American Eagle Bank VS Gateway First Bank

Which bank is better for you?

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

  • CD bonus of higher interest rates
  • Senior citizen checking accounts
  • Kids Klub savings account
  • Government or nonprofit checking account

Cons:

  • Debit cards might not work in all states
  • High opening amount for CDs
  • Business checking has credit/debit limit
  • Products not available to everyone
  • Financial Rates: 4.5 Star Icon
  • Customer Service: 4.0 Star Icon
  • Website Experience: 4.0 Star Icon
  • Bank Fees: 4.5 Star Icon
No Rate Information
Advertiser Disclosure
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Pros:

  • Competitive rates on all accounts
  • Low opening required amounts
  • Good variety of accounts
  • Can send and receive money with Zelle

Cons:

  • Tiered interest rates for most accounts
  • Cannot open all accounts online
  • Accounts not available to everyone
  • Monthly fees for some accounts
American Eagle Bank Review

American Eagle CDs can earn higher interest rates if you earn the relationship bonus. To receive this bonus, you must have $5,000 in a qualifying checking, savings, or money market account. With this bonus, you earn around 0.15% more interest on the money in your CD.

American Eagle offers a Golden Eagle checking account for senior citizens. To qualify for the senior account, you must be over 55 years of age. This account offers unlimited check writing, no monthly fees, and a higher interest rate than their other checking accounts.

The Eagle Saver Kids Klub only requires $1 to open. Kids must be under 17 and have a parent or guardian co-signer. For every deposit made, kids earn ‘Wooden Nickels.’ Kids use those nickels to get prizes.

The American Eagle Platinum NOW checking account is for government and nonprofits. It only requires $100 to open. There is no monthly fee with at least $500 in the account. This account offers unlimited check writing, an ATM or debit card with no fees, and earns interest.

In the name of security, the American Eagle debit card may not work in all areas. Those areas include New York, New Jersey, Washington D.C., Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Ohio, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, or Canada. If you travel to these areas, you must call the bank in advance to make sure your debit card will work.

CDs require $1,000 to open and earn interest. The CD terms vary in length from six to sixty months. Special add-on CDs let you make unlimited deposits of at least $1 or more.

The business checking account limits transactions each month. You must not exceed 500 debit and credit transactions per month. There is a fee if you do.

Not all American Eagle accounts are available to everyone. You cannot apply online for an account. You must call a local branch to get information and apply for an account. Some products are only available to current customers and those living in certain areas.

Read the full American Eagle Bank review.

Gateway First Bank Review

Gateway First offers competitive interest rates on most accounts. The interest rates are much higher than typical bank rates. The online savings account and 12-month CD offers the most competitive interest rates.

The opening required amounts for Gateway First accounts are low. The online savings account requires $10 to open. The CDs need $1,000 to open. The checking accounts require either $50 or $1,000 to open. The money market account does require $2,500 to open.

Gateway First offers a good variety of accounts. These include:

  • Three personal checking accounts
  • Online savings account
  • CD terms from six-months to five-years
  • One, two, and three-year IRA CDs
  • Home and consumer loans
  • Business checking account
  • Commercial and specialty lending options

Customers can send and receive money through Zelle. Gateway First Bank offers Zelle as a feature for each of their checking accounts. You can initiate Zelle payments through the mobile app or online.

Gateway First accounts have tiered rates. The CDs require $500 to open, but to earn interest requires a $25,000 balance. Each CD earns competitive rates if you have $25,000. You cannot add money to the CD after the opening amount. The money market account requires $100,000 to earn the most competitive rate. The checking account requires $50,000.

Not all Gateway First accounts can be opened online. The only accounts available online are the high yield savings account and CDs. The CD terms range from six-months to five-years.

Gateway First accounts are not currently available in all 50 states. If you live in the following states, you cannot open an account:

  • Alaska
  • California
  • Georgia
  • Hawaii
  • Illinois
  • Maine
  • Massachusetts
  • Montana
  • New Hampshire
  • New York
  • Rhode Island
  • Vermont

Some Gateway First Bank accounts have monthly fees. The fees for the checking accounts are between $7-8. There is a fee of $0.15 per debit item if you do not keep a set account balance. To waive the account fees, you must keep an account balance between $250 and $2,500.

Read the full Gateway First Bank review.

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Savings (Rate as of 12/13/2024)
APY 4.75%
Rate 4.75%
Min to Open $10
Min to Earn APY $0
Monthly Fee $0.00
Min to Avoid Fee $0
Checkbook No
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