Frequently Asked Questions

In 1935, we were formed as the Detroit Newspaper Industrial Credit Union, to serve people who worked in the newspaper industry. In the 1970s, we changed our name to be more inclusive of industries such as radio, television, printing, and publishing. We chose Communicating Arts Credit Union, the name most of us associate with our credit union.

In 2008, as other ?nancial institutions ?ed Detroit, we expanded our scope to help ?ll the ?nancial services gap. Though we will never forget our roots in communicating arts industry, we have grown to include all people in our mission. Whether you live in Highland Park or Dearborn—we know you carry the Spirit of Detroit with you, just as we do.

We have adopted a new name that represents our blended membership base. We are altogether One Detroit.

Our new logo represents our blended membership base. It brings together the ‘1’ and the ‘D’ on a solid line marking our unified path to financial empowerment.

No. We have chosen to change our name so that it better reflects our expanded member base. This decision was made by your elected Board of Directors and the management team of the Credit Union — the same people who continue to serve in those positions today. You will still see the same faces in our branches, hear the same voices on the phone and enjoy the same level of service you have come to expect from the credit union.

Everything you have come to love about the credit union will be staying the same. As we complete this name change, you will see some cosmetic updates in our branches including new signs and color scheme. One Detroit Credit Union is simply an evolution of everything our members love about the credit union.

Your accounts are still insured by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government through the NCUA — National Credit Union Association. As always, each individual account at the credit union is insured up to $250,000.

No. There should be little impact to you as a member. Your member number and account number(s) will remain the same, as will all of your products and services.

Your member number(s) and account number(s) will remain the same. There will be no changes to any existing accounts.

Our Routing and Transit number will remain the same.

No, your current card will continue to work. In the future you will receive a new replacement card with our new name and logo.

Important Note: Although your card number(s) will remain the same, the expiration date and Security Code will change so please be sure to update any reoccurring payments that are automatically charged to your card(s).

All direct deposits, payroll deductions, automatic drafts and other ACH services are transmitted using the Credit Union's Routing and Transit number and your account number. Since these numbers have not changed, your payments should process without any change on your part.

The amount is determined by the balance of your 1DCU Share Savings account. You may borrow as much as you like, up to that amount. Keep in mind that the funds in your Share Savings account will be temporarily put on hold during the term of your loan. However, you will have that same amount to spend from your Credit Builder Loan.

Let's look at an example. 

You are not required to borrow the total amount in your Share Savings account. We will work with you to find a monthly payment that is affordable for you.

Please note there is a $20 application fee which must be paid up front or from your 1DCU account. 

Credit qualification is easy, and this type of loan can be used to rebuild your credit history. Our Credit-Builder Loan is designed to help members who have little or no credit history build strong credit.

1DCU reports your payments to the credit bureaus. We report your payment status, whether on-time or late, to the credit bureaus each month. If you are responsible and pay on time, your score should increase. You should also try your best to avoid late payments. Having a payment reported as late to the credit bureaus will hurt your credit-building efforts.

You may pay off the loan early if you wish, but it will hinder your credit-building efforts. The whole point of a credit-builder loan is to have monthly payments reported to the credit bureaus. The more consecutive on-time payments we can report, the more positive your impact on your credit score will be.

Yes, there is a $35 fee per loan. Please note that in order to request a Skip-A-Pay, a fee of $35 per loan must be paid from the available funds in a One Detroit Credit Union account.

All 1DCU members may request Skip-A-Pay on any loans you have with 1DCU. Requests are subject to approval, and your loans must be in good standing in order to be eligible for Skip-A-Pay

The following loans are eligible for Skip-A-Pay:

• Auto Loans
• Holiday Loans
• Personal Loans
• Share Secured Loans
• Summer Loans
• Unsecured Loans

The following loans are NOT eligible for Skip-A-Pay:

• Borrow & Save
• Home Equity Line of Credit
• Home Equity Term Loans
• Mortgages
• MyPay Today
• Revolving Lines of Credit
• Visa Cards
• Zero Percent Interest Rehabilitation Loan
• Other-Secured Recreational Vehicle loan type exclusions:
  • Motorcycle / Off-Road Motorcycle Loans
  • Boat Loans
  • Recreational vehicles (RVs) including Travel Trailers and Fifth Wheels
  • Snowmobiles
  • Jet Skis
  • All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV)

Unfortunately, no. Skip-A-Pay applications must be submitted at least 2 business days prior to the due date of the payment you want to skip.

Please use our mobile-friendly online form by clicking the button below. Once you complete the online form, you will receive an email confirmation that your request is being processed. Please allow seven business days for your request to be processed. 

Request Skip a Pay

Your credit may not be as bad as you think it is! Our approval process isn’t based solely on your credit score. We take your character and your income into account, and we’ll do everything we can to help you get approved.

We can also help you find additional discounts through programs like direct deposit. If you have an exceptionally high rate, we might be able to reduce it by more than 50%.

We’re a credit union, not a bank, so we’re not-for-profit. Part of our mission is to support the local economy and the community.

Nope. The only thing that changes is your interest rate. Your interest rate and your monthly payment will be lower.

Please note there is a $75 processing fee, effective December 21, 2020. 

You can complete our pre-screening questionnaire in less than 30 seconds to find out if you qualify. The refinance pre-approval itself takes about 2 minutes to complete. Once we have all the information, in most cases you’ll be able to find out if you’re approved by the next business day.

A social security number (SSN) is necessary to run a credit report when applying for a loan. Our underwriting team will need this information to help us assess your creditworthiness. Your credit score is just one of the several factors we consider when approving your loan.

Any information you enter on the loan application will be encrypted and transmitted through a secured connection. You can review our SSL certificate by clicking the lock icon in your browser's address bar on the loan application page. 

Your privacy is very important to us. To review our privacy policy, click herefor privacy policy. 

There’s still a chance you might be able to lower it! We’ve been able to help members secure interest rates as low as 3%.

Before completing the refinance process you will need to become a member of 1DCU, but you do not have to be a member prior to applying for this program. Anyone who lives, works, worships or volunteers in Wayne County is welcome to apply.