At a glance
From its website, read 2 Nov 2026Vocal Credit Union is a credit union based in Helena, Montana. Its website describes farm loans, auto loans, commercial real estate loans and 2 other loan types. Where it lends: Members who live, work, worship or attend school in 10 named Montana counties, plus their businesses. The consumer loan APR it states is 10.99%. It says it considers borrowers with low or no credit history. You can start an application online.
Each point is backed by a quote further down this page. Terms change: confirm with the lender.
How to reach them and apply
| Lending | (406) 442-1421 source |
|---|---|
| Apply online | Page with the application link |
| Website | www.vocal.coop |
| Office (official list) | 2910 Prospect Avenue, Helena, MT 59601 |
What their website says about applying
Want to hear more about our home loans? Fill out our contact form or call us today to make an appointment with one of our knowledgeable Loan Officers.
sourceSome requirements when applying for a business loan include but are not limited to:
source
Phone numbers and addresses are the ones on the lender's own site and the CDFI Fund list. CDFI Atlas does not take applications.
Rates and terms they state
Read 2 Nov 2026| Loan | Stated | Text on the lender's site (verbatim) | Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal / consumer loans | Rate: from 10.99% APR | We offer a fixed rate as low as 10.99% APR for up to 60 months. | source |
| Loans (general) | Term: see their wording | Maximum term limit 120 months, other terms and conditions may apply. | source |
| Loans (general) | Term: see their wording | Closed end loan for 180 months, other terms and conditions may apply. | source |
| Personal / consumer loans | Term: up to 5 yr | We offer a fixed rate as low as 10.99% APR for up to 60 months. | source |
As published on the lender's website on that date, not an offer or a quote. Your rate depends on the lender's review. A missing rate means the pages we read did not state one. For consumer loans we repeat a rate only when the lender states it as an APR (annual percentage rate, which includes fees); otherwise read the lender's own wording and ask for the APR.
Who qualifies, in their words
- No or thin credit history considered
Whether you’ve always paid cash for everything or just turned 18 and haven’t had time to build a credit history, we’ll work with you to get the right financing for you.
source - Low or damaged credit considered
When a member with below average credit comes to us for a loan, we’re going to sit down with them
source - Membership required
However, you will need to qualify for membership to obtain an auto loan.
source - Collateral flexible or not always required
It’s an unsecured loan built for members who need a financial lift. No collateral required.
source
Only rules the lender's own pages state. Other requirements may apply.
Official record
CDFI Fund list, 21 Oct 2026| Institution type | Credit union |
|---|---|
| Native CDFI | No |
| Date certified (as listed) | 3 Mar 2017 |
| RSSD ID | 956880 |
| Address | 2910 Prospect Avenue, Helena, MT 59601 Directions (Google Maps) |
| Website | www.vocal.coop |
Head officeBranch or officeApproximate (ZIP code area)
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, © OpenMapTiles, tiles OpenFreeMap. Head-office points: U.S. Census Bureau geocoder.
Loans and eligibility
Verified from lender site on 2 Nov 2026Read from 7 pages of the lender's website on 2 Nov 2026. Quotes are verbatim. Extracted with AI help from the pages listed below and checked automatically against them. Not reviewed by a person. Confidence: high. Helena branch loan area was closed for renovation per the home page, and no loan amounts are stated on the pages. Terms change — confirm with the lender before applying.
| Product | Amount stated | Text on the lender's site (verbatim, incl. menu labels) | Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture / farm loans | — | At Vocal Credit Union, we offer all agriculture loans and commercial loans. | source |
| Auto / vehicle loans | — | At Vocal, we offer auto loans for new and used vehicles. | source |
| Commercial real estate loans | — | These include operating, term, and real estate loans. | source |
| Personal / consumer loans | — | Vocal is a trusted CDFI credit union offering personal loans in Helena, MT and the surrounding region. | source |
| Small-business loans | — | At Vocal Credit Union, we offer all agriculture loans and commercial loans. | source |
Loan sizes
No amounts stated on the pages we read.
Service area
Members who live, work, worship or attend school in 10 named Montana counties, plus their businesses
Anyone who lives, worships, works in, or attends school in, and businesses and other legal entities located in Beaverhead, Broadwater, Golden Valley, Jefferson County, Judith Basin, Lewis and Clark, Madison, Meagher, Powell, Wheatland county Montana, can join Vocal.
source
Borrower focus
- Not stated on the pages we read.
Languages
- No non-English service found on the pages we read.
Online application
Yes — the site links to an application. Apply Online
source
Questions to ask when you contact them
Based on what their website said when we read it on 2 Nov 2026, and what it left out. Something missing here does not mean they don't offer it: ask.
- How do I become a member, and is there a fee or a minimum deposit?
Credit unions lend only to their members. - What are the smallest and the largest loans you make?
No loan amounts are stated on their website. - What is the APR, including fees, on your auto loans?
Their website does not state an APR. The APR includes fees, so it is the number to compare. - What interest rate and fees should I expect on your farm loans and commercial real estate loans?
Their website does not state a rate for this. - Do you offer free coaching or help preparing my application?
CDFI certification requires development services, such as training or advice, alongside lending. - What documents will you need from me, and how long does a decision usually take?
Their website describes some application steps (above); ask for the full document list.
Write down the answers, who you spoke to and the date, and ask for the terms in writing before you sign.
CDFI Fund awards
CDFI Fund database, 3 Nov 2026$1.8 million in 1 award from the U.S. Treasury's CDFI Fund, 2021 (CDFI Rapid Response Program).
| Round year | Program | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | CDFI Rapid Response Program | $1,826,265 |
These are awards and investments made to the institution itself to build its capital and capacity. They are not loans to borrowers, and an award does not mean the lender has money available for a particular loan today.
Source: CDFI Fund Searchable Awards Database, all 12,628 award records (1996–2025), read 3 Nov 2026. Years are the award round as the database lists it. Matched to the official CDFI list by exact name and state; see the method on the About page.
Branches and size
NCUA, 30 Jun 2026On file with the NCUA as VOCAL (charter 68677). Source: NCUA 5300 Call Report quarterly data (public data) as of 30 Jun 2026, downloaded 3 Nov 2026: total assets, members and branch addresses.
| Total assets | $52.6 million (as of 30 Jun 2026) |
|---|---|
| Members | 4,362 (as of 30 Jun 2026) |
| Offices | 2 (as of 30 Jun 2026) |
Offices by state and county (2)
Montana (2 offices)
- Lewis and Clark County (1): 2910 Prospect Ave, Helena 59601 (main office)
- Meagher County (1): 4261 US Highway 12 E, White Sulphur Springs 59645
An office shows where the lender has a branch, not where it lends or whom it lends to. Credit unions serve members only; check who can join. For the ZIP-code search, credit-union offices are placed at the centre of their ZIP code (approximate).
What the regulator filing shows
NCUA 5300, 30 Jun 2026Figures from the 5300 Call Report filed by Vocal Credit Union (NCUA charter 68677, filed as “VOCAL”). Source: NCUA 5300 Call Report quarterly data (public data), cycle 30 Jun 2026; year-earlier figures from the 30 Jun 2025 cycle; downloaded 3 Nov 2026.
| Total loans and leases | $32.7 million, 1,752 loans (as of 30 Jun 2026) |
|---|---|
| Change over the year | Up 0.1% from $32.7 million on 30 Jun 2025 |
| Members | 4,362 (as of 30 Jun 2026); 4,368 (as of 30 Jun 2025) |
| Loans per member | $7,500 (total loans divided by members, 30 Jun 2026) |
| Total assets | $52.6 million (as of 30 Jun 2026) |
Loan mix (balances on 30 Jun 2026)
| Loan category | Balance | Share |
|---|---|---|
| New vehicle loans | $1.2 million | 3.7% |
| Used vehicle loans | $8.4 million | 25.7% |
| First-lien home mortgages (1-4 family) | $10.6 million | 32.5% |
| Other real estate loans (junior liens, other) | $615,285 | 1.9% |
| Commercial (business) loans | $4.9 million | 15.0% |
| Credit cards | $604,863 | 1.8% |
| Other unsecured loans | $521,615 | 1.6% |
| Leases and other secured loans | $5.8 million | 17.7% |
Balances are loans outstanding on the report date, not loans made during the year. A category with no balance does not mean the credit union never makes that kind of loan. Credit unions lend to members only; check who can join.
How it compares
Computed from public data| Measure | This lender | Compared with |
|---|---|---|
| Total assets (Call Report, 30 Jun 2026) | $52.6 million | Larger than 24% of the 284 other certified credit unions nationwide (median $182.7 million). |
| Loans as a share of assets | 62% | Median of the same 284 credit unions: 70%. A higher share means more of its balance sheet is lent out. |
| Loans held, 30 Jun 2025 → 30 Jun 2026 | $32.7 million → $32.7 million (+0%) | Median change of 282 other certified credit unions nationwide: +3%. Rank by loans held among these 283: 215 → 215. |
How these comparisons were worked out
| Measure | Peer group (this lender left out) | Peers | Where this lender sits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Call Report total assets | other certified credit unions nationwide | 284 | larger than 24% |
| Loans held then vs now | certified credit unions nationwide reporting both dates | 282 | rank 215 → 215 of 283 |
“Larger than X%” = the share of the peer group with a smaller value. Ranks count from the largest. Peer groups use the lender's home state when it has at least 5 peers, otherwise the whole country. Full definitions: methodology.
For comparison, not an offer and not a rating. Past records show what this lender did, not what you would be offered. Peer groups and sources: methodology. Assets and loans: FFIEC and NCUA Call Reports (see the loan-mix section).
Other certified CDFIs in Helena and Montana
- Clearwater Federal Credit UnionCredit union · Missoula, MTEnergy / solar / efficiency loans, Home mortgages, Personal / consumer loansVerified
- Grasslands Federal Credit UnionCredit union · Circle, MTAuto / vehicle loans, Equipment loans, Home mortgages, Small-business loansVerified
- Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.Loan fund · Great Falls, MTSBA-backed loans (7(a)/504/Community Advantage), Small-business loansVerified
- Montana Community Development CorporationLoan fund · Missoula, MTSmall-business loansVerified
- Montana Homeownership Network, Inc. TheLoan fund · Great Falls, MT · Native CDFIAffordable housing development loans, Home mortgagesVerified
- NACDC Financial Services Inc.Loan fund · Browning, MT · Native CDFICredit-builder loans, Small-business loansVerified
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