Credit Unions

[DWiley]

My experience is CUs are worse than banks for appraising. They want to be real cheap, and the one I worked with dropped me fast when my MV was less than what borrower was expecting on a refi.

Other than that, treat like a regular brick and mortar bank. Just go in, talk to mortgage lender or branch manager. Explain quickly why you are there (no false pretenses).
I've always had as much CU work as I wanted, which was little because their fees were always low in my area.

Many use a CUSO for underwriting and appraisal ordering as well. The midwest uses TUAS as lot, not sure if they get out west or not.

As with many lender clients, I think it depends on the management in place. I had some very good CU clients back in the day - but when management changed, sometimes we got dropped and/or engagement conditions (and acceptable fees) changed

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

I would go in and ask for a senior loan officer or Loan VP... perhaps calling ahead or checking their website for the names and background of that person so you can ask for them specifically. They are no different than a community bank in that respect. If they use an AMC find out a contact number there. If they have their own appraisal department (some around here call it the "credit department") find out how and who to call to get on their vendor list. Some may say they are full. Others may want to interview. Get a slick brochure made with your contact and website info and specializations (FHA, VA, or commercial would be agri, retail whatever)... stick a couple of business cards in the brochure and give them to the LO.

Same with community banks. And treat the loan department different from the trust department (if they have one) as the trust department handles non-lender appraisals. Ditto CPAs, tax attorneys, etc.