Latest News
- Consolidate your debt! We have great rates on a personal line of credit as low as 6.5% APR! Rates are based on credit. See credit uniion for details. For 77 years we have been helping our members consolidate debt, reduce their interest rates and lower their payments! Apply online for your own personal line of credit today!
- Sallie Mae and your credit union have partnered in order to offer you private student loans. Click here to learn more or apply!
- Looking for "Surcharge Free ATMS" close to your home or work?Click here! And remember you can get cash back for FREE at many merchants in the area.
Member Benefits
Why Join?
Being a Dayton Firefighters Federal Credit Union member has a wide variety of benefits. First you receive outstanding personal service and you are an owner of a financial institution who looks out for your best interest. You are a part of an organization that is committed to improving your financial life. We have all sorts of products and services to help you through your financial life, but most importantly we are here to help you succeed and reach your financial goals.
We promise to:
- Simplify your financial life
- Work in your best interest
- Make your privacy our top priority
- Have fair and competitive rates and fees
- Provide personalized options to help you achieve financial success
As a Member owner, besides lower rates on loans and higher rates on savings, you have access to these additional benefits:
- FREE Financial Counseling
- FREE Notary Services
- Discounted Amusement Park Tickets
- Money Orders & Cashier Checks
- Gift Cards & VISA Travel Cards
- CU Easy Wheels - a car concierge buying service
WHY A CREDIT UNION?
Credit unions and banks are different in several ways, yet the same in some. Here's one similarity: Both are safe, secure, professionally-managed financial institutions. Here's one difference: At credit unions, people are worth more than money. Credit unions are not-for-profit organizations that have a philosophy and structure designed to directly benefit you the member. Banks, on the other hand, are for-profit entities and have been designed to benefit the stockholder.A CREDIT UNION IS A COOPERATIVE
A financial cooperative, such as DFFCU, is organized for the objectives of:- Providing financial services at fair and reasonable rates and fees
- Encouraging responsible financial activity and thrift
- Allowing members/owners to use and control money for the mutual benefit of all DFFCU members, the credit union itself, and the community at large
By contrast, a for-profit corporation such as a bank has been organized for the objective of generating profit and providing dividends for a small, elite group of shareholders.
At DFFCU, all members/owners are shareholders - so all reap benefits. Approximately $80 of every $100 deposited at the credit union is loaned to members, completing the DFFCU cooperative circle while enhancing the lives of our members.
WE ARE OWNED BY OUR MEMBERS
The fact that our members are owners of the credit union is unique in the financial world. DFFCU exists solely for the purpose of meeting the financial needs of the member-owners. To that end, DFFCU not only provides outstanding personal service, but also provides such service in a cost-efficient manner.One distinct feature of DFFCU is our elected volunteers. DFFCU's volunteers are voted for by the membership and the vote is based on a one member one vote, structure. This is vastly different from the for-profit sector where stockholders vote according to the number of shares of stock they own. All members of the Board of Directors and appointed Committees serve without pay, giving many hours of their time and expertise for the benefit of the entire membership.
Check out the other differences, as charted below, we think you'll see why a credit union is the right choice for you and that the Dayton Firefighters Federal Credit Union can help you achieve your financial goals.
| Credit Union | Bank | |
| Organization | Not-for-profit cooperative | For-profit corporation |
| Primary objective | Meet member/owner needs | Maximize profit |
| Ownership | All members who are, by definition, users of services | Stockholders who may or may not be customers or users |
| Directors | Volunteers | Paid directors |
| Decision-making | Member-controlled, one vote per member (each member/owner has the same power) | Only stockholders vote, one vote per share of stock (more stock means more voting power) |
| Distribution of net income | Dividends issued to members and used for capital development, additional locations, equipment, etc. for members | Dividends issued to stockholders only |
| Community links | Owners/leaders reside or have an interest in the community | Owners/leaders may live anywhere in the world; headquarters could be anywhere in the US |
| Rates/products | Offer better overall rates and lower fees due to the nature of the organization and its dividend distribution | Rates and fees may not be favorable because of for-profit status of banks |
| Generation of capital | Generated only through income stream | Generated through income stream and/or issuance of stock |
| Who benefits | Members/owners | Stockholders |
