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Municipal Credit Union is a popular place for New York State employees and their family members to park their cash. It offers an impressive selection of banking products, including savings accounts, checking accounts, and certificates of deposit (CDs). Read our full Municipal Credit Union review below to learn if it's a good fit for you.
Municipal Credit Union won't be an option for most people, but New Yorkers who meet its eligibility requirements should give it a closer look if they prefer to bank all in one place. The credit union has an impressive array of banking and loan products, though its rates are more in line with other brick-and-mortar institutions than what you'll find with online banks.
You may enroll in Municipal Credit Union if you meet any of the following criteria:
If you're not sure whether you meet any of the above criteria, you can always reach out to Municipal Credit Union to ask. Eligible members may apply to join the credit union online or at one of its branch locations.
Municipal Credit Union offers four types of savings accounts, which are outlined below.
The Hero Savings Account is Municipal Credit Union's best option for most people. The account has no minimum opening deposit and comes with a debit card you can use to access your cash directly. It has a tiered annual percentage yield (APY) system that rewards those who keep more in their accounts with higher rates. However, even its highest tier is below the national average.
The Smart Apple Savers account is geared toward children between the ages of 0 and 21. This account also has no minimum deposit and offers the same interest rate as the highest tier on the Hero Savings Account.
This account is similar to the Smart Apple Savers account, except it's only for kids ages 13 to 21. Unlike the Smart Apple Savers account, this account comes with ATM access for withdrawing cash as needed.
Those saving up for a vacation or holiday expenses can open a club savings account with Municipal Credit Union. Each of these has a one-year term, and you can transfer funds to and from your Hero Savings Account or your Everyday Hero checking account as needed. You're allowed one penalty-free early withdrawal. Beyond that, you'll need to close the account to access funds early. The interest rates offered are comparable to the other savings accounts listed here.
Make sure you're getting the best account for you by comparing savings rates and promotions. Here are some of our favorite high-yield savings accounts to consider.
Account | APY | Promotion | Next Steps |
---|---|---|---|
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Open Account for SoFi Checking and Savings
On SoFi's Secure Website.
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
|
up to 3.80%²
Rate info
You can earn the maximum APY by having Direct Deposit (no minimum amount required) or by making $5,000 or more in Qualifying Deposits every 30 days. See SoFi Checking and Savings rate sheet at: https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
Min. to earn: $0
|
New customers can earn up to a $300 bonus with qualifying direct deposits!¹
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Open Account for SoFi Checking and Savings
On SoFi's Secure Website. |
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Open Account for CIT Platinum Savings
On CIT's Secure Website.
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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4.10% APY for balances of $5,000 or more
Rate info
4.10% APY for balances of $5,000 or more; otherwise, 0.25% APY
Min. to earn: $100 to open account, $5,000+ for max APY
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Earn a bonus of at least $225 after a one-time deposit of $25,000+.
Transfer a one-time deposit of $25,000-$49,999.99 for a bonus of $225. Transfer a one-time deposit of $50,000+ for a bonus of $300. Account must be opened with code PS2025 while this promotion lasts, and funded within 30 days. Bonus will be fulfilled within 60 days from the funding date. There is no period of time where the customer will be required to maintain the funds. Account must be open when bonus is credited. One bonus per account and primary customer. Bonus will be credited into the Platinum Savings Account that fulfills the funding requirement. Funding can be deposited all at once or incrementally.
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Open Account for CIT Platinum Savings
On CIT's Secure Website. |
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Open Account for American Express® High Yield Savings
On American Express's Secure Website.
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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3.70%
Rate info
3.70% annual percentage yield as of April 11, 2025. Terms apply.
Min. to earn: $0
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N/A
|
Open Account for American Express® High Yield Savings
On American Express's Secure Website. |
SoFi disclosure:
¹ New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 1/31/26. See full bonus and annual percentage yield (APY) terms at sofi.com/banking#1.
² SoFi members who enroll in SoFi Plus with Direct Deposit or by paying the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee every 30 days or with $5,000 or more in Qualifying Deposits during the 30-Day Evaluation Period can earn 3.80% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. Members without either SoFi Plus or Qualifying Deposits, during the 30-Day Evaluation Period will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Only SoFi Plus members are eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 1/24/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet. See the SoFi Plus Terms and Conditions at https://www.sofi.com/terms-of-use/#plus.
³ We do not charge any account, service or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. We do charge a transaction fee to process each outgoing wire transfer. SoFi does not charge a fee for incoming wire transfers, however the sending bank may charge a fee. Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Checking & Savings Fee Sheet for details at sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/.
⁴ SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per depositor per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations.
Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $3M through participation in the program. See full terms at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms. See list of participating banks at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks.
⁵ We’ve partnered with Allpoint to provide you with ATM access at any of the 55,000+ ATMs within the Allpoint network. You will not be charged a fee when using an in-network ATM, however, third-party fees incurred when using out-of-network ATMs are not subject to reimbursement. SoFi’s ATM policies are subject to change at our discretion at any time.
⁶ Early access to direct deposit funds is based on the timing in which we receive notice of impending payment from the Federal Reserve, which is typically up to two days before the scheduled payment date, but may vary.
⁷ Overdraft Coverage is limited to $50 on debit card purchases only and is an account benefit available to customers with direct deposits of $1,000 or more during the current 30-day Evaluation Period as determined by SoFi Bank, N.A. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the“30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Members with a prior history of non-repayment of negative balances are ineligible for Overdraft Coverage.
Municipal Credit Union offers two types of certificates of deposit (CDs), which credit unions refer to as share certificates.
Fixed Rate share certificates have a $500 minimum deposit requirement and give you a choice of terms of 6, 12, 24, or 36 months. There's also a 15-month share certificate that requires a minimum balance of just $5 over the 15 months. Rates on these are much more competitive than what the credit union's savings accounts offer and above the national average for comparable CDs. They could be a better option for customers who don't need to access their cash right away.
The Fixed Rate Plus share certificate has an 18-month term and a minimum deposit of just $250. In addition, it allows you to make extra deposits throughout the share certificate term. Its rates are a little lower than what you'll find with the Fixed Rate share certificates, but they're still much better than what the credit union's savings accounts offer.
It never hurts to compare CD rates from a few banks and credit unions before deciding which is right for you. Here are a few other options to consider.
Bank & CD Offer | APY | Term | Min. Deposit | Next Steps |
---|---|---|---|---|
Discover® Bank CD
Member FDIC.
Open Account for Discover® Bank CD
On Discover Bank's Secure Website. |
APY:
4.00%
|
Term:
1 Year
|
Min. Deposit:
$0
|
Open Account for Discover® Bank CD
On Discover Bank's Secure Website. |
APY:
4.00%
|
Term:
10 Months
|
Min. Deposit:
$500
|
Open Account for
On Secure Website. |
|
APY:
3.75%
|
Term:
6 Months
|
Min. Deposit:
$1
|
Open Account for
On Secure Website. |
Municipal Credit Union members have their choice between two checking accounts.
The Everyday Hero account is only open to those who also have a Hero Savings Account through the credit union. It has no minimum deposit and gives you easy access to your cash through online and mobile banking tools and a debit card. This account does not earn interest.
The Basic Share Draft account also requires a Hero Savings Account. It includes a debit card as well as online and mobile banking services.
We recommend comparing checking accounts to make sure you're getting the best fit for you. Here's a list of our favorite accounts.
Account | APY | Promotion | Next Steps |
---|---|---|---|
![]()
Open Account for Discover® Cashback Debit
On Discover Bank's Secure Website.
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
|
0%
Min. to earn: N/A
|
Earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month (see details when you click 'Open Account')
|
Open Account for Discover® Cashback Debit
On Discover Bank's Secure Website. |
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Open Account for Quontic High Interest Checking
On Quontic's Secure Website.
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
|
up to 1.10%
Min. to earn: $1
|
High APY when you complete 10 or more qualifying debit card purchases each month
|
Open Account for Quontic High Interest Checking
On Quontic's Secure Website. |
10 debit card point of sale transactions of $10 or more per statement cycle required to earn the maximum APY. If the qualifying activity requirement is not fulfilled, the interest rate paid on the entire balance will be 0.01% APY.
Municipal Credit Union has an A- rating from the Better Business Bureau. This suggests the company is prompt about addressing customer complaints as they arise.
Customer service is available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and closed on Sundays. Some customers complain about long call wait times and limited weekend availability in online reviews.
But beyond this, it's difficult to gauge how its customer service stacks up to its competitors. Its small size and exclusive membership means it hasn't been featured in any large-scale customer satisfaction surveys.
Municipal Credit Union doesn't offer any relationship benefits, like higher APYs on savings products or lower interest rates on loans to customers. However, customers may need to open certain Municipal Credit Union accounts, like a Hero Savings Account, in order to gain access to some of its other accounts, like the Everyday Hero checking account.
It never hurts to explore other banks and credit unions before deciding where to place your money. Here are a couple options worth adding to your list.
Discover® Bank is best known for its credit cards, but it also offers a variety of banking products, including checking accounts, savings accounts, and certificates of deposit. Its rates are generally more competitive than what you'll find with Municipal Credit Union. And there are no eligibility requirements to join, so anyone can open an account with Discover® Bank.
One area where Municipal Credit Union shines is its CD rates. But Ally Bank is a great choice if you want the most competitive CD rates, plus its terms range from three months to five years. A potential downside is that it's an online-only bank, so it's not a good choice if you prefer in-person banking.
Municipal Credit Union could be a good choice for you if:
In addition to the bank accounts listed above, Municipal Credit Union also offers the following products:
Municipal Credit Union offers the following credit cards:
You can obtain one of the following types of mortgage loans or home equity loans from Municipal Credit Union:
Municipal Credit Union offers personal loans ranging from $1,000 to $50,000 for members. It also offers Share Certificate Secured Loans, which enable you to borrow against the money you have in Municipal Credit Union's share certificates. For members seeking to establish credit, credit builder loans of $250 to $1,000 are an option.
Municipal Credit Union offers auto loans with no down payment for qualified borrowers. You can use the loan to purchase a new or used vehicle. You can also refinance car loans from other financial institutions but used vehicles must have less than 100,000 miles on the odometer.
Municipal Credit Union offers the following types of insurance:
In addition to the bank accounts listed above, Municipal Credit Union also offers the following:
Our methodology for scoring banks and credit unions revolves around evaluating key aspects such as annual percentage yield (APY), brand reputation, fees and minimum requirements, and additional perks.
These criteria are weighted differently across various account types, ensuring a comprehensive assessment that reflects the competitive landscape and economic conditions.
We strictly feature products that offer federal insurance and high customer satisfaction, keeping our recommendations unbiased by advertiser influence. This robust evaluation process helps us generate balanced, reliable best-of lists that guide consumers to top financial products.
Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates bank accounts.
Municipal Credit Union offers personal loans of $1,000 to $50,000 that you can use for any purpose, including debt consolidation.
Yes. Deposits are federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), which is similar to FDIC insurance but covers credit union deposits. As with FDIC insurance, you're covered for up to $250,000 per deposit, per financial institution, per ownership category.
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Motley Fool Money is 100% owned and operated by The Motley Fool. Our knowledgeable team of personal finance editors and analysts are employed by The Motley Fool and held to the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page. APYs are subject to change at any time without notice.