Frequently Asked Questions - Membership
Frequently asked questions about becoming a member of Self-Help.
Membership
- What is Self-Help’s membership requirement?
- How do I change the address on my account?
- Can people or organizations from outside Self-Help locations in North Carolina, California, and Washington DC become members of Self-Help?
- Does Self-Help allow membership by an organization or business?
- How do I update authorized signatures on a corporate account?
- How can someone join one of Self-Help’s full-service branches?
- Organization & Business Membership
Back to Frequently Asked Questions
What is Self-Help’s membership requirement?
We require a one-time (non-refundable) membership fee of $25 to access the products and services of Self-Help Credit Union or Self-Help Federal CU. Of that fee, $20 is a tax deductible contribution to the Center for Community Self-Help (a 501(c)(3) non-profit), and $5 buys you a share of the credit union and makes you an official voting member.
How do I change the address on my account?
Any change of address must be submitted in writing. You must include your member ID number, account name, new address (physical and mailing, if different), effective date of change, and handwritten signature. Request can be mailed to P.O Box 3619, Durham N.C., 27702 or faxed to (919) 956-4410, Attn: Deposit Servicing.
Can people or organizations from outside Self-Help locations in North Carolina, California, and Washington DC become members of Self-Help?
Yes. We currently have members from almost every state in the union. Members have access to any of our deposit products. However members may not be eligible for all of our lending products due to geographic restrictions. Please consult Business and Nonprofit Loans or Homeownership Opportunities for more information.
Does Self-Help allow membership by an organization or business?\
Yes!
How do I update authorized signatures on a corporate account?
You must complete a new SHCU Corporate Resolution form or SH Federal CU Corporation Resolution form and return it along with copies of photo IDs for all signers to P.O. Box 3619, Durham, N.C., 27702-3619 or fax it to (919) 956-4410, Attn: Deposit Servicing.
How can someone join one of Self-Help’s full-service branches?
One must either fall within the designated field of membership of the retail credit union (live, work, or worship in the county of jurisdiction), or one must be a member of Self-Help. If a Self-Help member wants to be eligible for the products and services of a retail credit union, the Self-Help member must be willing to transfer his or her account(s) from Self-Help Credit Union to one of our retail credit unions, and agree to conduct all credit union business with that retail credit union.
Organization & Business Membership
As a business, is it a requirement to affix a corporate seal over the secretary's signature on the corporate resolution and/or membership agreement?
We do not require the corporate seal. It is entirely up to the business agent if they want to stamp the document with the seal.
With an organizational or business account, does the account holder need to designate a beneficiary?
No. For our purposes, a beneficiary need only be named in the case of a designated trust account.
