Pacific National Bank VS Golden 1 Credit Union

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: 3.0 Star Icon
No Rate Information
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Pros:

  • Specific online-only accounts
  • Variety of other accounts offered
  • CDs have low required opening amounts
  • Online accounts offer competitive rates

Cons:

  • Large sums required to earn interest
  • High required initial deposit
  • In-branch accounts have tiered rates
  • Accounts have monthly fees
  • 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
Advertiser Disclosure
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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
Pacific National Bank Review

Pacific National Bank offers specific online-only accounts. These accounts include a money market account and 12- month and 17-month CDs. The interest rates are competitive. These account rates are much higher than regular bank rates. The minimum amount required to open the money market account is $5,000. This is also the required balance to avoid a monthly fee. The CDs require $1,000 to open.

Along with online accounts, Pacific National Bank offers a variety of in-branch accounts. That includes personal deposit accounts and business accounts. Savings, checking, and money market accounts are available for personal and business accounts. CDs and lending options are also available.

Pacific National Bank CDs have low opening required amounts. Each of the CDs require $1,000 to open, including the online CDs. The only fee for CDs is withdrawing money before the maturity date.

The Pacific National Bank online accounts offer competitive interest rates. These account rates are competitive with other online-only accounts. These rates are much higher than the in-branch account rates. Online accounts are only offered to new customers to Pacific National Bank.

To earn the most competitive interest rates requires a large average balance. The in-branch and online MMA require $10,000 to earn the competitive interest rate. The checking account requires $2,500 to earn interest.

Accounts with Pacific National Bank have high opening required amounts. The interest earning checking account requires $2,500 to open. International customers require $7,000 to open the account. The money market account requires $5,000 for domestic customers. International customers must have $10,000 to open money market accounts.

Pacific National Bank accounts have tiered interest rates. To earn the most competitive rates requires a large balance in the accounts. The savings account requires a $50,000 balance to earn the most competitive rate. The money market accounts and the SuperNow checking require $1,000,000 for the highest rate. Amounts under these balances still earn interest, just not the most competitive rates.

Pacific National Bank accounts have monthly fees. The fees range from $10 to $25 each month. Waive the monthly fees by keeping a set amount in the accounts. Those amounts range from $500 to $5,000 depending on the account.

Read the full Pacific National Bank 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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