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Live Oak Bank VS Banesco USA

Which bank is better for you?

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

  • Good variety of CD terms offered
  • Competitive interest rates on all terms
  • CD terms require same opening amount
  • Early withdrawal penalty low

Cons:

  • No interest rate guarantee offered
  • Only one way to receive interest
  • Customer service has specific hours
  • Must link an external bank account
  • Financial Rates: 5.0 Star Icon
  • Customer Service: 5.0 Star Icon
  • Variety of Terms: 4.0 Star Icon
  • Required Opening Amount: 4.0 Star Icon
No Rate Information
Star Icon Star Icon Star Icon Star Icon Star Icon

Pros:

  • Competitive interest rates on CDs
  • Low opening required amounts
  • Can open BaneSmart CDs online
  • Options on how to receive interest

Cons:

  • Limited CD terms available online
  • Does not offer interest rate guarantee
  • Interest on 12-months must be paid out
  • Fund accounts through mailing a check
Live Oak Bank CD Review

Live Oak Bank offers a good variety of CD terms. The terms range from six months to five years. There are seven different CD terms available from Live Oak Bank.

Each of the CD terms offers competitive interest rates. The interest rates are competitive with other online CDs. Live Oak Bank CDs offer rates much higher than typical bank rates. Even the six-month and one-year CD offer rates competitive with other online CDs.

Each of the CDs offered through Live Oak Bank has the same opening required amount. The seven terms each require $2,500 to open. Once you have the required opening amount, you can earn interest on any amount above that balance. You must completely fund your account with the $2,500 within 14 days of opening the account.

Live Oak Bank CDs has a low penalty for withdrawing money before the maturity date. If your CD term is less than 24 months, the penalty is 90 days of interest on the withdrawn amount. If your CD terms are 24 months or longer, the penalty is 180 days of interest on the withdrawn amount.

Live Oak Bank does not offer an interest rate guarantee when you open a CD. The interest rate on the day you open and fund your account is the rate you will receive on the CD. If the rates increase shortly after opening your account, your CD interest rate will not increase.

There is only one option for how to receive interest payments on your Live Oak Bank CDs. The interest credits each month. The money is deposited back into your CD. You can withdraw the interest earned on the CDs without a penalty.

Customer service for Live Oak Bank has limited availability and contact options. Customer service is available through phone, email, or mail. Their hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. You can follow Live Oak Bank on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Applying for a Live Oak Bank CD is completely online. To successfully set up a CD you must link an external bank account. Once you finish the paperwork, Live Oak Bank will verify your external bank account. You then fund your account with an electronic transfer from an external bank account.

Read the full Live Oak Bank review.

Banesco USA CD Review

The Banesco USA BaneSmart CDs offer competitive interest rates. These rates are much higher than typical bank rates. Banesco USA CDs offer rates competitive with other online CDs.

The Banesco CDs have low opening required amounts. The amounts range from $1,000 to $1,500 depending on the account. You must keep these balances in your CD accounts to earn competitive interest rates.

You can open each BaneSmart CD term online. The application is on the Banesco USA website. You do not need to visit a branch location.

There are options on how and when you receive your interest payments. You can choose to receive BaneSmart CD interest payments monthly, quarterly, or semi-annually. You can also choose to receive the interest when the CD reaches maturity. You can deposit interest earnings into any Banesco USA accounts.

There are limited BaneSmart CD terms available through Banesco USA. The terms range from six to 36-month CDs. There are a total of five CDs available online. More CD terms may be available at a branch location.

The BaneSmart CDs do not offer an interest rate guarantee. If the interest rates increase shortly after you open your CD, your rates will not increase. The interest rates for BaneSmart CDs are competitive. But, there is not a guarantee if the rates increase.

Banesco CD terms longer than 12-months have limits on interest payments. The annual percentage yield cannot stay in the account. A payout is necessary. Withdrawing the money before the CD reaches maturity will result in a fee. Contact customer service for more information on this matter.

There are limited ways to fund your BaneSmart Banesco CD. To initially fund your CD, you need to mail in a check. The CD terms range from six to 36-months.

Read the full Banesco USA review.

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