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Lending You Can Trust

Whether you’re living paycheck to paycheck, navigating retirement, or anywhere in between, it’s more important than ever to make sure you’re budgeting responsibly and not spending more than you need to, especially on a loan or credit card. Amherst FCU is member-first to its core, with our commitment to the financial empowerment of our members at the forefront of our lending policies and procedures. Here’s how it benefits our members:

  1. Debt-to-income ratio. When applying for any of our lending services, one of the first and most important factors considered by our lending department is what’s called a “debt-to-income ratio.” We require proof of income for all loans, and your gross monthly income is compared to your total monthly debts (including rent/ mortgage, car loans, credit cards, and anything else that will appear on a credit report). When your debts are divided by your income, the resulting figure is your debt-to-income ratio. For example, if an applicant’s monthly debts total $2,000, and their gross monthly income totals $5,000, the formula would be (2,000 / 5,000) x 100 which equals 40%. It is our policy that we will not extend credit or financing if an applicant’s debt-to-income ratio is greater than 45%. This helps ensure our members do not over-extend themselves.
  2. Vehicle valuation. When financing a car, truck, motorcycle, or RV, we will not lend more than a vehicle is worth per reputable valuation sources. This not only helps ensure members are not paying more than they should for a particular vehicle, but helps mitigate a potential gap in value in the event insurance needs to pay out a total loss.
  3. Fixed interest rates. All auto loans and personal loans with Amherst FCU have fixed interest rates and monthly payments. Unlike many major lenders you see on TV, our Visa Credit Cards have a low, fixed interest rate of 8.95% APR. Our fixed and variable home equity line of credit options are tied to prime rate, with multiple promotions every year to get in on discounted rates.
  4. Fair and transparent. We have a loan sale nearly every month on at least one of our lending products. We like to keep our discounts straight forward without hidden or confusing terms. Enjoy a certain percentage off just by applying, with occasional opportunities for additional benefits.

Published August 1, 2026