You’ve probably been there. You’re driving around, looking for a specific logo on a brick-and-mortar building because you need to deposit a handful of cash or talk to a human being about a car loan. If you’re an Alliant member, or thinking about becoming one, you might be punching alliant credit union branch locations into your GPS right now.
I’ll save you the gas. You won’t find them.
Honestly, it’s the biggest "gotcha" for people moving from a traditional bank like Chase or BofA. Alliant Credit Union is a digital-first—well, really a digital-only—institution. They don’t have a sprawling network of blue-and-white buildings across the suburbs. In fact, as of right now, they have essentially zero traditional public branches.
Where did the branches go?
It wasn't always like this. A few years back, you could find a handful of Alliant storefronts, mostly tucked away near O'Hare in Chicago or scattered in a few employment hubs. But the world changed, and Alliant decided to lean into the "un-bank" lifestyle. They realized that maintaining expensive real estate in high-rent districts meant they couldn't offer the high interest rates that made them famous in the first place.
So, they pulled the plug.
By ditching the physical teller windows, they shifted those overhead costs into their "High-Rate" savings accounts and certificates. It’s a trade-off. You lose the lobby coffee and the fluorescent lights, but you gain a few extra decimal points on your APY. For most people, that's a win. But it does leave one glaring question: How do you actually do stuff?
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The "No-Branch" Workaround
If you're staring at a stack of $20 bills from a Facebook Marketplace sale, the lack of a branch feels like a massive problem. But it's not. Alliant uses a massive "invisible" network to handle the physical side of money.
Instead of building their own branches, they basically rent everyone else's infrastructure. They are part of the Allpoint and MoneyPass networks. This gives you access to over 80,000 surcharge-free ATMs.
- Cash Deposits: This is the tricky part. Not every ATM in their network takes cash. You have to use the Alliant mobile app’s locator and specifically filter for "Deposit-Taking" ATMs. Most of these are located in places like Target, CVS, or Walgreens.
- The $20 Rebate: This is arguably better than a branch. If you use an out-of-network ATM (like the one in a dive bar or a fancy hotel) and they charge you $5 to get your own money, Alliant will rebate up to $20 of those fees every month. They literally pay you to bank wherever you want.
The Shared Branching Confusion
This is where things get kinda muddy. If you’ve been in the credit union world for a while, you’ve heard of "Shared Branching." It’s a cool system where you can walk into a local "Community Credit Union" and do business on your "Big City Credit Union" account.
Here is the kicker: Alliant does not participate in the CO-OP Shared Branching network.
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I’ve seen a lot of people get frustrated by this. They assume that because Alliant is a credit union, they can just walk into any credit union in America. Nope. Alliant opted out of that network years ago to keep their costs lean. If you try to walk into a random credit union in Florida to deposit money into your Alliant account, the teller is just going to give you a confused look.
Does the Chicago headquarters count?
Technically, Alliant is headquartered at 11545 W Touhy Ave, Chicago, IL 60666.
If you show up there hoping for a lobby and a bowl of lollipops, you’re going to be disappointed. It’s a corporate office. It's where the magic happens behind the scenes—the loan processing, the tech support, the executive suites—but it isn’t a retail branch. You can’t walk in and ask for a cashier's check.
Handling the "Branch Tasks" Digitally
If there are no alliant credit union branch locations, how do you handle the big stuff? Most people think you need a branch for three things: big deposits, notary services, and getting a cashier's check for a house or car.
- Mobile Check Deposits: Alliant’s app is actually one of the better ones. You snap a photo, and the money is usually available pretty quickly. The limits are high enough for most people, but if you’re depositing a massive inheritance check, you might have to mail it to their Des Plaines, IL processing center.
- Cashier’s Checks: You order them through the online banking portal. They’ll mail it to you. If you’re in a rush because you’re buying a car tomorrow, this is a major pain point. You have to plan ahead.
- Notary Services: This is the one thing Alliant just can't help with. You’ll have to go to a local UPS store or a library. It’s the price you pay for that 4% interest rate.
Is the lack of locations a dealbreaker?
It depends on your "money personality."
If you are a "cash is king" person who gets paid in tips or works a side hustle that involves physical currency, Alliant is going to be a struggle. Finding a deposit-taking ATM that isn't out of order is a game of Russian Roulette you probably don't want to play every Friday night.
However, if you’re a "direct deposit and Venmo" person, the lack of branches is actually a benefit. You aren't subsidizing the rent for a building in a city you've never visited. You get the high rates, the 24/7 phone support (which is actually quite good—you usually get a human in Chicago pretty fast), and a solid app.
What about "Alliant Bank"?
Quick side note because this trips people up: There is an "Alliant Bank" based in Missouri. They do have branches in places like Kirksville and Boonville. They are not the same thing. Alliant Credit Union is a member-owned financial cooperative; Alliant Bank is a separate, private commercial bank. Make sure you're looking at the right logo before you drive three hours to Missouri.
Practical Steps for Alliant Members
If you've decided the digital life is for you, here is how you manage the "branchless" reality without losing your mind.
First, download the ATM locator app immediately. Don't wait until you're low on cash in a strange neighborhood. Filter it to see which machines near your house actually accept deposits.
Second, keep a "backup" local account. This is my favorite hack. Keep a free checking account at a local credit union or a small community bank that does have a branch nearby. If you have a pile of cash, deposit it there, then Zelle or ACH transfer it over to Alliant. It’s an extra step, but it gives you the best of both worlds: a local teller for emergencies and Alliant’s high rates for your savings.
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Finally, set up your digital wallet. Since you can't walk into a branch to get a temporary card if you lose yours, make sure your Alliant card is in Apple Pay or Google Pay. Alliant allows you to see your card details in the app, so even if your physical plastic is lost in the mail, you can still buy groceries.
The era of the corner-store bank branch is fading. Alliant just happened to get to the finish line faster than everyone else. It requires a bit more planning, but for most, the trade-off in dividends and lower fees makes the "missing" branches a non-issue.