Shared Branching & ATM Networks Explained
4 min read
The most common reason people hesitate to join a credit union is branch and ATM access. It's a fair question with a surprising answer: through shared networks, many credit union members have more fee-free access than big-bank customers.
What shared branching is
Thousands of credit unions participate in a shared-branching network, which lets you walk into another participating credit union's branch and do everyday transactions — deposits, withdrawals, transfers, payments — on your own account, as if it were your own credit union.
That means your “branch network” isn't just your credit union's locations; it can be thousands of cooperating branches nationwide.
Surcharge-free ATM networks
Most credit unions belong to large surcharge-free ATM networks with tens of thousands of machines — often in pharmacies and convenience stores — where you withdraw cash without a fee.
Add these up and a small local credit union can offer more fee-free ATMs than a national bank.
How to check access before you join
Look for shared-branching and surcharge-free-ATM participation on a credit union's profile, and use the map on FindMyCU to see branches and ATMs near you. You can filter locations by shared branching to find the ones that honor the network.