As a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative with more than 925,000 members, BECU is guided by the credit union philosophy of “people helping people.” Unlike many financial institutions, we do not issue stock, or pay earnings dividends to outside stockholders. Instead, earnings are returned to members in the form of great rates and lower fees. We are less likely to charge service fees than for-profit banks, and when we do charge, fees tend to be lower.