Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union

I have received nothing but the best service from Affinity Plus. I have always had excellent exchanges with tellers and I have always been helped efficiently and politely using their online chat or by making a phone call.
I can’t tell you how nice it is to be at a banking institution where you actually feel like you matter and are important. This credit union is wonderful to work with for all issues. I moved my car loan to them because I found that they were just so easy to work with and it was a breeze to get the paperwork transferred. I always feel that they try to bend over backwards even if you made a mistake.
I will never go back to a standard big bank and leaving US Bank and Wells Fargo was the best thing I ever did.

I applied for a used auto loan through Affinity Plus online and got approved, then went to this location to get the check printed for the auto dealer.
Cons: They didn’t tell me that I needed cosigner to sign loan docs as well or that I needed to bring in auto insurance info beforehand, so it took longer than expected. Not so great about telling you what you need to prepare beforehand so that your visit goes quickly and smoothly.
Pros: I give them mostly good rating because the people at this branch were very friendly and very willing to help and take responsibility for their mistakes, despite setbacks. For example, I came in multiple times to print the check, and the 3^rd time I came in, their computer systems were down so they were unable to print the check. I had already arranged with the car dealer to deliver the car to me that day, on the condition that I would have the check, so this produced something of a dilemma for the dealer. The manager offered to call the dealer herself and guarantee an overnight shipping of the check, so the dealer was willing to deliver the car to me on schedule, even though I hadn’t paid for it yet. I really appreciated the willingness to make things right and take ownership over their mistakes.

Affinity Plus might be more invasive than the TSA.
A family member had written me a personal check, and they bank with Affinity Plus. When I took the Affinity check to Affinity Plus Credit Union, the teller refused to cash them since I didn’t bank there myself. I had cashed a check from this same family member at this exact Affinity Plus location only a month prior. I had proper identification and the checks were signed by the same person/​credit union member, and were not some excessive amount that would cause the teller to be suspicious. She said they had to call the Affinity Plus Member to verify, which when I explained that if she was using the home phone, no one would be there to answer since they are at work (the person writing the check is my aunt, and I know her schedule). I recited the telephone number to the teller, and she said she couldn’t verify or deny that that was the number she was using. I told her she would have better luck trying a cell phone number, to which again, she couldn’t tell me if she had that number on file and couldn’t accept it from me (since obviously I’m trying to pull some shenanigan…). That part I can kind of understand. But if I can recite the phone numbers and they match what they have on file, I’m not sure what the problem is. With no viable options and the complete stonewalling from the teller, it was obvious we were getting no where, so I took the checks and my ID back and promptly called my aunt to discuss what had just happened. Luckily, she works right by the downtown branch. She talked with someone at this branch about what an inconvenience this new policy was, not only for me, but for her as well. She said that it makes it look like her check is not valid, or that she doesn’t have enough money to cash a check she writes, and she simply doesn’t understand the point of even writing a check if they are going to need her verbal confirmation to cash a check she has endorsed. She asked that for the time being, to put a note in their file to cash checks written to me without a phone call.
So, I went back to Affinity the following morning, and this time I was told I had to provide my fingerprints to get the checks cashed. SERIOUSLY?! My fingerprints?!
Then as I was about to leave, the teller said «So, you’re (so & so’s) niece?» Having never mentioned the memo in the file about cashing checks written to me, I was a little weirded out that she would just say that for seemingly no reason. I already had the money, they had my ID copied (and my fingerprints, for whatever reason). The transaction was complete… why bring that up now, as I’m turning away to leave? It just seemed odd like she was trying to «catch me» or throw me off guard or something. I still can’t figure that part out.
Bottom line:
It is a disappointing aspect of customer service to have a policy in place for which a check issued from this establishment cannot be redeemed. The member signature is on file, I have the proper ID, and the check is from Affinity Plus. That’s really all it should take.
Let’s just say, should I decide to stay in the Twin Cities (my living situation here is temporary, which is why I’m cashing the checks instead of just depositing them to a local bank) I’m not sure I would be particularly inclined to open an account here.

Been there 3 times to become a member. They are too busy to assist me. Turned away three times too many. Hi-​Way was plenty happy to have my business!

Every time I come in here to try to set up a bank account, I get ignored by all the bankers standing around and chatting. They all see me and don’t even ask if I’ve been helped or anything. I have a tight schedule so I usually come in an hour before work and it’s really frustrating when I have to sit for 20 minutes before anyone comes up to me. I’m not a rude or pushy person so I don’t ever ask for help… But hello… This is standard practice in any customer service based business. I hope banking here isn’t a bad decision.

Had to share this with one cuz it’s kinda unbelievable…
So I get a call from someone at the Credit union. They ask me if I’m the person she’d been emailing with? I don’t know what she’s talking about. The banker then says, «so you’re not the person who’s nephew died suddenly? You’re not in Singapore?» I respond with «I’m thinking I need to come down the credit union and talk with someone since this doesn’t sound good.» Seems that Affinity wired my $ 20,000 to someone in Singapore. Five days of emails back and forth with the random person in Singapore and it wasn’t until after they wired the money that they thought maybe they should try to call me. Money was put back in my account and I was compensated for mileage and lost wages because it took multiple trips to the police precinct to file a police report and a couple trips to the credit union office to do the paperwork.
Affinity gets five stars for making it right but they get one star for not managing their employees better. Side note, the teller who effed up doesn’t work there anymore and I think this is now a training scenario.
Do I still bank with Affinity? Yes, because with my history there, I imagine my accounts are scrutinized so it’ll never happen again.

They have the best of all! If you’re looking for a great bank, this exceeds the expectation: lowest fees out there, excellent customer service, reasonable wait in line during peak hours (otherwise no wait at all), plenty of notaries public, the best line of credit/​personal loans. The only downside is that they don’t offer business loans, but it’s ok because for that there are the big banks out there.

AF+ is a great bank! If you need to meet with a banker, they are fantastic! The products and services they offer are great too, and they can even print you a new Visa card right in the bank so you don’t have to wait for weeks to be mailed one!
That said, the lobby is always packed, the online banking is a total joke, and the mobile app’s only useful function is to take up space on your phone. Calling their hotline usually connects you to a jerk.
But! If you visit in person to talk to someone, you will leave feeling all warm and fuzzy inside!

Gregory Lasica likes this credit union. Excellent rates, great staff, pretty good online interface. Only drawback is the drive through at this location is slow.

Run. They will get you in with their «Cult”-ure at first but they are horrendous at mortgages and auto loans. Waited in line for 20 minutes last month. Watched 7 people come and go because the line was so long. Branch Manager just sat in his office with the door closed. Heard of mortgages not being filed and auto loan titles getting lost in process all the time. They have low fees but it doesn’t make them worth it.

Great mortgage rates, friendly staff, easy to work with. And did I mention I paid $ 0 in fees?

I am a newer customer. They have great service, great rates (we got a terrific rate with low closing costs on our refinance. Customer service goes out their way to help and they actually use common sense.

I can’t say enough great things about Affinity Plus. I’ve been banking with them since I was 16 years old and although I’ve moved in and out of Minnesota I’ve never given up my account. They provide such terrific service — truly, the best service, from any provider of any type (restaurant, retail, financial, etc.) I’ve ever had: helpful, funny, friendly, consistent.
Case in point: I recently applied for an auto loan. I could choose to apply online, call in or chat with an agent via the website. I chatted my way through the loan process. Because of the rapport that the agent and I built with each other, she offered me a better rate than my credit deserved. She’s since guided me through the rest of the process and has continued to be a terrific help. (Thanks, Amy!)
In addition to the great service, Affinity Plus just doesn’t screw you the same way most banks will (e.g., terrific loan rates). I’m delighted to keep giving them my business, even though I live in Pennsylvania now.

Excellent service, great rates, fun and quick drive-​thru service, and they display member artwork. It’s like your local coffee shop where the coffee’s free and they hook you up with a low-​interest car loan.