Applied Bank VS First Tech Federal Credit Union

Which bank is better for you?

  • Financial Rates: 1.0 Star Icon
  • Customer Service: 3.5 Star Icon
  • Website Experience: 3.0 Star Icon
  • Bank Fees: 3.5 Star Icon
0.02%APY
Savings/MMA
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Pros:

  • Variety of different personal accounts
  • Low opening required amounts
  • Checking and saving rates are not tiered
  • Business accounts offered

Cons:

  • Accounts have low-interest rates
  • Jumbo CDs do not offer higher rates
  • Accounts have monthly fees
  • High interest in MMA requires a large sum
  • Financial Rates: 4.0 Star Icon
  • Customer Service: 4.5 Star Icon
  • Website Experience: 4.0 Star Icon
  • Bank Fees: 5.0 Star Icon
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Pros:

  • Dividend Rewards earns great rates
  • No monthly maintenance fees
  • CDs offer good rates
  • Low opening required amounts

Cons:

  • Must become a member first
  • Tiered interest rates
  • High opening amount for Instant Access
  • Low daily ATM withdrawal amount
Applied Bank Review

Applied Bank has a variety of different personal accounts. There are basic savings, checking, and money market accounts. Checking accounts for people over 50 are available. There are specific savings accounts for youth and specific goals like a vacation. CDs, loans, and credit cards are available through Applied Bank.

Most Applied Bank accounts have a low opening required amount. The savings and checking account requires $100 to open. The club savings account only requires $10 to open. The money market account requires $500 to avoid a fee and earn interest. The CDs require $1,000 to open. The checking account for those over 50 does not have required amounts.

The interest rates for Applied Bank checking and savings accounts are not tiered. The savings account only requires $100 to earn the most competitive rates. The Club Savings account only requires $10 to earn competitive rates. The checking account requires $1,000.

Applied Bank offers business accounts. They offer checking accounts, loans, and lines of credit for businesses. They also offer merchant processing options in select states. Online banking is available for business accounts.

Interest rates for Applied Bank accounts are low. The rates are similar to your typical brick and mortar bank rates. Even the CDs rates are low. The most competitive interest rates are the Club and youth saving accounts. Those rates are higher than the other savings account. They are still much lower than other online-only accounts.

Applied Bank offers jumbo CDs. These CDs require at least $95,000 to open. The interest rates for the jumbo CDs are not any higher than the regular CD interest rates. The jumbo CD terms range from six-months to five-years. Those CDs are available for businesses, nonprofits, and personal deposit accounts.

Applied Bank accounts have a monthly fee if you do not keep a minimum amount in the accounts. The amounts required to avoid the fee are low. The checking and savings accounts require $100. The money market requires $500. The monthly fee is $10 per account per month if minimum balances are not met. The only fees for CDs are for withdrawing money before the maturity date.

The highest interest rates for the Applied Bank money market account requires a large sum. To earn the most competitive rate requires $25,000 in the account. Amounts over $500 earn interest, just a much lower rate. Any amount over $25,000 earns the highest rate.

Read the full Applied Bank review.

First Tech Federal Credit Union Review

The Dividend Rewards checking account earns competitive interest rates. To earn the most competitive rate has some requirements. You must have 12 debit card purchases each month and have one direct deposit or ACH withdrawal. You must also receive electronic statements. The competitive rate is for any balance from $0.01 to $15,000. Balances over $15,000 earns a lower rate.

First Tech savings and checking accounts do not have monthly fees. There is no minimum balance required to keep in the account to waive the monthly fees. These accounts are free.

The CDs offered through First Tech offer good interest rates. The terms range from six-month to 60-month terms. Each of the terms earns rates slightly lower than other online CDs. Each traditional CD term requires $500 to open.

First Tech has low required amounts to open their accounts. The checking accounts require $0.01 to open. Two of the savings accounts require $0.01 or $5.00 to open. Each of the CD terms requires $500 to open.

To open an account with First Tech, you must be a member of the credit union. You are eligible to be a member if you work for certain tech companies or the state of Oregon. If you live or work in Lane County, Oregon, you are eligible. Immediate family members of members are eligible. You can also become a member by joining the Computer History Museum or the Financial Fitness Association.

The Instant Access savings account with First Tech has tiered interest rates. To earn the most competitive rate, you must have a balance over $250,000. Lower account balances earn interest, just not the most competitive rate.

The Instant Access savings account has a high opening required amount. To open the account requires $5,000. There is no monthly fee for this account. Interest rates for the Instant Access account are tiered.

First Tech members can only withdraw $500 per day, per cardholder, from First Tech ATMs. Other ATMs may allow for a higher withdrawal, but you may face a fee. If you need more than $500 at one time, visit a branch location.

Read the full First Tech Federal Credit Union review.

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Jenius Bank
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Checkbook No
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APY 4.35%
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