NEW YORK – For the second time in as many months, the Wall Street Journal is shining the spotlight on credit unions for their rate deals and membership benefits. "It's getting easier to join a credit union – and if you're not checking their rates, you may be costing yourself a lot of money by not doing so," the May 6 article read. The article went on to provide reasons why many are joining credit unions including higher interest rates and lower loan rates "than those at regular banks." Better deals can also be found on credit cards and home-equity loans, the publication said. In March, the Wall Street Journal ran a similar article touting certificates of deposit rates at credit unions. That same month, the publication created an industry buzz when it ran an article on the banking industry's efforts to get credit unions to pay their share of taxes. Meanwhile, in the May 6 article, the publication suggests that credit unions "can afford these deals partly because they don't have to pay most income taxes." "If something feels slightly sneaky about benefiting from a credit union that wasn't really set up with you in mind, consider this: The tax breaks they enjoy ultimately come out of your pocket," the article read. The publication cites CUNA as a means to find credit unions and points out that big credit unions may offer better rates, but "Online banking and other technology may not be state of the art at all institutions." Digital Federal Credit Union and Pentagon Federal Credit Union were cited in the article for the select employee groups that make up their respective fields of membership.