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Sallie Mae 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:

  • Competitive interest rates on CDs
  • Good variety of CD terms offered
  • Interest rates on CDs not tiered
  • Penalty for early withdrawals is low

Cons:

  • CDs have a required opening amount
  • Must keep set amount in account
  • Does not offer guarantee for rates
  • Link CDs to external bank accounts
  • 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
Sallie Mae CD Review

Each Sallie Mae CD offers competitive interest rates. The rates are competitive with other online CD accounts. Sallie Mae rates are much higher than typical bank rates. The longer the CD term the higher the interest rates offered. Sallie Mae’s five-year CD offers very competitive interest rates.

Sallie Mae offers a good variety of CD terms. The terms range from 6-months to 60-months. There are 11 CD terms in total. Sallie Mae offers CD terms in more than just traditional terms. Those term lengths include an 11-month CD, a 13-month CD, a 15-month CD, and a 30-month CD. These options allow customers to find the best fit for their money.

The CD interest rates for Sallie Mae CDs are not tiered. You do not have to have a large account balance to earn the most competitive rates available. Any balance above the required opening amount earns competitive interest rates.

Most CDs have a fee if you withdraw the money before the CD reaches maturity. The penalty for Sallie Mae CDs is less compared to other banks CD fees. The penalty for withdrawing money from CD terms 12-months or less is 90 days of interest. The fee for CDs over 12-months is 180 days of interest.

There is a set amount required to open Sallie Mae CDs. Each of the CD terms requires $2,500 to open. Make deposits through an electronic transfer or an e-deposit on the mobile app. You can also mail a check.

To earn interest on the Sallie Mae CDs, you must keep an account balance of $2,500. If your balance drops below that amount, you will not earn any interest. Sallie Mae CDs offer competitive interest rates if you keep that set balance.

Sallie Mae CDs do not come with a guarantee to lock in the best rate. The interest rate at the time you open the CD is the interest rate you receive for the life of the term. The rate you lock in is fixed for the life of the CD term.

Sallie Mae CDs must be linked to an external account to make electronic transfers. Once you link an external account, you can transfer money electronically. Customers can withdraw earned interest from the CD. To withdraw the interest, transfer the money into the linked external account.

Read the full Sallie Mae 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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