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Financial Rates:
4.0
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Customer Service:
4.5
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Website Experience:
4.0
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Bank Fees:
5.0
Pros:
- Accounts offer competitive rates
- Low opening amounts and no monthly fees
- Variety of savings accounts offered
- Funds savings account
Cons:
- Must join the credit union first
- No ATM fee reimbursement
- Only one checking account offered
- CD early withdrawal penalty can be high
What You Need to Know
Accounts at CommunityWide FCU offer competitive interest rates. The rates are competitive with other online accounts. CommunityWide rates are much higher than typical bank rates. Their rates are not tiered. Any balance above the required amount earns competitive interest rates.
CommunityWide accounts have low opening required amounts. The savings accounts require $5 to open. The checking account requires $15 to open. The CD terms each require $1,000 to open. The CommunityWide FCU checking and savings accounts do not have a monthly fee. If you only open a savings account and the account does not have any activity, there is a $5 dormant account fee. That fee applies for each month with no activity.
CommunityWide offers a wide variety of savings accounts. The accounts offered include:
- Personal savings account
- High-yield savings account
- Funds savings account
- CD terms from six months to five years
- IRA accounts
A Funds savings account is available through CommunityWide FCU. This account acts as a savings account but earns a higher interest rate. Members can only withdraw money deposited in the account at specific times. You can choose whether to withdraw the money monthly or quarterly. Money can be deposited into the Funds savings account anytime.
Before you can open an account with CommunityWide, you must become a member of the credit union. To be eligible to join, you must have worked for a certain company or be a spouse of someone who has. Members of certain organizations are eligible. Immediate family members of CommunityWide members qualify to open an account. Once you qualify, you must show a valid government-issued ID and your Social Security Number.
CommunityWide Federal Credit Union does not offer ATM fee reimbursements. They offer over 30,000 ATMs free for members to use. If you make a transaction with another ATM, not in their network, you may be charged a fee. CommunityWide will not reimburse you for those fees.
CommunityWide FCU offers many accounts, but only one checking account. The checking account earns interest for balances over $1 and requires $15 to open. It is the only checking account available through CommunityWide FCU.
The early withdrawal fee for CommunityWide FCU CDs can be higher than other CD fees. CommunityWide FCU uses a specific formula to determine the penalty. First, they take the withdrawn amount times the remaining days at twice the current APR. They then divide the amount by 365. There is not a set penalty based on term length.
Digital or Mobile Banking
CommunityWide FCU offers a mobile banking app and online banking. Through these tools, you can:
- Transfer money between external and internal accounts
- View account information, balances, and statements
- Deposit checks through mobile deposit
- Pay bills
- Open new accounts
- Set up account alerts
Cool Things
Financial Tools
The CommunityWide website offers a section with financial tools. They offer financial calculators and access to GreenPath Financial Wellness. The GreenPath program offers financial counseling, financial tools, and debt management services.
History
CommunityWide Federal Credit Union started in 1967. The original name was the West Washington Association Federal Credit Union. It started to serve those on the west side of South Bend, Indiana. In 1975, the name changed to St. Joseph County Community Federal Credit Union.
The credit union struggled for a few years, trying to get members and become profitable. They expanded and moved locations with new management. By 1980, they had merged with another credit union. Their growth allowed for over $1.7 million in assets. By 1982, they had grown to offer checking accounts and check cashing services.
In 1985, the name officially changed to CommunityWide Federal Credit Union. In 1993, they offered ATM cards to their members, and in 2005, they began offering online bill pay. In 2012, the mobile app launched, with remote deposits offered in 2014.
Today, they have eleven branch locations in the Michiana, Michigan area and more than $400 million in assets. They work to focus on providing members with good financial services and products.
Giving Back
In 2016, CommunityWide donated over $4,000 to Credit Unions for Kids. Employees could wear jeans on Friday by donating $1 to the organization. Credit Unions for Kids is a group of credit unions. The group holds fundraising activities to help 170 Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. Since 1996, Credit Unions for Kids has raised over $160 million for the hospitals.
CommunityWide partners with charities in their communities. They encourage employees to donate to food banks and partner with Habitat for Humanity. In 2016, employees donated over $5,000 to the Kroc Center.
List of Common Bank Fees
- ATM Fees in the United States: $0-2
- ATM fees international: Not listed
- Bill Pay: $0
- CD Early Withdrawal Fees: Withdrawn amount times remaining days at twice the current APY, divided by 365
- Excessive Withdrawal Fees: Seventh withdrawal is blocked
- Monthly Service Fees: $0
- Overdraft Service Fees: $15
- Paper Bank Statements: $0-2
- Wire Transfers (Domestic): $10-20
- Wire Transfers (International): $10-50
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are all the accounts FDIC insured?
- How do I access my money?
- Can I deposit cash?
- How long do transfers take?
- Can I sign up for direct deposit?
- Are ATM transactions free?
- Are ATM transaction fees reimbursed?
- Is mobile banking or a mobile app available?
- Is bill pay offered?
- Do the accounts offer competitive interest rates?
- Do checking accounts earn interest?
- What are the most popular accounts?
- What are the monthly maintenance fees?
- Is this one of the best banks?
- How are my money and information protected?
- Are any business accounts offered?
- What makes these accounts different?
- How do I reach customer service?
Yes. Your money in CommunityWide Federal Credit Union is protected and federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration. The NCUA protects money in credit unions while the FDIC protects money in banks. They both protect deposited funds, up to $250,000 per customer, per bank. The money is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government.
By ATM or debit cards, checks, electronic transfers, or bill pay. You can access your money by visiting a local branch location.
Yes, at a local branch location or at select ATMs.
Electronic transfers are typically available the same business day. If deposits take longer than one business day, the first $200 of the deposit is available the same day.
Yes. Money can be directly deposited into CommunityWide accounts. Having a direct deposit into the checking account is one way to waive the monthly fee.
ATM transactions made at CommunityWide locations are free. ATMs in the CULIANCE, Alliance One, or CO-OP networks are also free.
No. ATM transaction fees are not reimbursed. CommunityWide FCU does offer over 30,000 free ATMs.
Yes. With the CWAnyWhere mobile app, you can deposit checks and see account balances. You can find an ATM or branch location.
Yes. The CommunityWide FCU checking account offers free bill pay.
Yes. CommunityWide interest rates are competitive with other online accounts. Their rates are much higher than typical bank rates.
Yes. The CommunityWide checking account earns interest. The interest is competitive with other online accounts.
All CommunityWide FCU savings accounts are popular.
No. The accounts do not have monthly fees. If you open only a savings account, there must be some activity in that account each month. There is a $5 dormant account fee for each month with no activity.
The interest rates are competitive with online accounts. They offer a good variety of personal deposit accounts, with no monthly fees. The opening required amounts for most accounts are low. You must qualify to join the credit union before you can open an account.
They offer security measures that comply with federal law. Their computers offer safeguards, and their buildings and files are secure.
Specific business accounts are not listed on the website. Contact customer service for more information.
The interest rates are much higher than typical bank rates. You can access everything for your account online.
By phone, mail, email, or by visiting a local branch location. You can follow CommunityWide FCU on Facebook and Twitter.
Bank Contact Information
CommunityWide FCU1555 W. Western Ave
South Bend, Indiana 46619
800-729-6808
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| Savings (Rate as of 12/21/2024) | |
| APY | 3.80% |
|---|---|
| Rate | 3.73% |
| Min to Open | $0 |
| Min to Earn APY | $0 |
| Monthly Fee | $0.00 |
| Min to Avoid Fee | $0 |
| Checkbook | No |
| Member FDIC. | |
| Savings (Rate as of 12/21/2024) | |
| APY | 3.80% |
|---|---|
| Rate | 3.80% |
| Min to Open | $0 |
| Min to Earn APY | $0 |
| Monthly Fee | $0.00 |
| Min to Avoid Fee | $0 |
| Checkbook | No |
| Member FDIC. Promoted offer: It only takes about 5 minutes to open a fee-free account. |
|
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1 APY stands for Annual Percent Yield. It's different from Rate because it takes into account compounding interest for the year.
2 MMA stands for Money Market Account. It's a savings and checking hybrid, allowing you to earn interest and use checks 6 times a month.