Most credit unions that offer shared branching participate through a single national network operated by Velera (formerly CO-OP Financial Services), which connects more than 5,550 branch locations across the country. Rather than memorizing a list of participating credit unions, you can look up any credit union or find a nearby shared branch using the CO-OP locator tool at co-op.org or through the CO-OP ATM Shared Branch Locator mobile app.
How Shared Branching Works
Shared branching is an arrangement where credit unions agree to serve each other’s members in person. If your credit union participates, you can walk into any other participating credit union’s branch and handle everyday banking as if it were your own institution. The teller at the host credit union connects to your home credit union’s system, pulls up your account, and processes the transaction on the spot.
This is especially useful if you travel frequently, move to a new city, or simply live far from your credit union’s nearest branch. Instead of being limited to one institution’s footprint, you gain access to thousands of locations nationwide.
What You Can Do at a Shared Branch
Shared branches handle the most common teller transactions. You can:
- Deposit cash or checks
- Withdraw cash or checks
- Make loan payments
- Transfer money between your accounts
- Print account statements
- View transaction history
- Purchase money orders, traveler’s checks, or official checks (availability varies by location)
What you generally cannot do is open a new account, apply for a loan, or resolve complex account issues. Those tasks require your home credit union because they involve underwriting decisions or account agreements specific to that institution. If you need something beyond basic teller services, you’ll likely need to call or visit your own credit union, or use its online banking platform.
Which Credit Unions Participate
There is no single short list to memorize. Thousands of credit unions across the country participate in the CO-OP Shared Branch network, ranging from small community-based institutions to some of the largest credit unions in the nation. For example, America First Credit Union (with 116 branches across several states) and Boeing Employees Credit Union (with over 60 branches) both advertise access to more than 5,000 shared branch locations through the network.
The fastest way to confirm whether your credit union participates is to check the CO-OP locator tool online or in the mobile app. You can search by your credit union’s name or by your current location to find the nearest shared branch. Both the website and the app are free to use.
If you’re shopping for a new credit union and shared branching matters to you, ask the credit union directly or search for it in the locator before opening an account. Not every credit union is part of the network, and participation is voluntary.
Fees to Expect
Basic transactions at shared branches, like deposits and withdrawals, are typically free. Your home credit union is the one that sets its own fee schedule, so any account-level fees (like charges for excessive withdrawals) still apply based on your credit union’s policies, not the branch you happen to walk into.
Services like money orders or official checks may carry a small fee, and that fee can vary depending on the host branch. If you need one of those items, it’s worth asking about the cost before the teller processes it.
What You Need to Bring
When you visit a shared branch for the first time, bring a government-issued photo ID and know your account number. The teller will use your credit union’s name and your account number to pull up your information. Some locations may also ask for your member number or verify your identity with security questions. Having your account number written down or saved in your phone speeds up the process considerably, since the host branch staff won’t have your information on file the way your home branch would.
How Shared Branching Compares to ATM Access
Shared branching and ATM networks overlap but serve different purposes. ATMs let you withdraw cash and check balances, but they won’t accept every type of deposit, and they can’t process loan payments or print full statements. A shared branch gives you a live teller who can handle more complex transactions.
Many credit unions participate in both the CO-OP Shared Branch network and a surcharge-free ATM network (CO-OP also operates a large ATM network with tens of thousands of machines). If your main need is just grabbing cash while traveling, an ATM is faster. If you need to deposit a stack of checks or make a loan payment in person, a shared branch is the better option.
Finding a Shared Branch Near You
Visit the CO-OP shared branch locator at co-op.org or download the CO-OP ATM Shared Branch Locator app on your phone. Enter your ZIP code or city, and the tool will show nearby participating branches along with their hours and addresses. You can also filter results to show only shared branches, only ATMs, or both. Saving the app on your phone makes it easy to find a location when you’re traveling without having to search each time.