What is a credit union?

A credit union is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative that provides banking services to its members. Unlike banks, credit unions return profits to members through better rates and lower fees.

How do I know if I can join a credit union?

Credit union membership is based on eligibility criteria such as where you live, work, worship, or organizations you belong to. CUQualify helps you discover which credit unions you qualify to join.

Are credit unions better than banks?

Credit unions often offer better interest rates on savings and loans, lower fees, and more personalized service since they are member-owned cooperatives rather than for-profit institutions.

Is my money safe in a credit union?

Yes, federally insured credit unions have deposits insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) up to $250,000, the same coverage as FDIC-insured banks.

Privacy Policy | CUQualify

1. Introduction

CUQualify ("we", "our", or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our website and services.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide

We collect information you provide directly, including:

Account Information: Name, email address, password when you create an account
Questionnaire Responses: Location (city, state, ZIP code), employer information, military status, education affiliations, place of worship location, and organization memberships
Communications: Any messages or feedback you send us

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you use our service, we may automatically collect:

Device Information: Browser type, operating system, device type
Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent, clicks, and navigation patterns
IP Address: Used for security and approximate location
Cookies: Small files stored on your device (see Cookie Policy below)

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

Match you with credit unions you may be eligible to join
Create and manage your account
Send you relevant updates and notifications (with your consent)
Improve our services and user experience
Analyze usage patterns and site performance
Prevent fraud and ensure security
Comply with legal obligations

4. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information with:

Service Providers: Third parties that help us operate our service (Clerk for authentication, Supabase for database hosting, Vercel for website hosting)
Credit Unions: Only when you click to visit or apply - we may track referrals
Legal Requirements: If required by law, court order, or government request
Business Transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets

5. Affiliate Disclosure

CUQualify may earn a commission when you click on links to credit unions and subsequently open an account. This does not affect our recommendations or the order in which credit unions are displayed. Our matching algorithm is based solely on your eligibility criteria.

6. Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies for:

Essential Cookies: Required for the site to function (login, security)
Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors use our site
Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and choices

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Declining cookies may limit some functionality of our service.

7. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your information, including encryption in transit (HTTPS) and at rest, secure authentication, and regular security audits. However, no method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure.

8. Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide services. You may request deletion of your account and associated data at any time by contacting us.

9. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the right to:

Access the personal information we hold about you
Correct inaccurate or incomplete information
Delete your personal information
Opt out of marketing communications
Export your data in a portable format
Withdraw consent for data processing

To exercise these rights, contact us at privacy@cuqualify.com.

10. Children's Privacy

Our service is not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have collected such information, please contact us immediately.

11. California Privacy Rights (CCPA)

California residents have additional rights under the CCPA, including:

Right to know what personal information is collected
Right to know if personal information is sold or disclosed
Right to opt out of the sale of personal information
Right to non-discrimination for exercising privacy rights

We do not sell personal information as defined by the CCPA.

12. International Users

Our services are hosted in the United States. If you access our services from outside the US, your information may be transferred to and processed in the US, where data protection laws may differ from your country.

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. We will notify you of material changes by posting the new policy on this page and updating the "Last updated" date. Your continued use of our service after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

14. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us:

Email: privacy@cuqualify.com