Golden 1 Credit Union VS State Farm Bank

Which bank is better for you?

  • Financial Rates: 4.0 Star Icon
  • Customer Service: 5.0 Star Icon
  • Website Experience: 5.0 Star Icon
  • Bank Fees: 4.0 Star Icon
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Pros:

  • Variety of accounts offered
  • CDs offer competitive interest rates
  • Low opening required amounts
  • Freedom Checking Account for teens

Cons:

  • Must become a member first
  • Cannot open all accounts online
  • Monthly maintenance fees
  • Not competitive rates for most accounts
  • Financial Rates: 2.0 Star Icon
  • Customer Service: 4.5 Star Icon
  • Website Experience: 3.5 Star Icon
  • Bank Fees: 3.5 Star Icon
No Rate Information
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Pros:

  • Reimbursement of ATM fees
  • Variety of personal deposit accounts
  • Most accounts have low opening amounts
  • Money market has competitive rates

Cons:

  • Accounts have monthly fees
  • High opening balance for MMA
  • Highest interest only introductory
  • Daily limits for ATM withdrawals
Golden 1 Credit Union Review

Golden 1 offers a wide variety of accounts. They offer free checking, interest-earning checking, and checking for students. They offer CDs, a money market, and a basic savings account. They also offer savings accounts for youth, the holidays, and big purchases. They also offer credit cards, investment options, insurances, and loans.

Golden 1 CDs offer good interest rates. The rates are higher than typical brick and mortar bank rates. They are slightly lower than other online accounts. A few of the CD terms do offer rates that are competitive with other online CDs.

Most Golden 1 Credit Union accounts have low opening required amounts. The opening amounts range from $1 to $100 depending on the account. Some accounts do not have a required amount. The CDs require $1,000 to open. The money market account does require $2,500 to open.

This checking account is set up specifically for students ages 16 and 17. To have this account, you must maintain a B average in school. Teens can have freedom of their own finances and learn to manage their money. There is no required amount or monthly fee. They offer online and mobile banking, and mobile deposit.

To open an account with Golden 1, you must first become a member. If you live or work in California, you qualify to be a member. Family members of other Golden 1 members also qualify. You can qualify if you belong to certain employee groups. If these options do not work, you can join the Financial Fitness Association to become a member.

Not all Golden 1 accounts can be opened online. Some accounts require visiting a local branch location to open. All the CDs and most of the savings accounts can be opened online.

The premier checking account and the money market account both have monthly fees. The fees are $5 each month. You can waive those fees by having a set amount in each of the accounts. The checking account requires $1,000, and the money market account requires $2,500.

Most accounts with Golden 1 do not offer competitive interest rates. The checking, savings, and money market account rates are not competitive with other online accounts. They are competitive with other brick and mortar rates.

Read the full Golden 1 Credit Union review.

State Farm Bank Review

State Farm Bank reimburses for fees charged at non-State Farm Bank ATMs. Fees are reimbursed if you have a direct deposit into the account you are withdrawing money from. If you do not have a direct deposit into that account, State Farm Bank will reimburse up to $10 each month in ATM fees.

A variety of different accounts are available through State Farm Bank. They offer a regular checking account and an interest-earning checking account. Savings and money market accounts are available. Accounts for minors, education, and retirement accounts are offered. CD terms range from 12-months to 5-years.

Most State Farm personal deposit accounts have low opening amounts. The saving account requires $100 to open. The regular checking account only requires $25. To open the interest checking account requires $100. Each of the different CDs requires $500 to open.

The State Farm Bank money market account offers a competitive interest rate. That account offers interest that is competitive with other online accounts. After the introductory period, met the qualifications to earn the competitive rate.

State Farm Bank accounts have a monthly fee and required balances to keep in the accounts. The fees range from $3 to $10 each month. The amounts required to keep in the accounts ranges from $100 to $500 for personal accounts. Having an electronic direct deposit into the account each month will waive the monthly fees.

The State Farm Bank money market earns competitive interest, but it has the highest required balances. To open this account requires $1,000. Waive the fee for this account by having a direct deposit into the account and keeping a $500 balance.

The most competitive rate is only an introductory rate for the money market account. You will receive the introductory rate for the first five billing cycles. After that time, if you have another State Farm qualifying account, you will earn the Relationship Rates which are lower, but still competitive.

State Farm Bank limits how much money you can withdraw from an ATM each day. The limit for State Farm Bank personal deposit accounts is $500 per day. There is also a limit to how much you can make in purchases each day. The purchase limit for debit cards is $3,500 per business day.

Read the full State Farm Bank review.

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