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Comenity Direct VS First Internet Bank of Indiana

Which bank is better for you?

  • Financial Rates: 5.0 Star Icon
  • Customer Service: 2.5 Star Icon
  • Variety of Terms: 4.0 Star Icon
  • Required Opening Amount: 3.0 Star Icon
No Rate Information
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Pros:

  • Competitive interest rates on all CDs
  • Encourages CD laddering
  • Low opening required amounts
  • Can open all CDs online

Cons:

  • Opening amount requires one sum
  • Limited CD terms available
  • No interest rate guarantee
  • Customer service not open 24/7
  • Financial Rates: 5.0 Star Icon
  • Customer Service: 5.0 Star Icon
  • Variety of Terms: 5.0 Star Icon
  • Required Opening Amount: 5.0 Star Icon
No Rate Information
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Pros:

  • Competitive interest rates offered
  • Low opening required amount
  • Good variety of CD terms available
  • Variety of options on how to fund CDs

Cons:

  • Early withdrawal fees are high
  • Closing CDs may have a check fee
  • New customers need approval
  • Cannot transfer money from CDs
Comenity Direct CD Review

The Comenity Direct CDs offer competitive interest rates on each of their CD terms. The interest rates are competitive with other online accounts. These rates are much higher than typical bank rates. The rates are not tiered. Any amount over $1,500 earns competitive rates.

Comenity Direct encourages CD laddering. CD laddering is when you open one five-year CD each year. Your money earns competitive interest rates offered by five-year CDs. By opening one each year, one renews each year. This allows you access to your money every year without an early withdrawal penalty.

The CDs with Comenity Direct have low opening required amounts. They each need only $1,500 to open. Once you fund the CD, your money starts earning interest immediately.

Each of the CDs offered through Comenity Direct can be opened online. This is an entirely online bank. You open your account online and take care of all your banking needs online. They offer a website as well as a mobile app to access your accounts.

The opening required amount to fund Comenity Direct CDs requires $1,500. This amount must be deposited in one transaction. You cannot make that deposit through multiple transactions.

Comenity Direct offers online CDs. There are limited CD terms available. They offer one, two, three, four, and five-year terms. Open each of the Comenity Direct CDs entirely online.

The Comenity Direct CDs do not offer an interest rate guarantee. The interest rates on each of the CDs are competitive. But, if the rates increase shortly after opening the CD, your interest rates will not increase.

Customer service hours for Comenity Direct are not 24/7. They do offer extended customer service hours. They are open on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and weekends from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can call customer service or send an email. There are no branch locations.

Read the full Comenity Direct review.

First Internet Bank of Indiana CD Review

The First Internet Bank CDs offer competitive interest rates. The rates are competitive with other online accounts. First IB CDs offer interest rates much higher than typical bank rates. All the different CD terms offer competitive interest rates.

The amount required to open First Internet Bank CDs is low. CD terms requires $1,000. That amount is low compared to some online CD accounts. With that $1,000 required amount, you can open any of the First IB CD terms.

First Internet Bank offers a good variety of CD terms. The terms range from 3-months to 60-month CDs. They offer a total of eight CD account terms. All the CD terms are online CDs. You can apply for any term length online through the First IB website.

First Internet Bank offers a variety of ways to fund the CD. You can deposit money through an ACH transaction or deposit a check. You can set up a linked external account and make an electronic transfer. You can also send a wire or use a credit card for the initial funding of the CD. They do not accept third party checks.

First IB charges a fee for withdrawing money before the maturity date. The fees are high compared to other CD accounts. For three-month terms, the fee is 90 days of interest. For terms from 6-months to 18-months, the fee is 180 days of interest. The fee for CD terms from 24-months to 60-months is 360 days of interest.

First Internet Bank may charge a fee based on how you choose to receive your money from closed CDs. There is not a fee if you deposit the money into your First IB checking or savings account. If you request a check when you close your account, there is a $5 fee per check.

When you apply for an account, First IB must approve your account application. Once you complete the application, they will review your application. If you are approved, First IB sends an email within two business days after they review your account. If you already have a savings or checking account with First IB you do not need approval again.

First Internet Bank does not allow you to transfer money out of your CD accounts. They offer a fund transfer service, but their CD accounts are not eligible. Other First IB accounts charge a $5 fee to transfer money from a First IB account to an external account.

Read the full First Internet Bank of Indiana review.

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