Become a member

When you join our credit union, you’re not just a member – you’re an owner. 

In addition to accessing high quality banking services, our members elect the credit union’s Board of Directors from our membership and are invited to attend our annual membership meeting. 

The benefits of becoming a member of our credit union include:

• Checking account with no minimum balance and low fees!
• Personal service - we get to know our members.
• Surcharge-free ATM access at over 30,000 locations
• Over 5,600 shared branches nationwide
• Personalized underwriting for every loan application
• Amazing rates for auto loans
• Help becoming a first-time homeowner
• Green loans to save money through energy efficiency
• Community-based advocacy and support

Our members access community-based banking services that allow them to live fulfilling, sustainable lives. 

Our credit union members are eligible for the following services:

• Savings and Checking
• Personal & Home Ownership Loans (or Personal Loans & Mortgages)
• Online Banking
• Wire Transfers
• Financial Resources
• Business Services & Loans

Anyone who lives, works, worships or goes to school within our geographic boundaries, belongs to one of our member associations, or is related to one of our members may join our credit union. If none of these apply, schedule a call. We can still help you join. 

You can join our credit union if you live, work, worship, attend school or own a businesses located in any of the following Rochester neighborhoods:

• Corn Hill
• Downtown
• Ellwanger-Barry
• Highland
• Neighborhood of the Arts
• Pearl-Meigs-Monroe
• Plymouth-Exchange
• South Wedge
• Strong
• Swillburg
• Upper Monroe
• Wadsworth Square

You can also join our credit union if you are a member of the following community organizations:

• Amvets
• Community Darkroom
• Gay Alliance of Genesee Valley
• Genesee Co-op Natural Foodstore (dba Abundance Cooperative Market)
• Metro-Justice
• 19th Ward Community Association
• Open Sky Yoga
• Rochester Friends Monthly Meeting
• South East Area Coalition

Family members (by blood, marriage, domestic partnership, or adoption) of a current Genesee Co-op member are also eligible to join.

You can join Genesee Co-op if you are an individual who lives, works, worships, volunteers, attends school, or owns a business in a qualifying Rochester neighborhood.  

These neighborhoods qualify you for membership at our credit union:

• Corn Hill
• Downtown
• Ellwanger-Barry
• Highland
• Neighborhood of the Arts
• Pearl-Meigs-Monroe
• Plymouth-Exchange
• South Wedge
• Strong
• Swillburg
• Upper Monroe
• Wadsworth Square

Still not eligible? We can help you join. Schedule a call to get started.

Living in a qualified neighborhood is only one way to become eligible. If you are related to a current Genesee Co-op member, or if you work, worship, volunteer, attend school, or own a business in one of these neighborhoods, you are also eligible. 

If you don’t live, work, workship, volunteer, attend school, or own a business in a qualifying Rochester neighborhood, membership in one of the following community organizations can also qualify you:

• Amvets
• Community Darkroom (now Flour City Arts Center)
• Gay Alliance of Genesee Valley
• Genesee Co-op Natural Foodstore (dba Abundance Cooperative Market)
• Metro Justice
• 19th Ward Community Association
• Open Sky Yoga
• Rochester Friends Monthly Meeting
• South East Area Coalition
• Communication Workers of America Local 1170 (CWA 1170)

You can also join if someone in your family (by blood, marriage, domestic partnership, or adoption) is a Genesee Co-op FCU member.

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Still not eligible? We can help you join. Schedule a call to get started. 

The first step is giving us a call. We’ll schedule an appointment for you to open an account. 

You can reach us at 585-461-2230 during the following business hours to set up a time to come in and open an account:

• Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs 10am-5pm
• Fri 10am-6pm

You’ll need to bring these items to your appointment:

• Valid Government Issued Photo ID (such as a Driver's License)
• Social Security Card or Number
• $15 in cash ($10 new member fee, $5 to deposit into savings account)
• If you want to order checks for a share draft/checking account, please bring an additional $18.50 to deposit for the check order.

Although we provide banking services, Genesee Co-op is not a bank. We are a credit union. 

Genesee Co-op Federal Credit Union is a:

• Community Development Credit Union (CDCU) – This means we are a special type of credit union that helps people in low-income areas. We work on projects that help the community, like building affordable housing, helping small businesses, and offering financial advice to our members.
• Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) – This means we are recognized by the U.S. government as a financial institution that serves people with low or moderate incomes. Being a CDCU helped us earn this recognition.
• Financial Cooperative, owned by local members – This means we are part of a group of organizations (like food co-ops, worker co-ops, etc.) where members are in charge. As a member, you help elect the leaders who make decisions for the credit union. You also partly own the credit union!

Banks work for their shareholders, while credit unions work for their members.

Banks are owned by shareholders (people who invest in the bank). Banks try to make a profit by providing services like savings accounts, loans, and credit cards.

Credit unions are owned by their members (the people who use the credit union). Credit unions are not trying to make a profit. Instead, they focus on helping their members with better interest rates and lower fees.

We’ve been located at 395 Gregory Street, Rochester, NY in the historic building known as Weider Hall since 2005. 

Genesee Co-op FCU is located in the southeast section of the City of Rochester, NY. Most residents think of this section of the city as the South Wedge, although it is actually made up of a number of different neighborhoods in the southeast part of the City.

As a shared branching credit union, we are a part of network that allows our members to conduct transactions at other credit unions around the country. 

In addition to our building on 395 Gregory Street, our members can access over 5,600 shared branches and surcharge-free ATMs at over 30,000 locations nationwide. 

Find a location here.

Our members can access surcharge-free ATM access at over 30,000 locations.

Our building has a 24/7 ATM for cash withdrawals. Withdrawals are free for members using their Genesee Co-op debit card. For other cards, the fee is $1.50. 

You can also search for a surcharge-free ATM located near you. ESL FCU ATMs are free in addition to those on the website. 

After four free uses per month, we charge only one dollar for using an ATM we do not own.

Yes – your credit score isn’t your story. We’ll have a conversation with you and help you access the low interest loans and high quality services you need. 

We specialize in working with people who have been left out – or who have opted out – of cookie-cutter financial services. That means we look at your whole story, not just your credit score. We’ll work with you to make sure you get the banking support you need to reach your goals.