It appears to me that for the general person, credit unions are strictly superior to regular banks. My credit union has consistently offered me better rates, less BS, and less fees that any other banks.
The fact that they are non-profit cooperative institutions also makes them significantly more desirable from a political standpoint. Seems to be the "progressive" alternative to regular banking.
Mine does not offer better investment/loan rates, but they do definitely offer better services and lower fees.
My wife banks with one of the big banks--pretty much everything she tries to do is a hassle. Often that involves long hold times only to be told she needs to travel into town to a branch to get something done or resolved. That's, more than once, been the point where they just outright refuse to actually help her. She pays $20/mo+ for the privilege.
I never wait on hold. Everything I've needed to do I can do online or via phone/email. When my wife's bank steadfastly refused to allow her to send me a wire transfer, my CU was the one that was willing to discuss alternatives and help us figure out how to get the money moved. When I had bad credit but had repaired my financial situation, my CU was the one that was willing to extend me credit based on the personal assessment of a real human. I've paid them $0 in fees in the last decade or so.
My wife's been telling me to get a "real bank account" for years because my CU has been halfway across the country in one direction or another most of the time we've been together and has no local branches. She still can't seem to grasp that it's not a problem when your bank is actually staffed by actual people empowered to make stuff happen. Her "real" bank on the other hand...
Many CUs participate in 'shared branches' which allow the member to walk in to other CUs and bank with their home CU. Maybe there is a participating CU near you.
This lookup tool indicates there are even international locations.
My anecdata: the reverse is true for me. I have a bank and a CU. My bank is responsive, friendly and efficient. Fewer fees, better returns, more products and better suited for someone with my finances.
CU is inept, long hold/queue times. Every transaction is a comedy of errors. They messed up my SDB 3 times. Their OLB web app once leaked private customer information about 2-3 other members into my inbox.
I aimed to totally ditch CU, but once I got the bank all set up, realized I absolutely couldn't, so now I juggle both.
I've used Credit Unions my whole adult life and agree with you. Though I am now in a position that they don't work as well for me: living abroad. I've run into lots of small issues over the last few years so I caved and opened an account at a commercial bank for the first time to help decrease the friction.
The fact that they are non-profit cooperative institutions also makes them significantly more desirable from a political standpoint. Seems to be the "progressive" alternative to regular banking.