Achieva Credit Union is a financial institution that offers personal loans, mortgages, and other banking products and services. But is Achieva Credit Union legit? Or is it a scam? In this Achieva Credit Union review, we will take a look at the company’s history, products, and customer service to see if it is worth your time and money.
Achieva Credit Union was founded in 1937 as the Pinellas County Teacher’s Credit Union. It is headquartered in Clearwater, Florida, and has branches throughout the Tampa Bay area. Achieva is a not-for-profit financial institution and is owned by its members. It offers personal loans, mortgages, credit cards, auto loans, and other banking products and services.
Achieva Credit Union has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau but is not accredited. The company has a Yelp score of 1 1/2 out of five stars based on over 15 customer reviews.
Achieva personal loans have fixed rates and terms ranging from 24 to 60 months. The minimum loan amount is $500 and the maximum loan amount is $50,000. There is no origination fee or prepayment penalty.
To apply for a personal loan from Achieva Credit Union, you must be a member of the credit union. You can become a member by meeting one of the following criteria:
- You live, work, worship, or attend school in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando, or Citrus counties in Florida
- You are related to someone who is already a member of Achieva Credit Union
- You work for one of the credit union’s businesses partners
If you meet one of the above criteria, you can apply for an Achieva personal loan online or in person at a branch location. The application process is quick and easy, and you will usually receive a decision within minutes.
2.0 out of 5.0 stars
Achieva Credit Union Pros and Cons
Achieva Credit Union has more cons than pros.
- They bait and switch people with their mail offers for personal loans.
- The interest rates are much higher than other banks or credit unions.
- They make it very difficult to qualify for their loans.
- The customer service is very poor.
The bait and switch scheme is very misleading and frustrating. By using false advertisement, Achieva Credit Union is taking advantage of its customers. If you are considering using this credit union, be sure to read the fine print and do your research first. There are much better options out there.
What is Achieva Credit Union?
Achieva is a personal loan provider that offers loans to individuals with bad credit. The interest rates on these loans are extremely high, and the terms of the loan are often very unfair to the borrower.
Achieva is a predatory lender that takes advantage of people in financial distress. If you are considering taking out a loan with Achieva, you should be very careful and make sure that you understand all of the terms and conditions before signing anything. Achieva is not to be trusted and is not looking out for your best interests.
A personal loan from Achieva could ruin your financial future. There are many other personal loan providers who offer loans with much better terms and conditions.
How does Achieva Credit Union work?
Achieva Credit Union is a personal loan provider that uses a bait and switch scheme to trap unsuspecting customers. They offer low-interest rates to lure in borrowers, but then they jack up the rates after the loan is approved. This practice is called “loan flipping” and it’s how Achieva Credit Union makes its money.
If you’re considering taking out a personal loan from Achieva Credit Union, beware of their bait and switch tactics. You may end up paying much more than you expected. There are other personal loan providers out there that don’t use these shady practices, so shop around before you commit to anything.
It’s not worth the hassle or the stress of dealing with them. Do your research and choose a lender that you can trust.
Who owns Achieva Credit Union?
The simple answer is that the members of Achieva Credit Union own the credit union. But, there’s a little more to it than that.
Achieva Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative. That means that it is owned by its members and operated for their benefit. The credit union does not have shareholders as a bank does. Instead, any earnings are reinvested back into the credit union or returned to the members in the form of lower loan rates, higher interest on deposits, and other benefits.
So, who can become a member of Achieva Credit Union? Any person who lives or works in the credit union’s field of membership, which includes parts of Florida and Michigan, can join. Once you’re a member, you’re an owner for life – even if you move out of the area or change your job.
However, there is one exception to this rule. In 2016, Achieva Credit Union was sued by several former members who claimed that they were misled about their ownership rights. The lawsuit is still ongoing, but it highlights an important point: even though members technically own the credit union, there are limits to what they can do with that ownership.
At the end of the day, whether or not you believe that members truly own Achieva Credit Union depends on your interpretation of the lawsuit. However, there’s no doubt that the credit union is operated for the benefit of its members. And, that’s something we can all agree on.
What is the minimum credit score for an Achieva Credit Union personal loan?
The minimum credit score for an Achieva Credit Union personal loan is 640. However, keep in mind that this is the minimum credit score required by the lender. You may still be approved for a loan with a lower credit score, but you may have to pay a higher interest rate.
If you’re thinking about taking out a personal loan from Achieva Credit Union, make sure your credit score is in good shape before you apply. A higher credit score will give you a better chance of being approved for a loan with a lower interest rate. And that can save you a lot of money in the long run. Good luck!
How do Achieva Credit Union’s personal loans affect your credit?
If you’re considering taking out a personal loan from Achieva Credit Union, you may be wondering how it will affect your credit. Unfortunately, the answer is not entirely straightforward.
For one thing, applying for a loan from Achieva will result in a hard pull on your credit report. This can temporarily ding your score by a few points. And if you’re not approved for the loan, that hard pull will stay on your report for up to two years – even though you didn’t actually end up borrowing any money.
Additionally, if you take out a personal loan from Achieva and then make any late payments, that will also show up on your credit report and could further damage your score. And finally, if you decide to pay off your loan early, you may be charged a fee by Achieva. So, all things considered, taking out a personal loan from Achieva Credit Union could have a negative impact on your credit score.
Of course, this is just one factor to consider when making the decision to take out a personal loan. If you’re confident that you can make all of your payments on time and in full, and you’re comfortable with the fees involved, then a personal loan from Achieva could still be a good option for you. But be sure to weigh all the pros and cons before making any final decisions.
What is the APR on an Achieva Credit Union personal loan?
Many people are not aware that the APR on an Achieva Credit Union personal loan can be quite high. In fact, the APR on an Achieva Credit Union personal loan can be as high as 21%. This is a very high rate and should be avoided if at all possible. If you are considering taking out an Achieva Credit Union personal loan, you should make sure that you understand the full extent of the terms and conditions before doing so.
The 21% APR on an Achieva Credit Union personal loan is one of the many reasons why it’s important to shop around for a personal loan before choosing one. There are plenty of other lenders out there who offer much more reasonable rates.
How to cancel Achieva Credit Union?
It’s actually quite simple to cancel your Achieva Credit Union account, and there are only a few steps you need to follow. First, you’ll need to pay off any outstanding balance on your loan. Once that’s done, simply contact customer service and request to have your account closed. They may ask for a reason why you’re canceling, but in most cases, they’ll be able to close your account without any hassle.
Of course, if you have any other questions or concerns, you can always reach out to Achieva Credit Union customer service. But in general, canceling your account is a pretty simple process. So if you’re no longer using Achieva Credit Union and want to close your account, just follow these steps and you’ll be all set.
Who is Achieva Credit Union affiliated with?
The answer might surprise you. Achieva is affiliated with some of the biggest names in the banking industry, including Bank of America, Chase, and Citibank. But that’s not all. Achieva is also affiliated with a number of other companies that have been accused of unethical or illegal behavior.
Some of these negative affiliations include:
- Wells Fargo (accused of opening fake accounts)
- Equifax (involved in a data breach that exposed the personal information of millions of people)
- Experian (also involved in the Equifax data breach)
- TransUnion (another company involved in the Equifax data breach)
- Uber (a company that has been embroiled in multiple scandals)
These are just a few of the negative associations that Achieva has. So, if you’re looking for a credit union that is affiliated with some of the biggest names in banking, then Achieva might be the right choice for you. However, if you’re looking for a credit union that doesn’t have any negative associations, then you might want to look elsewhere.
Achieva Credit Union BBB Reviews
As of October 2019, the BBB has given Achieva Credit Union an A+ rating. However, they are not accredited by the BBB. The BBB has received 23 complaints against Achieva Credit Union in the last three years, six of which were closed in the last 12 months.
The majority of these complaints allege problems with customer service and billing/collections. Some customers have also complained about difficulties closing their accounts and accessing their funds.
Here are some Achieva Credit Union BBB Reviews:
Lyn B 08/05/2021
1.0 out of 5.0 starsI have been a long-time Achieva Credit Union member. For years, Achieva told me they placed maximum purchase limits on gasoline purchases, often requiring me to use other credit cards in addition to my debit card to pay for gas. It appeared the cut-off used to be $50. Recently I have had two gas purchases in my hometown, throttled and stopped at exactly $74.00. I have a 30-gallon gas tank and at $3 a gallon, I have to use a credit card with my debit card to fill up. It is beyond aggravating and frustrating. I use my debit card to be fiscally responsible. I have talked to the gas stations and they tell me it is Achieva placing a pre-authorization limit on gas, not the stations. Achieva swears up and down it is the gas station machine placing restrictions on gas. Given the gas station purchase throttles previously employed by Achieva (by their own admission to me in 2015), I tend to believe the gas station owners. I am just really tired of the non-answers and employees not having the information they need to properly answer their customers. Why can’t anyone at Achieva answer this question…why is my gas purchase being stopped at $74 ??
Judie H 06/04/2021
1.0 out of 5.0 starsDo not use. Achieva Bank. I was racially profiled. Disrespected, falsely accused of lying. They violated my civil rights and privacy. I was humiliated. All this is just to reject a deposit and send it back. Jeff and his supervisor Lisa were rude and treated with no respect. I’m considering filing harassment charges against them.
Stephenie C 05/28/2021
1.0 out of 5.0 starsTHE WORST BANKING/CREDIT UNION. HORRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!!!!!!!! First, we came in to get our Debit & Credit Cards. When we went to use them there was a problem. Come to find out the cards had the wrong expiration date on them so they wouldn’t work. Then I was paying on a credit card that they froze because I wasn’t using it because I was trying to pay it off. They let me pay for 10 months before they told me then they couldn’t tell me where my money went for the last 10 months. Then I went to call and pay my car payment, they try to tell me I can’t pay because I was 3 months late. I said no I’m not I’m 24 days late. Then she had to recheck to find out I was right. Oh but not before she tried to threaten to repo my vehicle! Then she like Mama I’m trying to help you. Thanks, Beatrice, for all the help! You have made this a horrible experience like every time I call to pay a bill or have anything done! This place is a joke! I want to sell my vehicle just so I don’t have to deal with this company anymore. I am filing a complaint because Achieva Credit Union has more Google Reviews just like mine.
Anupma P 12/03/2020
1.0 out of 5.0 starsSomeone has been using my son’s joint account to pay their bill every month for a year. He had a savings account when he was a minor and when he turned 18 I opened a checking account. He tried to go on online banking and was having a problem he left for college where they don’t have an Achieva bank. The pandemic started and later we noticed someone had been using his account. With all the complaints about this, I think it’s somebody from the bank. They are not even investigating anything. They have multiple complaints so I will not be surprised.
Is Achieva Credit Union Legit or a Scam?
We’re sure many of you have seen the many complaints and lawsuits against Achieva Credit Union. They have high-interest rates and many fees that they don’t tell you about until it’s too late.
Achieva Credit Union has been the subject of many complaints and lawsuits. They have been accused of predatory lending practices and charging high-interest rates. Achieva Credit Union is a legitimate credit union, but you should be aware of its practices before you do business with them.
If you’re thinking about doing business with Achieva Credit Union, we would recommend reading the many complaints against them online. Be sure to read the fine print before you sign up for any products or services with Achieva Credit Union.
We hope this article has helped you decide whether or not Achieva Credit Union is right for you.
What are your thoughts on Achieva Credit Union? Have you had any experiences with them, good or bad? Share your story in the comments below!