Honestly, I’ve seen credit unions tack on last-minute fees too—just not as often.
It’s rare, but it happens. And yeah, some still love their fax machines... but I’ve also worked with big banks that lost paperwork three times in a row. No one’s perfect. Sometimes you’re just picking your poison.“Curious if anyone’s actually had a credit union surprise them with fees or last-minute changes, though.”
Yeah, I’ve had credit unions pull a fast one with “processing fees” right before closing. Not common, but it stings when it happens. Honestly, paperwork mistakes aren’t limited to the big banks either…sometimes it feels like a toss-up on who’s more organized.
I get what you’re saying, but honestly, I’ve had smoother experiences with credit unions than with the big banks. Maybe it’s just luck of the draw, but the last time I went through a major lender, they “forgot” to lock my rate and I ended up scrambling at the last minute. At least with my local credit union, I could walk in and talk to someone face-to-face when things got weird. Not saying they’re perfect—those surprise fees are brutal—but sometimes the personal touch makes up for it.
I totally get where you’re coming from about the personal touch at credit unions. I’m in the middle of my first home purchase right now, and honestly, having someone local to walk me through the paperwork has been a lifesaver. The big banks felt a bit... impersonal? Like, I’d call and get bounced around to three different departments before anyone could answer a basic question.
That said, I did notice that some of the smaller lenders (including my credit union) had slightly higher rates compared to the big guys. It’s kind of a trade-off—do you want a lower rate or better service? For me, peace of mind was worth paying a tiny bit more. But those random fees you mentioned are real. I had one pop up for “processing” that no one warned me about, and it threw off my budget for a minute.
Guess there’s no perfect option, but having someone who actually remembers your name goes a long way when you’re stressed out over all the paperwork.
It’s kind of a trade-off—do you want a lower rate or better service? For me, peace of mind was worth paying a tiny bit more.
That’s the dilemma, right? I’ve seen buyers get lured by the lowest advertised rate, only to get hit with “processing” or “origination” fees that weren’t clear up front. My usual approach is to make a spreadsheet: list each lender, their rate, and every single fee (ask for a Loan Estimate if you haven’t already). Sometimes the credit union’s slightly higher rate actually ends up cheaper once you factor in all those hidden costs. And yeah, having someone local who’ll actually pick up the phone when things get weird... that’s hard to put a price on.
