NASA Federal Credit Union Review: A Solid Place to Establish a Banking Relationship
Review
Updated
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NASA Federal Credit Union is a national credit union that serves over 200,000 members nationwide, and not just NASA employees. The credit union offers a wide variety of banking products and services, including some of the highest-yielding CDs on our radar. Read our full review to see if NASA Federal Credit Union could be a good fit for you.
NASA Federal Credit Union is a standout when it comes to CDs, credit cards, and mortgages, but its savings accounts don't quite measure up to online competitors. Even so, if you're looking for an all-in-one banking solution, NASA FCU could be a solid choice.
NASA Federal Credit Union offers savings and money market accounts, so let's look at how they stack up.
NASA Federal Credit Union's main savings account is known as the Prime Savings. There are a few other specialized savings account products, such as an account designed to save for the holidays, but this is the bank's general savings account.
NASA Federal Credit Union Prime Savings
NASA Federal Credit Union's main savings account is known as the Prime Savings. It can be opened with as little as $5 and has no monthly maintenance fees; however its interest rates aren't competitive with most online-based high-yield savings accounts, or even with some other brick-and-mortar credit unions.
NASA Federal Credit Union also offers money market accounts (MMAs). Technically, this is a different type of bank account, but it can allow savers with higher balances to get better interest rates.
The credit union currently offers three different MMAs, the Premier Money Market, the Premier Advantage Money Market, and the Premier Plus Money Market. Each of these accounts differs in minimum deposit requirements and APY on offer. The Premier Money Market has a minimum opening deposit of $10,000 and average daily balances of $10,000 and up earn a set APY. The Premier Advantage requires $25,000 to open and has three tiers of APY depending on your average daily balance. You must have a minimum opening deposit of $40,000 to open the Premier Plus, and average daily balances of that amount and higher earn a set APY.
Be sure to check NASA FCU's website for current rates and conditions if you're interested in one of these money market accounts.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
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.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
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
|
Open Account for SoFi Checking and Savings
On SoFi's Secure Website. |
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.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
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
|
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.
|
Open Account for CIT Platinum Savings
On CIT's Secure Website. |
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.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
3.70%
Rate info
3.70% annual percentage yield as of April 11, 2025. Terms apply.
Min. to earn: $0
|
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.
NASA Federal Credit Union offers five different types of CDs, which in credit union terms are referred to as share certificates. Both have competitive yields. To be clear, share certificates are an area where NASA FCU shines.
NASA FCU's share certificates come in a variety of maturity terms ranging from six months to five years. They require a $1,000 minimum deposit to open, and the bank allows depositors to withdraw the interest they're paid at any time without penalty (Note: This is true for all five types of share certificates.)
NASA FCU's share certificate yields are highly competitive, even with online banks.
NASA FCU offers share certificates in three maturity terms (nine months, 15 months, and 49 months) that offer higher yields than the credit union's other CDs of comparable maturities. The biggest drawback is that the high-yield certificates have a much higher $10,000 minimum deposit requirement, but for savers who have enough cash to open one, these are very competitive time deposit products.
NASA FCU offers Bump-Rate Certificates in 24- and 36-month terms that allow for a one-time interest rate increase request during the term. Think of these as insurance against rising interest rates. For example, if you open a Bump-Rate certificate with a 4% yield and a year later, NASA FCU is advertising a 6% rate, you can request a one-time adjustment.
Most other CDs and certificates offered by banks and credit unions don't allow for additional contributions during the term, which is what makes NASA FCU's Add-On Certificates such a unique product. These 1-year certificates have high yields and a $250 minimum opening deposit, and savers can add up to $2,500 per month during the term.
While the bank's other certificates have minimum deposit requirements of $1,000 or more, NASA FCU offers certificates with a minimum $50 opening requirement to members age 23 and younger. These are only offered in one-year terms, but pay competitive interest rates and have the unique feature that account holders can make additional contributions at any time during the term.
While NASA FCU share certificates are generally competitive, be sure to check the bank's website for current offer details.
NASA Federal Credit Union's CD rates are highly competitive, especially when it comes to its high-yield certificates. However, all of its CD products have yields comparable to the top online banks, and there aren't many other banks or credit unions that offer as many unique certificates.
| 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. |
NASA Federal Credit Union offers three main types of checking accounts, each designed for a specific type of customer.
All three of NASA Federal Credit Union's checking accounts have some common benefits, such as a cash back debit card that can earn up to $250 per year on purchases. The bank also offers EarlyAccess Payroll to its checking customers, giving access to direct deposits up to two days before payday.
The Premier Checking account is designed to be a solid checking account for most of the credit union's customers. It has no monthly maintenance fee for customers with combined NASA FCU balances of $2,500 or more ($7 otherwise).
NASA Federal Credit Union Premium Checking
The NASA FCU Premium Checking account is a good product for customers who aim to establish a relationship with the credit union.
The Premier eChecking account is ideal for NASA FCU members who plan to have their paychecks directly deposited. There are no monthly maintenance fees for customers who use direct deposit or Online BillPay+, and customers get one free box of checks each year.
NASA Federal Credit Union Everyday Checking
The Premier eChecking account is designed for customers who are willing to set up direct deposit or use online bill pay. It also comes with free checks, a cash back debit card, and early access to payroll direct deposits.
The Premier Preferred Checking account is designed for NASA FCU's higher-balance customers. Unlike the Premier Checking account, which takes all NASA FCU balances into consideration, the Premier Preferred Checking account requires a $2,500 average daily balance in the checking account itself to avoid a monthly fee.
For customers who qualify, the account comes with all of the previously discussed benefits, and also earns interest (dividends in credit union terms) on balances.
NASA Federal Credit Union Elite Checking
The Elite Checking account is a solid product for those who can keep over $2,500 in their checking account. It earns a competitive APY on balances and has several other valuable perks, such as free online bill pay and early access to direct deposits.
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.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
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. |
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.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
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.
NASA Federal Credit Union offers customer service by phone from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. It also offers help through email. But one of the big differentiators is the wide availability of in-person help.
NASA Federal Credit Union has 14 of its own branches, located throughout the D.C. metropolitan area. However, customers can access 5,600 shared credit union branches nationwide and more than 36,000 fee-free ATMs. So, even if you don't live near any of the credit union's own branches, you can still likely enjoy branch-based banking convenience.
One of the biggest reasons to join a credit union is for the relationship benefits. NASA Federal Credit Union members get access to the credit union's wide variety of banking products and services, including unique products like its low-interest credit cards and 0% down first-time home buyer mortgages.
NASA Federal Credit Union also has an excellent Membership Rewards program with four tiers, depending on the customer's combined account balances. The base (Bronze) tier gives some valuable benefits, including three free non-network ATM transactions, and higher tiers -- Silver, Gold, and Platinum -- add additional perks such as free cashier's checks, notary services, and more.
There's no financial institution that is ideal for everyone, so here are a couple of alternatives to consider.
If you aren't worried about in-person branch access, online-only Alliant Credit Union could be worth a closer look. It offers competitive savings yields, high-yield CDs, and an interest-bearing checking account with no minimum balance requirement. It also has some highly competitive credit card products, competitive auto loans, and more.
If you want the convenience of a branch-based bank with higher interest rates than most of them offer, consider Capital One. It has a high-yield savings account that is competitive with online offerings, excellent CDs with no minimum balance, and a fantastic no-fee checking account.
Of course, if neither of these fit your needs, check out our full list of bank reviews to find the ideal bank for you.
If you're looking for an all-in-one banking relationship, NASA Federal Credit Union could be worth a look. Some of its features (like its savings account rates) aren't too competitive, but it shines in a few areas -- especially its share certificate yields and unique lending products.
In addition to savings, checking, and CD products, NASA Federal Credit Union offers a wide variety of banking products and services.
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.
Yes. If you aren't an employee of NASA or one of the credit union's 900 partner companies, you can still join. National Space Society (NSS) members are eligible to join, and the credit union will simply give you a free one-year NSS membership if you open an account.
NASA Federal Credit Union is a member of the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), which is the credit union equivalent of the FDIC. As such, savings are federally insured for up to $250,000 per person.
Yes, NASA Federal Credit Union offers a range of business banking products and services, including business checking and savings accounts, business loans, credit cards, and commercial real estate financing.
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.
