The Master Am I Eligible? Eligibility Checklist for Navy Federal Navy Fed NavFed NFCU Thread

[BobWang]

Wow, can't believe I missed this one!

 

OP, you are definitely eligible. The Rep that Bad Debt King spoke to in the branch was exactly right. If your immediate family member was/is eligible to join NFCU, whether they are a member or not, whether they are alive or deceased, you are eligible to join.

Everything is always open to scrutiny though, so it's always best to be prepared to show that you are eligible through your grandfather. Pension papers would show that he retired from the DoD.

 

(And to address the Coast Guard, yes, it can be unfortunate that they are not eligible unless assigned to a DoD installation, but they are governed by DHS, which isn't part of our membership charter and doesn't allow them to join on their own at this time.

As we like to say though, everything is always 'subject to change' so who knows for the future! )

 

If you call into NFCU, and if a specialist tells you something that you think may be incorrect, ask them to double check! Things change all of them time, so something that may have been true 3 years ago, may be different today. We do have ways of looking to make sure what we are telling you is correct.

 

Hope this helps clear up some answers for you all.

[StiKs]

Digging up the master thread.

 

Is a family member eligible if the military family member died while serving in war?

[BobWang]

Digging up the master thread.

 

Is a family member eligible if the military family member died while serving in war?

Good question, I would just call them and ask:

 

Still not sure if you are eligible? Use our Membership Eligibility Wizard or call us at 1-888-842-6328.

[The Maverick]

I had ZERO problems joining as both my mom and dad are retired vets. I walked right on in, gave the rep my parents account info (both are NFCU members) they verified, gave them my $5 and had an account in under 10 minutes

[Gaby10]

I had ZERO problems joining as both my mom and dad are retired vets. I walked right on in, gave the rep my parents account info (both are NFCU members) they verified, gave them my $5 and had an account in under 10 minutes

 

Well, with two parents as retired vets and NFCU members... what problems could you have had?! That's a textbook instant-eligibility situation.

[Gaby10]

Digging up the master thread.

 

Is a family member eligible if the military family member died while serving in war?

 

Good heavens, I hope so.

[jonson]

As requested, here is my screenshot that states that a person is eligible as long as they are related to an eligible person. Feel free to add this to the original post.

 

[DaviG]

I just tried today to join NFCU today as a family member. My deceased grandfather was in the US Army during WWII. Because he did not retire from the Army, I was told that I would be ineligible. To be eligible through a family member who did not retire from the military, you would have 8 years to join from the date they left the military. Bummer for me...... Does anyone have any other ideas of how to join?

 

 

DaviG

[dcook80]

I just tried today to join NFCU today as a family member. My deceased grandfather was in the US Army during WWII. Because he did not retire from the Army, I was told that I would be ineligible. To be eligible through a family member who did not retire from the military, you would have 8 years to join from the date they left the military. Bummer for me...... Does anyone have any other ideas of how to join?

 

 

DaviG

 

Have any current family members in the military?

[GOAL850]

This is probably a dumb question that I already know the answer to but I'll try anyways, Do you think I could get in if I'm a great-grand child of a retired navy person? Please tell me you think this could work.

 

And if not, could I get my grandfather(who did not serve, but is eligible through his deceased father) to join and then could I join through him?

Edited December 4, 2012 by GOAL850

[Matti]

As requested, here is my screenshot that states that a person is eligible as long as they are related to an eligible person. Feel free to add this to the original post.

 

 

 

This is probably a dumb question that I already know the answer to but I'll try anyways, Do you think I could get in if I'm a great-grand child of a retired navy person? Please tell me you think this could work.

 

Looks like the list doesn't say anything about great grand children.

[BobWang]

Personally, I think that Mayflower Society and DAR should be automatically included.

[BobWang]

Great grandchildren are eligible to join.

 

All you need is the first and last name of your great grandparent that served, the branch of military, and rank if you have it but it's not necessary.

 

I know what some of you are thinking, but believe me this was NOT a fluke. I didn't get lucky and get a CSR who didn't know what they were doing.

 

The first CSR I spoke to said he had never had anyone ask him if they could be eligible for membership through a great grandparent so he put me on hold called the membership department and they confirmed great grandchildren are eligible. Yes! We got half way through the app and my phone dropped the call, wtf. So I called back got another CSR he confirmed I was eligible and we completed the membership. Yes, I'm in!! So there you have it, confirmed by two CSR's and the membership dept, so any great grand kids out there looking for a way in, you got it!

 

Oh and that's not even the best part, 30mins after opening the account over the phone, I went in to the local branch to fund the account and the teller asks me of I want to apply for their popular cash rewards card and I'm thinking, no I shouldn't I still have a few baddies, high util, and EQ is only 629(myfico) but I just said what hell and went for it. Two minutes later instantly APPROVED for..........wait for it....................$7000 cash rewards card. I almost fell out lol. My highest limit prior to this is my Wells Fargo at $1500.

 

This is going to drop my util from like >80% to like around 15% would have never thought to join Navy Federal if it weren't for you all, Thank you all so much!

[Matti]

Great grandchildren are eligible to join.

 

All you need is the first and last name of your great grandparent that served, the branch of military, and rank if you have it but it's not necessary.

 

I know what some of you are thinking, but believe me this was NOT a fluke. I didn't get lucky and get a CSR who didn't know what they were doing.

 

The first CSR I spoke to said he had never had anyone ask him if they could be eligible for membership through a great grandparent so he put me on hold called the membership department and they confirmed great grandchildren are eligible. Yes! We got half way through the app and my phone dropped the call, wtf. So I called back got another CSR he confirmed I was eligible and we completed the membership. Yes, I'm in!! So there you have it, confirmed by two CSR's and the membership dept, so any great grand kids out there looking for a way in, you got it!

 

Oh and that's not even the best part, 30mins after opening the account over the phone, I went in to the local branch to fund the account and the teller asks me of I want to apply for their popular cash rewards card and I'm thinking, no I shouldn't I still have a few baddies, high util, and EQ is only 629(myfico) but I just said what hell and went for it. Two minutes later instantly APPROVED for..........wait for it....................$7000 cash rewards card. I almost fell out lol. My highest limit prior to this is my Wells Fargo at $1500.

 

This is going to drop my util from like >80% to like around 15% would have never thought to join Navy Federal if it weren't for you all, Thank you all so much!

 

Don't mean to be a downer here, but I hope this is still the case if and/or when the account goes through review.

Edited December 7, 2012 by Matti

[BobWang]

Anybody want to try for great-great-grandkid?

[BobWang]

CB could open up a Genealogy section.

[GOAL850]

I hope so too! but hey I made absolutely sure they understood I was a great grandchild.

Edited December 8, 2012 by GOAL850

[BobWang]

So I was up late last night reading here and came across "The Master eligibility NFCU" thread. I was bored so I totally cruised by the number one post by BW .

 

I kept reading and reading and then (for no reason at all) I scroll back up to the top and read that first eligibility post. I was floored. If this was correct then I knew I had a strong chance that I could get in.

 

Talk about a light bulb moment

 

So I called NFCU this morning to inquire about eligibility and......

 

The csr said, "YES, YOU ARE 100% ELIGIBLE EVEN IF YOUR MOM AND STEPDAD ARE NOT MEMBERS"

 

Wanna know how I'm eligible? This is where the "I can't believe I was this dumb" comment came from.

 

My stepdad, who in my eyes was my DAD for 40 plus years of my life, was in the army. This man was my heart and the only man who I ever considered my father, passed away 7 years ago. But he was married to my mother who, as the widow, gets his full benefits. Duhhhhh!!!!

 

But my twisted thinking and pre-cautious self figured that since the name of the CU had "Navy" in it and not "Army"...AND that my stepdad was deceased that I probably wasn't eligible so I NEVER looked in to it....until today that is.

 

So I've got all of my information, access, savings and checking account numbers today and am just waiting for the paperwork to come.

 

Cputrwz....I'm on my way on your heels

 

BW....thanks for posting that master thread that finally turned on the light bulb for me

 

This is why when people post the umpteenth "what about my situation?" thread, we scold advise them to go to that thread. Every possible situation has been covered there, and it's FULL of valuable details.

 

BTW, I also got in through my late stepdad, who also was not a member. Make sure your mom has his DD-214 to hand, just in case they do a security check.

[NorthCol]

With all due respect this "master" thread has no more information than the nfcu website. Basically if you dont have a nfcu account, aren't in the military or retired, and you aren't a DoD civiliian or contractor working on a US goverment facility, or or are a family member of one, then you arent eligible to join. If you do get a hapless nfcu rep who does sign you up because your great grand-daddy died in WW2, expect to have your accounts frozen and closed. That pretty much sums this thread up.

[Gaby10]

You're a real charmer, aren't you?

[traveler505]

With all due respect this "master" thread has no more information than the nfcu website. Basically if you dont have a nfcu account, aren't in the military or retired, and you aren't a DoD civiliian or contractor working on a US goverment facility, or or are a family member of one, then you arent eligible to join. If you do get a hapless nfcu rep who does sign you up because your great grand-daddy died in WW2, expect to have your accounts frozen and closed. That pretty much sums this thread up.

 

The NFCU website is not the final word on eligibility. The website is a paraphrase of the official membership criteria, which would be contained in NFCU's by-laws or some other legal document, and contains some internal contradictions (which is why we discuss whether the family member that one claims eligibility through must be a member or merely eligible to be a member). Perhaps the rep you talk to has a better understanding of the official criteria than the website writer; perhaps not.

 

Of course, if someone would like to get a copy of the by-laws (I assume members are entitled to a copy), and post the relevant portion here, that would be a helpful clarification.

[DaviG]

Wow, can't believe I missed this one!

 

OP, you are definitely eligible. The Rep that Bad Debt King spoke to in the branch was exactly right. If your immediate family member was/is eligible to join NFCU, whether they are a member or not, whether they are alive or deceased, you are eligible to join.

Everything is always open to scrutiny though, so it's always best to be prepared to show that you are eligible through your grandfather. Pension papers would show that he retired from the DoD.

 

(And to address the Coast Guard, yes, it can be unfortunate that they are not eligible unless assigned to a DoD installation, but they are governed by DHS, which isn't part of our membership charter and doesn't allow them to join on their own at this time.

As we like to say though, everything is always 'subject to change' so who knows for the future! )

 

If you call into NFCU, and if a specialist tells you something that you think may be incorrect, ask them to double check! Things change all of them time, so something that may have been true 3 years ago, may be different today. We do have ways of looking to make sure what we are telling you is correct.

 

Hope this helps clear up some answers for you all.

[DaviG]

IQuestion for anyone with NFCU membership knowledge.

 

I called a rep yesterday but she was not very informative. My question is, Are CIA employees eligible for NFCU membership? My grandfather retired from the CIA and I was looking to join through that avenue. I was looking up some info ad found that the CIA is now considered the 6th branch of the military. My grandfather was in the Army and then went to the CIA in 1954. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

[BobWang]

I just joined yesterday. I wanted to join a few months ago but I didn't think I qualified since I already left active duty. However, because I am still IRR for a couple more months, they said that was enough to join

[BDK]

bump