PenFed Credit Union VS NewDominion Bank

Which bank is better for you?

  • Financial Rates: 4.0 Star Icon
  • Customer Service: 5.0 Star Icon
  • Website Experience: 3.5 Star Icon
  • Bank Fees: 3.0 Star Icon
No Rate Information
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Pros:

  • CDs have competitive interest rates
  • Low opening required amount
  • CDs offered to save for education
  • Low monthly fee for checking account

Cons:

  • High opening balances for CDs
  • Low-interest rates
  • Best rates require large balances
  • Do not offer a variety of accounts
  • 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
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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
PenFed Credit Union Review

PenFed CDs have competitive interest rates. The rates on CDs are competitive with online-only accounts. The longer you can invest the money in the CD the higher the interest rates you will earn. CD terms range from six months to seven years.

All accounts, other than CDs, have a low opening balance of only $25. The more you invest in the money market account, the higher interest rates you will earn. However, you are only required to have $25 to open an account with PenFed.

PenFed offers CDs designed to save specifically for education costs. These CDs only require $500 to open instead of $1,000. The education CDs range in term from one year to seven years. The interest rates earned on these CDs are competitive with other CD accounts.

Only the checking account has a monthly maintenance fee. The fee is low and is easy to waive. The fee is waived by having a daily balance of $500 in the account. Having a direct deposit into the account of more than $500 each month will also waive the fee. The savings account and money market accounts do not have a monthly fee.

To open a CD, PenFed requires $1,000. The CD terms vary in length from six months to seven years. The longer you can invest your money in a PenFed CD the higher interest you will earn over the CD term. The interest rates on these CDs are competitive with other online-only CDs.

The interest rates for PenFed savings, checking, and money market accounts are not competitive. The rates are low. Those interest rates are competitive to your typical bank rates. Online only accounts offer much higher interest rates for these accounts.

To earn the highest interest on the PenFed checking account, a daily balance of $20,000 to $50,000 is required. If you do not have at least $20,000, you will earn much lower interest rates. Any amount earns interest. To get the highest rates, your daily balance must meet the requirements.

PenFed only offers one checking account, savings account, and money market account. This does not allow you to find the account that best fits your needs.

Read the full PenFed Credit Union review.

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.

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