What RBFCU credit cards are and who can get them
RBFCU (Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union) offers credit cards to its members — people who have opened a deposit account with the credit union. You cannot get an RBFCU credit card unless you are already a member. Membership is open to people who live, work, worship, or go to school in Bexar County, Texas, or who are related to an existing member.
RBFCU is a federally chartered credit union, which means it is regulated differently than a bank and is owned by its members rather than shareholders. This structure sometimes allows credit unions to offer different terms than traditional banks, though not always better ones — it depends on the specific card and your financial situation.
RBFCU currently offers several credit card products, but the specific cards available, their interest rates, and their rewards structures change over time. Before you decide to join RBFCU specifically to get a credit card, you should check their website or call their member services line to see which cards they are currently offering and what the current terms are.
Key Takeaways
- RBFCU credit cards are only available to RBFCU members, so you must open a deposit account with the credit union first.
- Membership in RBFCU requires you to live, work, worship, or attend school in Bexar County, Texas, or be related to an existing member.
- The specific cards, interest rates, and rewards offered by RBFCU change regularly, so you should check their current offerings before deciding to join.
- Like all credit cards, RBFCU cards will report your payment history to the three major credit bureaus, which affects your credit score.
- Credit unions sometimes offer more flexible underwriting than banks, meaning you may be considered for a card even if your credit history is limited or imperfect.
How RBFCU membership works
To get an RBFCU credit card, your first step is to become a member. You can do this online, by phone, or in person at an RBFCU branch. You will need to open a savings account (called a share account at credit unions) and deposit money into it — the minimum deposit amount varies and you should confirm the current requirement when you explore.
Once you are a member, you can then request a credit card. RBFCU will review your credit history, income, and existing debts to decide whether to approve you and what credit limit to offer. This review process is similar to what happens at a bank, though credit unions sometimes use slightly different criteria.
Your membership account and your credit card account are separate. You can close the credit card without closing your membership, and you can keep your membership even if you stop using the card. However, some credit unions do require members to maintain a minimum balance in their savings account, so check RBFCU's current membership requirements.
Understanding RBFCU's current credit card offerings
RBFCU has offered different credit cards at different times, including cards with rewards programs, cards designed for people rebuilding credit, and cards with no annual fee. Because these offerings change, you should not rely on this article to tell you which cards are available right now.
When you check RBFCU's website or call them, ask about the annual percentage rate (APR) for purchases, the APR for balance transfers, any annual fee, and what rewards or benefits the card includes. Write down these numbers so you can compare them to other cards you are considering. A card with a rewards program is only valuable if you pay off the full balance each month — if you carry a balance, the interest you pay will almost always exceed the value of the rewards.
Ask specifically whether the card offers a grace period for purchases. A grace period means you have time (usually 21 to 25 days) to pay your bill before interest starts charging. Not all credit cards have a grace period, and some cards only offer one if you pay your full balance by the due date.
How credit card approval and credit limits work
When you request an RBFCU credit card, the credit union will pull your credit report from one or more of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. They will look at your credit score, your payment history, how much debt you already have, and how long you have had credit accounts open.
If you are approved, RBFCU will assign you a credit limit — the maximum amount you can borrow on the card. Your credit limit is not may provide to stay the same. RBFCU can lower it if you miss payments or if your credit score drops significantly. They can also raise it if you use the card responsibly over time and your credit improves.
If you are denied, RBFCU is required by law to tell you why. Common reasons include a credit score that is too low, too much existing debt relative to your income, or a history of missed payments. If you are denied, you can ask RBFCU what you would need to do to be considered again in the future.
How using an RBFCU credit card affects your credit score
Every time you use an RBFCU credit card, that activity gets reported to the three credit bureaus. This means your credit score will be affected by how you use the card — for better or worse.
Paying your RBFCU bill on time every month helps your credit score. Payment history is the single largest factor in your credit score, accounting for about 35 percent of it. Missing a payment, even by a few days, will hurt your score and may trigger a late fee.
The amount of your credit limit that you are using also affects your score. If you have a $1,000 credit limit and you carry a $900 balance, you are using 90 percent of your available credit, which hurts your score. Financial experts generally recommend using no more than 30 percent of your credit limit. This does not mean you have to pay interest — if you pay your full balance by the due date each month, you will not pay interest even if you use 30 percent of your limit.
Opening a new credit card will temporarily lower your score because the credit union will pull your credit report (called a hard inquiry) and because you will have a new account with no history. Over time, as you use the card responsibly, your score will recover and then improve.
Comparing RBFCU cards to other credit card options
Before you decide to join RBFCU specifically to get a credit card, compare what they offer to what other credit unions and banks are offering. You may find a better card elsewhere that you can get without joining a new financial institution.
If you live outside Bexar County and do not have a family connection to RBFCU, you cannot join, so this comparison is moot. But if you are may be able to access for RBFCU membership, you should still shop around. Look at the APR, the annual fee, the grace period, and any rewards or benefits. Use a credit card comparison tool or visit the websites of several banks and credit unions to see what is available.
Keep in mind that the best card for someone else may not be the best card for you. If you plan to carry a balance, a card with a low APR matters more than a card with great rewards. If you pay off your balance every month, rewards matter more than APR. If you have limited credit history, a card designed for people building credit may be your only option, even if the terms are not ideal.
What to do if you are denied or if the terms do not work for you
If RBFCU denies you for a credit card, you have options. You can ask them what specifically led to the denial and whether there are steps you can take to be considered again. Common reasons for denial — low credit score, high existing debt, or a short credit history — can all improve over time.
If you are approved but the credit limit is too low or the APR is too high, you can accept the card and then request a credit limit increase after you have used it responsibly for several months. You can also look for a different card from a different issuer that offers better terms.
If you have very limited credit history or a damaged credit history, you might not be approved for a standard credit card from any issuer. In that case, a secured credit card — where you deposit money as collateral — may be your path forward. Some credit unions offer secured cards, and so do many banks. A secured card works like a regular credit card, but your deposit serves as your credit limit, and the issuer takes less risk because they can keep your deposit if you do not pay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to be in the military to join RBFCU?
No. RBFCU membership is open to anyone who lives, works, worships, or attends school in Bexar County, Texas, or who is related to an existing member. While RBFCU has military roots (it was founded to serve military families), military service is not required for membership.
What happens to my credit card if I close my RBFCU membership account?
You can close your membership account without closing your credit card, as long as you do not have a minimum balance requirement that forces you to keep the account open. However, you should confirm RBFCU's specific policy before you close your membership.
Can I use an RBFCU credit card at any store or ATM?
RBFCU credit cards work like Visa or Mastercard credit cards (depending on which product you get), so you can use them anywhere those brands are accepted. You cannot use a credit card to withdraw cash from an ATM the way you would with a debit card, but you can do a cash advance at a bank or ATM — though this usually comes with a higher interest rate and an upfront fee.
How long does it take to get approved for an RBFCU credit card?
The approval timeline varies. If you explore online and are approved when ready, you may receive your card within one to two weeks. If your process needs manual review, it may take longer. You should contact RBFCU directly to ask about their current processing times.
Will explore for an RBFCU credit card hurt my credit score?
Yes, but only temporarily. When RBFCU pulls your credit report, it creates a hard inquiry that lowers your score by a few points. This effect fades over time, and your score will recover within a few months, especially if you use the card responsibly.