BankDirect VS State Farm Bank

Which bank is better for you?

  • Financial Rates: 3.5 Star Icon
  • Customer Service: 2.5 Star Icon
  • Website Experience: 3.0 Star Icon
  • Bank Fees: 4.5 Star Icon
No Rate Information
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Pros:

  • Low required opening amounts
  • Reimbursement of ATM fees
  • Variety of personal deposit accounts
  • Money market account earns good rates

Cons:

  • Highest MMA rate requires large amount
  • High required amount to open CDs
  • Checking accounts have a monthly fee
  • Must mail in application to open account
  • Financial Rates: 2.0 Star Icon
  • Customer Service: 4.5 Star Icon
  • Website Experience: 3.5 Star Icon
  • Bank Fees: 3.5 Star Icon
No Rate Information
Advertiser Disclosure
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Pros:

  • Reimbursement of ATM fees
  • Variety of personal deposit accounts
  • Most accounts have low opening amounts
  • Money market has competitive rates

Cons:

  • Accounts have monthly fees
  • High opening balance for MMA
  • Highest interest only introductory
  • Daily limits for ATM withdrawals
BankDirect Review

Most of the BankDirect accounts have a low amount required to open the account. BankDirect checking accounts only require $500 to open. Both BankDirect money market accounts require $500 to open. The basic savings account only requires $100 to open.

BankDirect does not own any ATMs; they reimburse their customers the ATM fees. The first four ATM withdrawals per statement cycle are refunded. The refunds are up to $2.50 per transaction. There is a withdrawal limit of $500 from an ATM each day.

BankDirect offers a variety of personal deposit accounts. There are three different checking accounts and two different money market accounts. There are a variety of different CD terms available. BankDirect offers one savings account. There are no business accounts available.

The BankDirect Money Market Plus account offers a competitive interest rate. BankDirect also offers a mileage money market account. This account earns American Airline miles. Both MMA require $500 to open. The mileage money market account earns much lower interest rates. You earn miles instead of interest. There is no monthly fee for either account.

To earn the high rates offered on the BankDirect Money Market Plus account you must have $10,000 in the account. Amounts under $10,000 do not earn any interest. Only $500 is required to open this account, but to earn any interest requires $10,000.

BankDirect offers a variety of different CD terms. The required amount to open any of the CDs is $10,000. There is no monthly fee. The interest rates for CDs are competitive. The 12-month, 18-months, 24-months and 36-month CDs offer the most competitive rates. To open a mileage CD also requires $10,000.

Two of the BankDirect checking accounts have monthly fees. The interest and mileage checking accounts both have a monthly fee. The fee is waived for the interest checking account if you have at least $2,500 in the account. The mileage checking does not list a way to waive that monthly fee.

Opening an account with BankDirect is not entirely online. To open an account, you must fill out the application online, then print off part and mail it in. You will then receive a welcome kit within one to two weeks. Once you get your kit, you can finish setting up your account.

Read the full BankDirect review.

State Farm Bank Review

State Farm Bank reimburses for fees charged at non-State Farm Bank ATMs. Fees are reimbursed if you have a direct deposit into the account you are withdrawing money from. If you do not have a direct deposit into that account, State Farm Bank will reimburse up to $10 each month in ATM fees.

A variety of different accounts are available through State Farm Bank. They offer a regular checking account and an interest-earning checking account. Savings and money market accounts are available. Accounts for minors, education, and retirement accounts are offered. CD terms range from 12-months to 5-years.

Most State Farm personal deposit accounts have low opening amounts. The saving account requires $100 to open. The regular checking account only requires $25. To open the interest checking account requires $100. Each of the different CDs requires $500 to open.

The State Farm Bank money market account offers a competitive interest rate. That account offers interest that is competitive with other online accounts. After the introductory period, met the qualifications to earn the competitive rate.

State Farm Bank accounts have a monthly fee and required balances to keep in the accounts. The fees range from $3 to $10 each month. The amounts required to keep in the accounts ranges from $100 to $500 for personal accounts. Having an electronic direct deposit into the account each month will waive the monthly fees.

The State Farm Bank money market earns competitive interest, but it has the highest required balances. To open this account requires $1,000. Waive the fee for this account by having a direct deposit into the account and keeping a $500 balance.

The most competitive rate is only an introductory rate for the money market account. You will receive the introductory rate for the first five billing cycles. After that time, if you have another State Farm qualifying account, you will earn the Relationship Rates which are lower, but still competitive.

State Farm Bank limits how much money you can withdraw from an ATM each day. The limit for State Farm Bank personal deposit accounts is $500 per day. There is also a limit to how much you can make in purchases each day. The purchase limit for debit cards is $3,500 per business day.

Read the full State Farm 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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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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