Wells Fargo VS Merrick Bank

Which bank is better for you?

  • Financial Rates: 1.5 Star Icon
  • Customer Service: 4.5 Star Icon
  • Website Experience: 5.0 Star Icon
  • Bank Fees: 3.5 Star Icon
No Rate Information
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Pros:

  • Opportunity checking account
  • Business accounts are available
  • Checking account for teenagers
  • Low opening required amounts

Cons:

  • Low-interest rates
  • Accounts have monthly fees
  • Few CD options and high opening amount
  • No money market account offered
  • 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
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Pros:

  • Competitive interest rates on CDs
  • Credit cards available
  • Accounts are online
  • Interest credited monthly

Cons:

  • High opening required amount
  • Not everyone qualifies for an account
  • Acceptance takes a long time
  • Limited accounts offered
Wells Fargo Review

Wells Fargo offers an Opportunity Checking account. This account is for those who do not qualify for a regular checking account. It offers checks, a debit card, bill pay, and mobile banking. With the Opportunity account, there is a $10 monthly fee. There are options to waive the fee.

Many business accounts are available through Wells Fargo. Business savings and checking accounts are available. They offer CDs, loans, and credit cards. Commercial finance options are available. Wells Fargo offers retirement and investment options for businesses, along with payroll options.

Wells Fargo offers a checking account specifically for kids 13-17 years old. A parent must open the account with the child. There are no monthly fees and it offers a debit card and mobile banking. Parents can set limits on the number of purchases and withdrawals made from the account.

To open a Wells Fargo checking and savings requires a low opening deposit. The savings and checking accounts only need $25 to open. The accounts may require more money to earn interest, but to open the account only requires $25.

The interest rates for Wells Fargo accounts are low. They are not competitive with other online-only accounts. Even the highest interest rates offered are low compared to other online accounts.

Most Wells Fargo accounts have a monthly fee. The fees range from $10-30, depending on the account. Ways to waive the fees include:

  • Signing up for electronic statements
  • Having an average daily balance above a set amount
  • Setting up a reoccurring savings deposit
  • Account holder is between a certain age
  • Having a direct deposit over a certain amount
  • Combined account balances are above a set amount
  • Making a set number of debit card transactions

Wells Fargo does not offer many CD term lengths. There are only four CDs with an opening amount of $2,500. Those terms are three-month, six-month, and one-year CDs. The 9, 29, and 39-month CDs require $5,000 to open. The Step Rate CD is a 24-month term. To open requires $2,500 and must be done in a branch location.

Wells Fargo does not offer a money market account. They offer a basic and a Platinum savings account. Neither account offers interest rates competitive to online accounts.

Read the full Wells Fargo review.

Merrick Bank Review

Interest rates on Merrick Bank CDs offer competitive interest rates. The rates are competitive with other online CDs. They are much higher than other brick and mortar bank rates.

Merrick Bank offers personal credit cards. They offer a Secured Visa credit card specifically to build or rebuild customer’s credit. They also offer a Platinum Visa for customers who have better credit. Each credit card comes with Zero Liability for Unauthorized Use and account alerts.

Merrick Bank is an online account. Once you are approved to open a CD everything else for your account is online or on the mobile app. You can deposit or withdraw money from the CD during the grace period or at maturity.

The Merrick Bank 12-month CD term offers competitive interest rates. The interest you earn is credited to your account each month. You can watch your money grow. You can withdraw money from your CD during the grace period or once the CD reaches maturity.

To open a CD through Merrick Bank requires a large sum. The 12-month CD requires $25,000 to open the account. The opening deposit must be one transaction. Deposit money electronically through a linked bank account.

When applying for a CD with Merrick Bank, you must qualify. Each CD is carefully reviewed. Acceptance to open a CD is based on the person's credit. If you do not meet the set criteria, you cannot open an account with Merrick Bank. If you receive an offer in the mail, you are eligible to open a CD.

After you apply for an account with Merrick Bank, you will receive a letter in the mail. This will inform you if you qualified for an account or not. The letter takes two to three weeks to receive. If after the allotted time you have not heard from Merrick Bank, you can call customer service.

Merrick Bank offers a limited amount of personal deposit accounts. Only one 12-month CD is available. They do offer personal credit cards and lending options. This bank helps customers build or rebuild their credit. To open an account, you must qualify.

Read the full Merrick Bank review.

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