BankDirect VS TotalDirectBank

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: 4.0 Star Icon
  • Customer Service: 2.0 Star Icon
  • Website Experience: 2.5 Star Icon
  • Bank Fees: 5.0 Star Icon
No Rate Information
Advertiser Disclosure
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Pros:

  • Competitive interest rates on accounts
  • Application completely online
  • No monthly maintenance fees
  • Interest rates are not tiered

Cons:

  • High opening required amounts
  • Limited accounts available
  • Not available in all 50 states
  • Application response not immediate
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.

TotalDirectBank Review

The interest rates for TotalDirectBank accounts offer competitive interest rates. The interest rates are much higher than typical brick-and-mortar bank rates. Their interest rates are competitive with other online accounts.

The application for TotalDirectBank accounts is entirely online. To open a money market or CD account with TotalDirectBank, visit their website. There are no branch locations. You cannot mail in your application.

There are no monthly fees for the TotalDirectBank money market account. You do not have to keep a set balance in the account to avoid a monthly fee. The money market account is free. The CD has a fee if you withdraw money before the CD matures.

Interest rates for TotalDirectBank are not tiered. Account balances over the opening required amount earn the most competitive interest rates.

Opening an account with TotalDirectBank requires a significant amount. The money market account requires $5,000 to open. The CD requires $25,000 to open. You must keep at least these amounts in the account to earn interest.

TotalDirectBank only offers a money market account and CDs. The CD terms range from 3-60 months. There are six terms available. Those include 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, and 60-month CD terms.

The TotalDirectBank accounts are not available in all 50 states. If you live in California, Florida, or Puerto Rico, you cannot apply for an account. You could be eligible if you live in other states across the United States.

Opening a money market account or CD with TotalDirectBank is entirely online. When you apply for an account, you receive an approval within two business days. You then must fund your account within 30 days. If you fail to fund it by then, the account could close.

Read the full TotalDirectBank review.

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