Dividend Rate
0.00%
Affinity Plus
APY
1.00%
$0 – $25,000 Opening Balance
Earn interest, cash back, and more when you meet our simple monthly requirements.
- 10¢ cash back on debit card purchases of $5 or more
- Cell phone insurance
- Identity theft coverage through Apple iOS or Google Play
- Reimbursements on ATM surcharges, nationwide ($10 maximum)
Affinity Premier
APY
.75%
$25,000 – $34,999 Opening Balance
Earn increasing interest rates as your balance grows (up to $34,999).
- Tiered rate checking account
- No monthly fee or minimum to maintain
- Free box of checks, annually
- Identity theft coverage through Apple iOS or Google Play
- Market rate dividends paid on balances $5,000+ w/direct deposit
Affinity Free
APY
3.00%
$0 – $1,000 Opening Balance
Ideal if you have minimal activity on your account and want all the essentials.
- APY of 3.00% on balances up to $1000
- No monthly fee or minimum to maintain
- Free Online and Mobile Banking
- Free Mobile Deposit and Bill Pay
- Free and unlimited use of your ACU debit card
Opportunity Checking
Designed for those who have been turned down for a checking account in the past because of unpaid fees, overdrawn accounts, or other issues. Opportunity Checking can help you re-establish financial health for a low monthly fee.
- Choose between a $10.95 monthly fee without direct deposit or a $8.95 monthly fee when you set up direct deposit for your entire payroll, pension, or Social Security check ($500 per month minimum) to your checking account.
- No minimum balance requirement.
- 10 free non-credit union-owned ATM withdrawals per month
- Switch to another ACU checking account after you have 12 consecutive months with less than 12 Non-Sufficient Funds (NSFs) notices.
Teen Checking
Young adults between the ages of 13 and 17 can open a Teen Checking account when a qualified ACU member signs on as joint account holder. A Teen checking account includes:
- No minimum balance requirement
- Free mobile banking and mobile deposit
- Free and unlimited use of ACU debit card
- Free online banking and bill pay
- Free and unlimited use of ACU ATMs
- Use of nearly 30,000 surcharge-free ATMs nationwide
- Free eStatements
Benefits of America’s Credit Union Checking Accounts
Online and Mobile Banking
Take care of your finances on the go with Online and Mobile Banking, Mobile Deposit, Bill Pay, and more.
Enhanced Security With ACU Card App
Enjoy greater control over your debit card by setting up purchase alerts, spending limits, travel notifications, and other handy features.
Personalized VISA Debit Card
ACU offers great designs for instant-issue debit cards, or you can get creative and order a customized card online.
Nearly 30,000 Surcharge-Free ATMs
Ditch withdrawal fees by getting access to nearly 30,000 surcharge-free ATMs across the country.
Free eStatements
Forget about piling paper! Access your statements from your online and mobile banking portals.
Prepaid Debit Cards
You can order ACU Visa Prepaid Debit Cards online and shop online securely or even teach your teens about spending.
See Our Competitive Checking Account Rates
Current as of April 1, 2024
Click below to see our full list of interest rates and any applicable fees below.
How To Open a Credit Union Checking Account
Step1 |
Become a Member of ACU Credit UnionYou can join ACU if you live, work, worship, or attend school in the Pacific Northwest or meet other criteria. |
Step2 |
Open a Regular Share Savings AccountUnlock all our quality products and services when you open a savings account with a deposit of just $25. |
Step3 |
Open Your Preferred Checking AccountChoose the right checking account for your needs and start enjoying all the benefits and features on offer! |
★★★★★
“Exceptional customer service and you always feel welcomed no matter if you are just picking up cash or making big decisions to maximize your funds! Love my ACU!”
Debra B.
Checking Accounts FAQ
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How much money do I need to open an account?
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You can open a Checking Account without depositing any funds at all. Keep in mind that you first need to open a Share Savings Account with a deposit of at least $25.
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What checking account balance do I need to earn dividends?
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The balance you need to earn dividends, and annual percentage yield (APY) depends on the account you choose.
- Affinity Free Checking earns on an opening balance of 0$ to $1,000
- Affinity Plus Checking earns on an opening balance of $0 to $24,999
- Affinity Premier earns on an opening balance of $25,000 to $34,999
Check our checking account rates page for full details.
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What are the monthly requirements to earn cash back on my Affinity Plus Account?
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To qualify for cash back, receive cash back on debit purchases, receive ATM surcharge reimbursements, and earn interest on your balance (up to $25,000) with an Affinity Plus Account, each month you must:
- Receive eStatements
- Make 15 debit card transactions of $5.00 or more
- Login to ACU Online or Mobile Banking
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What fees do I need to pay on my checking account?
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The fees you need to pay depend on which account you choose:
- Affinity Plus has a monthly maintenance fee of $7 in return for a range of extra benefits.
- Affinity Premier and Affinity Free have no monthly fee.
- Opportunity Checking has a monthly fee of $8.95 per month when you set up direct deposit for your entire payroll, pension, or Social Security check to your checking account (with a minimum of $500 per month). I you don’t set up direct deposit to your ACU checking account the monthly fee for this account is $10.95.
- You likely need to pay an overdraft fee if you spend more funds than you have available.
- Other fees may apply.
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What are compounding dividends?
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This is when you earn interest on the average daily balance of your deposited funds, and you also earn dividends on your interest earned each month. That way, your funds grow faster.
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Can I use Online and Mobile Banking to manage my checking account?
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Of course! With Online and Mobile Banking, you’ll have access to eStatements, eNotifications, eAlerts, and other convenient features that will make your checking account experience easy and satisfying. Here are a few popular features to get you started:
- Bill Pay lets you make payments easily, whether one-time or recurring
- Mobile Deposit lets you take a photo of a paper check and follow the simple steps to deposit the funds electronically
- You checking account is also compatible with Quicken and Quickbooks
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Will I need to become a member of America’s Credit Union before I can open a checking account?
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Yes, all types of ACU checking accounts and our other quality products and services are only available to members.
Membership is open to:
- People who live, work, worship, or attend school in the Pacific Northwest
- Members and employees of the Armed Forces and their relatives
- Members of the Association of the United States Army
- Members of the Pacific Northwest Consumer Council (PNWCC)
Learn more about joining and membership eligibility here.
More Ways ACU Can Help You Manage Your Finances
ACU offers a wide range of other products and services for our members. Discover some of our savings or money market accounts or our credit cards to help you stay ahead of the curve!
ACU Visa Credit Card
Get competitive rates and pay no annual fee when you choose from our range of four credit cards to suit all lifestyles.Learn More
Get competitive rates and pay no annual fee when you choose from our range of four credit cards to suit all lifestyles.Learn More
Money Market Accounts
Earn a higher rate as your balance grows and make up to six free withdrawals per month.Learn More
Earn a higher rate as your balance grows and make up to six free withdrawals per month.Learn More
Regular Share Savings
Get started with just $25 and become an ACU shareholder today! Make unlimited deposits and easily transfer your funds.Learn More
Get started with just $25 and become an ACU shareholder today! Make unlimited deposits and easily transfer your funds.Learn More
1* APY= Annual Percentage Yield accurate as of 02/01/2023. Limited to one Affinity Plus Checking account per primary account holder. Only consumer accounts in good standing are eligible. Fees may reduce earnings on the account. Rates are subject to change. Balances over $25,000 do not earn dividends on the portion of the balance over $25,000. The advertised Affinity Plus APY is based on compounding dividends. Regular Share Savings with a minimum deposit of $25 is required. Account receives identity theft coverage, cell phone repair coverage, 10 cents cash back for every debit card purchase over $5.00, and ATM fee reimbursement up to $10.00 per month. To earn dividends, receive ATM fee reimbursement, and 10 cents cash back, you must have eStatements, 15 POS transactions over $5.00 post and settle during the monthly statement period, and log into ACU Online or ACU Mobile App at least once per month. If qualifications are not met, all balances earn 0.00% APY. Qualifications do not have to be met to receive cell phone and identity theft insurance. Your wireless carrier may charge a data or text messaging fee. Please check with your provider. The qualification cycle is not the same as your monthly statement cycle. The Qualification Cycle is defined as the first calendar day of the month through the last calendar day of the month (example: March 1–March 31). Transactions may take one or more banking days from the date the transaction was made to post to and settle in the account. ATM-processed withdrawals do not count as qualifying debit card transactions. Accounts that do not satisfy the requirements of the account will still receive the insurance products and will be eligible for benefits in the following month. Identity theft expense reimbursement insurance is underwritten by Lyndon Southern Insurance Company, a member of the Fortegra family of companies. For questions about mobile claims please call Worth Ave Group at 877-210-7401. To redeem your monthly ATM fees, please contact the Member Contact Center at 253-964-3113.
2* APY=Annual Percentage Yield accurate as of 02/01/2023. Limited to one Affinity Free Checking account per primary account holder. Fees may reduce earnings. Rates are subject to change. See Fee Schedule. 3.00% APY applies to balances up to $1,000.00. Balances $1,000.01 to $15,000.00 earn 0.75% APY. Balances over $15,000.01 earn 0.50% APY. Regular Share Savings with a minimum deposit of $25 is required. To earn dividends, you must have direct deposit of at least $500 per month, 10 POS transactions, $15,000.00 in combined loans and/or deposits and enroll in E-Statements. The qualification cycle is not the same as your monthly statement cycle. The Qualification Cycle is defined as the first calendar day of the month through the last calendar day of the month (example: March 1–March 31). Transactions may take one or more banking days from the date the transaction was made to post to and settle in the account. ATM-processed withdrawals do not count as qualifying debit card transactions.
3* APY= Annual Percentage Yield accurate as of 02/01/2023. Limited to one Affinity Premier Checking account per primary account holder. Only consumer accounts in good standing are eligible. Rates are subject to change. Fees may reduce earnings on the account. Balances $35,000.00+ earn the Regular Share Rate. To earn dividends, you must have direct deposit of at least $500 or more per month. If qualifications are not met, all balances earn 0.00% APY. Balances $5,000.00 to $14,999.99 earn 0.25% APY. Balances $15,000.00 to $24,999.99 earn 0.50% APY. Balances $25,000.00 to $34,999.99 earn 0.75% APY. Regular Share Savings with a minimum deposit of $25 is required. Accounts that do not satisfy the requirements of the account will still receive the identity theft insurance. Identity theft expense reimbursement insurance is underwritten by Lyndon Southern Insurance Company, a member of the Fortegra family of companies.