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SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union Review 2024

Updated January 5, 2024
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At a glance

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
4.1
Rating: 4.1 stars out of 5
Bankrate Score
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CDs

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
4.5 /5

Checking

Rating: 4.6 stars out of 5
4.6 /5

Savings

Rating: 3 stars out of 5
3.0 /5

MMA

Rating: 3.4 stars out of 5
3.4 /5
Sponsored offers
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These are sponsored offers rated highly by us for competitive rates, fees, and minimums.

Bank logo
Member FDIC
CD
4.50
%
APY
APY
Info Icon
As of 2/21/2025
Rating: 4.9 stars out of 5
$500
Minimum deposit
View offer Arrow Right Icon
Promoted offer: Expires 5/28/25. APY may change before CD is opened & funded.
Bank logo
Member FDIC
Checking Account
0.50
%
APY
APY
Info Icon
As of 2/21/2025
Rating: 4.9 stars out of 5
$0
Min. balance for APY
View offer Arrow Right Icon

Overall

Pros

  • Checkmark Icon

    There are no fees or low fees on most types of accounts.

  • Checkmark Icon

    Members have access to over 30,000 fee-free ATMs.

  • Checkmark Icon

    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.

CTA We want to know what you think about SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union

We want to know what you think about SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union

Do you have experience with SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union? Let us know your thoughts.

SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union banking products

3.0
/5
Rating: 3 stars out of 5
SCORE BREAKDOWN
APY offering:
0.10%
Rating: 1 stars out of 5
1/5
Info Icon
Minimum balance for APY:
$0.00
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
5/5
Info Icon
Monthly service fee:
$0.00
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
5/5
Info Icon
Minimum balance to avoid fee:
$0.00
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
5/5
Info Icon
Access to funds:
Great
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
5/5
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FEATURES
Invest Rate Icon
0.10% APY
Info Icon
Savings Icon
$0 minimum balance for APY
Loan Icon
$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

  • Checkmark Icon

    The Share Savings account has no monthly fees.

  • Checkmark Icon

    There is no limit on deposits and withdrawals.

  • Checkmark Icon

    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
    Info Icon
    National average APY
    How do we get this data?
    Info Icon

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

About SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union

How SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union Bank compares to other banks

Selected bank
SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union savings account
SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union Logo
Member FDIC
Bankrate score
Rating: 3 stars out of 5
3.0
Info Icon
Most comparable
First Tech Credit Union savings account
First Tech Credit Union Logo
Member FDIC
Bankrate score
Rating: 3 stars out of 5
3.0
Info Icon
Read review
Search for or select a bank:
Caret Down Icon
Bankrate score
Info Icon
Read review
APY
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0.10% 0.01%
Minimum balance for APY
$0.00 $5.00
Estimated earnings
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$50 $5
The SchoolsFirst Credit Union Share Savings account is automatically opened for customers when they become members. There’s no monthly fee, and customers can make unlimited withdrawals out of the account. Customers need just $5 to open an account, but the account comes with a very low yield. 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 can be opened with just $5.
  • Customers can make unlimited withdrawals.
  • There’s no monthly fee.
  • 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
  • Other credit unions have savings accounts with higher yields.
  • Higher yields can be found elsewhere.
    N/A
APY offering:
0.10%
1/5
Info Icon
Minimum balance for APY:
$0.00
5/5
Info Icon
Monthly service fee:
$0.00
5/5
Info Icon
Minimum balance to avoid fee:
$0.00
5/5
Info Icon
Access to funds:
Great
5/5
Info Icon
APY offering:
0.01%
1/5
Info Icon
Minimum balance for APY:
$5.00
5/5
Info Icon
Monthly service fee:
$0.00
5/5
Info Icon
Minimum balance to avoid fee:
$0.00
5/5
Info Icon
Access to funds:
Great
5/5
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Bankrate does not currently track additional product details for this bank.

SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union vs. Golden 1 Credit Union

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.