DCU VS Chase Bank

Which bank is better for you?

  • Financial Rates: 4.0 Star Icon
  • Customer Service: 4.5 Star Icon
  • Website Experience: 4.5 Star Icon
  • Bank Fees: 5.0 Star Icon
No Rate Information
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Pros:

  • Variety of accounts offered
  • Competitive interest rate for savings
  • Can open all accounts online
  • Low opening amounts and no fees

Cons:

  • Must become a member first
  • Tiered interest rates on MMA
  • High balances to earn interest
  • Only one withdrawal per month for Ltd.
  • Financial Rates: 1.0 Star Icon
  • Customer Service: 5.0 Star Icon
  • Website Experience: 5.0 Star Icon
  • Bank Fees: 2.5 Star Icon
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Pros:

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

Cons:

  • Products Not Offered Everywhere
  • Accounts Have Fees
  • High Opening Amount
  • High Daily Balances
DCU Review

Digital Federal Credit Union offers a wide variety of personal deposit accounts. These accounts include:

  • Free checking with different benefit levels
  • HSA checking
  • Primary savings
  • Money market savings
  • Ltd. savings
  • Holiday Savings Club
  • Regular CDs with terms from 3 to 60 months
  • Jumbo CDs from 3 to 60 months
  • Jump-Up CDs with a 15-month and 27-month term
  • QuickStart CDs from 3 to 60 months
  • Loans and credit cards
  • Business accounts and lending options

The Primary savings account offers competitive interest rates. For the first $1,000, you earn over a six percent interest rate. Any amount over $1,000 earns a lower rate of 0.25 percent. Between the two rates, the account earns competitive interest rates. The Primary savings account is the account you must open to become a member of DCU.

You can open all DCU accounts online. You do not need to visit a branch location to open the accounts. To open DCU accounts, you must be at least 18 years old. You must provide a government-issued ID and Social Security Number. Your address, phone number, and date of birth are also required.

The highest amount required to open a DCU checking or savings account is only $5. To earn interest for some accounts requires a larger balance. The CDs require $100 or $500, depending on the CD. Jumbo CDs require $25,000. DCU accounts do not have monthly fees or a required amount to keep in the account to avoid a fee.

To open an account with DCU, you must become a member of the credit union. You become a member by opening the Primary savings account with at least $5. Once you open that account and become a member, you can open any other DCU account.

The DCU money market account has tiered interest rates. To earn the most competitive interest rates requires a balance of at least $100,000. Lower balances earn interest, just not the highest rate.

The Ltd. savings account requires a balance of $25,000 to earn any interest. Any balance over $25,000 earns the most competitive rate, but balances below do not earn any interest.

Only one withdrawal is allowed per month from the Ltd. savings account. For every other withdrawal, there is a fee of $25. To earn interest on this account requires a balance of $25,000. There is no required amount to open the account.

Read the full DCU review.

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.

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American Express
Savings (Rate as of 11/21/2024)
APY 4.00%
Rate 3.92%
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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EverBank
Savings (Rate as of 11/21/2024)
APY 4.75%
Rate 4.64%
Min to Open $0
Min to Earn APY $0
Monthly Fee $0.00
Min to Avoid Fee $0
Checkbook No
Member FDIC No monthly maintenance fee, $0 to open, easily grow your money
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