Can't you open an account with another bank/co-op/credit union, see if their perks are as good as advertised, and then decide if you want to move?

This isn't a marriage. It's where you get a bank card from. Try before you buy, etc.

I'd keep it and open a better savings account or brokerage account for the bulk of your cash. You don't really need high interest for day to day spending, and you don't need your extra savings at the same place either.

I personally use a brokerage account for everything, but I also don't use branch services. If you do and you like knowing the people there, keep the account.

You are not required to only have one bank account. You can have as many checking/savings accounts as you like.

If you like the CU account then keep it & open a different account elsewhere with higher rates for the majority of your cash to sit in. You can transfer money between bank accounts.

I have a high yield savings account through a large bank, but linked to my low interest checking account at my credit union, so I can move money between accounts as needed. The checking account is strictly for direct deposit and to pay bills, and I transfer extra into savings, so the balance is never very high.

So the answer may be just to open a HY savings account in addition to your current accounts

It's not a binary choice of good rates or credit union. My money market gets 3.6-4% depending on balance. Find a better one that doesn't charge any fees.

I know the struggle. We were in a similar situation ourselves with our CU and decided to pull the plug. While I love the co-op model, the rates across the board were shit (talking .05% on checking and .45% on savings), and what's more, the rates they gave us when we were shopping for mortgage loans and car loans were even worse (variable mortgage rate at 7% in 2021, when everyone else was offering 2.5% fixed).

At the end of the day I realized that it wasn't worth leaving money on the table just to have the warm fuzzies of being with a meh, at best, banking institution. In 2023 all I really want are competitive rates, my funds insured, and easy, secure access to my funds and mobile banking. If you can't do that, there are dozens of other institutions that can.

And also, if I left, I definitely wouldn't be eligible to rejoin. Moving and changing jobs has ended that.