- River City Bank
- Louisville Federal Credit Union
See Also: Best Banks & Credit Unions in Philadelphia (and 2 to Avoid)
Fifth Third Bank Review
If you like a larger bank that has a regional footprint, then Fifth Third Bank in Louisville, KY is a great option. This bank in Louisville, Kentucky serves customers in 10 states and has over 1,200 full service locations.
Below are the highlights that make Fifth Third Bank stand out on this 2018 Ranking of Best Banks and Credit Unions in Louisville, KY.
Fifth Third Bank in Louisville, KY at a Glance:
- 39 branch locations in Louisville & surrounding areas
- They’ve made a $30 billion community support commitment
- Get a 0.25% rate discount when you move your auto loan to them
- Insurance & investment products
- Better Business Bureau A+ rating
Preferred Banking Program
You work hard for your money and the best banks in Louisville, KY should recognize that with some extras. Fifth Third Bank Louisville in KY does just that with their Preferred Program that delivers personalized banking that features investment guidance, insurance, lending solutions, and your own personal financial support team.
Other perks include high yield checking accounts, waived services fees, a complimentary safe deposit box, complimentary identity theft protection, and more.
Rating Summary
Fifth Third Bank Louisville, KY scored a top 5 in our 2018 Ranking of the Best Banks in Louisville, KY. They do a beautiful job of fitting into that perfect niche between banks that are too big or too small.
They’ve got a great reputation for their customer service and have some of the banking extras not generally found a smaller Louisville, KY credit union or bank. Their number of locations and presence in multiple states, also makes it easier to stay with them if you move away from Louisville.
Fifth Third Bank Louisville, KY also makes a rather large commitment to the communities they servce, and not just in this city. So when you bank with them, you know that your money is going into a bank that gives back to your community.
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Jefferson County Federal Credit Union Review
Looking to bank in Kentucky and Indiana? You’ll want to consider Jefferson County Federal Credit Union. It started in 1969 to serve the police department and now is open to those that live, work, worship, or attend school in Jefferson, Bullitt, Spencer, Shelby, Oldham, Henry or Trimble Counties in KY or the Indiana counties of Clark and Floyd.
Below are the highlights that make Jefferson County Federal Credit Union stand out on this 2018 Ranking of the Best Banks and Credit Unions in Louisville, KY.
Jefferson County Federal Credit Union at a Glance:
- 8 branch locations in Louisville & surrounding areas + part of CO-OP network
- Based in Louisville, Kentucky
- Free prescription drug card offer
- Auto loans as low as 2.49% APR
- Better Business Bureau A+ rating
$100 Bonus When You Refinance a Car Loan
Besides having an attractive rate for auto loans, starting at 2.49% APR, this is one of the Louisville, Kentucky credit unions that makes it pay to refinance with them. If you refinance your auto loan through Jefferson County Federal Credit Union, you get a bonus $100 VISA® gift card just for switching.
Rating Summary
While the outdated website design might be off-putting to some, we still felt that Jefferson County Federal Credit Union deserved a 5 as one of the top credit unions in Louisville, KY. It’s their outstanding customer reviews on their Facebook page that put them over the top.
Whether it’s an easy loan process or helpful and friendly tellers, people that bank at this credit union in Louisville, KY really love them. They also have some unique and helpful perks like a free prescription drug card that gives savings of up to 75% at over 54,000 pharmacies.
If you’re looking for hometown banking that treats you right, then this is absolutely one of the credit unions in Louisville, KY you’ll want to take a closer look at.
Related: Best Banks & Credit Unions in Chicago, IL (+2 to Avoid) | Ranking
Park Community Credit Union Review
Park Community Credit Union is another homegrown Louisville, KY credit union, being founded in the city in 1965 to serve the General Electric Appliance Park. Their membership has expanded significantly since that time and they serve residents in 18 counties across the Kentucky Bluegrass Region.
Below are the highlights that make Park City Credit Union stand out on this 2018 Ranking of Best Banks and Credit Unions in Louisville, KY ranking.
Park Community Credit Union at a Glance:
- 10 branch locations in Louisville & surrounding areas + part of CO-OP network network
- Ranked one of the 50 Best Performing Credit Unions in the U.S. by SNL Financial
- Mortgages as low as 3.50% APR
- Easy ClickSWITCH program to transfer automatic payments & deposits
- Better Business Bureau A+ rating
Love My Credit Union Rewards Program
Do you like discounts from places you shop every day? Then Park Community is one of the Louisville, Kentucky banks or credit unions you’ll want to consider. They’re part of the Love My Credit Union Rewards program that offers cash back and discounts with over 1,500 online retailers and places like Sprint and ADT.
Rating Summary
Park Community Credit Union scored a 5 on our ranking of the best banks in Louisville, KY. Customers praise their personable and friendly customer service. They are also one of the credit unions in Louisville, KY with the largest membership eligibility area, spanning 18 counties.
We were impressed that they include a “complaints” area on their website to invite customer feedback with a promise to address concerns. Their excellent ratings on multiple reviews websites illustrate that they work hard to keep their members happy.
Their loan rates are attractive and they have checking accounts with as high as 1.76% APR, making them one of the best credit unions or best banks in Louisville, KY to make a switch to for great savings and interest rates.
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Republic Bank Review
If you’re looking for a bank in Louisville, Kentucky that covers some of the smaller towns like Shelbyville and Elizabethtown, you’ll want to take a look at Republic Bank. Besides serving Kentucky and southern Indiana, they also serve the St. Petersburg, FL area.
Below are the highlights that make Republic Bank stand out on this 2018 Ranking of the Best Banks and Credit Unions in Louisville, KY.
Republic Bank in Louisville, KY at a Glance:
- 21 branch locations in Louisville & surrounding areas
- Access to over 85,000 no-fee nationwide ATMs
- Unsecured loans at as low as 7.876% APR
- Aircraft lending for new and used planes
- Better Business Bureau A+ rating
Credit Builder Program
Everyone hits bumps in the road at times, and Republic Bank is there to help. If you want to repair or build up your credit score, this is one of the Louisville, Kentucky banks where you can do that.
Their Credit Builder Loan & Savings Program guides you through the process by starting with a small loan. They put that into an interest-bearing CD so you can earn while you’re building your credit paying back the loan.
Rating Summary
Thanks to their unique offerings beyond what you find at any other credit union or bank in Lousville, KY, we rated Republic Bank a 5 on our list of the best banks in Louisville, KY.
By offering things like aircraft lending and a credit re-building program, they set themselves apart from other Louisville, Kentucky credit unions and banks and show that they think out of the box to serve their customers.
Another customer pleasing move is their extended Contact Center hours expanding phone customer service from 7:00 a.m. to midnight, 7 days a week.
Read More: NatWest Banking – Should You Use Its Services? A Complete Guide (Business, Mortgage & Review)
River City Bank Review
River City Bank is a locally-owned hometown bank in Louisville, KY. They are affiliated with several other banks in the region serving surrounding counties. They pride themselves on providing all the services of the “big banks” without unwanted fees or hassle.
Below are the highlights that make River City Bank stand out on this 2018 Ranking of Best Banks and Credit Unions in Louisville, KY ranking.
River City Bank at a Glance:
- 6 branch locations in Louisville & surrounding areas
- Construction, bridge and mortgage loans
- Free checking & interest-bearing checking options
- Wealth management through partnership with First Breckinridge Investments
- Better Business Bureau A+ rating
Checking Options for Any Size Account
Whether you’re just starting out and need a basic free checking account or keep a higher balance and would like to earn interest, River City Bank has you covered. This is a bank in Louisville, KY that offers four different levels of personal checking, the top level has interest rates that get better the larger your balance.
Rating Summary
River City Bank scored a high 3 on our list of the best banks in Louisville, KY. They get great marks from customers for excellent customer service. They do have fewer locations than other Louisville banks, and we’d like to see a few more offerings on their website.
But overall, they’re well respected throughout Kentucky and have lower fees than many other banks and credit unions in Louisville, KY or anywhere else.
If you like hometown banking and aren’t bothered by a few fewer branch locations, then River City Bank is someone you’ll want to take a closer look at for your financial management.
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Louisville Federal Credit Union Review
If there weren’t so many exceptional credit unions and banks in Louisville, this next financial institution might not have ended up as one we think you should avoid. Louisville Federal Credit Union has some very tight membership requirements, plus just 2 locations in the Louisville area.
Below are some of the adjustments we feel would help Louisville Federal Credit Union improve their ranking as a top bank or credit union in Louisville, KY in the future.
Expand Membership
As you’ve seen from two of our best picks above, many Louisville, Kentucky credit unions have location-based membership that spans across multiple counties, making it easy to bank with them.
However, this credit union in Louisville has stricter requirements than most. You have to be an employee or retiree of the federal government, one of their contract employees, or have an eligible family member.
Rating Summary
As one of the Louisville, Kentucky banks or credit unions we recommend bypassing for now, Louisville Federal Credit Union was scored a 1 on our list of the best credit unions and best banks in Louisville, KY.
If they expanded their membership and added more locations in the area, it would help them increase their popularity in the region. They’re already named for the city itself, so it would make sense in our minds for them to serve more of its residents.
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Conclusion – Banking Better with the Top 5 Best Credit Union or Best Bank in Louisville, KY
It never hurts to take stock of what you’re currently getting from your credit union or bank in Louisville, KY and compare that to what others are offering. You might find that you can come out ahead in several areas.
Kits that help you switch banks and extended customer support hours make it hassle free to move your banking these days. From loan rates to interest checking to credit rebuilding programs, the best banks in Louisville, KY are competing for your business and you can come out the clear winner in the end.
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