Finder makes money from featured partners, but editorial opinions are our own. Advertiser disclosure

Our verdict

Members can earn one of the highest APYs around, but the qualifying balance stops at $10,000.

The SmartStart Savings Account is best for people needing an account with one of the highest APYs on a fairly low balance, physical branch locations or access to fee-free international ATMs. The APY tiers reward a lower balance the most, so you’ll earn the most interest if your balance is below $10,001. Plus, there are no minimum balance or monthly fees.

The biggest downside is that only people affiliated with certain organizations qualify. Your APY also drops as your balance grows. If you have a hefty amount in savings, you could open an Affinity FCU MoreSavings account for a higher APY across all of your savings. This option works best if you’re planning to use Affinity FCU and want all of your accounts in one place.

However, you can earn more interest across all your savings with a competitor’s high-yield account. Consider how much money you’re saving, ATM access and other features that you need before parking your money.

Pros

Competitive tiered APYs
No minimum opening deposit
No monthly fees or minimum balance
Global ATM network

Cons

APY drops as balance grows
Must be a member to open
Branch locations limited to three states

finder.com's rating: 4.6 / 5.0

★★★★★

Best for saving money with a low savings balance, the SmartStart Savings Account lets you earn 4% APY on balances up to $10,000. There’s also no minimum balance or opening deposit required, and you can access your money via ATMs globally. However, after you max out the highest APY offered, your interest earned drops significantly.

How do I open a Affinity FCU SmartStart Savings account?

Open your SmartStart Savings account online in eight steps. Be aware that you’ll need an Affinity FCU membership first.

Go to the provider’s site and follow the steps to apply.
Choose Join Affinity on the Affinity Federal Credit Union website, then Join Now.
Choose which scenario is applicable for you: Open My First Account, Add New Accounts or Continue an Application.
Select Savings Account and check the box that says SmartStart Savings.
Fill out the required fields and Continue.
Select your eligibility, then Continue and Confirm your information.
Answer the question: “Have you been notified by the IRS that you’re subject to backup withholding?”
Read the terms and conditions, then check the box to accept them.

Eligibility

Meet these criteria to open your Affinity FCU SmartStart Savings account.

At least 18 years old
US citizen or resident
Social Security number
Government-issued photo ID
Affinity FCU membership

To become a member at Affinity FCU, you should meet any of these requirements.

Affiliated with an eligible organization, like the New Jersey Coalition for Financial Education
Live, work, worship, or attend school in an approved community
Have a family member that is a current member of an eligible organization or community

Required information

Keep some key personal information handy as you go through the application process.

First and last name
Address
Gender
Citizenship type
Social Security number
Date of birth
Mother’s maiden name
Government-issued photo ID number
Contact information
Employment information

What are the benefits of a savings account with Affinity?

This account’s standout feature is its high initial APY on your balance of less than $10,000, an APY that’s 8.70x higher than the national average for savings accounts. It’s also insured by the National Credit Union Administration. Other benefits to keep in mind:

Competitive tiered APYs. Even its lowest APY tier of is higher than the national average for savings accounts. The 1% and 4% APYs are more competitive than most high-yield accounts.
No minimum opening deposit. There is no minimum amount that you must deposit to open an account.
No monthly fees or minimum balance. You won’t have to worry about paying any monthly fees or keeping your balance topped to a certain level.
Global ATM network. Access your money online, or go to one of its 4,100 physical branches or network banks. It’s also part of global ATM networks, giving you access to 50,000 fee-free ATMs worldwide.

What should I look out for?

The main drawback is that you have to become an Affinity FCU member, and membership isn’t open to everyone. You’d need to be affiliated with certain organizations or communities. Other drawbacks to look out for:

APY drops as balance grows. You’ll earn 4% APY on balances up to $10,000, 1% APY on balances between $10,001 and and APY on balances of or more.
Must be a member to open. If you fall outside of Affinity FCU’s regular field of membership, you can join by donating $5 to the New Jersey Coalition for Financial Education (NJCFE).
Branch locations limited to three states. If you prefer in-person banking, you need to live in New York, New Jersey or Connecticut to access Affinity FCU branches.

Affinity also offers its MoreSavings account with tiered APYs that go up the more you keep in the account, though the APYs aren’t as high as the SmartStart Savings.

Don’t qualify for the Affinity FCU SmartStart Savings, or not for you? If you’re looking to save at a steep APY, look into Aspiration’s Spend and Save account. If you prefer no monthly fees and an extensive ATM network, Quontic Bank’s High-Yield Savings account may be an ideal option.

Compare Affinity FCU SmartStart Savings with other savings accounts

See the features and fees of savings accounts other than the SmartStart Savings, and choose Go to site when you want to start an application.

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...
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...
Customers Bank High Yield Savings Through Raisin Not rated yet Customers Bank High Yield Savings Through Raisin Not rated yet		Traditional savings	5.30%		$0	$1		$1,053	Go to site View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

How do I deposit or withdraw my money?

Affinity FCU supports online banking, meaning that you can deposit or withdraw money via your computer, app or physical branch location. For reference, Affinity Federal Credit Union’s routing number is 221283512.

Deposits

Put money into your account by:

Direct deposit
Check deposit via mobile app
Check deposit at ATM
Wire transfer
At a branch
Transfer from another account

Withdrawals

Affinity FCU gives you a variety of ways to use the funds from your account.

At an ATM
Wire transfer
At a branch
Transfer to another account

How do I get in touch with customer service?

Reach out to Affinity’s customer service for a personal chat by:

Calling 800-325-0808
Scheduling an appointment to meet with a representative in person or on the phone

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.

Your reviews

No reviews yet. Write a review

Ask an expert

Ask a question using your email below.

Ask a question

Sarah Finder

Writer

Hi there, looking for more information? Ask us a question.

You are about to post a question on finder.com:

Do not enter personal information (eg. surname, phone number, bank details) as your question will be made public
finder.com is a financial comparison and information service, not a bank or product provider
We cannot provide you with personal advice or recommendations
Your answer might already be waiting – check previous questions below to see if yours has already been asked

Accept and continue

Finder only provides general advice and factual information, so consider your own circumstances, or seek advice before you decide to act on our content. By submitting a question, you're accepting our finder.com Terms of Use and Privacy and Cookies Policy.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Sarah George is a personal finance writer at Finder who’s spent the last four years wielding her digital pen on all things banking and insurance. Her know-how has been featured in such publications as CBS, CNET and Reviews.com, and she was a panelist in Finder’s 2020 money-saving webinar. Sarah earned an English education degree and is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance. See full profile

Affinity FCU SmartStart Savings Account Review