Chase Bank VS First Tech Federal Credit Union

Which bank is better for you?

  • Financial Rates: 1.0 Star Icon
  • Customer Service: 5.0 Star Icon
  • Website Experience: 5.0 Star Icon
  • Bank Fees: 2.5 Star Icon
No Rate Information
Advertiser Disclosure
Star Icon Star Icon Star Icon Star Icon Star Icon

Pros:

  • Chase Pay
  • Chase Liquid
  • Credit Journey
  • Chase QuickDeposit

Cons:

  • Products Not Offered Everywhere
  • Accounts Have Fees
  • High Opening Amount
  • High Daily Balances
  • Financial Rates: 4.0 Star Icon
  • Customer Service: 4.5 Star Icon
  • Website Experience: 4.0 Star Icon
  • Bank Fees: 5.0 Star Icon
No Rate Information
Advertiser Disclosure
Star Icon Star Icon Star Icon Star Icon Star Icon

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
Chase Bank Review

Chase Pay is a digital wallet. It makes purchases easy. Pay for gas without getting out of the car. Pay without transferring your card number to websites and apps with the Chase Pay logo. You can use the QR code at stores. Coupons are automatically added to your favorite stores.

Chase Pay lets you use your Chase Ultimate Reward points to make purchases. This keeps your information secure and up to date. Thousands of places accept Chase Pay including Walmart and Best Buy. You still earn reward points when you use Chase Pay. This cannot be used with subscriptions like Netflix or Amazon Prime or outside the U.S.

Chase Liquid is a reloadable card. Opening deposit is $25. Money is directly deposited on the card. Money can be deposited through Chase QuickDeposit, direct deposits, or you can transfer money from other accounts to the cards. With the Chase Liquid card, you can make purchases, withdraw cash, pay bills, and use Zelle. It offers zero liability protection for unauthorized transactions. There is a $4.95 monthly fee to use Chase Liquid.

Chase Credit Journey helps get your credit under control. This is free to anyone, not just Chase customers. Get email alerts about changes to your credit. Check your credit score anytime for free, without hurting your score. Credit Journey shows how credit is affected when debts are paid off, or new accounts opened. Using this tool helps prevent fraud.

Deposits are easy with Chase QuickDeposit in the Chase Mobile App. Snap a picture of your check and follow the instructions. Make a deposit anytime, anywhere from a mobile phone or tablet. Step-by-step instructions are on their website.

Not all Chase products and features are offered in all areas. Input your zip code to learn what products are available in your area.

All Chase accounts, except CDs, have fees. Savings and checking accounts have a monthly maintenance fee. The fees range from $5 to $25. Waive fees by having a minimum balance in the account, or by linking a checking and savings account together. Direct deposits or automatic payments waive the monthly fees as well.

Every account with Chase needs a minimum of $25 to open. Some accounts require $100 as the opening balance.

Savings and checking accounts require a daily balance to avoid fees. The daily balances range from $1,500 to $100,000. If you cannot maintain this amount, you will have to use one of the other ways to have your fees waived.

Read the full Chase 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.

Sponsored Offers

Advertiser Disclosure
American Express
Savings (Rate as of 3/28/2024)
APY 4.35%
Rate 4.26%
For APY $1
Monthly Fee $0.00
Checkbook No
Member FDIC
Next >
Jenius Bank
Savings (Rate as of 3/28/2024)
APY 5.25%
Rate 5.25%
For APY $0
Monthly Fee $0.00
Checkbook No
Member FDIC. No fees. Easy deposits and quick withdrawals.
Next >
EverBank
Savings (Rate as of 3/28/2024)
APY 5.15%
Rate 5.02%
For APY $0
Monthly Fee $0.00
Checkbook No
Member FDIC
Next >
Capital One
Savings (Rate as of 3/28/2024)
APY 4.35%
Rate 4.35%
For APY $0
Monthly Fee $0.00
Checkbook No
Member FDIC It only takes about 5 minutes to open a fee-free account.
Next >
Barclays
Savings (Rate as of 3/28/2024)
APY 4.35%
Rate 4.35%
For APY $0
Monthly Fee $0.00
Checkbook No
Member FDIC
Next >