Another round of scandals in the banking world has many in Michigan rethinking their accounts.

Credit union membership in the state now stands at close to five million – or roughly half the population – with one of the highest membership gains in recent history in the last year.

Northwest Consumers Federal Credit Union CEO Philip Heinlen says more people are turning to not-for-profit financial cooperatives in part because of a desire to feel more connected to their communities.

He says a backlash against the overwhelming role of technology and automation is also part of their frustration.

"We might think that's what they want. We want to steer them to that because it's easier. The 88-year-old probably doesn't want to go online at all. That 18-year-old still wants to know you're here. They'll walk through the front door knowing, 'You know what, I can go in and they're going to take care of me, because they know who I am.'"

Just last week, Wells Fargo Bank agreed to pay an additional 24-million dollars to settle allegations that it mistreated members of the military, including illegally repossessing vehicles.

Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen has promised greater scrutiny of big banks, and to remove some of the regulatory red tape faced by credit unions and community banks.