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Compare America First Credit Union products
America First Credit Union Share Savings Account
America First Credit Union Classic Checking Account
America First Credit Union Certificate
America First Credit Union Money Market Savings Account
On America First Credit Union’s website. America First Credit Union, NCUA insured.
Details
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
0.05%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$1
Editor’s Rating
4/5
4 out of
5 Stars
Pros & Cons
Pros
$1 minimum opening deposit
No monthly service fees
Cons
Low interest rate
Interest compounded monthly, not daily
Highlights
More Information
Membership restricted to certain parts of the West
128 branches in Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, and Utah
5,600 shared branches and 60,000 surcharge-free ATMs through the CO-OP Shared Network
Must keep at least $1 in account to maintain membership and earn interest
Interest compounded and deposited monthly
Federally insured by the NCUA
You’ll have to open the America First Credit Union Share Savings Account to become a member at America First. The account doesn’t charge any monthly fees and only requires $1 to open and maintain membership.
Membership restricted to certain counties in the West
Highlights
More Information
Membership restricted to certain parts of the West
Term lengths ranging from 3 months to 5 years
Early withdrawal penalty of 60 days interest for terms of 12 months or less; 180 days interest for terms over 12 months
Interest compounded monthly and paid monthly
Federally insured by the NCUA
America First offers high CD rates. It has several share CD options, including flexible certificates that let you deposit and withdraw money after you’ve opened one. Regardless of which term choose, you’ll also earn a good interest rate.
On America First Credit Union’s website. America First Credit Union, NCUA insured.
Details
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
1.50% to 4.00%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$0
Editor’s Rating
3.75/5
3.75 out of
5 Stars
Pros & Cons
Pros
Earn a high interest rate account with high account balances
No minimum opening deposit
No monthly service fees
Cons
No debit card
Highlights
More Information
Membership restricted to certain parts of the West
128 branches in Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, and Utah
5,600 shared branches and 60,000 surcharge-free ATMs through the CO-OP Shared Network
Earn 1.50% APY if you have an account balance between $0 and $4,999.99
Earn 1.50% APY if you have an account balance between $5,000 and $9,999.99
Earn 1.70% APY if you have an account balance between $10,000 and $24,999.99
Earn 2.10% APY if you have an account balance between $25,000 and $49,999.99
Earn 2.50% APY if you have an account balance between $50,000 and $99,999.99
Earn 3.25% APY if you have an account balance between $100,000 and $249,999.99
Earn 4.00% APY if you have an account balance over $250,000
Interest compounded monthly and paid monthly
Federally insured by the NCUA
The America First Credit Union Money Market Savings Account may be ideal if you’re able to maintain a high balance on your account. Account balances over $5,000 earn higher interest than the credit union’s savings account, but it’s still lower than what online banks might offer.
America First also has a money market checking account which comes with a debit card — but you’ll need to deposit at least $10,000 to open an account.
How America First Credit Union works
America First Credit Union has 128 branches in Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, and Utah. Members also have access to over 5,600 shared branches and 60,000 surcharge-free ATMs through the CO-OP Shared Network.
Customer support is available over the phone, through email, or via live chat. Contact a customer service representative from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. MT on weekdays or 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. MT on Saturdays.
The America First mobile app has 4.7 out of 5 stars in the Google Play Store. In the Apple Store, it received 4.9 out of 5 stars.
America First is federally insured by the NCUA, so up to $250,000 is secure in your bank account.
How to join America First Credit Union
You’re eligible for membership at America First Credit Union if you live, work, worship, or volunteer in an Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, or Utah county mentioned on this list. If you have a family member or spouse that’s a current member, you’re also able to join.
To become a member, you must open a share savings account.
America First Credit Union trustworthiness and BBB rating
America First Credit Union hasn’t been involved in any recent public controversies.
We also include ratings from the Better Business Bureau to provide information on how financial institutions deal with customer issues and handle transparency practices. The BBB gave America First Credit Union an A+ rating.
A good BBB rating doesn’t necessarily mean that you will have a similar experience as others. You’ll want to talk to current members or read online customer reviews to get a better understanding of whether America First will be a good fit for you.
America First Credit Union vs. Ally
Both financial institutions offer strong CDs. Ally is one of the few banks that doesn’t require a minimum opening deposit, so it’ll be the best option if you have less than $500 to start with.
If you prefer to deposit $500 or more into a CD, you’ll want to review the CD early withdrawal penalties and interest rates to see which institution has the better option for you.
America First Credit Union vs. CIT Bank
CIT Bank might be a good choice if you are planning on getting a jumbo CD. If you’re strictly looking for the highest interest rate though, your choice may depend on the term you choose.
Your decision between these institutions may also boil down to your preferences between online banks and brick-and-mortar banks. CIT Bank is an online-only institution, so you’ll have to be comfortable with online and mobile banking. If you find it hard to manage your account that way, you might prefer banking with America First since it has physical branch locations.
Sophia Acevedo, CEPF
Banking Reporter
Sophia Acevedo is a banking reporter at Insider. She covers bank reviews, banking guides, and banking and savings articles for Personal Finance Insider. She is also a Certified Educator in Personal Finance (CEPF). Sophia joined Insider in July 2021 and is an alumna of California State University Fullerton where she studied journalism and minored in political science. She is based in Los Angeles. You can reach out to her on Twitter at @sophieacvdo or email sacevedo@insider.com. Read more about how Personal Finance Insider chooses, rates, and covers financial products and services >> Below are links to some of her most popular stories:
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Evelyn He
Compliance Associate
Evelyn He is a compliance associate at Insider who supports the Personal Finance Insider team. Personal Finance Insider is Insider’s personal finance section that incorporates affiliate and commerce partnerships into the news, insights, and advice about money that Insider readers already know and love. The compliance team’s mission is to provide readers with stories that are fact-checked and current, so they can make informed financial decisions. The team also works to minimize risk for partners by making sure language is clear, precise, and fully compliant with regulatory and partner marketing guidelines that align with the editorial team. Before joining Insider, she served in various legal and compliance roles in different industries, including the legal and pharmaceutical industries. Evelyn obtained her M.S. degree in Marketing at Boston University in 2022. Prior to combining and consolidating her knowledge of law and business, she spent one year finishing 1L courses at Suffolk University Law School to further her legal knowledge. She has also completed MBA business law courses while working on her Bachelor of Business Administration in Management at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her 14-year-old Shih Tzu named Money, and her 4-year-old Bichon named Tibber.
America First Credit Union Classic Checking Account
America First Credit Union Certificate
American Dollar Exchange Rate