Arizona Federal Credit Union

The downtown branch at 300 W Jefferson Street in downtown Phoenix is located conveniently close to Phoenix City Hall and the municipal and county superior courts. There’s an ATM on the exterior facing Jefferson, and a single drive up lane that you enter through the muni parking garage off 4^th Avenue to get to drive-​up teller window with pneumatic tube service. Woe be unto you if you get trapped in the line for the teller window when someone ahead has complications or it’s busy inside and they’re short staffed as there’s no escape. Note also there is no drive-​up ATM at this location.
Inside is a bright, clean interior with carpet and light colored laminate flooring installed in a remodel of perhaps a couple years years ago. Staff is kind of low-​key courteous and competent, at everything I’ve ever asked of them, though I do miss former branch manager Dana both for being so approachable and for her outreach and helpfulness.
The great Arizona real estate depression hit this credit union hard. Branches closed and hours shrank from 9 to 6 to back to 9 to 5, and a $ 3 monthly checking fee was instituted which seems to have driven some members into a state of apoplexy, but I’ll take it over insolvency and losing the institution. They got into trouble helping people who got into trouble with home loans and such in the sinking economy, so I try to not be too begrudging of the nominal fee, especially when there is no charge for the great convenience of online bill payment through the credit union, as opposed to mailing or delivering individual checks or having to go to every utility or other creditor’s web site individually.
I just applied for and got a loan to consolidate my debt and have some windows replaced. I was pleased with the ease and speed with which the loan was approved and the great interest rate, though having been a customer there for 10 – 11 years, all my info — (maybe too much info!) was on hand and readily accessible. With thanks to Alex, it was a breeze.
If I am not more effusive it’s just because I have yet to find any institution that is «as good as it gets» compared to SECU of NC, where I have been a member for just over 30 years, and service has always been extraordinary.

If I could give it no stars I would. No service, not friendly. I would recomend to stay far far away.

It’s a credit union. What more can I say? Open an account for the benefits and diversify your funds. Convenient and quiet location in downtown PHX.