I can only speak from an Australian perspective, but I have been doing all the banking that I possibly can through a Credit Union for the last 3 years.

Here, the Banks are a bunch of greedy, overbearing, uncompromising mongrels.

I even went so far as to refinance my Home loan with a Credit Union ( www.prospectcu.com.au ), three years ago, even though the interest rate is, on average, about 0.5% higher than the major banks.

The service is much more personal. You can go to a branch (even though there aren't as many) and get friendly, prompt service. And they won't bounce a cheque on you if you are $2-00 short in the account, when they know your regular weekly wages or pension are going to be deposited the next day.
If they have to bounce a cheque, they charge a $20-00 processing fee, as opposed to the Banks $35-00 - $50-00.
( I wrote a $2.50 cheque a few years ago, and my account was short by 0.18 cents, because of the monthly charges being deducted on the 1st of the month. My wages were due to be direct deposited the next day. They not only bounced the cheque, but charged me $35-00 for processing. So instead of putting my account into $2-50 debit, they put it into $35-00 debit. Idiocy!!  

The banks have been closing branches and reducing staff for the last few years, even while they've been making record profits (in the Billions per year).
If you're not a major investor or Corporate client with huge amounts of account activity etc, they don't want to know you.

Banks here now charge you for the privilege of using a 'human teller'. They want everyone to use the electronic methods (ATM, Telephone or Internet), so they only have to have minimal staff in the branches.
Pensioners, who cannot use the electronic mediums, or are afraid of them etc, have to pay monthly fees of $20 and $30 just to have their withdrawals processed by a teller (a charge they can ill afford - these are people who fought for us in two wotrld wars!). Most of the Disability pensioners (one of which is me - I get a 'part pension') don't have PC's let alone connections to the Internet because they can't afford them. They can't use ATM's because they're afraid (being as vulnerable as they are) of being mugged at the ATM when the money comes out.

Banks are (I think worldwide) and pack of Arseholes.  

I don't know about that, but I do know that if I use an ATM not owned by my bank, I get charged anywhere from $3.00 to $4.00 US for the transaction.  That's $1.50 from my bank, and up to $2.50 from the ATM.  What a rip-off... 

  Sounds pretty good so far, I can't think of anyone I know right now that uses a credit union, but in the past I have always heard good things, as opposed to the constant complaining I hear about the banks around here.

  Anymore information on this subject would be appreciated, I'm thinking about stopping in at the local credit union and getting some information directly from them, I may soon be switching over.

Credit Unions seem to be much more giving, better loans, better service, and a good deal for those who are not ATM/Check Card users.

I use my bank though and have for a number of years. I have thought about going with the CU that we have inside the company I work for, but my bank everytime I decide to close my account offers me more freebies that keeps me, plus they have a LOT of ATMs around.

  I found out yesterday that my partner at work uses a credit union, so I got some first hand info and could ask him questions as they came to mind throughout the day, also stopped and got some literature from one of the CU's here in town, there is another one I need to stop at yet so I can compare what they offer, but it sure is looking good in favor of me switching over.

  Banks seem to want to squeeze every bit of cash out of you that they can and anytime we want to make changes with our account it's "well you can't do this and you can't do that or it will cost you this much." Screw all that, it's my money and I will do what I want with it when I want.
  For many years I never dealt with a bank, I just stashed all my cash at home, because I have a real problem with someone telling me what I can and can't do with MY money.