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.
First IB only requires $25 to open the free checking and savings account. The Interest checking, Money Market Savings, and Tomorrow's Tycoons require $100 to open. CDs required $1,000 to open. The HSA does not have a required amount to open.
First IB accounts earn competitive interest rates. The account rates are competitive with other online-only accounts. To earn the best rate for the checking account only requires $500 in the account. The savings accounts do not have a set limit to earn the competitive interest rates.
A variety of accounts are available through First IB. The accounts include:
First IB is a member of the ATM Plus network, giving you access to millions of ATMs across the U.S. Certain accounts with First IB reimburse up to $10 each month in ATM fees. The Interest checking, money market, and regular savings offer the reimbursement option.
Most First IB accounts have a monthly fee. The fees range from $2 to $10 each month. Waive the fees by keeping an average daily balance in the accounts. The required balances vary between accounts.
The First IB Money Market Savings account requires a daily balance of $4,000 to avoid the monthly fee. The Interest checking account requires $500 to avoid the fee. Free savings and checking accounts do not have a required balance to avoid the monthly fee.
The early withdrawal penalty for First IB CDs are high. CD terms for three-months requires 90 days of interest. Terms from six to 18-months require 180 days of interest. The fee for CD terms over 24-months is 360 days of interest.
The government limits the withdrawals from savings accounts to six per month. The excessive withdrawal fee for First IB accounts is $30 per extra transaction, which is higher than other banks. The withdrawals restrictions apply to the money market and Free savings accounts.