PenFed is one of the largest federal credit unions in the U.S. It offers checking accounts, credit cards, personal loans, mortgages, auto loans, student loans, and a wide range of other financial products and services. Here are some useful things to know about Pentagon Federal Credit Union:
- Membership is available to everyone for free
- 3.8/5 average rating among users (read reviews)
- A+ BBB rating
- Offers member discounts for partner businesses, such as Travelers, Chubb, TurboTax, and Crutchfield
... show more
Eligibility
Find out if you are eligible to join PenFed Credit Union.
The WalletHub rating is comprised of reviews from both WalletHub users and ratings on other reputable websites. The rating was last updated on 11/15/2022.
3.8
6,112 reviews from WalletHub and across the web
What's Your Rating?
4 Star Rating
editor's reviewPenFed Personal Loan Review
PenFed personal loans have very low rates compared to most other personal loans, at 5.99% - 17.99%, with a $0 origination fee. Borrowers can also get $500 - $50,000 in funding, and will have 12 - 60 months to pay the loan back.
You can only get a PenFed personal loan if you join Pentagon Federal Credit Union. Anyone can join for free, though, as long as they open a PenFed savings or share account with at least a $5 initial deposit.
PenFed Personal Loan Review Highlights
- APRs: 5.99% - 17.99%
- Loan sizes: $500 - $50,000
- Payoff periods: 12 - 60 months
- Credit score requirement: 650
- Other requirements: 18+ years old, U.S. citizen or permanent resident, SSN or ITIN
- Origination fee: $0
- Late fee: $20 - $25
- Reputation: PenFed gets a score of A+ from the Better Business Bureau and has an average user rating of 3.8 on WalletHub.
PenFed personal loans are some of the best on the market, and anyone can join PenFed to apply. The loans aren’t completely flawless, though. Below, you can see how WalletHub rates PenFed personal loans in our three major categories: Terms, Requirements & Application, and Reviews & Transparency.
PenFed Personal Loan Ratings by Category
Terms | 5/5 |
Requirements & Application | 4.8/5 |
Reviews & Transparency | 4.3/5 |
Overall Score | 14.6/15 |
These scores reflect how close a loan offer is to WalletHub’s definition of a 5-star loan. For more information, please read WalletHub’s full methodology.
Product: PenFed Credit Union Personal Loans
Comment
gary_1306
April 8, 2021 • @gary_1306
I applied for a personal loan online with Pen Fed on a Monday. I was pre-approved online and provided three loan choices to pick.I chose the one that fit me best and on Thursday, I was approved for the loan, signed the loan docs, with the check being sent to me within 5 business days. . It was a flawless procedure. April 8, 2021. Thank you Pen -Fed.
Comment
PenFed Credit Union
April 9, 2021 • @PenFed
@gary_1306 Glad to hear it, Gary! Thank you for choosing PenFed!
Comment
Mo hama
November 15, 2022 • @supersonicc
1 Star Rating
I still can't forget how one of their customer service representatives was talking to me over the phone when I was trying to get a car loan from them. he was talking to me as if I was a slave of his. I would rather pay more money elsewhere than do business with this racist institution.
Comment
mwm1995
November 14, 2022 • @mwm1995
1 Star Rating
Starting in Jul 2022, Penfed started blocking aggregation, false claiming there is a security issue but not actually working with a major aggregation service (personal capital) to resolve any legitimate concern. When I called, PenFed customer service just said there was nothing that could be done and didn't care how long I had been with them and how much money I have with them (not a small amount--I was using them to manage my household expenses. Closing my PenFed accounts and taking my business elsewhere.
Comment
John Tomarchio
November 14, 2022 • @jtomarch
1 Star Rating
PenFed has been worse to deal with than the Federal Government. All impersonal communication and phone robotics. All "sir" and no service. They have been running me around for a month about my application to remove PMI from my mortgage, and now I get an anonymous letter, with no contact info. for that "division", telling me that I never qualified in the first place because of a 5 year "seasoning" requirement. I've been on the phone dozens of times with a dozen reps for over a month, I have exchanged a dozen emails with a case manager (with no telephone contact for her), I have sent a professionally prepared property valuation, and it was all a waste of time from the start! "Process" is all I got, and now an anonymous letter I just called to complain to Pen Fed Customer Service, and they gave me a 3-day window for a supervisor call-back! It's all robotics: the computer doesn't let me; I have no access; wrong department; the process requires a form; you can't call them, I can't call them, they have to call you--within a week. Worse than the Federal government. It's even in the name, PenFed. Well, I am: fed up
Comment
Harold
November 10, 2022 • @backup2clean
4 Star Rating
Verified CustomerTerms are good with the card but the web site and support are bit weak. They are very slow at times to correct a problem or reply. I am not sure that the rewards system is all that great, but promo is a good offer.
Comment
henry velasquez
November 7, 2022 • @hvmusic73
1 Star Rating
Bad bank to get a car loan had my car loan with td bank they gave me a better rate but i did not know i had to get my car title over to them all of the cars i've bought in the past i never had to get the title and send it over to the finance company they raised my interest by alot more than td bank I was better off with td bank i really dislike what they did
Comment
Cmcnair79
November 5, 2022 • @Cmcnair79
1 Star Rating
Verified CustomerJust a bad bank overall. I cannot understand how I was locked out of my account first of all they said that I was missing the phone number on my account but I never went in and change the phone number nor deleted it nor did I get any notification that my phone number was gone and so I could no longer log into my account for a month and a half. Now they charged me a $30 fee for $0.15 payment because they sat on the charged and pulled it out at the last minute, so I will not be banking with PenFed again ever in life because they are one of the worst banks I’ve ever dealt with. Stay far away from this bank.
Comment
Erwin
October 21, 2022 • @erwin_van_meirvenne
5 Star Rating
Verified CustomerSmooth process to re-finance the car. The interest rate came down with 50%, which cut my monthly payment in half versus the previous loan with CARMAX.
Comment
Michelle
October 15, 2022 • @mansellmc
4 Star Rating
Verified CustomerI never have to talk to anyone. Which to me is good. I did call one time to talk about possibly refinancing my mortgage with them since I have my car at the same place. I was basically brushed off and told it couldn’t be done. That’s paraphrasing. Since then we refinanced with a different company, lowered our interest rate and even got cash out to pay off some debt. I guess it could actually be done. I spoke with some man who was a bit condescending. Oh well. Everything happens for a reason. Anyway. Happy with the car loan.
Comment
Gregorio Tovar
October 12, 2022 • @Lowervalley1511
1 Star Rating
If you are in the military don't waste your time getting a HELOC with penfed. Its been 3months trying to get a HELOC because the loan officer doesn't know how to read a military pay stub. They calculated my debt to income ratio wrong because of that reason. I locked in at 5% apr and 85% equity. Then since a month passed they changed it to 80%. Now they want me to reapply 10% apr since rates changed. You guys are better off going to a local credit union.
Comment
Review PenFed Credit Union
PenFed Credit Union Q&A(328 questions)
Yes. Anyone can join PenFed. PenFed membership is free for everyone now, but PenFed was originally created to serve U.S. military members and veterans of all branches, as well as federal employees and retirees.
PenFed formerly required non-government and non-military applicants to donate to a military charity to be eligible for membership, but they no longer require this. As long as you're a U.S. citizen or permanent resident of the United States, you can join Pentagon Federal Credit Union by simply funding a savings account with at least $5. All you have to do to apply for PenFed membership is enter your personal information – including your name, address, Social Security number or ITIN, and
other info – on the membership form. Before you submit your application for membership, you'll be asked to make a deposit of at least $5 to a new PenFed savings account using a debit card or a bank transfer. PenFed Membership Eligibility Requirements: All
in all, it's very easy to become a PenFed Credit Union member. To fill out a membership form, visit the PenFed Credit Union website. Alternately, you can apply for membership over the phone by calling 800-247-5626.
View more answers Rodney Bennett, WalletHub Analyst Yes, PenFed is a good credit card company that offers unsecured credit cards for people with excellent credit.
PenFed credit cards come with $0 annual fees, 0% foreign transaction fees, rewards of up to 5 points / $1 spent on purchases, and introductory APRs.Can anyone join PenFed Credit Union?
Is Penfed a good credit card company?
Here's why PenFed is a good credit card company:
- Many credit card promotions and benefits: All PenFed credit cards come with a 0% foreign transaction fee, and almost all of them have no annual fees as well. PenFed also offers different types of credit cards: rewards, intro APRs, and low interest rates credit cards.
- Good Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating: Although it is not BBB accredited, PenFed has a A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
- Wallethub Rating: The company has a rating of 3.6 / 5 across more than 3,300 reviews on Wallethub for its credit cards.
- Available for everyone: Even though PenFed is a credit union, its membership is available to everyone for free.
- Mostly good reviews: Customer reviews give PenFed credit cards mostly high marks, particularly for their rewards and competitive interest rates. Commonly cited areas of need, however, include larger initial bonuses, and a lack of cards available for customers with below-average credit.
Ultimately, it is worth noting that on the customer service side, reviews run the gamut. Reviewers praise PenFed's military-friendly personnel, quick posting of payments, and easy access to credit limit increases and interest rate reductions. Recurring complaints include long wait times, limited website customer service options and difficulty getting issues resolved.
Does PenFed have a secured credit card?
How does the PenFed Honors Advantage program work?
Bogdan Roberts, Credit Cards Moderator
The PenFed Honors Advantage program offers higher earning rates to eligible PenFed Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card and PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card cardholders. More specifically, PenFed Power Cash Rewards cardholders get 2% cash back on all purchases and PenFed Pathfinder cardholders get 4 points / $1 spent on travel if they are eligible for this program.
Here's how the PenFed Honors Advantage program works:
- Eligibility based either on having and maintaining a PenFed Access America Checking Account or being/having been in military service (active duty, reserve, honorably discharged, or retired).
- PenFed Power Cash Rewards cardholders have their rewards supplemented to 2% cash back on all purchases.
- PenFed Pathfinder cardholders have their rewards supplemented to 4 points / $1 spent on travel.
- You do not need to apply for the PenFed Honors Advantage Program. If you are in military service, you will receive the PenFed Honors Advantage 2% cash back upon completion of the application.
- Once you open a PenFed checking account, your card will be automatically upgraded for the higher earning rate within one business day of opening that checking account.
Keep in mind that you must maintain your checking account in order to receive the higher earning rate through the PenFed Honors Advantage program. If you close your checking account, you will no longer be earning the supplemented rewards.
It is also worth noting that you can only earn rewards on purchases (minus any credits or returns). Cash advances, balance transfers, and checks are not considered purchases and will not earn rewards.
What are the Penfed credit card approval requirements?
Maria Adams, Credit Cards Moderator
The PenFed credit card approval requirements include an excellent (750+) credit score and proof of a steady income. Applicants must also be at least 18 years old and either a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
Those under 21 years old will need to offer evidence of independent income, too. PenFed credit union membership is also required in order to be approved for a credit card. The membership requirements and the application to join are available on the PenFed website.
Other PenFed Credit Card Approval Requirements
Application requirements also include personal information such as your name, address and birthdate. Your Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Tax ID Number (ITIN) and U.S. citizenship status are also required. In addition, PenFed will review your credit history, your income and any debts you have. Your bank account information, monthly mortgage/rent payment, and employment status will also be taken into account.
Eligibility
Find out if you are eligible to join PenFed Credit Union.
PenFed Credit Union Contact
What type of help do you need?
3700 N. Capital Street
Washington, DC 20317
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