How to Join a Credit Union and Open an Account in North Texas

Looking to join a credit union in North Texas? If you live or work in Kaufman County, Hunt County (Greenville), Rockwall County, or the surrounding area, you can become a member of Lone Star Credit Union (LSCU) with a one-time $25 opening deposit. This guide explains exactly who is eligible, what documents you need, how to open your account step by step, why a credit union is different from a bank, and what membership looks like in Kaufman, Greenville, and Terrell specifically.

Lone Star Credit Union is a not-for-profit, member-owned financial cooperative that has served North Texas since 1967. Because it answers to members rather than outside shareholders, earnings are returned to members through fewer fees, better rates, and more services.

Who Can Join a Credit Union in North Texas?

Every credit union has a field of membership, the defined set of people eligible to join, usually based on where you live or work, a family relationship, or an employer connection. You do not have to already bank with a credit union to qualify; you simply have to meet one of its eligibility criteria.

You are eligible to join Lone Star Credit Union if any one of the following is true:

•  You or a family member live or work in Delta, Hopkins, Hunt, Kaufman, Rains, or Rockwall county.

•  You or a family member live, work, worship, or attend school in Collin or Ellis county.

•  You or a family member live or work within a 10-mile radius of the Dallas branch.

•  You are employed by a business served by Lone Star Credit Union.

If you are not sure whether you qualify, LSCU can help you “discover your connection”, eligibility often runs through a relative or an employer even when your home address does not fall inside the field of membership.

What You Need to Join

To open your membership, gather the following before you apply:

•  Government-issued photo ID: a current, unexpired Texas driver’s license, Texas state ID, or U.S. passport.

•  Social Security number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN): required for identity verification under federal financial regulations.

•  Current physical address and contact information: including phone number and email.

•  Proof of eligibility: documentation that you live or work in the field of membership (such as a utility bill, lease, or pay stub), or proof of your family relationship to an eligible member.

•  $25 opening deposit: this opens your Savings (share) account and represents your ownership stake in the cooperative. Once it is deposited, you are officially a member.

Minors can typically join with a parent or guardian as a joint owner, and businesses within the field of membership may apply for business membership with additional documentation. If you have questions about what applies to your situation, contact LSCU before you apply.

How to Open an Account at Lone Star Credit Union

Opening an account takes only a few minutes once your documents are ready.

Step 1: Confirm your eligibility. Check that you (or a family member) live or work in one of the eligible counties, fall within the 10-mile Dallas-branch radius, or qualify through an employer. If you are unsure, reach out and LSCU will help confirm your connection.

Step 2: Choose your accounts. Every new member opens a Savings (share) account with the $25 deposit. Most members open a checking account at the same time, and you can add other products, certificates, a Save to Win savings account, loans, and more, now or later.

Step 3: Gather your documents. Have your photo ID, SSN or ITIN, proof of address, proof of eligibility, and your $25 opening deposit ready.

Step 4: Apply online or in person. You can complete the membership application online at lonestarcu.org, or visit a branch in Kaufman, Greenville, or Terrell to apply with a team member. The application takes just a few minutes.

Step 5: Fund your account and start banking. Make your $25 Savings deposit, fund your checking account, then enroll in online and mobile banking, set up direct deposit, and activate your debit card. You will have access to LSCU’s full line of products and services from that point forward.

Why Choose a Credit Union Instead of a Bank?

Credit unions and banks offer many of the same products, checking, savings, loans, credit cards, but they are built differently, and that difference has practical effects for you:

•  Member-owned and not-for-profit. A credit union is owned by its members, not outside shareholders. Earnings are returned to members rather than paid out as profit, which typically means lower fees, better loan rates, and higher savings yields.

•  Local decisions. At a community credit union like LSCU, lending decisions are made locally by people who live and work in North Texas, which can mean more flexibility and a real conversation rather than a purely automated decision.

•  Federally insured. Deposits at Lone Star Credit Union are insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) up to $250,000 per depositor, per ownership category, the same level of protection that FDIC insurance provides at banks, backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Coverage is automatic; there is no application or fee.

•  Member benefits. Members gain access to digital and mobile banking, exclusive member discounts and offers, and financial education and debt resources.

•  Community focus. A community credit union reinvests in the area it serves, local schools, nonprofits, and members, rather than distributing profits to outside owners.

Choosing where to bank is a personal decision, and it is always worth comparing fees, rates, digital tools, and eligibility across institutions. For people who live or work in North Texas, a not-for-profit credit union is well worth considering as your financial home.

Joining in Kaufman County

If you live or work in Kaufman County, you are within Lone Star Credit Union’s field of membership and can join with the standard $25 opening deposit. LSCU operates a branch in the city of Kaufman at 750 E. Highway 175, Kaufman, TX 75142, offering full-service banking, a drive-thru, and a 24-hour drive-up ATM.

Kaufman County residents and workers, including those in Kaufman, Terrell, Forney, Crandall, and surrounding communities, qualify on the “live or work” basis, and family members of current members qualify regardless of where they live. To open an account, confirm eligibility, bring your photo ID, SSN or ITIN, proof of address, and $25 opening deposit, and apply online or at the Kaufman branch.

Can I join if I live or work in Kaufman County? Yes. Living or working anywhere in Kaufman County makes you eligible for Lone Star Credit Union membership; so does being an immediate family member of a current member.

Joining in Greenville and Hunt County

If you live or work in Hunt County, including Greenville, you are eligible to join Lone Star Credit Union. LSCU’s Greenville branch is located at 2611 Eastland, Greenville, TX 75402, with a full-service lobby, drive-thru, 24-hour drive-up ATM, and bilingual staff.

What you need to join in Greenville: a government-issued photo ID, your SSN or ITIN, proof that you live or work in Hunt County (or proof of a qualifying family relationship), and a $25 opening deposit into a Savings account. You can apply online or in person at the Greenville branch, and the process takes just a few minutes.

Joining in Terrell

If you live or work in the Terrell area (Kaufman and Rockwall counties), you are within Lone Star Credit Union’s field of membership. LSCU’s Terrell branch is located at 140 9th Street, Terrell, TX 75160. The Terrell lobby is temporarily closed for renovation, with service available through the drive-thru; the updated lobby is scheduled to reopen in late summer 2026. You can also join or open an account online at any time.

Why choose a credit union over a bank in Terrell? In a community like Terrell, a not-for-profit credit union often delivers lower fees and more personal service than a for-profit bank, with the same NCUA deposit protection (up to $250,000 per depositor, per ownership category). Lending decisions are made locally, earnings are returned to members through better rates, and the institution reinvests in the surrounding community. To join, confirm your eligibility, gather your photo ID, SSN or ITIN, proof of address, and $25 opening deposit, and apply online or at the Terrell branch.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I open an account at a credit union in Kaufman County, Texas?

To open an account at Lone Star Credit Union in Kaufman County: (1) confirm you live or work in the county or are a family member of a current member; (2) gather a government-issued photo ID, your SSN or ITIN, and proof of address; (3) apply online at lonestarcu.org or in person at the Kaufman branch (750 E. Highway 175); (4) make your $25 opening deposit into a Savings account; and (5) enroll in digital banking and activate your debit card. The application takes just a few minutes.

What do I need to join a credit union in Greenville, TX?

You need a government-issued photo ID, your Social Security number or ITIN, proof that you live or work in Hunt County (such as a utility bill or pay stub) or proof of a qualifying family relationship, and a $25 opening deposit into a Savings account. At Lone Star Credit Union’s Greenville branch, you can apply online or in person.

Why should I bank with a credit union instead of a bank in Terrell, Texas?

Credit unions are member-owned, not-for-profit cooperatives, so earnings are returned to members through lower fees, better loan rates, and higher savings yields rather than paid to shareholders. Decisions are made locally, deposits are federally insured by the NCUA up to $250,000 per depositor per ownership category, and the institution reinvests in the local community. For Terrell-area residents who live or work in Kaufman or Rockwall county, Lone Star Credit Union is a local option to consider.

Can I join a credit union in Kaufman County if I live or work there?

Yes. Living or working in Kaufman County makes you eligible to join Lone Star Credit Union. You can also qualify as an immediate family member of a current member. Joining requires a $25 opening deposit into a Savings account.

How much does it cost to join Lone Star Credit Union?

Membership requires a one-time $25 opening deposit into a Savings (share) account. That $25 is your money, it represents your ownership share in the cooperative and stays in your account.

Is Lone Star Credit Union federally insured?

Yes. Deposits at Lone Star Credit Union are insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) up to $250,000 per depositor, per ownership category, backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Coverage is automatic.

Lone Star Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative. Membership is subject to eligibility requirements. Federally insured by NCUA. All rates, fees, and account terms are subject to change. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Confirm current details at lonestarcu.org or by contacting Lone Star Credit Union.