SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union Review 2024

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At a glance

4.1

Rating: 4.1 stars out of 5

Bankrate Score

CDs

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Checking

Rating: 4.6 stars out of 5

Savings

Rating: 3 stars out of 5

MMA

Rating: 3.3 stars out of 5

Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Our scoring formula weighs several factors consumers should consider when choosing financial products and services.

About Bankrate Score

Overview

SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union is a good option for any California school employee or family member, particularly those who want to do their banking with minimal fees. Yields can be hit or miss depending on the account. For example, while the union’s savings account offers a paltry yield, most CDs offer competitive rates.

Highlights

Free Checking
Low Fees
Low Min Balance

Overall

SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union is California’s largest credit union. It has low minimum balances and most SchoolsFirst accounts come without a monthly fee. A large ATM network makes it easy to access your cash, even if you’re traveling outside of California.

Pros

There are no fees or low fees on most types of accounts.
Members have access to over 30,000 fee-free ATMs.
SchoolsFirst offers online bill pay and mobile banking tools such as check deposit.

Cons

Branches are limited to California.
Membership is limited to those who work in or have a connection to California’s educational system.
Higher yields can be found at other financial institutions.

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SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union banking products

3.0

Rating: 3 stars out of 5

See methodologyCompare savings rates

SCORE BREAKDOWN

APY offering:

0.10%

Rating: 1 stars out of 5

1/5

APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account. APY includes the effects of compounding interest.

Minimum balance for APY:

$5.00

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

5/5

The lowest deposit amount an account must have before it can earn interest.

Monthly service fee:

$0.00

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

5/5

A monthly charge a financial institution deducts from an account if certain requirements are not met.

Minimum balance to avoid fee:

$0.00

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

5/5

The lowest balance an account must maintain in order to avoid a fee.

Access to funds:

Great

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

5/5

A procedure that allows an individual or organization to access and manage the funds of another account holder.

FEATURES

0.10% APY

APY last updated between 10/4 and 10/10.

$5 minimum balance for APY

$5 minimum deposit to open

SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union savings overview

A Share Savings account is required for membership at the credit union. It can be opened with as little as $5, and the $5 minimum must be maintained to remain a member. The account features unlimited deposits and withdrawals. The account balance earns interest, but the rate on the credit union’s savings is below the national average.

Pros

The Share Savings account has no monthly fees.
There is no limit on deposits and withdrawals.
The minimum balance requirement is only $5.

Cons

You can easily find higher rates at other credit unions and online banks.

See how rates for this account have changed over time. Interact with the trend lines to view APY by date.

SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union

APY

APY last updated between 10/4 and 10/10.

APY

APY last updated between 10/4 and 10/10.

National average APY

How do we get this data?

Bankrate independently tracks hundreds of APYs and product details for banking institutions nationwide. We retain the historical data of every rate we track in our database. If there are any gaps where we weren’t actively tracking a rate at the time, the graph will reflect the missing data.

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SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union CD overview

SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union offers CDs, known as share certificates for credit unions, with terms ranging from one month to five years. There are four balance tiers: $500, $20,000, $50,000 or $100,000. APYs rise for each balance tier and for longer terms. Most of the terms offer competitive yields.

The minimum deposit for opening a share certificate is $500. Jumbo share certificates are also available if you have at least $100,000 to deposit. An IRA certificate is available for customers interested in using a CD to help save for retirement.

Pros

There are a wide variety of terms available.
Most certificates offer high yields.
Higher rates are offered on higher balances.
Only $500 is needed to open an account.

Cons

To earn the highest rate available, you’ll need to deposit at least $100,000.
There are no bump-up or no-penalty CDs.

See how rates for this account have changed over time. Select the CD term length from the dropdown and interact with the trend lines to view APY by date.

SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union

APY

APY last updated between 10/4 and 10/10.

APY

APY last updated between 10/4 and 10/10.

National average APY

Term length

How do we get this data?

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SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union money market overview

Members who want a higher yield than the one tied to the Share Savings account can open the fee-free Liquid Advantage Money Market account.

Interest rates for the Liquid Advantage MMA come in three tiers. Savers with larger balances qualify for a higher yield. Account holders must maintain a daily balance of at least $2,000 or the dividend rate converts to the lower rate associated with the Investment Checking account.

Certain withdrawal transactions, such as online transfers or check writing, are limited to six a month. But members can make unlimited withdrawals or transfers through ATMs, at branches or by mail.

Pros

There are no monthly service fees to worry about.
The Liquid Advantage MMA allows limited check writing and unlimited withdrawals at branches and ATMs.
Savers with bigger balances can earn more.

Cons

The minimum opening deposit is $2,000, which is higher than many other banks or credit unions.
Yields are better than the credit union's standard Share Savings account, but not as attractive as most of its share certificates.
The APY drops significantly when the minimum $2,000 balance isn’t maintained.

4.6

Rating: 4.6 stars out of 5

Bankrate Score

Compare top checking rates

SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union checking overview

SchoolsFirst FCU offers a Free Checking account, the product scored for this review, with no minimum balance requirement or monthly service fees. It does not earn interest. Customers have access to more than 30,000 surcharge-free ATMs through the Co-op Network of credit union ATMs. There’s a $1 surcharge for using an out-of-network ATM.

While there is a $22 overdraft fee, SchoolsFirst charges no more than three overdraft fees each day and only charges the fee on transactions that overdraw the account by more than $10.

The credit union also offers an Investment Checking account that earns some interest. It charges a $3 monthly fee, but the fee is waived when you maintain at least $1,000 in the account or if the account holder is at least 62 years of age. Both checking accounts require $25 to open.

Pros

There are no monthly fees on the Free Checking account.
You’ll get access to tens of thousands of fee-free ATMs.
The overdraft fee is lower than the national average and there is a cap on the number of daily overdraft charges.

Cons

The Free Checking doesn't reimburse ATM fees for out-of-network transactions.

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Bank fees

Fee	Charges
Overdraft fee	$22
Non-sufficient funds fee	$22
Monthly maintenance fee	None
Out-of-network ATM fee	$1
Excessive transaction fee	None

Customer experience

Customer service. SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union has more than 70 branches and more than 30,000 fee-free ATMs through SchoolsFirst and Co-op ATM networks. Members who want to get in touch with a representative can send a message through the live online chat, contact the credit union by phone or mail, or visit a branch. Representatives can be reached by phone 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday.

Mobile app. SchoolsFirst’s mobile app is highly rated on the Google Play Store and highly rated on the Apple App Store. Members can send and receive money via Zelle, online bill pay, account alerts and mobile check deposit.

Financial services. SchoolsFirst Credit union also provides access to financial workshops and offers online tools and calculators to help members pay off credit card debt, reach savings goals and determine how much they need to save for retirement.

About SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union

SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union was founded as Orange County Teachers Credit Union in 1934. At the time, 126 school employees came together to help support each other during the Great Depression. In 2008, Orange County Teachers Credit Union became SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, which provides financial products and services to California school employees and their families.

SchoolsFirst is headquartered in Southern California. It also supports the communities it serves through donations, scholarships, fundraising events and financial literacy programs.

How SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union Bank compares to other banks

Compare different account types offered by SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union. Annual percentage yields (APYs) shown were updated between Oct. 4, 2024 and Oct. 10, 2024.

Selected bank SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union savings account NCUA Insured Bankrate score Rating: 3 stars out of 5 3.0 Bankrate Savings rating = 3.0/5 Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Annual percentage yields (APYs), minimum opening deposit requirements and minimum balances to avoid monthly service fees are some of the things that make up Bankrate’s score.	Most comparable First Tech Credit Union savings account NCUA Insured Bankrate score Rating: 3 stars out of 5 3.0 Bankrate Savings rating = 3.0/5 Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Annual percentage yields (APYs), minimum opening deposit requirements and minimum balances to avoid monthly service fees are some of the things that make up Bankrate’s score. Read review	Search for or select a bank: Bankrate score Bankrate Savings rating Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Annual percentage yields (APYs), minimum opening deposit requirements and minimum balances to avoid monthly service fees are some of the things that make up Bankrate’s score. Read review
APY APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account. APY includes the effects of compounding interest. APYs last updated between Oct. 4, 2024 and Oct. 10, 2024.
0.10%	0.01%
Minimum balance for APY
$10,000.00	$10,000.00
Estimated earnings Interest earned calculation based on a $50,000 deposit amount for a period of 1 year and is rounded to the nearest dollar. Exact earnings are dependent on calendar year, balance, and compounding frequency. Minimum deposit rules may apply.
$50	$5

A Share Savings account is required for membership at the credit union. It can be opened with as little as $5, and the $5 minimum must be maintained to remain a member. The account features unlimited deposits and withdrawals. The account balance earns interest, but the rate on the credit union’s savings is below the national average.	First Tech offers a variety of savings accounts. The account scored for this section is called Instant Access Savings, which you can open with a minimum of $25. The yield for this account is higher than the national average, but higher APYs can generally be found elsewhere. This account is also tiered, meaning the more money you have in the account, the more you’ll earn in interest. Three other savings accounts are available; two of them require much smaller opening deposits, but they also come with lower yields. The last account, called First Tech Rewards Savings, comes with a sizable APY for balances up to $25,000. All accounts come with free online and mobile banking, and there’s no monthly fee. You can link your savings account with your checking to avoid overdraft fees.

The Share Savings account has no monthly fees There is no limit on deposits and withdrawals The minimum balance requirement is only $5	None of the savings accounts charge monthly fees There is overdraft protection available Instant Access Savings is a tiered account A high-yield account option is available	N/A
You can easily find higher rates at other credit unions and online banks	Higher yields can be found elsewhere	N/A

APY offering: 0.10% 1/5 APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account. APY includes the effects of compounding interest. Minimum balance for APY: $5.00 5/5 The lowest deposit amount an account must have before it can earn interest. Monthly service fee: $0.00 5/5 A monthly charge a financial institution deducts from an account if certain requirements are not met. Minimum balance to avoid fee: $0.00 5/5 The lowest balance an account must maintain in order to avoid a fee. Access to funds: Great 5/5 A procedure that allows an individual or organization to access and manage the funds of another account holder.	APY offering: 0.01% 1/5 APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account. APY includes the effects of compounding interest. Minimum balance for APY: $5.00 5/5 The lowest deposit amount an account must have before it can earn interest. Monthly service fee: $0.00 5/5 A monthly charge a financial institution deducts from an account if certain requirements are not met. Minimum balance to avoid fee: $0.00 5/5 The lowest balance an account must maintain in order to avoid a fee. Access to funds: Great 5/5 A procedure that allows an individual or organization to access and manage the funds of another account holder.	APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account. APY includes the effects of compounding interest. The lowest deposit amount an account must have before it can earn interest. A monthly charge a financial institution deducts from an account if certain requirements are not met. The lowest balance an account must maintain in order to avoid a fee. A procedure that allows an individual or organization to access and manage the funds of another account holder. Bankrate does not currently track additional product details for this bank.

Selected bank SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union CD NCUA Insured Bankrate score Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 4.5 Bankrate CD rating = 4.5/5 Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Annual percentage yields (APYs) and minimum deposits are some of the things that make up Bankrate’s score.	Most comparable First Tech Credit Union CD NCUA Insured Bankrate score Rating: 4.1 stars out of 5 4.1 Bankrate CD rating = 4.1/5 Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Annual percentage yields (APYs) and minimum deposits are some of the things that make up Bankrate’s score. Read review	Search for or select a bank: Bankrate score Bankrate CD rating Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Annual percentage yields (APYs) and minimum deposits are some of the things that make up Bankrate’s score. Read review
APY APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account. APY includes the effects of compounding interest. APYs last updated between Oct. 4, 2024 and Oct. 10, 2024.
4.20%	3.60%
Minimum deposit
$500.00	$500.00
Term
1 yr	1 yr

SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union offers a wide variety of CD terms, ranging from 30 days to five years. Yields range from solid to very competitive, and while customers need just $500 to open a CD, they can earn even higher rates with higher balances. Promotional, IRA and add-on CDs are also available.	Credit unions offer share certificates, which are the same in function as a certificate of deposit. First Tech offers five standard share certificates with a wide variety of terms, ranging from six months to five years. The APYs for these certificates, in addition to the bump-up certificates, are competitive. Bump-up certificates come with different terms: 13 months, 24 months or 36 months. It’s just $500 to open both standard and bump-up certificates, but the latter will let you “bump up” your APY if rates increase.

SchoolsFirst offers a wide range of CD types and terms. Most yields are very competitive. Only $500 is needed to open an account.	All certificates are available to open for just $500 There’s a large range of terms to choose from The APYs are competitive Bump-up certificates are available	N/A
Customers need $50,000 to earn the top yield on a standard CD.	There are hefty withdrawal penalties on share certificates with terms of more than 2 years	N/A

APY offering: 4.20% - 1 yr 4/5 APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account. APY includes the effects of compounding interest. APYs are selected based on Bankrate reviews of the highest rates a bank offers between the term ranges of 7 and 17 months. This excludes jumbo CDs and applies when the minimum deposit is $25k or less. Minimum deposit: $500.00 5/5 The minimum deposit amount a financial institution requires in order to open a CD. Range of term lengths: 1 mo - 5 yrs 5/5 A designated amount of time that funds must be held within a CD. Early withdrawal penalty: Good 4/5 A penalty incurred when funds have been withdrawn from a CD before its maturity date. Offer no-penalty or bump-up CDs: No 0/5 A CD that doesn’t incur a penalty if funds are withdrawn before its maturity date. Offer IRA CDs: Yes 5/5 An IRA account which consists of CDs that typically earns fixed interest over a specified period of time.	APY offering: 3.60% - 1 yr 4/5 APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account. APY includes the effects of compounding interest. APYs are selected based on Bankrate reviews of the highest rates a bank offers between the term ranges of 7 and 17 months. This excludes jumbo CDs and applies when the minimum deposit is $25k or less. Minimum deposit: $500.00 5/5 The minimum deposit amount a financial institution requires in order to open a CD. Range of term lengths: 6 mos - 5 yrs 3/5 A designated amount of time that funds must be held within a CD. Early withdrawal penalty: Average 3/5 A penalty incurred when funds have been withdrawn from a CD before its maturity date. Offer no-penalty or bump-up CDs: Yes 5/5 A CD that doesn’t incur a penalty if funds are withdrawn before its maturity date. Offer IRA CDs: No 0/5 An IRA account which consists of CDs that typically earns fixed interest over a specified period of time.	APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account. APY includes the effects of compounding interest. APYs are selected based on Bankrate reviews of the highest rates a bank offers between the term ranges of 7 and 17 months. This excludes jumbo CDs and applies when the minimum deposit is $25k or less. The minimum deposit amount a financial institution requires in order to open a CD. A designated amount of time that funds must be held within a CD. A penalty incurred when funds have been withdrawn from a CD before its maturity date. A CD that doesn’t incur a penalty if funds are withdrawn before its maturity date. An IRA account which consists of CDs that typically earns fixed interest over a specified period of time. Bankrate does not currently track additional product details for this bank.

Selected bank SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union money market account NCUA Insured Bankrate score Rating: 3.3 stars out of 5 3.3 Bankrate Money Market rating = 3.3/5 Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Annual percentage yields (APYs), minimum opening deposit requirements and minimum balances to avoid monthly service fees are some of the things that make up Bankrate’s score.	Most comparable Golden 1 Credit Union money market account NCUA Insured Bankrate score Rating: 3.4 stars out of 5 3.4 Bankrate Money Market rating = 3.4/5 Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Annual percentage yields (APYs), minimum opening deposit requirements and minimum balances to avoid monthly service fees are some of the things that make up Bankrate’s score. Read review	Search for or select a bank: Bankrate score Bankrate Money Market rating Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Annual percentage yields (APYs), minimum opening deposit requirements and minimum balances to avoid monthly service fees are some of the things that make up Bankrate’s score. Read review
APY APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account. APY includes the effects of compounding interest. APYs last updated between Oct. 4, 2024 and Oct. 10, 2024.
1.00%	1.00%
Minimum balance for APY
$10,000.00	$50,000.00
Estimated earnings Interest earned calculation based on a $50,000 deposit amount for a period of 1 year and is rounded to the nearest dollar. Exact earnings are dependent on calendar year, balance, and compounding frequency. Minimum deposit rules may apply.
$500	$500

Members who want a higher yield than the one tied to the Share Savings account can open the fee-free Liquid Advantage Money Market account.Interest rates for the Liquid Advantage MMA come in three tiers. Savers with larger balances qualify for a higher yield. Account holders must maintain a daily balance of at least $2,000 or the dividend rate converts to the lower rate associated with the Investment Checking account.Certain withdrawal transactions, such as online transfers or check writing, are limited to six a month. But members can make unlimited withdrawals or transfers through ATMs, at branches or by mail.	The Money Market Savings Account requires a minimum opening deposit of $100, and no minimum balance is required to earn interest. It doesn’t charge a monthly service fee. The account has a tiered structure, with higher balance tiers earning better APYs. You’ll need a balance of at least $500,000 to earn the highest APY. Better rates can be found at some other banks and credit unions, however.

There are no monthly service fees to worry about The Liquid Advantage MMA allows limited check writing and unlimited withdrawals at branches and ATMs Savers with bigger balances can earn more	Only $100 is required to open the Money Market Savings Account There’s no monthly fee	N/A
The minimum opening deposit is $2,000, which is higher than many other banks or credit unions Yields are better than the credit union's standard Share Savings account, but not as attractive as most of its share certificates The APY drops significantly when the minimum $2,000 balance isn’t maintained	The account doesn’t offer check-writing privileges Account balances of under $10,000 earn a much lower APY that’s far below the national average	N/A

APY offering: 1.00% 2/5 APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account. APY includes the effects of compounding interest. Minimum balance for APY: $2,000.00 3/5 The lowest deposit amount an account must have before it can earn interest. Monthly service fee: $0.00 5/5 A monthly charge a financial institution deducts from an account if certain requirements are not met. Minimum balance to avoid fee: $0.00 5/5 The lowest balance an account must maintain in order to avoid a fee. Check writing: Yes 5/5 The ability to write a certain amount of checks within a statement cycle. Debit/ATM access: Good 4/5 The ability to withdraw funds from an account through the use of debit or ATM card	APY offering: 1.00% 2/5 APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account. APY includes the effects of compounding interest. Minimum balance for APY: $100.00 5/5 The lowest deposit amount an account must have before it can earn interest. Monthly service fee: $0.00 5/5 A monthly charge a financial institution deducts from an account if certain requirements are not met. Minimum balance to avoid fee: $0.00 5/5 The lowest balance an account must maintain in order to avoid a fee. Check writing: Yes 5/5 The ability to write a certain amount of checks within a statement cycle. Debit/ATM access: Subpar 2/5 The ability to withdraw funds from an account through the use of debit or ATM card	APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account. APY includes the effects of compounding interest. The lowest deposit amount an account must have before it can earn interest. A monthly charge a financial institution deducts from an account if certain requirements are not met. The lowest balance an account must maintain in order to avoid a fee. The ability to write a certain amount of checks within a statement cycle. The ability to withdraw funds from an account through the use of debit or ATM card Bankrate does not currently track additional product details for this bank.

SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union vs. Golden 1 Credit Union

Both SchoolsFirst and Golden 1 are credit unions located in California and have about the same amount of branches. Moreover, both unions offer a wide range of deposit products, ranging all the way from CDs to money market accounts.

Those similarities noted, SchoolsFirst tends to offer higher yields on various deposit products, including its CDs and savings accounts. The money market accounts at both unions offer about the same yields.

Learn more:The best banks of 2024

SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union FAQs

Review methodology

With so many financial institutions to choose from, it can be hard to know who to trust. Bankrate’s ever-growing list of bank and credit union reviews is updated regularly. Our editorial team analyzes and reviews each institution across deposit products such as savings accounts, checking accounts, certificates of deposit (CDs) and money market accounts (MMAs). Banks are rated by important factors such as offered interest rates, fees, minimum balance requirements, access to funds and more.

We assign a score to each type of account and its features, weigh them carefully based on importance to account holders and determine an overall score. Read our full review methodology.

SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union Review 2024 | Bankrate (2024)

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Overall

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SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union banking products

SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union savings overview

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SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union savings rates

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SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union CD overview

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SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union CD rates

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SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union money market overview

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SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union checking overview

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SoFi

Bank fees

Customer experience

About SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union

How SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union Bank compares to other banks

SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union vs. Golden 1 Credit Union

SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union FAQs

Review methodology

References