Quick answer

Consumers Credit Union in Illinois has a broad membership path through Consumers Cooperative Association. The joining path includes both the association step and a Membership Share account, and the institution publishes different identity details by channel.

Published rules for this service

Consumers’ new-member FAQ states that the $5 Consumers Cooperative Association fee is non-refundable. Its current joining page says CCU reimburses that one-time fee for most direct membership applications, except indirect members and people who join to refinance a loan. A separate $5 held in regular savings is the membership share and is returned if membership closes. Treat reimbursement and refundability as separate facts: the association fee itself is non-refundable, while CCU may reimburse it under the published joining offer. Membership funding does not guarantee approval for other products. For electronic funding or payroll setup, use the full account number rather than the member number.

Decision path

Standard online SSN path → use the online application. ITIN/non-U.S.-citizen documentation path → follow the current branch/support instructions rather than forcing the online field. Membership fee/share account → treat them as separate requirements.

What to do next

Verify current association, share-funding and ID requirements before applying. If using an ITIN or non-standard documentation, confirm the supported channel directly.

Important limits

This page concerns the Illinois institution. The association fee and savings share serve different purposes. An ITIN applicant should confirm the supported application channel before applying.

Sources and freshness

Last verified: October 7, 2026.

Consumers how to become a member · Consumers membership support

Rules and service limits can change. Use the linked agreement for your account and the notice shown for this transaction; if they differ, ask the institution to explain which provision applies.

Joining checklist

Confirm the Illinois Consumers Credit Union identity/charter, then separate Consumers Cooperative Association participation from the Membership Share account. Standard online share application and branch/non-U.S.-citizen identification paths can differ; ITIN users should follow the current supported channel rather than forcing an SSN-only field.

FAQ

Are both $5 amounts refundable? No. The CCA fee itself is non-refundable, although Consumers’ current joining page says CCU reimburses it for most direct joins, with stated exceptions. The separate savings share remains the member’s money and is returned when membership closes. Is my member number the account number for ACH? No; use the full account number with Consumers’ routing number.

Related but different

After joining, mobile-deposit qualification, ACH and Zelle each have separate service rules. Membership details should not be repeated as filler on every problem page.

Related guides

Consumers Credit Union (Illinois): /institutions/consumers-credit-union-illinois/

How to join a credit union: documents, membership share and application path: /problems/credit-union-join-path/