Golden 1 Credit Union VS Wings Financial

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
No Rate Information
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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: 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
Advertiser Disclosure
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Pros:

  • Competitive interest rates on accounts
  • Variety of accounts offered
  • Low opening required amounts
  • Only one account has a monthly fee

Cons:

  • Must join credit union to open accounts
  • Accounts have tiered interest rates
  • Cannot open all accounts online
  • High yield checking has requirements
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.

Wings Financial Review

Wings Financial accounts offer competitive interest rates. The checking account rates are competitive with online account rates. The savings and money market account offer rates that are lower than online accounts. These account interest rates are higher than typical bank rates.

A good variety of accounts are available through Wings Financial. They offer checking, savings, and money market account. Specific holiday savings accounts are available. They offer CDS, personal loans, and credit cards. Personal investment and insurance opportunities are available. Some business accounts are also offered.

Accounts with Wings Financial have low opening required amounts. The checking accounts require either $1 or $5 to open. The savings accounts do not have a required amount or require $5 to open. Each CD term requires $500 to open. The money market account does require $5,000 to open.

Only the World Class Money Market account has a monthly fee. That fee is $10 per month. To waive that fee each month you must keep an account balance of $5,000. No other Wings Financial accounts have a monthly fee.

Before you can open accounts with Wings Financial, you must first join the credit union. To be eligible to join requires living or working in Minnesota or Wisconsin county, or Seattle-Tacoma, Washington. Family members of Wings Financial members are eligible. Aviation workers are eligible. You can join Wings Financial Foundation to become eligible to join the credit union.

Some Wings Financial accounts have tiered interest rates. To earn the most competitive interest rate in the money market account requires a balance of $25,000. The investment MMA requires a balance of $100,000 to earn the best rate. The savings account requires $50,000 to earn the best rate. Wings Financial CDs requires $90,000 to earn the best rate.

Not all Wings Financial accounts can be opened online. Their special CDs require visiting a branch location to open. The high yield checking account requires a branch location to open.

You must meet requirements to earn the competitive rates of the high yield checking account. That includes making 15 debit card transactions over $5 and have a direct deposit over $300 each month. You must also sign up to receive e-Documents. If you meet these requirements, you earn the competitive interest rate. The competitive interest rate applies to account balances under $25,000.

Read the full Wings Financial review.

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