BECU vs PenFed Credit Union:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, BECU had more branded searches than PenFed Credit Union among credit unions in the United States. BECU had about 368,000 branded searches, while PenFed Credit Union had 201,000. BECU made up 6.4% of all credit union searches we track, and PenFed Credit Union accounted for 3.5%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about credit unions, PenFed Credit Union appeared in all four answers and BECU in none.
Who do people search for more?
BECU, about 83% more searches than PenFed Credit Union
Who does AI mention more?
PenFed Credit Union, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
PenFed Credit Union, the only one of the two named
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Top credit unions in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, PenFed Credit Union appeared in all four answers. BECU did not appear in any of the four answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
Navy Federal Credit Union4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers- PenFed Credit Union4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
Alliant Credit Union4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
Consumers Credit Union2 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
First Tech Federal Credit Union2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
Quorum Federal Credit Union2 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union1 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
State Employees' Credit Union0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers- BECU0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
Suncoast Credit Union0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
See every answer about credit unions
4 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which credit union should I join in the US?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best credit unions in the US?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Which US credit union has the best savings and loan rates?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“credit union”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best credit unions”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 22, 2026.
Is BECU or PenFed Credit Union more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for BECU and PenFed Credit Union by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 11 credit unions we track, month by month, from searches in United States.
Share of searches by month for BECU, PenFed Credit Union. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Navy Federal Credit Union | State Employees' Credit Union | BECU | Suncoast Credit Union | SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union | PenFed Credit Union | Consumers Credit Union | Alliant Credit Union | Golden 1 Credit Union | First Tech Federal Credit Union | Quorum Federal Credit Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 67.7% | 6.7% | 6.7% | 5.4% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 2% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1.5% | 0.15% |
| Nov 2025 | 65% | 7.8% | 6.4% | 6.4% | 4.3% | 3.5% | 1.9% | 1.6% | 1.6% | 1.4% | 0.14% |
| Dec 2025 | 62% | 9.1% | 7.5% | 7.5% | 4.1% | 3.3% | 1.8% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1.6% | 0.13% |
| Jan 2026 | 62.3% | 7.5% | 7.5% | 6.1% | 5% | 4.1% | 2.3% | 1.8% | 1.5% | 1.7% | 0.17% |
| Feb 2026 | 63.6% | 7.7% | 6.3% | 6.3% | 5.1% | 3.4% | 2.3% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1.5% | 0.14% |
| Mar 2026 | 61.6% | 7.4% | 7.4% | 7.4% | 5% | 4.1% | 2.2% | 1.8% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 0.16% |
| Apr 2026 | 62.5% | 7.5% | 7.5% | 6.2% | 5% | 4.1% | 2.3% | 1.8% | 1.5% | 1.4% | 0.17% |
| May 2026 | 65% | 7.8% | 6.4% | 6.4% | 4.3% | 3.5% | 2.3% | 1.6% | 1.3% | 1.2% | 0.17% |
| Jun 2026 | 62% | 11.2% | 6.1% | 6.1% | 5% | 3.3% | 2.2% | 1.5% | 1.2% | 1.1% | 0.16% |
| Jul 2026 | 63.9% | 7.7% | 6.3% | 6.3% | 5.1% | 4.2% | 2.3% | 1.5% | 1.3% | 1.2% | 0.17% |
| Aug 2026 | 63% | 7.6% | 7.6% | 6.2% | 5.1% | 4.1% | 2.3% | 1.5% | 1.2% | 1.1% | 0.2% |
| Sep 2026 | 64.6% | 7.8% | 6.4% | 6.4% | 5.2% | 3.5% | 1.9% | 1.6% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 0.21% |
How has the BECU and PenFed Credit Union comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- BECU was ahead of PenFed Credit Union in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, BECU’s share of searches among credit unions in the United States moved from 6.7% to 6.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 450K to 368K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, PenFed Credit Union’s share of searches among credit unions in the United States moved from 3.6% to 3.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 246K to 201K.
How did search popularity change for United States credit unions in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, BECU lost share of searches among credit unions in the United States, from 7.6% to 6.4%.
In September 2026, PenFed Credit Union lost share of searches among credit unions in the United States, from 4.1% to 3.5%.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using BECU’s and PenFed Credit Union’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
BECU
1 branded search term
- becu
PenFed Credit Union
1 branded search term
- penfed
Other head-to-heads among credit unions
- Navy Federal Credit Union vs State Employees' Credit Union: compare popularity
- Navy Federal Credit Union vs BECU: compare popularity
- Navy Federal Credit Union vs Suncoast Credit Union: compare popularity
- Navy Federal Credit Union vs SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union: compare popularity
- State Employees' Credit Union vs BECU: compare popularity
- State Employees' Credit Union vs Suncoast Credit Union: compare popularity
Put your own brand in this comparison
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