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Our verdict

Earn 6.17% on the first $1,000 in your account — but only 0.15% after that.

The DCU Primary Savings Account is ideal for individuals who are just getting started on their savings journey. You’re rewarded with no monthly fees, a low $5 opening deposit and 6.17% APY — but only on the first $1,000 in your account.

As you save more and your balance grows, this APY becomes less appealing. After crunching the numbers, we recommend it to anyone who keeps less than $1,000 in their savings account. Why? Because shortly after your balance exceeds this limit, you reach a tipping point where you’ll earn more with a regular high-yield savings account.

For example, if you have a $20,000 balance, you’ll earn $50.07 in interest with DCU’s tiered rates. But you’d earn $399.72 in an account that earns 4.25% APY on your total balance — such as the Ally Savings account.

Pros

High APY
No monthly fees.
Low opening deposit
ATM card

Cons

APY may not be worth it
Limited branches
Membership requirements

finder.com's rating: 4.9 / 5.0

★★★★★

The DCU Primary Savings Account helps you get a jump start on savings with an unheard of 6.17% APY and no monthly fees. But you’ll only earn this rate on the first $1,000 in your account and you must be a Digital Federal Credit Union member to open one.

How do I open a DCU Primary Savings Account?

Open your DCU Primary Savings Account in six steps:

Go to the provider’s site and follow the steps to apply.
Choose the Bank tab on the official DCU website, then Primary savings.
Choose Open now.
Select Join DCU!
Add any extra savings accounts you wish to open and hit Continue.
Enter your email address and phone number, scan your driver’s license and select Continue.
Follow the prompts to enter your personal information, verify your account and make your initial deposit.

Eligibility

To open this account, you’ll need to meet a few requirements:

At least 18 years old
Social Security number
US residential address
Current DCU membership
$5 opening deposit

Required information

Have this information ready when you open your DCU Primary Savings Account:

Full name and date of birth
Government-issued photo ID
Social Security number or individual taxpayer ID Number (ITIN)
Proof of address
Funding information

Who can join Digital Federal Credit Union?

There are five ways to qualify for a DCU membership:

Spouse, domestic partner, child, grandchild, parent, grandparent or sibling of a current DCU member or an eligible member.
Employee or retiree of a participating employer.
Member of one of DCU’s participating organizations. If you’re not currently a member, you can join one of their charities for as little as $10.
Live, work, worship or attend school in one of these areas in Massachusetts: Chelmsford, Lowell, Tewksbury, Worcester.
Live in one of these condominium associations:
- Audubon Hill South — Acton, MA
- Atherton Common — Amherst, NH
- Border Brook Terrace — Nashua, NH
- Evergreen Estates — Wakefield, MA
- Fallbrook — Leominster, MA
- Highwood III — Franklin, MA
- Knott’s Clearing — Hudson, MA
- Ledgewood of Milford — Milford, NH
- Maplewood — Westborough, MA
- Natick Green — Natick, MA
- Presidential Arms — Franklin, MA
- Ryan Estates — Lincoln, MA
- Twin Towers — Manchester, NH
- Village of Nagog Woods — Acton, MA
- Villages at Walker Meadow — Westboro, MA

What are the benefits of a DCU Primary Savings Account?

The DCU Primary Savings Account is NCUA-insured and comes with these benefits:

High APY. You’ll earn 6.17% on the first $1,000 in your account and 0.15% on your remaining balance. So, with a $1,500 balance, you’ll earn $62.95 in interest each year.
No monthly fees. You won’t pay anything to open or maintain a DCU Primary Savings Account.
Low opening deposit. You only need $5 to get started.
ATM card. Dip your ATM card into any DCU or CO-OP ATM nationwide for free. DCU doesn’t charge fees for non-network ATMs, but the operator might.

What should I look out for?

The DCU Primary Savings Account has these drawbacks:

APY may not be worth it. If you keep more than $1,000 in this account, you may earn more money each year with another high-yield savings account.
Limited branches. DCU has a few branch locations in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, so in-person support is limited if you live outside this area.
Membership requirements. You’ll need to join Digital Federal Credit Union to open this account. If you don’t qualify under its normal field of membership, you can join when you make a $10 donation to Reach Out For Schools, DCU’s partner charity.

If you’re looking for an account with easier membership requirements, compare your options until you find one that suits your needs.

Compare DCU Primary Savings with other accounts

Use the table to compare DCU Primary Savings to other top-rated savings accounts. Sort the table by APY, minimum deposit to open and features.

1 - 6 of 29

Name	Product	Account type	Annual Percentage Yield (APY)	FDIC or NCUA insured amount	Minimum balance to earn interest	Minimum deposit to open	Offer	Estimated total balance
UFB Secure Savings Finder Rating: 4.7 / 5: ★★★★★ UFB Secure Savings Finder Rating: 4.7 / 5: ★★★★★		Traditional savings,Custodial account	5.25%	Up to $250,000	$0	$0		$1,052.50	Go to site View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Bread Savings™ High-Yield Savings Finder Rating: 4.3 / 5: ★★★★★ Bread Savings™ High-Yield Savings Finder Rating: 4.3 / 5: ★★★★★			5.15%	Up to $250,000	$0	$100		$1,051.50	Go to site View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Bonus SoFi Checking and Savings Finder Rating: 4.6 / 5: ★★★★★ SoFi Checking and Savings Finder Rating: 4.6 / 5: ★★★★★	Bonus	Traditional savings,Checking	4.60% 0.50% 1.20%	Up to $250,000	$0	$0	Earn up to $250 with a qualifying direct deposit, terms apply. This offer is available until December 31, 2023.	$1,046	Go to site View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
American Express® High Yield Savings Account Finder Rating: 4.9 / 5: ★★★★★ American Express® High Yield Savings Account Finder Rating: 4.9 / 5: ★★★★★		Traditional savings	4.30%	Up to $250,000	$1	$0		$1,043	Go to site View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Wealthfront Cash Account Finder Rating: 4.6 / 5: ★★★★★ Wealthfront Cash Account Finder Rating: 4.6 / 5: ★★★★★			5.00%	Up to $8M FDIC insurance	$1	$1		$1,050	Go to site View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Valley Direct High Yield Savings Account Finder Rating: 4.6 / 5: ★★★★★ Valley Direct High Yield Savings Account Finder Rating: 4.6 / 5: ★★★★★		Savings app	5.25%	$250,000	$0.01	$1		$1,052.50	Go to site View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

How do I deposit or withdraw my money?

There are several ways to access money in your DCU Primary Savings Account:

Deposit

Cash or checks at a local branch
Direct deposit
Wire transfer
Mobile check deposit
Transfer from another bank account

Withdrawals

Cash withdrawal at a local branch
ATM
Wire transfer
Transfer to another bank account

How to contact DCU about my savings account?

Contact DCU customer service by:

Calling 800-328-8797 weekdays from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET.
Sending an email through its Contact us page.
Live chatting with an agent weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET by logging into your account and tapping the person icon.

Savings account ratings

★★★★★ — Excellent

★★★★★ — Good

★★★★★ — Average

★★★★★ — Subpar

★★★★★ — Poor

We analyze top savings accounts and rate them one to five stars based on factors that are most important to you. These factors include: interest rates, monthly fees, minimum deposits, customer service and account features.

Read the full methodology of how we rate savings accounts.

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Cassidy Horton is a freelance personal finance copywriter and past contributing writer for Finder. Her writing and banking expertise have been featured in Forbes Advisor, Money, The Balance, Money Under 30, Insure.com, and other top digital publishers. She holds a BS in public relations and an MBA from Georgia Southern University. See full profile

DCU Primary Savings Account review