---
title: "Credit Union Statistics 2026: Assets, Members, Loans"
date: 2026-05-15
author: "Steven Burnett"
featured_image: "https://coinlaw.io/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/credit-union-statistics.jpg"
categories:
  - name: "Banking"
    url: "/banking.md"
tags:
  - name: "Statistics"
    url: "/tag/statistics.md"
---

# Credit Union Statistics 2026: Assets, Members, Loans

Federally insured credit unions in the United States held $2.43 trillion in total assets and counted 144.7 million members at the close of 2025, with assets rising $126 billion (5.4%) over the year, according to the National Credit Union Administration. Two angles dominate the 2025 data. The first is the Institution-Member Divergence: bigger cooperatives absorb smaller ones while the member base keeps expanding. Per NCUA Quarterly Q4 2025 data, the number of Federally Insured Credit Unions fell to 4,287 from 4,455 a year earlier, even as Members grew by 2.4 million.

The second is the [Auto-Loan Rate Gap](https://coinlaw.io/states-with-the-highest-auto-loan-interest-rates-in-the-us/) between Credit Unions and Banks. Per NCUA Q4 2025 rate tables, Credit Unions averaged 5.44% on a 60-month new-car loan while Banks averaged 7.41%, a 1.97-point spread. On a typical $30,000 60-month auto loan, that gap translates to roughly $1,580 less interest paid over the life of the loan.

## Key Takeaways

- According to the National Credit Union Administration, total assets at federally insured credit unions reached **$2.43 trillion** in Q4 2025, up **5.4%** year over year.
- Membership at federally insured credit unions grew to **144.7 million**, with **2.4 million** members added over 2025, according to NCUA.
- Total loans outstanding rose to **$1.72 trillion**, an increase of **$76 billion** or **4.6%** for the year, per NCUA.
- Net income for 2025 totaled **$18.8 billion**, up **31.5%** compared with 2024, the National Credit Union Administration reported.
- The credit union system’s net worth ratio stood at **11.26%** in Q4 2025, well above the **7%** statutory threshold, NCUA data show.
- World Council of Credit Unions data show **412,681,905** credit union members globally across **67,137** institutions in **101 nations** as of December 31, 2024, according to WOCCU.
- According to NCUA rate tables, the average **5-year CD** paid **2.83%** at credit unions versus **2.11%** at banks in Q4 2025.

## Editor’s Choice

- Federally insured credit unions hold **$2.43 trillion** in total assets at the end of 2025.
- **Navy Federal Credit Union** is the largest US cooperative with **$197.2 billion** in assets and **15 million** members.
- **4,287** federally insured credit unions were active in Q4 2025, down from **4,455** in Q4 2024.
- **More than $3.8 trillion** in assets sits across the global credit union network.
- The average new-car loan at credit unions cost **5.44%** in Q4 2025, compared with **7.41%** at banks.
- NCUA approved **157** credit union mergers in 2025, slightly fewer than the **162** mergers approved in 2024.
- The average outstanding loan balance reached **$19,397** in Q4 2025, up **5.3%** year over year.

## Recent Developments

- **March 6, 2026**: Federally insured credit unions held **$2.43 trillion** in assets and **144.7 million** members at the close of the fourth quarter of 2025.
- **March 18, 2026**: The Q4 2025 state-level data report covered all **50 states** plus Washington, D.C., showing median asset growth of **3.3%**.
- **February 26, 2026**: The NCUA approved **157** credit union mergers across 2025.
- **December 26, 2025**: The Q4 2025 rate table covered **23** common loan and deposit products at credit unions and banks.
- **October 14, 2025**: The World Council of Credit Unions 2024 Statistical Report provides comprehensive global credit union data.

## US Credit Union System Size and Growth

- Federally insured credit unions held **$2.43 trillion** in total assets in Q4 2025.
- Total assets rose **$126 billion** ( **5.4%** ) over the year ending Q4 2025.
- The number of federally insured credit unions fell to **4,287** in Q4 2025, from **4,455** a year earlier.
- **2,686** were federal credit unions and **1,601** were federally insured state-chartered credit unions in Q4 2025.
- **739** federally insured credit unions held assets of at least **$500 million**, up from **728** a year earlier.
- Total assets at federally insured credit unions have risen by **over 48%** since March 2020, climbing from **$1.64 trillion** to **$2.43 trillion** by December 2025.

Metric (Q4 2025)ValueYear-over-Year ChangeTotal assets$2.43 trillion+5.4%Total loans outstanding$1.72 trillion+4.6%Federally insured credit unions4,287-168 institutionsFederal credit unions2,686(subset)State-chartered, federally insured1,601(subset)Complex CUs ($500M+ in assets)739+11 institutions*Source: National Credit Union Administration*

> **By the numbers:** NCUA reports **144.7 million** members across **4,287** federally insured credit unions, with **2.4 million** members added during 2025. The membership tally now sits within reach of the US adult population’s lower estimate, anchoring the cooperative model as a mainstream consumer-finance choice rather than a niche.

## Credit Union Membership Statistics

- Credit union membership at federally insured institutions reached **144.7 million** in Q4 2025.
- Federally insured credit unions added **2.4 million** members over the year ending Q4 2025.
- Aggregate membership continued expanding through Q4 2025, though the median credit union showed a **0.5%** decline.
- Most declining-membership institutions were smaller entities, with over half having less than **$50 million** in assets in Q4 2025.
- Globally, credit union membership reached **412,681,905** people as of December 31, 2024, growing **0.4%** year over year.
- The global credit union network spans **101 nations**.

Membership MetricValuePeriodUS federally insured CU members144.7 millionQ4 2025Net new US members2.4 millionYear ending Q4 2025Median US CU membership change-0.5%Year ending Q4 2025Global CU members412,681,905December 31, 2024Global CU membership growth0.4%YoY through 2024*Source: National Credit Union Administration, World Council of Credit Unions*

## Credit Union Assets and Loan Growth

- Total loans outstanding at federally insured credit unions reached **$1.72 trillion** in Q4 2025.
- Total loans rose **$76 billion** or **4.6%** during the year ending Q4 2025.
- The average outstanding loan balance was **$19,397** in Q4 2025, up **$984** or **5.3%** compared with Q4 2024.
- The loan-to-share ratio at federally insured credit unions was **83.2%** in Q4 2025, down from **84.0%** in Q4 2024.
- At the median credit union, loans outstanding grew by **0.7%** during the year ending Q4 2025.
- The national median loan-to-share ratio stood at **70%** in Q4 2025.

![Credit Union Loan-to-Share Ratio and Loan Growth](https://coinlaw.io/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/credit-union-loan-to-share-ratio-and-loan-growth.jpg "Credit Union Loan-to-Share Ratio and Loan Growth")

## Credit Union Net Income and Profitability

- Net income for federally insured credit unions totaled **$18.8 billion** in 2025.
- Net income rose **$4.5 billion** or **31.5%,** compared with 2024.
- **88%** of federally insured credit unions posted positive year-to-date net income in Q4 2025.
- In Q4 2024, **86%** of federally insured credit unions had positive year-to-date net income.
- America’s Credit Unions, citing NCUA data, reported that the **31.5%** earnings increase reflects long-running industry consolidation trends.

Profitability MetricQ4 2024Q4 2025System net income (year)$14.3 billion$18.8 billionNet income YoY changeN/A+31.5%CUs with positive net income86%88%*Source: National Credit Union Administration, America’s Credit Unions*

## Credit Union vs Bank Rates

- In Q4 2025, the average new-[car loan](https://coinlaw.io/car-loan-statistics/) rate at credit unions was **5.44%** for a **60-month** term, compared with **7.41%** at banks.
- The average **48-month** used-car loan rate was **5.53%** at credit unions versus **7.73%** at banks in Q4 2025.
- A classic credit card carried an average rate of **12.58%** at credit unions versus **15.27%** at banks in Q4 2025.
- An unsecured **36-month** fixed loan averaged **10.64%** at credit unions and **12.00%** at banks in Q4 2025.
- A **5-year** $10K CD paid **2.83%** at credit unions versus **2.11%** at banks in Q4 2025.
- A **1-year** $10K CD paid **2.95%** at credit unions versus **2.29%** at banks in Q4 2025.
- A **30-year** fixed mortgage averaged **6.26%** at credit unions versus **6.50%** at banks in Q4 2025.

![Credit Union vs Bank Interest Rates Comparison](https://coinlaw.io/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/credit-union-vs-bank-interest-rates-comparison.jpg "Credit Union vs Bank Interest Rates Comparison")

> **Key finding:** NCUA Q4 2025 rate data show a 1.97-point new-car loan spread between credit unions (5.44%) and banks (7.41%). On a typical $30,000 60-month auto loan, that gap translates to roughly $1,580 less interest paid, the kind of difference that explains why the cooperative model still wins on consumer-debt economics.

The rate gap is most visible at scale, where the country’s largest cooperatives concentrate it.

## Largest Credit Unions in the United States

- **Navy Federal Credit Union** held **$197.2 billion** in assets and served **15 million** members at the end of 2025.
- **State Employees’ Credit Union** ranked second with **$58.1 billion** in assets and **3 million** members.
- **SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union** ranked third with **$35.4 billion** in assets and **1.5 million** members.
- **Boeing Employees Credit Union** held **$29.4 billion** in assets and **1.6 million** members.
- **Pentagon Federal Credit Union** held **$29.3 billion** in assets and **2.8 million** members.
- The top **10** US credit unions collectively hold approximately **$456.4 billion** in total assets and **$392.6 billion** in deposits as of December 2025.
- **Alliant** held **$20.3 billion** in assets and served **923,000** members at the end of 2025.

![Largest Credit Unions By Assets And Members](https://coinlaw.io/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/largest-credit-unions-by-assets-and-members.jpg "Largest Credit Unions by Assets and Members")

## Credit Union Mergers and Consolidation

- NCUA approved **157** credit union mergers in 2025.
- Approvals in 2024 totaled **162** credit union mergers, slightly higher than in 2025.
- The NCUA approved **35** mergers in Q1 2025, **45** in Q2, with combined assets of **$5.6 billion**, and **41** in Q3 2025.
- Merger approvals averaged **222** per year from 2015 to 2018, declining to an average of **152** per year from 2019 through 2024.
- The institution count fell by **168** federally insured credit unions during 2025, from **4,455** to **4,287**.

![Credit Union Merger Trends By Year](https://coinlaw.io/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/credit-union-merger-trends-by-year.jpg "Credit Union Merger Trends by Year")

The merger pace has eased over the past six years, even as the number of institutions keeps falling.

## Capital and Asset Quality at Federally Insured Credit Unions

- The credit union system’s net worth ratio was **11.26%** in Q4 2025, compared with **11.07%** one year earlier.
- The delinquency rate at federally insured credit unions was **103 basis points** in Q4 2025, up **5 basis points** compared with Q4 2024.
- The system net worth ratio sat well above the **7%** statutory well-capitalized threshold throughout 2025.

Capital and Asset Quality MetricQ4 2024Q4 2025Net worth ratio (system)11.07%11.26%Delinquency rate98 bps103 bpsStatutory well-capitalized threshold7.0%7.0%*Source: National Credit Union Administration*

## State-Level Credit Union Data

- At federally insured credit unions, assets increased by **3.3%** at the median over the year ending Q4 2025.
- At the median federally insured credit union, loans outstanding grew by **0.7%** in the year ending Q4 2025.
- The national median loan-to-share ratio stood at **70%** in Q4 2025.
- The Quarterly U.S. Map Review covered all **50 states** plus Washington, D.C., incorporating economic indicators, including unemployment rates and home prices.
- **88%** of federally insured credit unions posted positive year-to-date net income in Q4 2025, compared to **86%** in the same quarter of 2024.

## Global Credit Union Statistics

- World Council of Credit Unions data show **67,137** credit unions worldwide as of December 31, 2024.
- Global credit union membership totaled **412,681,905** members as of December 31, 2024.
- The global credit union network holds **more than $3.8 trillion** in total assets.
- Membership grew by **0.4%,** and assets grew by **2%** year over year through 2024.
- The number of credit unions worldwide declined by **approximately 10%** during 2024.
- Approximately **14%** of countries reported that their credit unions are regulated by a credit-union-specific supervisory authority.
- **40%** of credit union systems are not covered by a deposit guarantee scheme of any kind.

Global Credit Union MetricValuePeriodCredit unions worldwide67,137Dec 31, 2024Total members412,681,905Dec 31, 2024Total assets$3.8 trillion+Dec 31, 2024Operating nations1012024Membership growth0.4%YoYAsset growth2%YoYWith CU-specific supervisor14%2024Without deposit guarantee40%2024*Source: World Council of Credit Unions*

## Credit Union Demographics and Member Value

- WOCCU’s 2024 report includes demographic breakdowns by income level and workforce segment, noting that professional and self-employed individuals are more likely to be credit union members than unskilled laborers.
- The 2024 Statistical Report includes the most comprehensive data set in the publication’s history, with statistics on demographics, regulatory supervision, and strategic priorities.

The demographic story underneath the headline numbers points to an aging member base, with growth concentrated in the largest cooperatives.

## Methodology and Data Sources

- Q4 2025 NCUA data was extracted from the agency’s March 6, 2026, quarterly performance press release. The release covers all federally insured credit unions through December 31, 2025.
- NCUA state-level data was extracted from the March 18, 2026, Q4 2025 state report, covering all 50 states plus Washington, D.C.
- Rate comparison data was extracted from the NCUA’s Q4 2025 credit union and bank rates table, dated December 26, 2025. The table covered 23 common loan and deposit products at credit unions and banks.
- Global statistics were extracted from the WOCCU 2024 Statistical Report (published October 14, 2025). The data is as of December 31, 2024.
- Merger counts were sourced from Credit Union Times reporting on NCUA’s Merger Activity and Insurance Reports, published February 26, 2026. The 2025 total was **157** approved mergers.

Numbers in this piece reflect the most recent NCUA quarterly call-report cycle (Q4 2025, released March 2026) and the WOCCU 2024 Statistical Report (the latest full-year global data). Refresh cadence: quarterly for US figures, annually for global figures.

## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

**How many credit unions are there in the United States?**There were 4,287 federally insured credit unions in the United States as of the fourth quarter of 2025, according to the NCUA. That figure is down from 4,455 in Q4 2024, reflecting a year-over-year decline of 168 institutions. The split was 2,686 federal credit unions and 1,601 state-chartered, federally insured credit unions.

 

**What is the average size of a US credit union?**The NCUA reports $2.43 trillion in total system assets across 4,287 institutions at the end of 2025, with 739 credit unions individually holding at least $500 million in assets, up from 728 a year earlier. The asset concentration in larger cooperatives keeps rising.

 

**Are credit unions safer than banks?**Federally insured credit unions and banks both carry deposit insurance per depositor through the NCUA Share Insurance Fund and the FDIC, respectively. The credit union system net worth ratio sat at 11.26 percent in Q4 2025, well above the 7 percent statutory well-capitalized threshold, indicating a strong capital cushion across federally insured institutions.

 

**How do credit union loan rates compare to bank rates?**Credit union loan rates are typically lower than bank rates across most consumer-loan products. NCUA Q4 2025 rate data show new-car loans averaged 5.44 percent at credit unions versus 7.41 percent at banks, and classic credit cards averaged 12.58 percent versus 15.27 percent. CD and money-market rates at credit unions also tend to run higher than bank averages.

 

**Which is the largest credit union in the US?**Navy Federal Credit Union is the largest US credit union, with $197.2 billion in total assets and 15 million members at the end of 2025, according to Bankrate’s roundup of NCUA call-report data. State Employees’ Credit Union ranks second at $58.1 billion in assets, followed by SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, Boeing Employees Credit Union, and Pentagon Federal Credit Union.

 

**How big is the global credit union sector?**The World Council of Credit Unions reports 412,681,905 members across 67,137 credit unions in 101 nations as of December 31, 2024, with more than $3.8 trillion in total assets. Membership grew 0.4%, and assets grew 2% during 2024, while the institution count fell by approximately 10%.

 

 

## Conclusion

The cooperative consumer-finance footprint anchored by the United States now totals $2.43 trillion in assets and 144.7 million members, a scale that makes credit unions one of the most-used financial relationships in the country. The institution count keeps shrinking even as members keep joining. Borrowers see the rate advantage clearest on auto loans and credit cards, where the spread to bank averages reaches roughly 2 to 2.7% points.

Globally, the cooperative model holds 412,681,905 members across 101 nations, though regulatory infrastructure remains uneven: approximately 14% of countries operate a credit-union-specific supervisor, and 40% of systems lack a deposit guarantee scheme. For US savers and borrowers, the case for cooperative [banking](https://coinlaw.io/banking-statistics/) sits in the rate tables and the net worth ratio.