NewDominion Bank VS SmartyPig

Which bank is better for you?

  • Financial Rates: 4.0 Star Icon
  • Customer Service: 4.0 Star Icon
  • Website Experience: 5.0 Star Icon
  • Bank Fees: 3.0 Star Icon
No Rate Information
Advertiser Disclosure
Star Icon Star Icon Star Icon Star Icon Star Icon

Pros:

  • Low opening required amounts
  • Variety of personal deposit accounts
  • Business accounts available
  • Bump Rate CDs

Cons:

  • Cannot open accounts online
  • Most accounts have a monthly fee
  • Accounts have tiered interest rates
  • Full account information not online
  • 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
Advertiser Disclosure
Star Icon Star Icon Star Icon Star Icon Star Icon

Pros:

  • Free savings account
  • Tiered Interest Rates
  • Set up multiple goals
  • Direct withdrawals

Cons:

  • Only offer one type of account
  • Six withdrawals allowed per month
  • Maximum account balance
  • One external funding source allowed
NewDominion Bank Review

NewDominion has low opening required amounts for most of their accounts. Checking, savings, and one money market account do not have a required amount to open the account. All the CD terms require $1,000 to open. The Evolve money market account requires $1,000 to open.

There are a variety of personal deposit accounts offered through NewDominion Bank. They offer two checking accounts, one savings, two money market accounts, and a variety of CD terms. NewDominion offers a savings account specifically for youth and investment options. Mortgage, home equity, auto, and personal loans are also offered.

Along with personal accounts, NewDominion offers business accounts. They offer checking accounts, money market accounts, and CDs for businesses. They offer business and equipment loans, lines of credit, and commercial real estate loans. Business accounts include online banking, mobile check deposit, and ACH services.

NewDominion offers Bump Rate CDs. Most CDs lock in rates from the day you open the account to maturity. However, the Bump Rate CDs allow for a one time increase to a higher interest rate during the term of the CD. The Bump Rate CDs are available in a 23-month and 35-month CDs. They each require $1,000 to open.

NewDominion Bank accounts cannot be opened online. To open an account, you must first schedule an appointment. A bank representative will call, or you can visit a branch location to finish opening the account. NewDominion currently does not offer any online accounts.

Most NewDominion accounts have a monthly fee. The fees range from $15 to $25 depending on the account. Waive the monthly fees by keeping a set balance in the account. Those balance range from $2,500 to $10,000. The average amount kept in the account is an average daily balance.

To earn the most competitive rate, the NewDominion MMA requires a large sum. Any amount in the account earns interest, but to receive the highest rate requires $100,000 in the account. The savings account also has tiered rates. To earn the most competitive rate requires $10,000 in the savings account.

NewDominion website does not have a complete list of fees and account information. For complete details, you must visit a branch location or contact customer service. Open an account in the branch.

Read the full NewDominion Bank review.

SmartyPig Review

SmartyPig accounts do not have monthly maintenance fees. There is not a required amount to keep in the account. The first initial deposit to open the account is $25.

This savings account offers tiered interest rates. This means the more money you have in the account, the more interest you will earn. The interest rates do not vary much between tiers. The difference from a low amount to the higher amount is around 0.05%.

With this SmartyPig account, you can set up different savings goals. The savings accounts can be long-term, like saving for a college education. They can also be short term, like saving for a mountain bike or birthday party. You can transfer money from your SmartyPig primary account to different savings goals.

The best way to save money is to set up direct withdrawals. You set up when you want the money to come out of your account and how much to withdraw. Then, SmartyPig does the rest. Once the money is deposited into your account, you can transfer it into different savings goal. The withdrawals can be set up to occur monthly or biweekly.

SmartyPig has only one account offered: a high yield savings account. They do not offer checking accounts, CDs, money market accounts, or business accounts. The interest rate on this savings account is considerably higher than other banks savings accounts.

The website says you can withdraw money anytime, but federal regulation only allows six withdrawals per billing cycle. This includes transfers between your SmartyPig primary account and your different savings goals. The transfer or withdrawal will not take place if you have made more than six in a billing cycle. If you repeatedly try to make more than six, your account will be closed. Once you reach your goal, you cannot withdraw part of your money back to your external funding source. You must withdraw it all, or transfer the money between other savings goals.

This account is not meant for high account balances. There is a maximum account balance of $250,000. If your account has $250,000, you will earn interest on the money in the account, but you cannot add to the account.

Each SmartyPig account is only allowed to have one external funding source set up for it. That means you can only have one bank account connected to each SmartyPig account. You can change your external funding source if you want, but never have more than one.

Read the full SmartyPig review.

Sponsored Offers

Advertiser Disclosure
LendingClub
Savings (Rate as of 3/28/2024)
APY 5.00%
Rate 5.00%
For APY $0
Monthly Fee $0.00
Checkbook No
Member FDIC Plus, no monthly fees and unlimited free external transfers
Next >
American Express
Savings (Rate as of 3/28/2024)
APY 4.35%
Rate 4.26%
For APY $1
Monthly Fee $0.00
Checkbook No
Member FDIC
Next >
Jenius Bank
Savings (Rate as of 3/28/2024)
APY 5.25%
Rate 5.25%
For APY $0
Monthly Fee $0.00
Checkbook No
Member FDIC. No fees. Easy deposits and quick withdrawals.
Next >
CIT Bank
Savings (Rate as of 3/28/2024)
APY 5.05%
Rate 4.93%
For APY $5,000
Monthly Fee $0.00
Checkbook No
Member FDIC CIT Bank, a division of First Citizens, 125+ years of experience.
Next >
EverBank
Savings (Rate as of 3/28/2024)
APY 5.15%
Rate 5.02%
For APY $0
Monthly Fee $0.00
Checkbook No
Member FDIC
Next >
Barclays
Savings (Rate as of 3/28/2024)
APY 4.35%
Rate 4.35%
For APY $0
Monthly Fee $0.00
Checkbook No
Member FDIC
Next >
Laurel Road
Savings (Rate as of 3/28/2024)
APY 5.00%
Rate 5.00%
For APY $0
Monthly Fee $0.00
Checkbook No
Member FDIC
Next >
Sallie Mae
MMA (Rate as of 3/28/2024)
APY 4.65%
Rate 4.54%
For APY $0
Monthly Fee $0.00
Checkbook Yes
Member FDIC
Next >
VirtualBank, a division of First Horizon Bank
MMA (Rate as of 3/28/2024)
APY 5.00%
Rate 5.00%
For APY $0
Monthly Fee $0.00
Checkbook Yes
VirtualBank is a division of First Horizon Bank. Member FDIC.
Next >