What are your hours and where are you located?
Main Office on Ellsworth AFB
Lobby Hours: Monday - Friday 9 am to 5 pm

Haines Branch
1430 N. Haines Ave., Suite #101, Rapid City, SD 57701
Lobby Hours: Monday - Friday 9 am to 5 pm
Drive-Up: Monday - Friday 7:30 am to 5:30 pm
Drive-Up: Saturday 9 am to Noon

Triple Crown Branch
4011 Triple Crown Drive, Rapid City, SD 57701
Lobby Hours: Monday - Friday 9 am to 5 pm
Drive-Up: Monday - Friday 7:30 am to 5:30 pm
Drive-Up: Saturday 9 am to Noon

Winner Branch
757 W. 2nd St., Winner, SD 57580
Lobby Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 3:30 pm
Drive-Up: Monday - Friday 8 am - 3:30 pm

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What is a Credit Union?
A credit union is a cooperative, not-for-profit financial institution organized to promote savings and provide loans to members. It is member-owned and controlled through a board of directors elected by the membership. The board serves on a volunteer basis and may hire a management team to run the credit union. The board also establishes and revises policies, sets dividend and loan rates, and directs certain operations. The result: members are provided with a safe, convenient place to save and borrow at reasonable rates at an institution which exists to benefit them, not to make a profit.
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How did credit unions start?
The first credit union cooperatives started in Germany over a century ago. Today, credit unions are found everywhere in the world. The credit union movement started in this country in Manchester, New Hampshire. There, the St. Mary's Cooperative Credit Association, a church-affiliated credit union, opened its doors in 1909. Today, one in every three Americans is a credit union member.
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I am moving. Do I have to close my accounts at Sentinel FCU?
No, you do not have to close your accounts because you are moving or leaving the area or getting out of the military. Once a member, always a member. Please notify the Credit Union of any change of address and phone number or e-mail address. If you have a loan set up on payroll deduction, sure pay, or allotment, please call the Credit Union to make sure everything is in order.
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After I become a member of SFCU, can my other family members also join?
Yes, your spouse, children, mother, father, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, cousin, foster children, adoptive children, step-children, and grandparents are eligible for membership through a family relationship.
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Who owns a credit union?
Most financial institutions are owned by stockholders, who own a part of the institution and intend on making money from their investment. A credit union doesn't operate in that manner. Rather, each credit union member owns one "share" of the organization. A member of credit union services is also an owner, and is even entitled to vote on important issues, such as the election of member representatives to serve on the board of directors.
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When are the deposits I make available?
All deposits made at the Credit Union are available immediately unless the teller informs you of a hold placed on a check. Deposits placed in the Night Drop will not be posted until the next business day before five o'clock and checks may be subject to a hold of three or more business days. Direct Deposit items will be available the morning the Direct Deposit is posted.
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Can my employee group join Sentinel Federal Credit Union?
More and more employer groups are seeking credit unions to join, offering their employees an added benefit. Contact SFCU 605-923-1405 or toll free 888-923-1400 and ask for a packet to enroll your employee group into our credit union. Approval is necessary from our Board of Directors, then final approval from NCUA (our federal governing agency). Once an approval is given, a representative from SFCU will come visit your workplace and explain the benefits of our credit union and open accounts.
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Will my VISA card be renewed automatically before expiration?
Yes, if your VISA account is in good standing with the Credit Union.
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Does Sentinel Federal Credit Union offer overdraft protection?
Yes! Your checking account is setup to automatically pull money from your saving account (or you choose the account) in case of non-sufficient funds. Overdraft will not take your savings account below the $5.00 minimum balance required. We also offer an overdraft line of credit.
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Can I get information about my account by phone?
Yes! You can receive your account information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by calling our ART (audio response teller). The numbers for ART are 605-923-1448, toll free 866-923-1448 and 888-996-9827. To sign up for the ART system, call the branch closest to you.
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Are savings deposits insured?
Yes. All savings accounts are insured up to $100,000 by the NCUAIF, the National Credit Union Administration Insurance Fund, an agency of the federal government.
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Why should I have credit life/credit disability on my loans?
Credit insurance can help ease the financial stress that comes with unexpected hardships, credit life insurance can pay off a loan in case of death and credit disability can make your monthly payments for as long as you are unable to work due to covered disability. The coverage for the insurance costs just pennies a day, and premiums are included in your loan payment.
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What is the difference between my balance and my available balance?
All of our members maintain a share in the Credit Union of $5. This stays in your savings throughout the life of your account. The balance represents the amount in your accounts, shares, check holds, and loan pledges. The available balance is the actual amount that you can withdraw from your account.
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