Q. Can anyone join the credit union?
A. Local since 1932, Champion Credit Union is a community-chartered financial cooperative that serves the residents of Haywood, Buncombe, Henderson, Graham, Swain, Jackson, Madison, Macon, and Transylvania Counties. As long as you live, work, worship, or attend school in one of these counties, you can have an account with Champion Credit Union.
Q. What is the difference between a credit union and a bank?
A. Credit unions are member owned, non-profit financial cooperatives. Banks are for-profit, board and stockholder controlled. Earnings of a credit union are returned to the members in the form of higher returns and lower loan rates. The profits of a bank are divided among the stockholders of the bank.
Q. Is the credit union not-for-profit?
A. Yes. We do not seek to earn income for profit, but rather use any income earned to meet the needs of our members and sustain in business. Any excess profits are returned to our members in various ways.
Q. Why do I have to keep $5 in my savings account?
A. The $5 secures your membership, making you a member-owner with voting rights and privileges.
Q. What is the routing and transit number?
A. Champion Credit Union's routing and transit number is 253174903. This is used for direct deposit or automatic bill-pay or if you are receiving a wire transfer.
Q. How do I sign up for direct deposit?
A. Contact us to request a direct deposit form, which will need to be completed and turned in to your employer or originating company.
Q: How do I set up automatic loan payments from another financial institution?
A: Simply complete the Electronic Loan Payment Agreement found here and return it to our Payment Systems team along with a voided check.
Q. What is the difference between credit and debit when I use my check card?
A. You have probably heard a store clerk ask you “credit or debit?” when making a purchase. No matter what you answer the money is still coming from your checking account. A debit transaction requires your PIN number. A credit transaction requires a signature and can take a few extra days to clear your checking account.
Q. How do I activate my VISA® debit or credit card?
A. Activate your new card by calling 1-800-290-7893. Once your card has been activated, you will be prompted to set the PIN of your choice.
Q. How do I reset my Visa® debit or credit card PIN?
A. Reset your debit or credit card PIN by calling 1-800-290-7893.
Q. How do I report a lost or stolen VISA® debit or credit card?
A. To report a lost or stolen VISA® debit or credit card, please call 1-888-297-3416.
Q. Who can I contact if I am having issues with my debit or credit card outside of normal business hours?
A. We offer a cardholder assistance line to help resolve certain issues that may arise with debit or credit cards outside of normal business hours. If you are experiencing issues outside of normal business hours, please call us at 828-648-1515 and follow the prompts to be connected to the assistance line.
Q: Do you have machines that will count coins in your offices?
A: Through our partnership with Coinstar for Financial, you can securely transfer your coins directly to your checking account from any participating Coinstar kiosk, from your local grocery store to your favorite retail location. We also have coin machines in our Canton and Waynesville offices.
Q: Do you have machines that will count coins in your offices?
A: Through our partnership with Coinstar for Financial, you can securely transfer your coins directly to your checking account from any participating Coinstar kiosk, from your local grocery store to your favorite retail location. We also have coin machines in our Canton and Waynesville offices.
Q. What is the difference between my available balance and the actual balance?
A. As you are looking at your account you may notice a difference in your available balance and your actual balance. Usually this difference is from outstanding VISA® check charges (when your debit card is ran as credit). It can take up to 3 business days for a VISA® charge to show up on your account. Our system places a 3-day hold on the amount of your charge to make sure sufficient funds are available. You may also notice a difference in your available balance and your actual balance in your share account. This is because of the $5 minimum balance is required to be left in your account.
Q. What are your holiday hours?
A. We follow the Federal Reserve Bank holiday schedule, with a few additions to allow our employees additional time to spend with their families. Take a look at our full Holiday Schedule.
Q. How do I change my mailing address?
A. You can update your mailing address by sending in a notarized, completed copy of our Change of Address form to one of our offices. Contact us to request a Change of Address form. You can also visit any of our offices to change your mailing address in person.
Q. How do I go about handling an account for someone who is deceased?
A. The Clerk of Courts in the deceased member's county of residence is the first place you need to start. Take a look at our guide to help walk you through this process.
Q. How do I request a sponsorship and/or donation for my event, group, or team?
A. We seek to contribute to local organizations and efforts that align with our mission. Click here to complete and electronically submit a Contribution Request form for consideration. Please complete this form at least 30 days prior to your event to ensure a timely response and participation. If you prefer to print the form to complete, click here.
Q. How do I apply for a Champion Credit Union/A. Roland Leatherwood Memorial Scholarship?
A. Champion Credit Union has established scholarships to assist high school seniors within our field of membership to attend a community or university college. Visit our Scholarships page to learn more.
Q. Do you provide any type of assistance to members who have suffered from a disaster?
A. Champion Credit Union has established the Champion Credit Union Member Relief Fund to provide financial assistance in the form of a grant to our members who have suffered from a disaster and are experiencing hardship while beginning to rebuild their lives and homes. Click here for more details regarding these efforts.
