American Express National Bank VS Merrick Bank

Which bank is better for you?

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

  • Options on how to receive interest
  • No opening required amount
  • Pay credit card bill from savings account
  • Competitive interest rates on accounts

Cons:

  • Only offer savings and CD accounts
  • Must link account to a different bank
  • Funds not transferred immediately
  • No checks, debit cards, or ATM cards
  • Financial Rates: 5.0 Star Icon
  • Customer Service: 3.0 Star Icon
  • Website Experience: 5.0 Star Icon
  • Bank Fees: 5.0 Star Icon
No Rate Information
Advertiser Disclosure
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Pros:

  • Competitive interest rates on CDs
  • Credit cards available
  • Accounts are online
  • Interest credited monthly

Cons:

  • High opening required amount
  • Not everyone qualifies for an account
  • Acceptance takes a long time
  • Limited accounts offered
American Express National Bank Review

American Express Bank offers ways to receive the money you earn off interest. You can deposit it back into the account earning the interest. The interest can be transferred to your CD account. You can deposit the money into your linked external account, or receive a check. You can request a check to come monthly, quarterly, or annually.

There is no minimum amount required to open an account. You start earning interest with any amount deposited into the high-yield savings account. The more money you deposit, the more interest you earn, but no required amount.

Once you open a savings account with American Express, you can link that account to your credit card. Log into your account and link the savings account to the credit card. Paying your credit card bill from your savings account does count as a withdrawal.

American Express Bank offers higher interest rates than your typical bank. Their rates are competitive with other online banks. You can find the current rates are on their website.

American Express Bank only offers a high-yield savings account and CDs. To deposit money into the accounts, you must link it to your current banking accounts. You can also sign up for direct deposit from your employer or to make automatic deposits.

You must link your American Express accounts to your current bank account. You can then transfer money between the different accounts. Federal regulations only allow six transactions each billing cycle for savings accounts.

Transferring money to and from your American Express personal account is not immediate. Money coming into your American Express account is not available until the fifth business day. All other transfers take 1-3 business days.

American Express Bank does not offer checks, debit cards, or ATM cards for their accounts. To get your money, you must transfer it from your American Express savings account back into your linked external account. If you open a CD, you must wait until the maturity date to access your money without a penalty.

Read the full American Express National Bank review.

Merrick Bank Review

Interest rates on Merrick Bank CDs offer competitive interest rates. The rates are competitive with other online CDs. They are much higher than other brick and mortar bank rates.

Merrick Bank offers personal credit cards. They offer a Secured Visa credit card specifically to build or rebuild customer’s credit. They also offer a Platinum Visa for customers who have better credit. Each credit card comes with Zero Liability for Unauthorized Use and account alerts.

Merrick Bank is an online account. Once you are approved to open a CD everything else for your account is online or on the mobile app. You can deposit or withdraw money from the CD during the grace period or at maturity.

The Merrick Bank 12-month CD term offers competitive interest rates. The interest you earn is credited to your account each month. You can watch your money grow. You can withdraw money from your CD during the grace period or once the CD reaches maturity.

To open a CD through Merrick Bank requires a large sum. The 12-month CD requires $25,000 to open the account. The opening deposit must be one transaction. Deposit money electronically through a linked bank account.

When applying for a CD with Merrick Bank, you must qualify. Each CD is carefully reviewed. Acceptance to open a CD is based on the person's credit. If you do not meet the set criteria, you cannot open an account with Merrick Bank. If you receive an offer in the mail, you are eligible to open a CD.

After you apply for an account with Merrick Bank, you will receive a letter in the mail. This will inform you if you qualified for an account or not. The letter takes two to three weeks to receive. If after the allotted time you have not heard from Merrick Bank, you can call customer service.

Merrick Bank offers a limited amount of personal deposit accounts. Only one 12-month CD is available. They do offer personal credit cards and lending options. This bank helps customers build or rebuild their credit. To open an account, you must qualify.

Read the full Merrick Bank review.

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American Express
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.
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Openbank
Savings (Rate as of 12/21/2024)
APY 4.75%
Rate 4.65%
Min to Open $500
Min to Earn APY $500
Monthly Fee $0.00
Min to Avoid Fee $0
Checkbook No
Member FDIC.
Next >
Capital One
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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EverBank
Savings (Rate as of 12/21/2024)
APY 4.40%
Rate 4.30%
Min to Open $0
Min to Earn APY $0
Monthly Fee $0.00
Min to Avoid Fee $0
Checkbook No
Member FDIC.

Promoted offer: No monthly maintenance fee, $0 to open, easily grow your money
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Western Alliance Bank
Savings (Rate as of 12/21/2024)
APY 4.46%
Rate 4.46%
Min to Open $500
Min to Earn APY $0
Monthly Fee $0.00
Min to Avoid Fee $0
Checkbook No
Member FDIC.
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Barclays
Savings (Rate as of 12/21/2024)
APY 4.35%
Rate 4.35%
Min to Open $0
Min to Earn APY $0
Monthly Fee $0.00
Min to Avoid Fee $0
Checkbook No
Member FDIC.

Promoted offer: $200 Bonus w/ Tiered Savings Account and Qualifying Activities
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CIT Bank
Savings (Rate as of 12/21/2024)
APY 4.35%
Rate 4.35%
Min to Open $100
Min to Earn APY $5,000
Monthly Fee $0.00
Min to Avoid Fee $0
Checkbook No
Member FDIC.

Promoted offer: CIT Bank, a division of First Citizens, 125+ years of experience.
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BMO Alto
Savings (Rate as of 12/21/2024)
APY 4.30%
Rate 4.21%
Min to Open $0
Min to Earn APY $0
Monthly Fee $0.00
Min to Avoid Fee $0
Checkbook No
Member FDIC.
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Sallie Mae
MMA (Rate as of 12/21/2024)
APY 4.10%
Rate 4.02%
Min to Open $0
Min to Earn APY $0
Monthly Fee $0.00
Min to Avoid Fee $0
Checkbook Yes
Member FDIC.
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Synchrony Bank
Savings (Rate as of 12/21/2024)
APY 4.10%
Rate 4.10%
Min to Open $0
Min to Earn APY $0
Monthly Fee $0.00
Min to Avoid Fee $0
Checkbook No
Member FDIC.
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Poppy Bank
Savings (Rate as of 12/21/2024)
APY 4.75%
Rate 4.64%
Min to Open $1,000
Min to Earn APY $1,000
Monthly Fee $5.00
Min to Avoid Fee $0
Checkbook No
Member FDIC.
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Betterment
Savings (Rate as of 12/21/2024)
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
FDIC insured at program banks†.

Promoted offer: var. APY a/o 11/8/24. New customers only. Betterment LLC, not a bank
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Sallie Mae
Savings (Rate as of 12/21/2024)
APY 4.10%
Rate 4.02%
Min to Open $0
Min to Earn APY $0
Monthly Fee $0.00
Min to Avoid Fee $0
Checkbook No
Member FDIC.
Next >