Houston Highway Credit Union requires an outrageous $3000 minimum to avoid fees. How is that better than a bank?
Houston Highway Credit Union claims they will “turn bank victims into credit union members.” In reality, they are turning credit union members into credit union victims! As of 9-30-14, Houston Highway raised the share savings balance minimum to avoid fees from $5 to $3000, an increase of $2995, which is 600 times as much. This is an increase of 60,000%! Some credit unions have a $1 minimum balance fee. Most have a $5, $10, $25, or $50 minimum. There are a few with a $100 minimum. It is rare for a credit union to have a $500 minimum. A $3000 minimum which Houston Highway CU imposed on 9-30-14, indicates management is making serious errors in judgment because it is far more than what is required at most banks and credit unions.
Use this list of recommended Houston area credit unions to find a credit union near you that will not make you a victim, like Houston Highway CU does. It also tells the minimum share savings balance required to avoid fees:
| name | website | branches | minimum to avoid fees |
| ADVANCIAL FCU | http://www.advancial.org | 16 | $5 |
| ASSOCIATED CREDIT UNION OF TEXAS | http://www.acutx.org | 16 | $1 |
| BAYOU CITY FCU | http://www.bcfcu.com | 2 | $25 |
| BEACON FCU | http://www.beaconfederalcreditunion.org | 4 | $5 |
| CHARTWAY FCU | http://www.chartway.com | 55 | $200 or 2nd service |
| CY-FAIR FCU | http://www.cyfairfcu.org | 3 | $10 |
| ENERGY CAPITAL CU | http://www.eccu.net | 7 | $100 |
| FIRST COMMUNITY CU OF HOUSTON | http://www.fccu.org | 18 | $10 |
| FIRST SERVICE CU | http://www.fscu.com | 13 | $5 |
| GREATER TEXAS FCU | http://www.gtfcu.org | 16 | $5 |
| HARRIS COUNTY FCU | http://www.hcfcu.com | 1 | $5 |
| HOUSTON FCU | http://www.houstonfcu.org | 10 | $5 |
| HOUSTON HIGHWAY CU | www.houstonhighwaycu.com | 1 | $3,000 |
| INVESTEX CU | http://www.investexcu.org | 6 | $5 |
| JSC FCU | http://www.jscfcu.org | 20 | $5 |
| MEMBERS CHOICE CU | http://www.mccu.org | 9 | $5 |
| MEMBERS TRUST OF THE SOUTHWEST FCU | http://www.mtfcu.coop | 2 | $5 |
| MEMBERSOURCE CU | http://www.membersourcecu.org | 4 | $250 or 2nd service |
| MEMORIAL CU | http://www.memorialcu.org | 6 | $5 |
| OLD OCEAN | www.oofcu.org | 1 | $25 |
| OUR MOTHER OF MERCY PARISH HOUSTON FCU | http://www.ourmotherofmercyfcu.com | 1 | $25 |
| PEOPLES TRUST FCU | http://www.peoplestrustfcu.org | 6 | $100 or 2nd service |
| PLUS 4 CU | http://www.plus4cu.org | 3 | $5 |
| PREMIER AMERICA CU | http://www.premier.org | 13 | $500 |
| PRIMEWAY FCU | http://www.primewayfcu.com | 9 | $25 |
| PROMISE CU | http://www.nci-cdcu.org | 1 | $10 |
| SHARED RESOURCES CU | http://www.sharedresourcescu.com | 1 | $25 |
| SHELL | http://www.shellfcu.org | 8 | $5 |
| SMART FINANCIAL CU | http://www.smartcu.org | 18 | $5 |
| SOUTHERN STAR CU | http://www.southernstarcu.org | 1 | $25 |
| SPCO CU | http://www.spcocu.org | 4 | $25 |
| ST STEPHEN’S FCU | 1 | $25 | |
| TEXAS BAY AREA CU | http://www.tbacu.org | 6 | $100 or 2nd service |
| TEXAS DOW EMPLOYEES CU | http://www.tdecu.org | 39 | $5 |
| TRANSTAR FCU | http://www.transtarfcu.org | 3 | $5 |
| UNITED COMMUNITY CU | http://www.unitedccu.com | 4 | $5 |
| UNITED ENERGY CU | http://www.unitedenergycu.com | 2 | $5 |
Houston Highway CU Credit Union 