2018 RANKING & REVIEWS
BEST TUCSON CREDIT UNIONS AND BANKS
Look for Better Rates at These 7 Best Banks & Top Credit Unions in Tucson (+ 1 to Avoid!)
Tucson, Arizona sits in the Arizona Sun Corridor, South of Phoenix and just North of the Mexico border. When they’re not basking in the 350 sunny days per year in this city, people are working, going to school, and of course doing their day-to-day banking.
One of the biggest reasons people choose a particular bank or credit union in Tucson is because they offer attractive rates. When getting a home or auto loan, a few percentage points off can mean thousands of dollars saved.
Likewise, great interest rates on CDs and checking or savings accounts at Tucson, AZ banks and credit unions can help you make more money from what you already have much faster.
Award Emblem: Top 7 Best Banks & Credit Unions in Tucson, AZ
We’ve taken a look at banks of all sizes in Tucson, Arizona to get to our list of what we feel are the 7 best. For each best bank and best credit union in Tucson, we’ve looked at both savings and loan rates, customer service ratings, and more.
There’s also one of the banks in Tucson, Arizona we found that we think you may want to avoid until they improve upon a few things. Our list includes all sizes of banks in Tucson, from small to large, so our FAQ compares the benefits of each.
Top 7 Best Tucson Credit Unions & Banks (& 1 to Avoid) | Brief Comparison & Ranking
| Banks and Credit Unions in Tucson | 2018 Ratings |
| National Bank of Arizona® | 5 |
| Pima Federal Credit Union | 5 |
| Vantage West Credit Union | 5 |
| Wells Fargo | 5 |
| Bank of Tucson | 3 |
| Hughes Federal Credit Union | 3 |
| Tucson Federal Credit Union | 3 |
| First Convenience Bank | 1 |
Table: Top 7 Best Credit Unions & Banks in Tucson (& 1 to Avoid) | Above list is sorted by rating
Tucson, AZ Banks | AdvisoryHQ FAQ | Big Banks in Tucson or Small? What are the Benefits of Each?
A choice everyone faces when deciding to choose from Tucson credit unions or banks is whether to go big or small (or in-between). All bank sizes have their advantages and disadvantages.
Whether you travel or move around a lot or like to have a long-term personal relationship with your Tucson credit union or bank are just a few factors to be considered when looking for that perfect match.
Here are a few benefits of each size of bank:
- Larger banks have more locations, often throughout the entire US
- Smaller banks tend to be more community support oriented
- Larger banks have less chance at being bought out by another bank
- Smaller banks are often known for great “hometown” customer service
- Larger banks may offer more credit card rewards programs
- Smaller banks, especially credit unions, have more freedom with their rates
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AdvisoryHQ’s Selection Methodology
What methodology does AdvisoryHQ use in selecting and finalizing the credit cards, financial products, firms, services, and products that are ranked on its various top-rated lists?
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 Banks & Credit Unions in Tucson (& 1 to Avoid)
Below, please find a detailed review of each firm on our list of the best Tucson banks and credit unions. We have highlighted some of the factors that allowed these best credit unions and best banks in Tucson 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.
- National Bank of Arizona®
- Pima Federal Credit Union
- Vantage West Credit Union
- Wells Fargo
- Bank of Tucson
- Hughes Federal Credit Union
- Tucson Federal Credit Union
- First Convenience Bank
See Also: Best Banks & Credit Unions in Fort Worth | Ranking
National Bank of Arizona® Review
The National Bank of Arizona® is part of ZB, N.A., which operates nearly 500 branches across 11 western U.S. states. It’s been serving customers for over 30 years and strives to be a full-service regional bank that supports the local community.
Below are the highlights that make National Bank of Arizona® stand out on this 2018 best Tucson credit unions and banks ranking.
Benefits of National Bank of Arizona® in Tucson at a Glance:
- 20 locations in Tucson, Arizona & surrounding areas
- Interest-earning checking with minimum $50 deposit
- Auto loans starting at 3.60% APR
- Ranked #1 Bank by Arizona Magazine
- Better Business Bureau (BBB) A+ rating
Award-Winning Reputation
If you’re more comfortable trusting Tucson, AZ banks that have tons of accolades, then you’ll want to consider National Bank of Arizona®. They have multiple awards and recognitions for excellent customer satisfaction and service from both regional and national publications.
Rating Summary
While there are a few negative reviews out there, mainly due to quirks with the online banking, most by far are positive. Long-time customers appreciate their great customer service and convenience. We scored National Bank of Arizona® a 5 as one of the best banks in Tucson.
With 20 locations in the area, they are one of the more convenient banks in Tucson, Arizona. The multiple awards they have over the years speaks to their focus on personal customer service. They also have some very decent loan rates when compared to other Tucson, AZ banks.
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Pima Federal Credit Union Review
Pima Federal Credit Union was started in 1951 when sixteen teachers pooled their money to help people with their finances. To be eligible to join, you either need to work for Signature Partners, which are a group of independent companies, or be an employee or volunteer at any non-profit in Pima County.
Below are the highlights that make Pima Federal Credit Union stand out on this 2018 best Tucson credit unions and banks ranking.
Benefits of Pima Federal Credit Union in Tucson at a Glance:
- 7 locations in Tucson, Arizona & surrounding areas
- Fixed rate personal loans starting at $500
- Auto loans starting at 1.99% APR
- 12-month share certificates at 0.40% APY
- Better Business Bureau (BBB) A+ rating
They Put Relationships Over Transactions
On their About Us page, Pima Federal Credit Union mentions that they care most about forming long-lasting relationships with their members. You can see this illustrated when you read their online reviews stating the bank and people that work there are “very friendly and nice” and that people love them.
Rating Summary
Due to the many happy members and praise they get from both new and long-time customers, Pima Federal Credit Union earned a 5 as one of the best credit union in Tucson. They are also part of the CO-OP shared branch network, which greatly increases available branches and ATMs nationwide.
They have some very attractive loan rates and flexibility for both small or larger loans. They’re also one of the Tucson credit unions with transparent rates that you can view for both loans and savings on their website.
Related: Great Banks & Credit Unions in Indianapolis, IN | Ranking
Vantage West Credit Union Review
Vantage West Credit Union was started in 1955 at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. Since then, they’ve grown to serve both military and civilian members. Anyone that lives, works, worships, attends school, or volunteers in Pima, Pinal, Cochise or Maricopa counties, the Gila River Indian Community, or Arizona’s “Copper Basin” area can join.
Below are the highlights that make Vantage West Credit Union stand out on this 2018 best Tucson credit unions and banks ranking.
Benefits of Vantage West Credit Union in Tucson at a Glance:
- 15 locations in Tucson, Arizona & surrounding areas
- 6-month share certificate at 1.00% APY
- Auto loans starting at 2.74% APR
- Named Credit Union of the Year by Mountain West Credit Union Association
- Better Business Bureau (BBB) A+ rating
Earn Rewards Points with your Debit Card
Want to earn those rewards points for getting free stuff on the card you use most? You can do that at Vantage West. Their Rewards Checking and Rewards Plus Checking accounts both allow you to earn 1 reward point for every $5 spent on qualifying debit card purchases.
Rating Summary
Many members seem to stay with Vantage West Credit Union for over a decade and give them high marks for the great support. While a few others didn’t have the same positive experience, their great reviews outweigh the bad by far and we felt they earned a 5 on our top Tucson AZ bank and credit unions listing.
For members to mention staying with them for 13, 15, 18 years and longer, Vantage West definitely is doing something right. They offer attractive rewards programs and some very good CD rates, which makes them a great Tucson credit union for growing your money.
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Wells Fargo Review
For those people that like to stick to the large banks in Tucson, Arizona with a national and global footprint, Wells Fargo may be a good match. They have over 8,400 locations and 13,000 ATMs, making them very convenient to bank with if you travel a lot.
Below are the highlights that make Wells Fargo stand out on this 2018 best Tucson credit unions and banks ranking.
Benefits of Wells Fargo in Tucson at a Glance:
- 16 locations in Tucson, Arizona & surrounding areas
- Auto loans starting at 3.88% APR
- 9-month CDs with 0.20% APY and potential 0.25% bonus rate
- Interest checking with 0.01% APY on balances of $500+
- Better Business Bureau (BBB) Not rated
Earn $200 Cash Rewards Bonus
Being one of the larger banks in Tucson, AZ has its advantages, and one is that they can offer some great credit card bonus offers. Wells Fargo’s Cash Wise Visa® Card can earn you a $200 bonus when you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.
Rating Summary
While Wells Fargo itself has some very mixed reviews from customers and has recently been cleaning up some reputation issues, the Tucson branches of the bank get great reviews from customers. Separating the local branches from the larger whole, we scored Wells Fargo Tucson a 5 on our 2018 Ranking of Top Banks & Credit Unions in Tucson, Arizona ranking.
Customers mention friendly and helpful service and being treated right at this bank in Tucson, which is quite the opposite of what people expect from big banks. If you like the convenience of locations around the country and still want to be treated right, Wells Fargo in Tucson is a great option.
Read More: Best Banks & Credit Unions in Phoenix, AZ
Bank of Tucson Review
The Bank of Tucson just made our ranking. We usually look for financial institutions with a few more locations than just two. But they scored a spot due to a few things we’ll mention below. They’ve been serving the Tucson area since 1996.
Below are the highlights that make Bank of Tucson stand out on this 2018 best Tucson credit unions and banks ranking.
Benefits of Bank of Tucson at a Glance:
- 2 locations in Tucson, Arizona & surrounding areas (plus CA & WA)
- Free interest-bearing checking accounts
- Commercial loans from $5,000 – $75,000
- Five-Star Superior Rating by BauerFinancial
- Better Business Bureau (BBB) A+ rating
Long-Time, Loyal Customers
There are two main reasons that even with limited Tucson branches we included Bank of Tucson on our best banks in the Tucson list. One is they have very loyal customers that laud them for their personal service. The second is that they’re part of the larger Grandpoint Capital, Inc. which has 11 banks overall, so more locations could be on the horizon.
Rating Summary
If we were only judging on personal service and customer ratings, then Bank of Tucson might get a top score. But, we do have to take into consideration location convenience, so we’ve rated them a high 3 on our ranking of the best banks and credit unions in Tucson.
Bank of Tucson notes on its website that it’s their priority to remain small in order to provide extraordinary service. So, if you’re someone that wants to be treated like family when you walk in the door and don’t mind fewer locations, this could be one of the banks in Tucson, Arizona for you.
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Hughes Federal Credit Union Review
Hughes Federal Credit Union began in Tucson in 1952 to serve the needs of Hughes Aircraft Co. employees. Today, this is one of the Tucson credit unions that’s expanded their membership eligibility. Anyone that lives, works, worships, or attends school in Tucson, Arizona can join.
Below are the highlights that make Hughes Federal Credit Union stand out on this 2018 best Tucson credit unions and banks ranking.
Benefits of Hughes Federal Credit Union in Tucson at a Glance:
- 7 locations in Tucson, Arizona & surrounding areas
- Credit builder loans to help boost a low credit score
- Share certificates at 0.90% APY
- Auto loans starting at 3.75% APR
- Better Business Bureau (BBB) A+ rating
Great Savings and Credit/Loan Rates
Hughes is one of the Tucson credit unions you can tap for some great rates in both the loan and savings department. Their money market savings rates are noted as 238% higher than Tucson Metro, and their share draft interest checking earns 0.015% APY.
Rating Summary
Hughes Federal Credit Union scored a 3 on our list of the best Tucson banks and credit unions. They have a few mixed reviews on sites like Yelp and WalletHub, some praising their customer service and other’s saying it’s not so great.
There is no denying that they have excellent rates, whether you’re looking for a new credit card, loan, or investment. Another bonus is that they’re a Tucson credit union that’s part of the CO-OP shared branch network with over 5,000 shared branches to access.
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Tucson Federal Credit Union Review
This is another of the Tucson credit unions that was started by enterprising teachers. Tucson Federal Credit Union began serving members in 1937, and today has grown to over 49,000 members. If you live, work, worship, volunteer, or attend school in Pima County, you can join.
Below are the highlights that make Tucson Federal Credit Union stand out on this 2018 best Tucson credit unions and banks ranking.
Benefits of Tucson Federal Credit Union at a Glance:
- 8 locations in Tucson, Arizona & surrounding areas
- Credit card with 2.99% APR for balance transfers
- Prime Checking account with 0.01% APY
- 12-month share certificates at 0.45% APY
- Better Business Bureau (BBB) A+ rating
Your Money Management Team
Who wouldn’t like their own free money management team? At Tucson Federal Credit Union, they call it the M3 Team and they coach you through budgets, debt management, building savings, and more.
Rating Summary
An easy new account process and great loan rates, even for first timers, are two of the reasons that members praise Tucson Federal Credit Union on sites like WalletHub. When you head to Yelp, the reviews are less friendly, with some noting poor customer service.
We scored Tucson Federal Credit Union a high 3 as one of the top credit unions and banks in Tucson, Arizona. Their personalized money management team is a big plus for members. And according to many, the new loan and account set up process is quick and easy.
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First Convenience Bank Review
In our review of multiple banks and credit unions in Tucson, we ran across one that you may want to avoid until they add some physical branches in the area. First Convenience Bank, which is connected to First National Bank of Texas, has just two locations in the city, both located in Walmart stores.
Below are some of the improvements we feel would make First Convenience Bank a better contender on a future best banks in Tucson ranking.
Improve Online Reputation
A quick search on reviews for First Convenience Bank turns up several 1 and 1.5 star ratings on multiple websites. Working on providing better customer service, addressing complaints, and promoting happy customer reviews would help clean up their Google first page reviews listing.
Rating Summary
As a bank in Tucson that you may want to avoid, for the time being, we rated First Convenience Bank a 1 on our Tucson banks and credit unions listing. They may possibly be a choice if you like to shop and bank at one of the two Walmarts in Tucson where they’re located, but there are not many conveniences beyond that.
Their website gives a slightly outdated feel, which is another area where a little effort could go a long way. Attention to customer service and online reputation first, would in our opinion be the best way to gain more customer confidence in the future.
Conclusion – Top 7 Best Tucson Credit Unions & Banks with Great Rates (& 1 to Avoid)
Whether you like to bank big or bank small, you can find some of the friendliest services anywhere at these top Tucson credit unions and banks. Attractive savings rates and perks like interest-bearing checking are also some of the benefits you’ll find when you look.
Most of the credit unions in Tucson have both great loan deals and have fairly open membership requirements, which makes them pretty much on par with the banks that Tucson offers. So whichever you prefer, you have plenty of choices to help grow your money and improve your financial well-being.
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