Service Credit Union Review: Checking, Savings, CD, Money Market and IRA Accounts

This is a no-frills checking account that doesn’t earn interest. On the plus side, it has no monthly maintenance fees or overdraft fees; it won’t let you proceed with a transaction if you don’t have the funds available in your account to cover it. It also allows you to be paid up to two days early if you have payroll direct deposit. Terms apply. This account also requires you to receive statements and account communications electronically. You also can’t write paper checks.

Like the Basic Service Checking account, this account has no monthly maintenance fee or minimum balance requirement. It also comes with Courtesy Pay, which, for a fee of $30 every time it’s utilized, covers checks that would normally be returned unpaid. The account also comes with free online bill pay, mobile apps with remote check deposit, international online bill pay, unlimited check writing and the ability to get paid up to two days early with direct deposit.

The Five Star Service Checking account offers the opportunity to earn interest at two different tiers once you have a balance above $1,500. While it does have a monthly maintenance fee, it can easily be waived if you maintain that balance requirement.

This account also comes with Courtesy Pay for a fee of $30 every time it’s utilized, which will cover any checks that would normally be returned, along with international online bill pay, free mobile apps with remote check deposit, unlimited check writing and the ability to get paid up to two days early with direct deposit.

This account is a great option for students who want to keep track of their funds without any hassles and, especially, without any fees. This account has no minimum balance requirements, comes with online banking services and mobile apps with remote check deposit, offers unlimited check writing and the ability to get paid up to two days early with direct deposit (Terms Apply). Once account holders turn 26, the account will convert into a Basic Service Checking account.

A Shared Savings account is the entry point to join Service Credit Union and to any other products. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, though, as there’s just a $5 minimum deposit to open it, and it earns higher interest than the checking accounts. Like all savings accounts, this one is subject to Federal Reserve Regulation D, which limits certain transactions and withdrawals up to six per month. E-statements are also available with this account.

This account is designed for putting funds aside to save up for holiday-related expenses, or any special event. The APY drops when your daily balance goes above $3,000.

Your funds can be transferred automatically online, through a payroll deduction, at a branch or by mail. As with other savings accounts, this one is subject to Federal Reserve Regulation D, which limits certain transactions and withdrawals to six per month.

The Youth Club Program is pretty much a standard young savers account, but with activities and information targeted to specific age groups — for the younger crowd, there’s Money Mammals, while the Cha-Ching program provides financial services and resources for teens.

Also, once a child has made 12 visits to a branch, making a deposit of $10 or more each time, they’ll earn an additional $5 in their account. The APY is paid on daily balances of $50 or more, compounded and paid monthly. Kids with balances of $5,000 or more can get an even better rate.

Service Credit Union offers share certificates in terms ranging from three months to five years, all with higher minimum deposit requirements than most offerings out there. Its rates, for the most part, are not very competitive.

Service Credit Union’s Money Market account allows you to earn interest on balances of $2,500 or more, with rates increasing across two upper tiers. This account allows you to earn more interest than the regular Share Savings account, and also allows you to write up to six checks per month. Since it is a savings account itself, it’s subject to Federal Reserve Regulation D, which limits certain withdrawals and transactions each month.

These IRA share certificates are virtually the same as the regular certificates; the only difference is that they can be opened within an IRA. As with the regular accounts, though, their rates are pretty lackluster as well and come with somewhat high minimum deposit requirements.

This account allows you to build tax-deferred savings for your retirement. In some cases, you may be eligible for a tax deduction of up to $2,000 as an individual, or $4,000 for a couple (a tax adviser can provide complete details). Like a traditional savings account, this IRA is subject to Federal Reserve Regulation D, which limits certain withdrawals and transactions to six per month, as well as IRS penalties for early withdrawals.

How to get Service Credit Union’s banking products

Customers can open Service Credit Union’s checking, savings money market and certificate accounts online in about 10 minutes, by calling the bank at 800-936-7730 or by visiting a branch in person. You’ll need information such as your address and Social Security number, as well as a government-issued ID, such as a driver’s license, and a credit, debit or U.S. bank account to fund your account.

For the Student Checking and Youth Club accounts, prospective account holders younger than 17 will need to visit a branch with a parent or guardian to open the account.