Close Menu
    What's Hot

    Binance Close to Breaking Free from DOJ Oversight, Negotiating End to $4.3B Settlement Monitoring Clause

    September 17, 2025

    Deutsche Bank ups gold forecast to $4,000 (GLD:NYSEARCA)

    September 17, 2025

    Is the Cotswolds Worth Visiting? a Brit Says Visit These Spots Instead

    September 17, 2025
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Hot Paths
    • Home
    • News
    • Politics
    • Money
    • Personal Finance
    • Business
    • Economy
    • Investing
    • Markets
      • Stocks
      • Futures & Commodities
      • Crypto
      • Forex
    • Technology
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Hot Paths
    Home»Money»America First Credit Union Review: High CD Interest Rates
    Money

    America First Credit Union Review: High CD Interest Rates

    Press RoomBy Press RoomNovember 3, 2023No Comments10 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    Our experts choose the best products and services to help make smart decisions with your money (here’s how). In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners; however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page.

    The bottom line: You may like America First Credit Union if you are exploring regional banking options on the West Coast. It pays some of the best CD rates out there, but the savings and money market accounts have pretty low interest rates.

    Compare America First Credit Union products

    Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

    Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

    Start saving


    On America First Credit Union’s website. America First Credit Union, NCUA insured.

    Start banking


    On America First Credit Union’s website. America First Credit Union, NCUA insured.

    Start saving


    On America First Credit Union’s website. America First Credit Union, NCUA insured.

    Overall credit union rating

    Pros and cons

    America First Credit Union Share Savings Account

    America First Credit Union America First Credit Union Share Savings Account

    Insider’s Rating

    A five pointed star

    A five pointed star

    A five pointed star

    A five pointed star

    A five pointed star

    4/5


    Fees

    no monthly service fee


    Annual Percentage Yield (APY)

    0.05%


    Minimum Deposit Amount

    $1

    Pros

    • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. $1 minimum opening deposit
    • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No monthly service fees
    Cons

    • con icon Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’. Low interest rate
    • con icon Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’. Interest compounded monthly, not daily


    Product Details

    • Membership restricted to certain parts of the West
    • 128 branches in Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, and Utah
    • 5,600 shared branches and 60,000 surcharge-free ATMs through the CO-OP Shared Network
    • Must keep at least $1 in account to maintain membership and earn interest
    • Interest compounded and deposited monthly
    • Federally insured by the NCUA

    You’ll have to open the America First Credit Union Share Savings Account to become a member at America First. The account doesn’t charge any monthly fees and only requires $1 to open and maintain membership.

    America First Credit Union Classic Checking Account

    America First Credit Union Checking Account America First Credit Union Classic Checking Account

    Insider’s Rating

    A five pointed star

    A five pointed star

    A five pointed star

    A five pointed star

    A five pointed star

    3.75/5


    Fees

    no monthly service fee


    Annual Percentage Yield (APY)

    0.00% to 0.05%


    Minimum Deposit Amount

    $0

    Pros

    • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No minimum opening deposit
    • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No monthly service fees
    • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Overdraft protection available
    Cons

    • con icon Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’. $25 overdraft fee
    • con icon Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’. $1.50 out-of-network ATM fee
    • con icon Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’. Must have at least $500 in account to earn interest
    • con icon Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’. Low interest rate


    Product Details

    • Membership restricted to certain parts of the West
    • 128 branches in Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, and Utah
    • 5,600 shared branches and 60,000 surcharge-free ATMs through the CO-OP Shared Network
    • Must have at least $500 in account to earn interest
    • If you use overdraft protection, America First provides a line of credit for a $25 charge
    • Interest compounded and deposited monthly
    • Federally insured by the NCUA

    The America First Credit Union Classic Checking Account is a decent choice if you are looking for a free checking account. 

    Be mindful of overdrawing, though. America First provides a line of credit when you use overdraft protection but still charges a $25 fee. 

    America First Credit Union Certificate

    America First Credit Union America First Credit Union Certificate

    Insider’s Rating

    A five pointed star

    A five pointed star

    A five pointed star

    A five pointed star

    A five pointed star

    4/5


    Annual Percentage Yield (APY)

    4.20% to 5.30%


    Minimum Deposit Amount

    $500

    Pros

    • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Competitive APY
    • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. $500 opening deposit
    • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Low early withdrawal penalties
    Cons

    • con icon Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’. No terms over 5 years
    • con icon Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’. Interest compounded monthly, not daily
    • con icon Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’. Membership restricted to certain counties in the West


    Product Details

    • Membership restricted to certain parts of the West
    • Term lengths ranging from 3 months to 5 years
    • Early withdrawal penalty of 60 days interest for terms of 12 months or less; 180 days interest for terms over 12 months
    • Interest compounded monthly and paid monthly
    • Federally insured by the NCUA

    America First offers high CD rates. It has several share CD options, including flexible certificates that let you deposit and withdraw money after you’ve opened one. Regardless of which term choose, you’ll also earn a good interest rate. 

    America First Credit Union Money Market Savings Account

    America First Credit Union America First Credit Union Money Market Savings Account

    Insider’s Rating

    A five pointed star

    A five pointed star

    A five pointed star

    A five pointed star

    A five pointed star

    3.75/5


    Fees

    no monthly service fee


    Annual Percentage Yield (APY)

    1.50% to 4.60%


    Minimum Deposit Amount

    $0

    Pros

    • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Earn a high interest rate account with high account balances
    • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No minimum opening deposit
    • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No monthly service fees
    Cons

    • con icon Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’. No debit card


    Product Details

    • Membership restricted to certain parts of the West
    • 128 branches in Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, and Utah
    • 5,600 shared branches and 60,000 surcharge-free ATMs through the CO-OP Shared Network
    • Earn 1.50% APY if you have an account balance between $0 and $4,999.99
    • Earn 1.50% APY if you have an account balance between $5,000 and $9,999.99
    • Earn 1.70% APY if you have an account balance between $10,000 and $24,999.99
    • Earn 2.30% APY if you have an account balance between $25,000 and $49,999.99
    • Earn 2.70% APY if you have an account balance between $50,000 and $99,999.99
    • Earn 3.45% APY if you have an account balance between $100,000 and $249,999.99
    • Earn 4.25% APY if you have an account balance over $250,000
    • Interest compounded monthly and paid monthly
    • Federally insured by the NCUA

    The America First Credit Union Money Market Savings Account may be ideal if you’re able to maintain a high balance on your account. Account balances over $5,000 earn higher interest than the credit union’s savings account, but it’s still lower than what online banks might offer.

    America First also has a money market checking account which comes with a debit card — but you’ll need to deposit at least $10,000 to open an account.

    How America First Credit Union works

    America First Credit Union has 128 branches in Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, and Utah. Members also have access to over 5,600 shared branches and 60,000 surcharge-free ATMs through the CO-OP Shared Network. 

    Customer support is available over the phone, through email, or via live chat. Contact a customer service representative from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. MT on weekdays or 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. MT on Saturdays. 

    The America First mobile app has 4.7 out of 5 stars in the Google Play Store. In the Apple Store, it received 4.9 out of 5 stars. 

    America First is federally insured by the NCUA, so up to $250,000 is secure in your bank account. 

    How to join America First Credit Union

    You’re eligible for membership at America First Credit Union if you live, work, worship, or volunteer in an Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, or Utah county mentioned on this list. If you have a family member or spouse that’s a current member, you’re also able to join.

    To become a member, you must open a share savings account. 

    America First Credit Union trustworthiness and BBB rating

    America First Credit Union hasn’t been involved in any recent public controversies. 

    We also include ratings from the Better Business Bureau to provide information on how financial institutions deal with customer issues and handle transparency practices. The BBB gave America First Credit Union an A+ rating. 

    A good BBB rating doesn’t necessarily mean that you will have a similar experience as others. You’ll want to talk to current members or read online customer reviews to get a better understanding of whether America First will be a good fit for you. 

    America First Credit Union vs. Ally 

    Both financial institutions offer strong CDs. Ally is one of the few banks that doesn’t require a minimum opening deposit, so it’ll be the best option if you have less than $500 to start with. 

    If you prefer to deposit $500 or more into a CD, you’ll want to review the CD early withdrawal penalties and interest rates to see which institution has the better option for you.

    America First Credit Union vs. CIT Bank

    CIT Bank might be a good choice if you are planning on getting a jumbo CD. If you’re strictly looking for the highest interest rate though, your choice may depend on the term you choose.

    Your decision between these institutions may also boil down to your preferences between online banks and brick-and-mortar banks. CIT Bank is an online-only institution, so you’ll have to be comfortable with online and mobile banking. If you find it hard to manage your account that way, you might prefer banking with America First since it has physical branch locations. 

    Sophia Acevedo, CEPF

    Banking Reporter

    Evelyn He

    Compliance Associate

    Evelyn He is a compliance associate at Insider who supports the Personal Finance Insider team. Personal Finance Insider is Insider’s personal finance section that incorporates affiliate and commerce partnerships into the news, insights, and advice about money that Insider readers already know and love.
    The compliance team’s mission is to provide readers with stories that are fact-checked and current, so they can make informed financial decisions. The team also works to minimize risk for partners by making sure language is clear, precise, and fully compliant with regulatory and partner marketing guidelines that align with the editorial team.
    Before joining Insider, she served in various legal and compliance roles in different industries, including the legal and pharmaceutical industries.   
    Evelyn obtained her M.S. degree in Marketing at Boston University in 2022. Prior to combining and consolidating her knowledge of law and business, she spent one year finishing 1L courses at Suffolk University Law School to further her legal knowledge. She has also completed MBA business law courses while working on her Bachelor of Business Administration in Management at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. 
    Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her 14-year-old Shih Tzu named Money, and her 5-year-old Bichon named Tibber.


    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Press Room

    Related Posts

    Is the Cotswolds Worth Visiting? a Brit Says Visit These Spots Instead

    September 17, 2025

    Ukraine Dealing With Russian Troops Crawling or Walking in Gas Pipes

    September 17, 2025

    Pitch Deck: Hiverge Raises $5 Million to Optimize Algorithms With AI

    September 17, 2025
    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    LATEST NEWS

    Binance Close to Breaking Free from DOJ Oversight, Negotiating End to $4.3B Settlement Monitoring Clause

    September 17, 2025

    Deutsche Bank ups gold forecast to $4,000 (GLD:NYSEARCA)

    September 17, 2025

    Is the Cotswolds Worth Visiting? a Brit Says Visit These Spots Instead

    September 17, 2025

    Why Bitcoin’s Biggest Strength Could Be a Major Threat

    September 17, 2025
    POPULAR
    Business

    The Business of Formula One

    May 27, 2023
    Business

    Weddings and divorce: the scourge of investment returns

    May 27, 2023
    Business

    How F1 found a secret fuel to accelerate media rights growth

    May 27, 2023
    Advertisement
    Load WordPress Sites in as fast as 37ms!

    Archives

    • September 2025
    • August 2025
    • July 2025
    • June 2025
    • May 2025
    • April 2025
    • March 2025
    • February 2025
    • January 2025
    • December 2024
    • November 2024
    • April 2024
    • March 2024
    • February 2024
    • January 2024
    • December 2023
    • November 2023
    • October 2023
    • September 2023
    • May 2023

    Categories

    • Business
    • Crypto
    • Economy
    • Forex
    • Futures & Commodities
    • Investing
    • Market Data
    • Money
    • News
    • Personal Finance
    • Politics
    • Stocks
    • Technology

    Your source for the serious news. This demo is crafted specifically to exhibit the use of the theme as a news site. Visit our main page for more demos.

    We're social. Connect with us:

    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest YouTube

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest
    • Home
    • Buy Now
    © 2025 ThemeSphere. Designed by ThemeSphere.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.