AloStar VS First Internet Bank of Indiana

Which bank is better for you?

  • Financial Rates: 4.0 Star Icon
  • Customer Service: 3.5 Star Icon
  • Website Experience: 3.0 Star Icon
  • Bank Fees: 5.0 Star Icon
No Rate Information
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Pros:

  • Competitive interest rates
  • Low required amounts to open CDs
  • Accounts are entirely online
  • Shorter terms offer competitive rates

Cons:

  • Limited personal accounts offered
  • Customer service not available 24/7
  • No checks or debit cards offered
  • Must link to an external bank account
  • Financial Rates: 5.0 Star Icon
  • Customer Service: 5.0 Star Icon
  • Website Experience: 3.5 Star Icon
  • Bank Fees: 4.0 Star Icon
0.81%APY
Savings/MMA
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Pros:

  • Low opening required amounts
  • Competitive interest rates on accounts
  • Variety of accounts offered
  • Free ATM transactions and fee refunds

Cons:

  • Accounts have monthly fees
  • Savings have high required daily balances
  • CD early withdrawal penalties are high
  • Excessive withdrawal fee high
AloStar Review

AloStar CDs offer competitive interest rates. The interest rates are competitive with other online CDs. The rates are much higher than typical brick and mortar bank rates.

The CDs at AloStar have low required opening amounts. Each of the CDs require $1,000 to open. To earn the competitive interest rates, you must keep $1,000 in the account. There is not a fee if your balance falls below $1,000, but you will not earn interest on the balance.

CDs with AloStar are entirely online. You apply for the CDs online. Once you open an account, everything for the account is online. There are no branch locations. You can reach customer service by phone or email.

Usually with CDs, the longer the term the higher the interest rate. But, with AloStar some shorter terms offer more competitive rates. The 12-month, 18-month, and 24-month CD terms offer the most competitive rates.

There are limited accounts offered through AloStar. The only accounts offered are CDs. AloStar does not offer checking, savings, or money market accounts. The CD terms offered range from three-month to five-year terms.

AloStar customer service is not always available. You can contact customer service through email. Their hours are Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time. On Saturday their hours are 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

The AloStar CD accounts do not offer debit cards or checks. The only way to access your money is through electronic transfers. You can transfer money during the grace period or after the CD reaches maturity.

To fund your AloStar CDs you must link the accounts to an external bank account. Once the accounts are linked you can make electronic transfers between the accounts. To avoid a fee, make withdrawals or deposits during the grace period or after the CD reaches maturity.

Read the full AloStar review.

First Internet Bank of Indiana Review

First IB only requires $25 to open the free checking and savings account. The Interest checking, Money Market Savings, and Tomorrow's Tycoons require $100 to open. CDs required $1,000 to open. The HSA does not have a required amount to open.

First IB accounts earn competitive interest rates. The account rates are competitive with other online-only accounts. To earn the best rate for the checking account only requires $500 in the account. The savings accounts do not have a set limit to earn the competitive interest rates.

A variety of accounts are available through First IB. The accounts include:

  • Free checking
  • Interest checking
  • Money Market Savings
  • Free savings
  • CD terms from three to 60-months
  • Health Savings Account
  • Tomorrow's Tycoons savings account for children
  • Coverdell Education Savings account
  • IRA accounts
  • Credit cards, personal, student, and auto loans
  • Home equity loans and mortgages
  • Business checking, savings, and CDs
  • Business lending options

First IB is a member of the ATM Plus network, giving you access to millions of ATMs across the U.S. Certain accounts with First IB reimburse up to $10 each month in ATM fees. The Interest checking, money market, and regular savings offer the reimbursement option.

Most First IB accounts have a monthly fee. The fees range from $2 to $10 each month. Waive the fees by keeping an average daily balance in the accounts. The required balances vary between accounts.

The First IB Money Market Savings account requires a daily balance of $4,000 to avoid the monthly fee. The Interest checking account requires $500 to avoid the fee. Free savings and checking accounts do not have a required balance to avoid the monthly fee.

The early withdrawal penalty for First IB CDs are high. CD terms for three-months requires 90 days of interest. Terms from six to 18-months require 180 days of interest. The fee for CD terms over 24-months is 360 days of interest.

The government limits the withdrawals from savings accounts to six per month. The excessive withdrawal fee for First IB accounts is $30 per extra transaction, which is higher than other banks. The withdrawals restrictions apply to the money market and Free savings accounts.

Read the full First Internet Bank of Indiana review.

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