Fifth Third VS Colorado Federal Savings Bank

Which bank is better for you?

  • Financial Rates: 3.0 Star Icon
  • Customer Service: 5.0 Star Icon
  • Website Experience: 5.0 Star Icon
  • Bank Fees: 3.0 Star Icon
No Rate Information
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Pros:

  • Student checking account
  • No required amount to open accounts
  • Interest bonus when savings goals met
  • Business accounts available

Cons:

  • Accounts have a monthly fee
  • Hard to waive checking account fees
  • Accounts not offered everywhere
  • Low-interest rates
  • Financial Rates: 3.0 Star Icon
  • Customer Service: 2.5 Star Icon
  • Website Experience: 2.0 Star Icon
  • Bank Fees: 5.0 Star Icon
No Rate Information
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Pros:

  • Can open all accounts online
  • No monthly fees or required balances
  • Competitive interest rates
  • Savings has a low opening amount

Cons:

  • Limited accounts offered
  • Must link external bank account
  • Premier account requires large amount
  • CDs require a large opening deposit
Fifth Third Review

The Fifth Third Student Banking account does not have a monthly fee if the student is 16 years or older. There is no amount required to keep in the account. Five ATM transactions at non-Fifth Third ATMs are free each month.

There is not a set amount required to open a Fifth Third checking account or savings account.

The Fifth Third Goal Setter Savings account offers a one-time interest bonus when you reach your savings goal. The amount you receive is equal to the amount of interest you have earned while the account is open. The account must be open for at least 185 days. The savings goals can range from $500 to $25,000. Interest is only paid on balances under $50,000.

Fifth Third offers a variety of accounts for small or commercial businesses. Various checking accounts are available. These accounts vary to fit how much money your business deals with monthly. Savings accounts, CDs, loans, and credit cards are also available.

Most all Fifth Third accounts have a monthly maintenance fee. The savings accounts have a fee of $5 per month. The checking account fees range from $8 to $25 each month depending on the account. There are ways to have the fees waived, but those vary by account.

Not only do Fifth Third checking accounts have fees, but the requirements to waive the fee are tough. Having a direct deposit into the account lowers the fee but does not waive it. You must have at least $1,500 to $100,000 in Fifth Third accounts depending on the account. Spending $500 on a Fifth Third credit card waives the fees. Having a mortgage, loan, or line of credit with a balance also waives the fee.

Accounts are not offered everywhere. Fifth Third currently offers accounts in ten states. If you do not live in one of those ten states, you are not eligible to open a deposit account with Fifth Third.

The interest rates on accounts are low. Fifth Third rates are typical of other banks. They are not competitive with online-only bank accounts. The more money you invest, the better interest rates you will earn.

Read the full Fifth Third review.

Colorado Federal Savings Bank Review

Colorado Federal Savings Bank is an online bank. Opening an account is completed online. You do not have to mail information in or wait for the bank to send you information. All the information you need to open an account is on their website.

Colorado Federal Savings Bank accounts do not have monthly maintenance fees. The accounts are completely free. There are no fees to transfer money into the account with electronic transfers.

The interest rates for CFSB are competitive. Their rates are much higher than your typical brick-and-mortar rates. They are competitive with other online-only accounts. CFSB rates are not tiered. Any amount over the required opening deposit earns the competitive rates offered.

The high yield savings account only requires $1.00 to open the account and keep in the account. The interest rates are competitive. The only fee is if you withdraw more than six times each billing cycle.

CFSB offers limited accounts. Only an online savings account and CDs are available. No checking or money market account is available. There are no business accounts available. Only those few personal deposit accounts are available through CFSB.

To fund your CFSB accounts, you must link an external bank account. Once you link the accounts, you can make transfers between the two accounts. Electronic transfers between linked accounts are how you access your CFSB money.

CFSB has a Premier Savings account offering competitive interest rates. The minimum account balance is $50,000. To open the Premier Savings account, you must be a new customer. This means you have not maintained a CD or savings account with CFSB in the previous 60 days.

To open a CD through CFSB requires $5,000. There are six CD terms. They range from six-months to five-year terms. The only fee is if you withdraw your money before it reaches the maturity date. The interest rates for each of the terms are competitive.

Read the full Colorado Federal Savings Bank review.

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