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Connexus Credit Union review: Fee-free high-yield checking account with no minimum opening deposit<!-- wp:html --><p class="headline-regular financial-disclaimer">Insider's experts choose the best products and services to help make smart decisions with your money (<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/personal-finance-editorial-standards" class="not-content-link" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here’s how</a>). In some cases, we receive a commission from our <a href="https://www.insider-inc.com/commerce-on-insider-inc" class="not-content-link" target="_blank" rel="noopener">our partners</a>, however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page.</p> <p>If you don't live nearby a branch, you can still become a member by joining the Connexus Association and making a $5 donation.</p> <p class="copyright">Connexus Credit Union; Rachel Mendelson/Insider</p> <p><strong>The bottom line:</strong> Connexus Credit Union Members Savings Account appears in our best credit unions guide. It's an excellent choice if you'd like to bank with an online credit union, and it pays competitive interest rates on its accounts. </p> <h2><strong>Overall credit union rating</strong></h2> <p>FeatureInsider rating (out of 5)Savings4.5Checking4.75Share certificate3.5Money market account4Trustworthiness5Total4.25</p> <h2><strong>Pros and cons</strong></h2> <p>ProsCons</p> <p>Online financial institution that makes it easy to become a member</p> <p>High interest rates</p> <p>No monthly service fees</p> <p>Several overdraft protection options</p> <p>Branches are only available in NH, WI, OH, MNHigh minimum opening deposit for CDsInterest compounded monthly or quarterly, not daily</p> <h2>Connexus Credit Union Members Savings Account</h2> <p>The Connexus Credit Union Members Savings Account requires a Connexus Credit Union Members Savings Account minimum opening deposit and pays a decent interest rate. With a debit card included, it also provides easy access to your account, which isn't common among traditional savings accounts.</p> <h2><strong>Connexus Xtraordinary Checking Account</strong></h2> <p>The Connexus Xtraordinary Checking Account is an excellent high-yield checking account. There's no minimum opening deposit, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/monthly-bank-maintenance-fee" target="_blank" rel="noopener">monthly service fees</a>, or out-of-network ATM fees. </p> <p>You'll get the most of the account if you maintain less than $25,000 in your account and do the following: subscribe to-e-statements, and either make 15 monthly debit transactions or spend $400 monthly with your debit card.</p> <h2><strong>Connexus Credit Union Share Certificate</strong></h2> <p>Connexus offers high interest rates on Connexus Credit Union Share Certificate but the minimum opening deposit is pretty steep at Connexus Credit Union Share Certificate. If you don't have that much money to deposit, you might want to go for one of the options in our <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/who-has-the-best-cd-rates-right-now" target="_blank" rel="noopener">best CD rates guide</a>.</p> <h2><strong>Connexus Credit Union Money Market Account</strong></h2> <p>You'll prefer the Connexus Credit Union Money Market Account over the credit union's savings account if you're able to maintain a high balance in your account. The money market account pays a high interest rate if you deposit least $20,000 in your account. </p> <p>Watch out for <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/how-to-avoid-bank-fees" target="_blank" rel="noopener">excess withdrawal fees</a>, though, because you're only allowed four free withdrawals per month.</p> <div class="insider-raw-embed"> <p> <!-- /1035677/Business_Insider_ --></p> <div></div> </div> <h2><strong>How Connexus Credit Union works</strong></h2> <p>Connexus Credit Union is an online financial institution with 11 active branches in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio, and New Hampshire. It's also part of the CO-OP and MoneyPass networks, which provide access to 6,000 shared branches and over 54,000 surcharge-free ATMs.</p> <p>Customer service is available over the phone or through email. To reach out to the Member Contact Center, call from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, or during limited hours on Tuesdays and Saturdays. </p> <p>The Connexus Credit Union mobile app received 4.7 out of 5 stars in the Google Play Store and Apple Store. </p> <p>The credit union is also <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/how-ncua-insurance-works-credit-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener">federally insured by the NCUA</a>, so up to $250,000 is secure in an individual bank account. </p> <h2><strong>How to join Connexus Credit Union </strong></h2> <p>There are several ways to be eligible for membership. To become a member, you'll need to meet any of the following requirements:</p> <p>You or a family member must work or be an alumnus of a group from <a href="https://www.connexuscu.org/about/membership-eligibility/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">this list</a>Live in an <a href="https://www.connexuscu.org/about/membership-eligibility/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">eligible community or county</a> in Minnesota, Ohio, or WisconsinHave a family member who is a current memberBecome a member of the Connexus Association by making an initial $5 donation</p> <h2><strong>Is Connexus Credit Union trustworthy?</strong></h2> <p>Ratings from the Better Business Bureau look at several factors, including how an institution resolves customer issues and whether it has transparent business.  The BBB gave Connexus Credit Union an <a href="https://www.bbb.org/us/wi/wausau/profile/credit-union/connexus-credit-union-0694-41000100" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A+ rating</a>.</p> <p>A good BBB rating doesn't necessarily ensure that your experience with a credit union will be perfect, though. Chat with current members or read online customer reviews to get a better idea if a credit union will be a match for you.</p> <p>On another note, Connexus has been involved in any recent public scandals. </p> <h2><strong>How Connexus Credit Union compares </strong></h2> <p>We compared Connexus Credit Union to two other financial institutions in our <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/best-credit-unions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">best credit unions guide</a>: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/alliant-credit-union-review" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Alliant Credit Union</a> and Wings Financial Credit Union.</p> <p class="copyright">Connexus Credit Union</p> <p class="copyright">Alliant Credit Union</p> <p class="copyright">Wings Financial Credit Union</p> <p><strong>Savings APY</strong></p> <p>Connexus Credit Union Members Savings Account</p> <p><strong>Savings APY</strong></p> <p>Alliant High-Rate Savings Account</p> <p><strong>Savings APY</strong></p> <p>Wings Financial High-Yield Savings Account</p> <p><strong>Checking APY</strong></p> <p>Connexus Xtraordinary Checking Account</p> <p><strong>Checking APY</strong></p> <p>Alliant High-Interest Checking Account</p> <p><strong>Checking APY</strong></p> <p>Wings Financial Credit Union High-Yield Checking Account</p> <p>Connexus Credit Union Members Savings Account<strong>Alliant High-Rate Savings Account</strong><strong>Wings Financial High-Yield Savings Account</strong></p> <p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/credit-union-vs-bank-how-to-decide-which-is-right-for-you" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Credit unions</a> require membership to open a bank account. All three financial institutions offer an easy way to join —just donate $5 to their respective foundation. </p> <p>Choosing between these three credit unions will hinge on which account options appeal the most to you. </p> <p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/alliant-credit-union-review" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Alliant Credit Union</a> pays the highest interest rates on savings. However, you'll need to make sure you have at least $100 in your account to earn interest. </p> <p>If you're looking for a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/what-is-a-high-yield-checking-account" target="_blank" rel="noopener">high-yield checking account</a>, it'll be a toss-up between Connexus and Wings Financial. Both credit unions have a strong high-yield checking account, with no minimum opening deposit, monthly fees, and competitive interest rates. </p> <div class="read-original">Read the original article on <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/connexus-credit-union-review">Business Insider</a></div><!-- /wp:html -->

Insider’s experts choose the best products and services to help make smart decisions with your money (here’s how). In some cases, we receive a commission from our our partners, however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page.

If you don’t live nearby a branch, you can still become a member by joining the Connexus Association and making a $5 donation.

The bottom line: Connexus Credit Union Members Savings Account appears in our best credit unions guide. It’s an excellent choice if you’d like to bank with an online credit union, and it pays competitive interest rates on its accounts. 

Overall credit union rating

FeatureInsider rating (out of 5)Savings4.5Checking4.75Share certificate3.5Money market account4Trustworthiness5Total4.25

Pros and cons

ProsCons

Online financial institution that makes it easy to become a member

High interest rates

No monthly service fees

Several overdraft protection options

Branches are only available in NH, WI, OH, MNHigh minimum opening deposit for CDsInterest compounded monthly or quarterly, not daily

Connexus Credit Union Members Savings Account

The Connexus Credit Union Members Savings Account requires a Connexus Credit Union Members Savings Account minimum opening deposit and pays a decent interest rate. With a debit card included, it also provides easy access to your account, which isn’t common among traditional savings accounts.

Connexus Xtraordinary Checking Account

The Connexus Xtraordinary Checking Account is an excellent high-yield checking account. There’s no minimum opening deposit, monthly service fees, or out-of-network ATM fees. 

You’ll get the most of the account if you maintain less than $25,000 in your account and do the following: subscribe to-e-statements, and either make 15 monthly debit transactions or spend $400 monthly with your debit card.

Connexus Credit Union Share Certificate

Connexus offers high interest rates on Connexus Credit Union Share Certificate but the minimum opening deposit is pretty steep at Connexus Credit Union Share Certificate. If you don’t have that much money to deposit, you might want to go for one of the options in our best CD rates guide.

Connexus Credit Union Money Market Account

You’ll prefer the Connexus Credit Union Money Market Account over the credit union’s savings account if you’re able to maintain a high balance in your account. The money market account pays a high interest rate if you deposit least $20,000 in your account. 

Watch out for excess withdrawal fees, though, because you’re only allowed four free withdrawals per month.

How Connexus Credit Union works

Connexus Credit Union is an online financial institution with 11 active branches in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio, and New Hampshire. It’s also part of the CO-OP and MoneyPass networks, which provide access to 6,000 shared branches and over 54,000 surcharge-free ATMs.

Customer service is available over the phone or through email. To reach out to the Member Contact Center, call from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, or during limited hours on Tuesdays and Saturdays. 

The Connexus Credit Union mobile app received 4.7 out of 5 stars in the Google Play Store and Apple Store. 

The credit union is also federally insured by the NCUA, so up to $250,000 is secure in an individual bank account. 

How to join Connexus Credit Union 

There are several ways to be eligible for membership. To become a member, you’ll need to meet any of the following requirements:

You or a family member must work or be an alumnus of a group from this listLive in an eligible community or county in Minnesota, Ohio, or WisconsinHave a family member who is a current memberBecome a member of the Connexus Association by making an initial $5 donation

Is Connexus Credit Union trustworthy?

Ratings from the Better Business Bureau look at several factors, including how an institution resolves customer issues and whether it has transparent business.  The BBB gave Connexus Credit Union an A+ rating.

A good BBB rating doesn’t necessarily ensure that your experience with a credit union will be perfect, though. Chat with current members or read online customer reviews to get a better idea if a credit union will be a match for you.

On another note, Connexus has been involved in any recent public scandals. 

How Connexus Credit Union compares 

We compared Connexus Credit Union to two other financial institutions in our best credit unions guide: Alliant Credit Union and Wings Financial Credit Union.

Savings APY

Connexus Credit Union Members Savings Account

Savings APY

Alliant High-Rate Savings Account

Savings APY

Wings Financial High-Yield Savings Account

Checking APY

Connexus Xtraordinary Checking Account

Checking APY

Alliant High-Interest Checking Account

Checking APY

Wings Financial Credit Union High-Yield Checking Account

Connexus Credit Union Members Savings AccountAlliant High-Rate Savings AccountWings Financial High-Yield Savings Account

Credit unions require membership to open a bank account. All three financial institutions offer an easy way to join —just donate $5 to their respective foundation. 

Choosing between these three credit unions will hinge on which account options appeal the most to you. 

Alliant Credit Union pays the highest interest rates on savings. However, you’ll need to make sure you have at least $100 in your account to earn interest. 

If you’re looking for a high-yield checking account, it’ll be a toss-up between Connexus and Wings Financial. Both credit unions have a strong high-yield checking account, with no minimum opening deposit, monthly fees, and competitive interest rates. 

Read the original article on Business Insider

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