woman making heart gesture with hands

Join NIHFCU!

And Discover Better Banking

Discover Banking with Heart

Whether you work within or outside healthcare and biomedicine, we’re ready to help you achieve your financial goals with affordable loans, banking solutions, and advice that save time and money. We call it Banking With Heart and look forward to putting it to work for you.

NIHFCU – a Newsweek Best Credit Union in the USA for 2026

We Think You’ll Like “Credit-Unioning” Better than Banking

Our commitment to personal service and our banking solutions are designed to meet your every need at every stage of life.  Here’s just a sample of some.

Grow Money

Great Rates & Lower Fees

Enjoy lower loan rates, great savings yields, and fewer fees—because NIHFCU is focused on YOU, not profits.

Location

Nationwide Locations & Fee-free ATMs

Access nearly 30,000 fee-free ATM’s and over 5,000 shared branch locations nationwide.  That more than most banks can offer.

Mobile Phone

Advanced Digital Tools

State-of-the art online and mobile banking tools for easy account access, anywhere you have connectivity!

Check

“Do it All” checking

Loaded with incredible benefits and perks, CompleteCare checking designed to help Protect | Save | Enrich | Relax

Equipment Loans

Affordable and Straightforward Loans

Whether you need a low rate credit card, mortgage, vehicle, or other consumer or business loan, we have what you need.

Financial Stress

Financial Wellness & Counseling

Experience friendly, one-on-one support from a team that’s dedicated to your financial success—with access to certified financial counselors.

Valued and Understood

My personal experience has been nothing short of exceptional.  From the moment I joined, their personalized service has made me feel valued and understood.

Taingay D. NIHFCU member since 2013

How is NIHFCU Different Than a Bank?

  • Ownership

    Ownership

  • Who do we serve

    Who do we serve

  • Where do profits go?

    Where do profits go?

  • Product focus

    Product focus

  • Financial advocacy

    Financial advocacy

  • Board of Directors

    Board of Directors

  • Pay structure of Board

    Pay structure of Board

  • Federal account insurance

    Federal account insurance

NIHFCU

  • Ownership

    Owned by NIHFCU members

  • Who do we serve

    Members, who we treat like family

  • Where do profits go?

    To you in the form of better rates and lower fees

  • Product focus

    Those that help our members

  • Financial advocacy

    Advocate for members and their families 

  • Board of Directors

    Elected by members with one equal vote regardless of their account relationship

  • Pay structure of Board

    Unpaid volunteers

  • Federal account insurance

    $250,000 by NCUA

Traditional Banks

  • Ownership

    Owned by anonymous shareholders

  • Who do we serve

    Customers, normally known distantly by your account #

  • Where do profits go?

    To the pockets of anonymous shareholders

  • Product focus

    Those that maximize their profit for shareholders

  • Financial advocacy

    Advocate for shareholders

  • Board of Directors

    Elected by shareholders, who may not have your best interests in mind

  • Pay structure of Board

    Shareholders who are commonly highly compensated

  • Federal account insurance

    $250,000 by FDIC

Check Your Membership Eligibility

Don’t let our name fool you! You don’t need to work at NIH or be a federal employee to bank with us. Here are four ways to join us!

You are an NIH1:

    • Employee, or
    • Contractor, or
    • Fellow, or
    • Volunteer, or
    • Retiree/Pensioner

1proof of affiliation (work ID, pay stub, etc.) required

You have one of the following immediate family relationships with a current NIHFCU member:

  • Child, or
  • Sibling, or
  • Parent, or
  • Grandchild, or
  • Grandparent, or
  • Have shared household responsibility

You are part of one of our many NIHFCU@work partner organizations.1

  • ABT Associates
  • Adventist HealthCare – Fort Washington Medical Center
  • Alteon
  • American Association of Blood Banks
  • American Kidney Fund
  • Anne Arundel Medical Center/Healthcare Systems
  • Astra Zeneca
  • Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad
  • Bioqual
  • Biomedical Research Institute
  • Callahan & Associates
  • CCI Health Services
  • Community Reach of Montgomery County
  • Direct Care Home Health Services
  • DLH / Social & Scientific Systems
  • Emmes Corporation
  • Gene DX
  • George Washington University – University faculty, staff, students and alumni
  • George Washington University – Medical Center/Hospital Staff
  • HCA Dominion Hospital
  • Hospital for Sick Children, Washington, DC
  • IQ Solutions
  • Jewish Social Service Agency (JSSA)
  • Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States
  • Mansfield Kaseman Health Clinic
  • Medical Society of the District of Columbia (employees & members)
  • Montgomery County Medical Society (employees & members)
  • Medstar Montgomery Medical Center – Olney, MD
  • Montgomery Hospice
  • National Children’s Center (including Value Village Stores) in DC and MD.
  • National Institutes of Health employees, contractors, fellows, volunteers, pensioners
  • Primary Care Coalition
  • Potomac Home Health Care
  • Proyecto Salud Clinic
  • Seracare Life Sciences
  • Sibley Hospital
  • St. John Community Service
  • Suburban Hospital
  • Supernus Pharmaceutical Corp
  • United Cerebral Palsy of Washington, DC and Northern Virginia
  • United Medical Center.
  • US Acute Care Solutions
  • Virginia Hospital Center
  • Washington Adventist University
  • Westat
  • Women in Bio (employees & members)

 

1proof of affiliation (work ID, pay stub, etc.) required

The American Consumer Council (ACC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to consumer advocacy, financial literacy, and corporate social responsibility, and provides member resources to help consumers make consumer product and financial decisions.

  • NIHFCU will open your complimentary ACC membership.  It requires no work on your part and qualifies you for NIHFCU membership.

Follow these easy steps to start your NIHFCU membership

Computer

Fill Out An Application

Use our online application, visit a branch, or schedule an appointment.

Document

Provide Documentation

Social Security Number, and a US government-issued ID for you and any joint applicants

Grow Money

Fund Your Account

We’ll make the required $1 deposit to open your membership.  You can add to this initial deposit if you’d like.

Reward

Get Confirmation

We’ll reach out if more information is required or to confirm when your NHFCU membership is active.

Become a member today!

Call Us
Schedule an Appointment
Schedule
Join Us
Join Us Now