DCU Primary Savings Account review
- APY
- Up to 6.17%
- Fee
- $0
- Minimum deposit to open
- $5
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 4.2% 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
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.
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.
DCU Primary Savings Account is not currently available on Finder
Have you considered BrioDirect High-Yield Savings?
Keep track of your savings with online and mobile banking. No monthly fee.
- 5.3% APY
- $0 monthly fee
- $5,000 minimum opening deposit
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