MemoryBank VS Golden 1 Credit Union

Which bank is better for you?

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

  • Low opening amounts and no fees
  • Accounts are entirely online
  • Competitive interest rates
  • Interest rates are not tiered

Cons:

  • Limited personal deposit accounts offered
  • MMA does not offer checks or debit card
  • Customer service not available 24/7
  • Business accounts not offered
  • 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
MemoryBank Review

MemoryBank accounts only require $50 to open. Their accounts do not have monthly maintenances fees. There is no balance required to keep in the account to avoid the fees. The MemoryBank checking account and money market accounts are completely free.

The MemoryBank accounts are entirely online. You apply for the accounts online, and everything for your account is online. Any permanent resident of the U.S., over the age of 18, with an SSN or ITIN, are eligible to open a MemoryBank account.

Both MemoryBank accounts offer competitive interest rates. The checking and money market account rates are competitive with other online accounts. These interest rates are much higher than other brick and mortar bank rates.

MemoryBank interest rates are competitive, and they are not tiered. You do not have to have a large account balance to earn the most competitive interest rates. Any balance earns the most competitive rate offered.

MemoryBank offers limited personal deposit accounts. Those accounts include a checking account and a money market account. You can open as many of these two accounts as you would like, but only the two accounts are available.

The MemoryBank money market account does not offer checks or a debit card. To withdraw money from the money market account, you can make an electronic transfer from the MMA into your checking account. You can also request a check to withdraw money from the MMA.

MemoryBank is an entirely online bank. There are no branch locations. You can reach customer service through email, mail, phone, or through online chat. Customer service does have set hours. Those hours are Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

MemoryBank only offers personal deposit accounts. No business accounts are available at this time. The personal deposit accounts offered are a checking account and a money market account.

Read the full MemoryBank review.

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.

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