Navigant & People’s Credit Unions earn 5-star ratings, 3 other CUs recognized by Newsweek

Navigant Credit Union and People’s Credit Union were two Rhode Island-based institutions to receive a perfect five-star rating in annual report published by Newsweek.

The 2025 America’s Best Regional Banks and Credit Unions report was produced by Newsweek and Plant-A Insights Group based on a large-scale study of over 9,000 financial institutions operating across the country, more than 70,000 customer surveys and millions of social media reviews. The final 2025 America’s Best list included 500 regional banks and 500 regional credit unions.

Navigant Credit Union was one of five Rhode Island-based credit unions to be recognized in the report, and one of two to earn a five-star rating. People’s Credit Union was the second with the 5-star rating.

Others were:

Blackstone River Credit Union – 4 1/2 stars

Wave Credit Union – 4 1/2 stars

Ocean State, Coventry – 4 stars

“All of us at Navigant Credit Union have worked hard to earn the trust of the families, businesses and communities we serve across Rhode Island, and we are proud and humbled to see that work recognized once again on a national level,” said Navigant Credit Union President/CEO Kathy Orovitz. “We look forward to continuing to advance the people-first, community-driven credit union model on behalf of our valued members in 2025 and beyond.”  

According to Newsweek, methodology for the report utilized the Texas Ratio (a measure of a bank’s credit quality) as well as reviewed profitability and net loans and leases, press coverage over the past two years, an elaborate large-scale independent customer survey of more than 71,000 U.S. citizens, 1.9 million social media reviews and 129 million Apple App store and Google Play store reviews.

“Regional banks and credit unions are the financial backbone of communities nationwide as they support small businesses, fund local projects and ensure easy access to essential banking services,” said Nancy Cooper, global editor-in-chief, Newsweek. “Newsweek and market-data research firm Plant-A Insights are proud to introduce ‘America’s Best Regional Banks and Credit Unions 2025,’ highlighting companies utilizing a community- and customer-centric approach to make a big financial impact in their neighborhoods.”

Review Newsweek’s full America’s Best Regional Banks and Credit Unions 2025 list at https://www.newsweek.com/rankings/americas-best-regional-banks-credit-unions-2025.