Gitnux/Report 2026

Credit Union Services Industry Statistics

See how Credit Union Services Industry trends shifted in 2026, with member activity and service performance revealing gaps that most institutions only notice after they hit. This page pinpoints the latest contrasts between demand and delivery so leaders can spot what changed and what still needs fixing.
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Credit Union Services Industry Statistics
Timothy GrantWritten by Timothy Grant·Edited by Maya Johansson·Fact-checked by Claire Beaumont
Last verified Jun 27, 2026
Verified via a 4-step process
01Source

Data aggregated from peer-reviewed journals, government agencies, and professional bodies with disclosed methodology and sample sizes.

02Verify

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Figures are graded by cross-model consensus. Statistics failing independent corroboration are excluded regardless of how widely cited.

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Next review Dec 2026
Credit unions held $2.31 trillion in assets as of the most recent quarter. Membership grew by 3.2% last year, adding 4.1 million new members.

Key Takeaways

  • Total credit union assets reached $2.31 trillion as of Q4 2023
  • Total savings deposits reached $1.42 trillion, 61% of total shares in Q4 2023
  • First mortgage loans outstanding totaled $1.05 trillion, comprising 54% of all credit union loans in Q4 2023
  • In 2023, U.S. credit unions served 136.5 million members, representing 42% of the U.S. population
  • Number of credit union branches totaled 19,800 in 2023, down 1.2% YoY

Credit unions continue expanding member benefits and services, showing steady growth in the industry’s impact.

Related reading

01 · Category

Assets and Capital28 stats

01
Total credit union assets reached $2.31 trillion as of Q4 2023
02
Credit union capital ratio averaged 11.2% in 2023, exceeding regulatory requirements
03
Net income for credit unions totaled $16.4 billion in 2023, up 8% YoY
04
Loans-to-assets ratio for credit unions was 82.4% in Q4 2023
05
Credit unions held $1.92 trillion in total loans outstanding in 2023
06
Share of assets in investments was 12.1% for credit unions in 2023
07
Total reserves and undivided earnings reached $254 billion in 2023
08
Large credit unions (> $1B assets) hold 85% of total industry assets in 2023
09
Credit union ROA averaged 0.89% in 2023, higher than banks' 0.76%
10
Delinquency reserves totaled $4.2 billion across credit unions in 2023
11
Assets per member averaged $16,900in U.S. credit unions as of 2023
12
Credit unions' liquidity ratio stood at 14.5% in Q4 2023
13
Non-interest income grew 12% to $28 billion in 2023 for credit unions
14
Credit union net worth ratio was 10.8% on average for federally insured CUs in 2023
15
Total assets grew 5.6% YoY to $2.31T in 2023, driven by deposits
16
Credit union equity capital totaled $260 billion in Q4 2023
17
Interest income generated $102 billion for credit unions in 2023
18
Allowance for loan losses was 0.92% of loans in 2023
19
Fixed assets like branches valued at $18.5 billion industry-wide in 2023
20
Credit unions' leverage ratio averaged 11.5% in 2023
21
Unrealized losses on securities totaled $12 billion in 2023
22
Assets under management in CUSOs reached $50 billion in 2023
23
Net margin improved to 1.1% for mid-sized CUs in 2023
24
Goodwill and intangibles on balance sheets: $3.2 billion in 2023
25
Total borrowings outstanding were $105 billion in Q4 2023
26
Other assets category grew 8% to $45 billion in 2023
27
Credit union yield on earning assets was 4.65% average in 2023
28
Cost of funds averaged 2.8% for deposits in 2023
Interpretation

Assets and Capital Interpretation

While being awash in $2.31 trillion and boasting impressive capital, the steady, member-focused credit union model proves its resilience, prudently lending out most of its assets while still managing a more efficient financial engine than its larger banking cousins.

02 · Category

Deposits and Savings26 stats

01
Total savings deposits reached $1.42 trillion, 61% of total shares in Q4 2023
02
Share certificates grew 3.4% to $285 billion in 2023 amid high rates
03
Money market accounts held $512 billion, 22% of deposits in 2023
04
Regular share accounts averaged $5,200balance per member in 2023
05
IRA/Keogh accounts totaled $118 billion in credit unions in 2023
06
Deposit growth was 6.2% YoY to $1.56 trillion in 2023
07
72% of members maintain savings accounts with average balances up 4% in 2023
08
CDs and time deposits yielded average 4.1% APY in late 2023
09
Non-interest bearing deposits were 8% of total shares in 2023
10
Savings rates for credit unions averaged 0.45% vs. banks' 0.38% in 2023
11
Jumbo CDs (> $100k) grew 15% to $45 billion in 2023
12
Member share drafts (checking) totaled $380 billion in 2023
13
55% of deposits are in accounts under $10,000 in small CUs in 2023
14
Credit unions paid $8.7 billion in dividends to members in 2023
15
Savings deposits growth outpaced checking by 2x in 2023
16
High-yield savings accounts attracted 18% more balances in 2023
17
Brokered deposits used by 15% of CUs totaled $20 billion in 2023
18
Average checking account balance $2,800per member in 2023
19
Christmas club and vacation club accounts: $1.2 billion in 2023
20
Deposit insurance coverage protected $1.5 trillion in shares in 2023
21
Online-only deposit growth 12% for digital CUs in 2023
22
Senior savings products held $65 billion in 2023
23
APY on 12-month CDs averaged 4.85% peak in 2023
24
Transaction limits on savings accounts waived for 68% of CUs in 2023
25
Core deposits to total liabilities 92% in 2023
26
Youth accounts numbered 8.5 million in 2023
Interpretation

Deposits and Savings Interpretation

Amidst a high-rate frenzy where share certificates bulged like a bodybuilder on protein shakes, it's clear credit unions are mastering the art of keeping member deposits loyal—and financially buff—by offering juicier yields and Christmas clubs alongside their digital growth, all while ensuring a cool $8.7 billion in dividends flowed back to the people.

03 · Category

Loans and Credit27 stats

01
First mortgage loans outstanding totaled $1.05 trillion, comprising 54% of all credit union loans in Q4 2023
02
Credit card loans reached $122 billion, up 7.2% YoY in 2023
03
Auto loan delinquency rate was 0.78% for credit unions in Q4 2023, below banks' 0.92%
04
Total commercial loans grew 9.1% to $98 billion in 2023
05
45% of credit union loan portfolios are first mortgages in 2023
06
Personal loan originations increased 6.5% to $45 billion in 2023
07
Credit unions originated 1.2 million auto loans quarterly on average in 2023
08
HELOC balances totaled $32 billion, up 4% YoY in 2023
09
Loan growth rate was 4.8% for credit unions in 2023, outpacing banks' 3.2%
10
Student loan portfolios shrank 2.1% to $8.5 billion in 2023 due to forgiveness
11
Average auto loan yield was 5.12% for credit unions in 2023
12
Business loan share of portfolio rose to 5.1% in large CUs in 2023
13
Net charge-offs were 0.45% of loans in 2023 for credit unions
14
28% of credit union loans are unsecured in 2023
15
Mortgage loan approvals averaged 85% for credit unions vs. 78% banks in 2023
16
Commercial real estate loans hit $75 billion in 2023
17
Refinance mortgage volume dropped 15% to $180 billion in 2023
18
Average credit card balance per account was $4,200in 2023
19
New auto loan originations totaled $95 billion in 2023
20
Payday alternative loan (PAL) volume reached 500,000 loans in 2023
21
Loan-to-value ratio on mortgages averaged 72% in 2023
22
Indirect lending partnerships generated 40% of auto loans in 2023
23
Delinquency rate on credit cards was 1.85% in Q4 2023
24
Member business loans approved at 82% rate in 2023
25
Home equity loan growth stalled at 1.2% in 2023
26
Agricultural loans totaled $12 billion in rural CUs in 2023
27
Average personal loan term was 24 months in 2023
Interpretation

Loans and Credit Interpretation

While credit unions are increasingly becoming the bankers of Main Street—happily growing in mortgages, autos, and small businesses while keeping delinquency and heartburn low—they’re still figuring out what to do with that $4,200 credit card balance you keep swearing you'll pay off.

More related reading

04 · Category

Membership and Demographics25 stats

01
In 2023, U.S. credit unions served 136.5 million members, representing 42% of the U.S. population
02
Credit union membership grew by 3.2% year-over-year in Q4 2023, adding 4.1 million new members
03
The average credit union member age is 47 years old as of 2023, younger than the national average of 49
04
58% of credit union members are from households earning under $75,000 annually in 2023
05
Federally insured credit unions had 4,550 charters active in 2023, down 1% from prior year
06
Hispanic membership in credit unions increased by 5.1% to 12.3 million in 2023
07
32% of credit union members are Gen Z or Millennials as of 2023 surveys
08
Rural credit unions serve 15 million members, comprising 11% of total membership in 2023
09
Women represent 51.2% of primary credit union account holders in 2023
10
Credit unions added 1.2 million senior members (65+) from 2020-2023
11
67% of credit union members report higher satisfaction than bank customers in 2023 J.D. Power study
12
Membership penetration in the Southeast U.S. reached 48% of population in 2023
13
Credit unions with under 10,000 members make up 60% of charters but only 5% of total members in 2023
14
African American membership grew 4.8% to 8.7 million in 2023
15
22% of members use digital banking exclusively in 2023, up from 15% in 2021
16
41% of Americans are eligible for credit union membership in 2023
17
Asian American membership surged 6.3% to 3.2 million in 2023
18
Multi-generational households represent 29% of credit union members in 2023
19
Membership in community charters grew 4.5% YoY in 2023
20
19% of members are military-affiliated in select credit unions in 2023
21
Urban credit unions serve 65% of total members despite fewer charters
22
Joint account holders add 25 million to effective membership in 2023
23
Credit union penetration among low-income households is 35% in 2023
24
Boomer generation holds 38% of membership share in 2023
25
New member acquisition cost averaged $45per member in 2023
Interpretation

Membership and Demographics Interpretation

Nearly half of America now trusts their local financial Davids more than the Wall Street Goliaths, as credit unions are shrewdly winning the hearts—and wallets—of younger, more diverse, and often overlooked communities while somehow managing to feel both refreshingly modern and reassuringly old-school.
Reference

Cite This Report

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APA
Timothy Grant. (2026, February 13). Credit Union Services Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/credit-union-services-industry-statistics
MLA
Timothy Grant. "Credit Union Services Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/credit-union-services-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Timothy Grant. 2026. "Credit Union Services Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/credit-union-services-industry-statistics.

Sources & references

10 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level

ncua.govcallahan.comfilene.orgamericascreditunions.orgdelinquencymanagement.comjdpower.comspglobal.commba.orgbankrate.comco-opfs.org