Featured
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Sierra Pacific Credit Union Membership
- Sierra Pacific Federal Credit Union is headquartered in Reno, Nevada and has been serving members since 1936.
- 10th largest credit union in the state of Nevada, managing $165.64 Million in assets and serving over 11,000 members.
Membership: Work with select employer groups or a member of specific groups such as the Nevada Alumni Association.
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Lake Trust Credit Union Membership
- Lake Trust Credit Union is headquartered in Brighton, Michigan and has been serving members since 1944.
- 8th largest credit union in the state of Michigan, managing $2.58 Billion in assets, serving over 178,000 members.
Membership: Live, work, worship, or attend school in Michigan.
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Lookout Credit Union Membership
- Lookout Credit Union is headquartered in Pocatello, Idaho, serving members since 1952.
- 9th largest credit union in the state of Idaho, manages $335.82 Million in assets and serves over 28,000 members.
Membership: Open to everyone who works with partner employers or is a member of specific associations and groups.
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University Federal Credit Union Membership
- University Federal Credit Union provides financial solutions such as loans, investments, savings, credit and debit cards, online banking, and other related services.
- Manages over $4 billion in assets and provides banking services to over 375,000 members.
Membership: Employed by a company, enrolled or employed by a school, or belonging to an association in the field of membership.
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Technology Credit Union Membership (Tech CU)
- Tech CU is a Silicon Valley-based financial cooperative that offers members banking services, including savings, loans, and other financial services.
- Manages over $4.84 billion in assets and provides banking services to more than 169,000 members.
Membership: Anyone who lives, works, worships, or attends school in select California counties.
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FamZoo Prepaid Debit Card For Kids and Teens
FamZoo prepaid debit card and IOU account offer combines financial education with practical experience by creating a family banking system.
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Goalsetter App / Savings, Spending and Investing App for Families
Goalsetter helps children save, spend, and invest through one convenient app while learning about personal finance and sound money management.
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State Employees Credit Union Membership (North Carolina)
- State Employees Credit Union in North Carolina is the largest in the state, offering banking and financial services.
- Managing over $42.85 billion in assets and serving over 2.49 million members.
Membership: Membership is limited to employees of the state of North Carolina. -
SoFi Bank / Checking and High Yield Savings Account
SoFi Bank is an online checking and savings account with no monthly maintenance fees or minimum balance requirements.
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Acorns Banking / High-Yield Checking Account and Emergency Fund
Acorns banking is a checking account, emergency savings, and debit card that saves, invests, and earns money for you.
- No minimum balance or overdraft fees.
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Stash Banking / Stock-Back Rewards Debit Card & Digital Account
Stash banking is a digital account with the Stock-Back® debit card that allows users to spend on well-known brands and be rewarded with a piece of matching stock.
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Puerto Rico Employee Groups FCU Membership
- Puerto Rico Employee Groups Federal Credit Union is headquartered in Puerto Nuevo, PR, and has been serving members since 1959.
- Manages over $3.2 million in assets and serves over 900 members.
Membership: Must meet the eligibility requirement of the credit union.
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Universal Coop Federal Credit Union Membership
- Universal Coop Federal Credit Union is headquartered in Rio Grande, PR, and has been serving members since 1957.
- Manages over $27 million in assets and serves over 3,400 members.
Membership: Must meet the eligibility requirement of the credit union.
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Partners Federal Credit Union Membership
- Partners Federal Credit Union is headquartered in Burbank, California and has served members since 1968.
- Manages $2.47 Billion in assets and serves over 178,000 members.
Membership: An employee of The Walt Disney Company (TWDC) or one of its subsidiaries
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EcoATM / Sell Your Cellphone and Tablet Using a Kiosk
ecoATM offers a hassle-free way to sell used electronics quickly and conveniently. The kiosks accept various devices, including smartphones, tablets, and MP3 players. The automated process makes it easy for users to receive instant payment.
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Allpoint ATMs / Find Surcharge-Free ATMs
Allpoint ATM network offers 55,000+ surcharge-free ATMs for cash withdrawals, transfers, and balance inquires. You can find Allpoint ATMs in popular retailers, convenience stores, and pharmacies.
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CO-OP ATMs / Find Credit Union Surcharge-Free ATMs
CO-OP ATMs offer members of participating credit unions access to 30,000+ surcharge-free ATMs for cash withdrawals and banking transactions.
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CO-OP Shared Branching / Find a Credit Union Shared Branch
CO-OP credit union shared branch helps members access essential in-person banking services wherever they go. It includes thousands of participating branches nationwide and spans credit unions of all sizes.
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MoneyPass Network / Find Surcharge Free ATMs
MoneyPass ATMs boasts a vast network of ATMs, providing users access to surcharge-free cash withdrawals in the US and Puerto Rico. ATMs are conveniently located at banks, credit unions, retailers, and other locations.
What is Banking?
Banking is a form of money management using products and services related to savings and loans.
Different Types of Financial Institutions
Banks
Banks are what we typically associate with banking. They come in different sizes: local, national, traditional and online-only. Federal or state agencies supervise banks. The FDIC insures deposits of participating banks.
Credit Unions
Credit unions are not-for-profit financial institutions. They offer products and services similar to banks with a focus on member service, not profit. The NCUA insures deposits from participating credit unions.
Alternative Financial Services
Many fintechs are non-chartered financial services companies that offer banking services. You might think of them as an app offering checking and savings accounts, debit cards, payments, etc. They are not banks but work with partner banks or credit unions to hold your deposits.
Types of Banking Accounts
Banking accounts help make financial transactions convenient.
Savings Account
A savings account helps you save your money. You’re storing your money for future use and hopefully earning a reasonable interest rate. Interest is the money you earn for letting the bank keep your money. Some financial institutions impose minimum deposits, withdrawal limits, and fees.
Checking Account
A checking account is a transactional account that allows you to make deposits and withdrawals of your money anytime. Checking accounts is not the best place to store your money, as the goal of the account is for use, not saving.Most checking accounts do not pay interest, but some do. Be mindful of transaction limits, minimum balance requirements, and fees.
Debit Card
Checking accounts come with a debit card enabling you to spend your money conveniently. A debit card allows for making purchases at stores and online shopping. You can only spend the money that’s in your checking account. Additionally, you can use your debit card at ATMs to make deposits, withdrawals, check balances, and transfers between accounts.
Money Market Account
A money market account is a type of hybrid savings and checking account. It tends to have higher deposit requirements but often pays more interest than a savings account.
Certificate of Deposit (CD)
A certificate of deposit, also known as a CD, helps you save money with a set interest rate for a specific amount of time. Your cash is term-locked. In exchange, you get a higher interest rate compared to a traditional savings account. Certificate terms can start at 30 days and go to 5 or more years.
How to Choose the Best Banking Service
You have many choices on the type of account to use and the variety of financial institutions available. So, shop around. Ask the following questions to help you narrow down your choices:
- What are the products and services offered?
- What are the fees?
- Are there minimum balance requirements?
- Do I need a physical location (like a branch) or prefer better mobile app services?
- Does local banking matter or is national big bank convenient?
- Are deposits FDIC or NCUA insured?
- How to access your money?
- Debit card? ATM network?
- Can I set auto-transfers, auto-payments, and alerts?
You want to determine how the banking provider aligns with your needs, the cost of services, safety, security, and overall convenience.