Joining Ardent through the American Consumer Council
At Ardent, we believe smart, affordable and innovative banking should be available to everyone, regardless of where they live or work. That’s why we partnered with the American Consumer Council (ACC) to expand our membership eligibility at no extra cost to you.
Anyone can join the ACC, and all ACC members qualify for Ardent membership. That means you can join Ardent even if you’re not affiliated with any of our Select Employee Groups or don’t have qualifying family members.
How to become an Ardent member through the ACC
Qualifying for Ardent membership through the ACC is simple without any extra steps or cost for you.
- When applying online, select “Other (through free enrollment in American Consumer Council)” as your membership eligibility when applying for membership online.
- We handle your lifetime ACC enrollment at account opening with no additional cost. We only provide basic contact information and no sensitive information to the ACC.
- Enrollment qualifies you immediately with no extra waiting time.
Existing memberships are not affected and do not need to enroll in the ACC to maintain their membership.
Enjoy the Benefits of Both Organizations
- Ardent’s comprehensive suite of banking products and unique services like Auto Buying Concierge, First Home Concierge and our Renovation Loan
- ACC's fee-free workshops, financial resources and more
What is the American Consumer Council?
Founded in 1987, the ACC is a national nonprofit that helps consumers make smart choices through education, advocacy and financial literacy. It is also recognized by the National Credit Union Administration as a qualifying organization for access to credit union membership. The ACC is headquartered in San Diego with regional offices and councils nationwide. It has more than 450,000 members, many of whom are from its more than 150 credit union partners.
With your lifetime membership, you’ll get free access to:
- Ardent Credit Union membership
- Financial resources and workshops through the ACC
- Consumer guides, tools and more from the ACC
Learn more about the ACC at americanconsumercouncil.org
Frequently Asked Questions
Nope. Just choose the “Other” option when applying to Ardent and we’ll take care of the rest.
Nothing. We cover the cost of your lifetime membership and there are no renewal fees.
We enroll you in a lifetime membership, but you can opt out at any time without jeopardizing your Ardent membership status.
We only share basic information such as your name, contact info and join date. The ACC doesn’t sell or lease membership data nor do they reach out to members via email or phone. Their website serves as their main communication channel, so you won’t receive unwanted outreach.
No. If you are already a member of Ardent, you do not need to join the ACC to maintain your membership. Your membership is unaffected by changes in field of membership.
Yes, although it is not required for current Ardent members to maintain their accounts.
ACC membership is open to anyone, but existing Ardent members may be charged an enrollment fee.
ACC membership is open to anyone, but existing Ardent members may be charged an enrollment fee.
You can join ACC provided you have an established legal residence in the United States, or you are a US Citizen (expatriate). This includes retired US citizens living abroad as well as non-citizens who can provide a legal residence in the US.