Marriott employees have access to an array of banking services, such as checking and savings accounts, loans, credit cards and retirement planning.
In one year, Amos Troyah, a dishwasher at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, spent nearly $2,000 of his salary paying fees at Marriott Employees Federal Credit Union; these included minimum balance fees and automatic transfer charges.
Vision
Marriott suggests its workers offset any wage reduction with high-fee loans through its associated credit union, even though this entity is technically separate from its hotel company but includes management from both organizations as board members.
Sociologists refer to this loan product as an example of what’s known as predatory inclusion – exploiting marginalized communities for profits. Marriott Credit Union’s loan product widens the wealth gap between their predominantly black and Latino frontline workforce and their company’s predominantly white corporate leadership, as well as contributing to disparities in housing and mortgage lending practices.
Values & Mission
Established in 1953, Marriott International Employees Credit Union is a financial cooperative dedicated to serving its members with quality service. Profits generated are then returned as lower costs for members.
But while legally distinct from Marriott, its board consists largely of Marriott managers who may not always be sensitive to inequities in its policies. Although the credit union offers loans with rates below 2.5 percent and mortgage rates below market prices for rank-and-file employees, their eligibility cannot always be guaranteed.
Routing Number & Locations
Marriott Employees Federal Credit Union was created to meet the financial service needs of its members. Offering banking essentials like checking and savings accounts with competitive rates; lending solutions like personal loans and home equity lines of credit; as well as credit cards with rewards programs.
Marriott Employees Federal Credit Union provides online and mobile banking services for its communities throughout Maryland.
USAlliance Federal Credit Union of Rye, New York will merge with Marriott Employees’ Federal Credit Union of Bethesda, Maryland in early 2020.
Checking
Credit unions typically charge lower fees for checking accounts and other services, and provide below-average mortgage and car loan interest rates.
However, employees at Marriott say its fees are compounding their woes at a time when stagnant wages and unpredictable schedules have left many struggling to remain solvent. Overdraft fees in particular take an outsized share from some low-paid members’ accounts.
Marriott employees are encouraged to voice their concerns directly with management, and each branch’s local advisory councils provide a forum where employees can express themselves when policies seem unfair or unreasonable. These councils meet four times annually with managers for evaluation purposes and serve as an opportunity for workers to voice any grievances that come up from time to time.
Savings
Credit unions offer banking essentials and lending solutions, such as savings accounts, checking accounts, mortgages, auto loans, personal lines of credit and more. As not-for-profit financial cooperatives owned and governed by members, credit unions provide essential banking solutions at affordable prices.
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card lets you collect points that can be redeemed for free nights while not incurring the usual 2% to 4% foreign transaction fee of hotel credit cards. In addition, this card also provides trip delay and lost luggage insurance policies for added peace of mind.
Amos Troyah works as a dishwasher at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown and earns just over $13 an hour; to supplement his income he also sells Amway products as a second job.
Loans & Credit Cards
Credit unions offer an array of financial products and services, such as loans and mortgages. Additionally, they provide banking essentials like checking and savings accounts with competitive rates as well as surcharge-free ATMs.
The Marriott Credit Union also provides an array of credit cards. Their offerings vary depending on the type of card and your credit score; for instance, their Employees Federal Credit Union Platinum Secured card reports to all three major bureaus while charging both balance transfer fees and foreign transaction fees.
Hourly Marriott employees in Philadelphia have filed suit against their credit union over its $500 mini-loans, which they allege contain predatory terms and lack transparency as to their true cost. The credit union claims they are investigating these allegations.
Retirement Planning & Investments
Marriott provides its employees with comprehensive wealth and retirement planning services, such as savings accounts and investment accounts with low costs and round-the-clock financial services, plus free online and mobile banking solutions.
But this credit union charges high fees for loans to rank-and-file workers like Mr. Ramirez Paredes, who earns roughly $13 an hour cleaning banquet rooms at the hotel and sells Amway products as a means to making ends meet. These rates are considerably higher than what are charged by credit unions serving other service sector employers such as Safeway and Publix.
USAlliance Federal Credit Union of Rye, New York has agreed to merge with Marriott Employees FCU of Bethesda, Maryland, subject to approval by both organizations’ membership.
Leave a Reply