PenFED Access America Checking
Fees
Minimum Deposit
Our Rating
APY Checking
PenFED Access America Checking
Fees
Minimum Balance
Our Rating
APY Checking
PenFed is one of the largest credit unions in America and it offers a decent variety of products. One of its stand out products is the Access America Checking account. This is an interest bearing checking account which offers many of the features that you’d expect from a traditional bank checking account.
Additionally, account holders can earn cash back when they use PenFed’s rewards card. This is an impressive feature set, which we’ll explore in more detail to help you determine if this account is a good fit for you.
PenFED Access America Checking Features
Explore the features of PenFED Access America Checking Account:
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Tiered APY On Balance
The Access America Checking account is interest bearing with a two tiered rate. If you have less than $20,000 in the account, you could earn the lowest tier, while the highest tier is available for balances of $20,000 to $50,000. The current rates are 0.15% – 0.35% APY.
To qualify for receiving interest on your balance, you must have a recurring direct deposit of at least $500 per month
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Monthly Maintenance Fee
The account does have a $10 monthly maintenance fee, but it can be waived if you have monthly direct deposits of at least $500 or you maintain a daily balance of at least $500.
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Early Payday
If you set up a direct deposit to receive your salary, you can access your paycheck up to two days early. Once PenFed receives the direct deposit information from your employer, it will make your pay available in your account up to two days early.
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Contactless Debit Card
PenFed supplies a Visa debit card for free with this account that is enabled for touchless use in store purchases. There is also protection in place, so if your card is stolen or lost, you won’t be held responsible for any unauthorized charges.
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Check Writing Capability
Unlike many checking accounts, PenFed still provides check writing capabilities with the Access America Checking account. You can order checks in a branch, by phone or online. Your first 50 checks will even be delivered free of charge.
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24/7 Account Management
You can manage your account 24/7 using the PenFed official website or the credit union’s app. The app also features mobile check deposit. This means that you can view transactions, check your balance or manage any other aspect of your account while on the go or from the comfort of your own home.
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NCUA Coverage
PenFed has NCUA insurance, which provides its customers with up to $250,000 of coverage. This is similar to the FDIC coverage available with bank accounts. In the event that PenFed should fail, you can recover your account balance up to the $250,000 limit.
Is It the Right Choice for You?
No financial product or service is without faults, so answering this question is not straightforward. Whether you consider the account good will depend on your specific preferences and needs.
However, we can highlight the pros and cons of this account to help you decide.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Reasonable Qualifications for Interest | Limited Branch Network |
Large ATM Network | Monthly Maintenance Fee |
Credit Card Perks | Membership Required |
Potential for an Overdraft Facility | |
Hundreds of Branches |
- Reasonable Qualifications for Interest
Many interest bearing checking accounts have high minimums to qualify for the advertised APY.
However, to receive interest on your balance with the Access America Checking account you only need to have direct deposits of at least $500 per month.
However, instead of getting quite low rate on your balance, you may want to check out PenFed CD rates, which offer competitive rates on deposits.
- Large ATM Network
PenFed credit unions members can enjoy access to a large ATM network with more than 85,000 fee free machines.
This includes CO-OP and Allpoint ATMs, so it should be fairly easy to find a no surcharge machine in your local area. Just bear in mind that PenFed will not reimburse any out of network ATM fees, so check carefully before you use an ATM.
- Credit Card Perks
If you have an Access America Checking Account, you’ll enjoy a preferential rewards rate with the PathFinder Rewards Visa credit card.
Instead of the 3 points per dollar on travel purchases, you’ll receive four. Additionally, as long as you maintain your Access America Checking Account, the credit card’s annual fee is waived.
- Potential for an Overdraft Facility
PenFed offers a line of credit to provide overdraft protection with the Access America Checking account.
This is subject to status, but if approved, if you’re about to slip into the red, the transactions will be taken from your line of credit, preventing the account from going overdrawn, saving you overdraft fees.
- Hundreds of Branches
This follows on from the previous point, but while Capital One may not have the largest bank branch network in the U.S, it does maintain hundreds of branches and a growing number of Cafes.
- Limited Branch Network
PenFed only has 50 branches throughout the U.S. So, if you prefer face to face customer support, you may have difficulty finding a branch in your local area.
- Monthly Maintenance Fee
While it can be waived in one of two ways, the Access America Checking account does have a $10 monthly maintenance fee.
- Membership Required
This account is not simply available to everyone. You must be a member of the PenFed credit union to qualify.
If you’re not a member of the armed forces, a veteran or member of an organization related to national defense, you’ll need to open a regular or premium savings account and fund it with at least $5.
Who Should Consider Opening an Access America Checking?
If you’re still unsure if the Access America Checking account would be a good fit for you, we’ll explore the types of customers who are best suited to this account.
- Those who have at least $500 of direct deposits per month: You’ll need regular direct deposits of at least $500 per month to qualify to receive interest on your balance. This will also help you to have the monthly maintenance fee waived.
- Those who don’t need in person support: Although PenFed does have some branches, with only 50 locations, it is unlikely that you will have ready access to one. So, you need to be comfortable with managing your account online and via the app, with phone support.
- Those interested in PenFed Pathfinder Rewards: If you already have or are considering a Pathfinder Rewards credit card, you’ll get a preferential rate if you hold an Access America Checking account.
Is PenFed a Good Credit Union to Work With?
PenFed is one of the largest credit unions in America and it also has an excellent reputation. On consumer review platforms, such as Trustpilot, there are numerous comments praising PenFed’s ease of application and use. While many credit unions have stringent membership requirements, PenFed is available to anyone.
One of the main benefits of PenFed is that it also offers a decent product line including a variety of checking, savings, and money market accounts, credit cards, loans, and mortgages. This means that there is the potential to move all of your banking to one financial institution.
However, if you prefer in person support, you may find the PenFed branch network a little lacking.
How to Open a PenFed Access America Checking Account?
You will need to become a member of PenFed credit union to open an Access America Checking account, but PenFed has incorporated this into the application process to make it easier for potential customers.
- Navigate to the Access America Checking Page: On the PenFed official website, you can find the Access America Checking account page under the “Checking & Savings” tab on the top bar. From this page, you can check all the details for the account and if you’re ready to proceed, click the green “Open Now” button.
- Confirm Membership Status: The first screen you’ll see asks you to confirm if you’re already a PenFed member by logging in. Alternatively, you can click the blue “join now” button. Existing members will have numerous details on the application form auto filled according to their membership profile.
- Complete the Application: This is quite standard and if you’ve already opened a bank account online, it should seem familiar. You’ll need to complete all of the mandatory fields including your full name, date of birth, address, email, phone number and Social Security Number.
- Fund your Savings Account: If you don’t qualify for PenFed membership via the armed forces or associated memberships, you’ll need to open a PenFed savings account with at least $5. The funding screen for this is the last stage of the application.
FAQs
Does PenFed Access America Checking earn interest?
Yes, the account is interest bearing with two tiers, depending on your balance. However, to qualify to receive interest, you need to have at least $500 in direct deposits per month.
Does PenFed Access America Checking offer a promotion?
PenFed does not currently have any promotions for new customers including those applying for the Access America Checking account.
How do you close a PenFed Checking account?
You can visit a local branch to close your account, but if this is not possible, the easiest way is to call the PenFed customer support helpline. A PenFed representative will be able to confirm your closure request and initiate the closure process.
