As a journalist, I usually don't dive into a new job as an expert on the subject matter I'm asked to report on. Instead, I become one, by reading articles and interviewing experts, whether the topic is technology or fashion. This job is no different. I went into it with only basic knowledge of credit unions, and over the past three months, my knowledge has deepened. And the more I learn, the more I realize: There really is no downside to CU membership for my generation.

One reason why I've assumed Gen Y would favor a national financial institution over a small, community-based one is the branch and ATM access factor. However, I recently met with the 28-year-old founder of the Portland, Ore.-based Young Credit Union Professionals, who informed me of CO-OP Financial Services' CO-OP Network, which provides members of more than 3,000 participating credit unions with surcharge-free access to more than 28,000 ATMs in the U.S. and Canada, including 9,000 deposit-taking ATMs and 5,500 ATMs located at 7-Eleven stores.

That means a 20-something credit union member will have easy account access should he or she decide to move to a new city or take that out-of-state summer internship. And with the advent of mobile banking apps, remote-deposit functionality and robust online banking tools, there's really no need for in-person branch visits.