There are no monthly maintenance fees for the MySavingsDirect savings account. The CDs do not have monthly maintenance fees. However, there is a fee if you withdraw money before the CD reaches maturity. MySavingsDirect accounts are free.

The MySavingsDirect savings account does not have a required amount to open. You can choose the amount you invest when you open the account. The MySavingsDirect CDs do have a required amount to open. Each of the CD terms requires $1,000 to open.

The interest rates for all MySavingsDirect accounts are competitive. The rates are competitive with other online-only accounts. They are much higher than typical brick and mortar bank rates.

MySavingsDirect account interest rates are not tiered. Any balance in the account earns the most competitive interest rate. The interest rates are competitive with other online accounts.

MySavingsDirect only offers a few accounts. The accounts are a personal deposit savings account and CDs. The CD terms range from 60 months to 120 months. They also offer one 30-month CD term. They do not offer a checking account or money market account. MySavingsDirect does not offer business accounts.

To fund your MySavingsDirect accounts, you must link to an external bank account. MySavingsDirect accounts must link to an existing checking account. Once the accounts are linked, you can transfer money electronically between accounts.

The only way to make deposits or withdrawals are through electronic transfers. Your initial deposit to open the account can be made by mailing in a check. After the initial deposit, all other deposits or withdrawals must be through electronic transfers. Transfer money between your MySavingsDirect account and the linked external bank account.

To open a CD with MySavingsDirect, you must first open a savings account. Once you have a savings account through MySavingsDirect, you may open a CD. The CD terms range from 60 to 120 months. The most competitive CD rate is the six-month CD. MySavingsDirect offers a three-month term, but the rate is lower.

Read the full MySavingsDirect review.

5Star Bank offers a variety of accounts. They offer personal deposit and business accounts. These include:

• 5Star checking account
• E-Checking account
• Basic savings account
• Money market account
• CD terms from six-months to five-years
• IRA CDs from 18-months to five-years
• Lending options
• Credit cards
• Business checking and money market accounts
• Business CDs from six-months to five-years
• Business lending and credit options

5Star Bank has low amounts required to open their accounts. The E-Checking requires $50. The 5Star checking and the basic savings account require $100 to open. Both the money market account and the different CD terms require $1,000 to open.

The 5Star checking account refunds up to five ATM transactions fees per month. You must keep at least $1,000 in the checking account to have ATM transactions refunded. The E-Checking account does not offer ATM reimbursement.

The basic 5Star savings account offers competitive rates. The rates are higher than typical brick-and-mortar rates. This account only requires $100 to open and keep in the account to waive the monthly fee. Any amount in the account earns the competitive rate. These rates are not tiered.

To earn the most competitive rates for the money market account requires an account balance over $1 million. Any balance over $1,000 does earn interest but a lower rate. The rates gradually increase the more money you have in the account.

Most 5Star Bank accounts have monthly maintenance fees. The savings account fee is $2. The money market fee is $5, and the checking account fee is $7. Waive each of these fees by keeping a set amount in the accounts. Those balances range from $100 to $1,000, depending on the account.

5Star has daily limits for your debit card. The limit for point of sale purchases is $1,000 per day. The daily limit for ATM withdrawals is $300.

Accounts through 5Star Bank are not available to open entirely online. To open the accounts, you need to visit a branch location. You may be able to open the accounts through the mail. Contact customer service for more information.

Read the full 5Star Bank review.