PenFed Credit Union VS State Farm 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: 2.0 Star Icon
  • Customer Service: 4.5 Star Icon
  • Website Experience: 3.5 Star Icon
  • Bank Fees: 3.5 Star Icon
No Rate Information
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Pros:

  • Reimbursement of ATM fees
  • Variety of personal deposit accounts
  • Most accounts have low opening amounts
  • Money market has competitive rates

Cons:

  • Accounts have monthly fees
  • High opening balance for MMA
  • Highest interest only introductory
  • Daily limits for ATM withdrawals
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.

State Farm Bank Review

State Farm Bank reimburses for fees charged at non-State Farm Bank ATMs. Fees are reimbursed if you have a direct deposit into the account you are withdrawing money from. If you do not have a direct deposit into that account, State Farm Bank will reimburse up to $10 each month in ATM fees.

A variety of different accounts are available through State Farm Bank. They offer a regular checking account and an interest-earning checking account. Savings and money market accounts are available. Accounts for minors, education, and retirement accounts are offered. CD terms range from 12-months to 5-years.

Most State Farm personal deposit accounts have low opening amounts. The saving account requires $100 to open. The regular checking account only requires $25. To open the interest checking account requires $100. Each of the different CDs requires $500 to open.

The State Farm Bank money market account offers a competitive interest rate. That account offers interest that is competitive with other online accounts. After the introductory period, met the qualifications to earn the competitive rate.

State Farm Bank accounts have a monthly fee and required balances to keep in the accounts. The fees range from $3 to $10 each month. The amounts required to keep in the accounts ranges from $100 to $500 for personal accounts. Having an electronic direct deposit into the account each month will waive the monthly fees.

The State Farm Bank money market earns competitive interest, but it has the highest required balances. To open this account requires $1,000. Waive the fee for this account by having a direct deposit into the account and keeping a $500 balance.

The most competitive rate is only an introductory rate for the money market account. You will receive the introductory rate for the first five billing cycles. After that time, if you have another State Farm qualifying account, you will earn the Relationship Rates which are lower, but still competitive.

State Farm Bank limits how much money you can withdraw from an ATM each day. The limit for State Farm Bank personal deposit accounts is $500 per day. There is also a limit to how much you can make in purchases each day. The purchase limit for debit cards is $3,500 per business day.

Read the full State Farm Bank review.

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American Express
Savings (Rate as of 11/21/2024)
APY 4.00%
Rate 3.92%
Min to Open $0
Min to Earn APY $0
Monthly Fee $0.00
Min to Avoid Fee $0
Checkbook No
Member FDIC
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EverBank
Savings (Rate as of 11/21/2024)
APY 4.75%
Rate 4.64%
Min to Open $0
Min to Earn APY $0
Monthly Fee $0.00
Min to Avoid Fee $0
Checkbook No
Member FDIC No monthly maintenance fee, $0 to open, easily grow your money
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