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USAA VS Vio Bank

Which bank is better for you?

  • 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:

  • Good variety of CD terms
  • Low opening required amounts
  • Competitive interest rates on CDs
  • Can open accounts online

Cons:

  • Jumbo CDs have high opening amount
  • Link another account to CDs
  • Membership required to open accounts
  • Does not offer interest rate guarantee
  • Financial Rates: 5.0 Star Icon
  • Customer Service: 4.0 Star Icon
  • Variety of Terms: 5.0 Star Icon
  • Required Opening Amount: 5.0 Star Icon
No Rate Information
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Pros:

  • A wide variety of CD terms available
  • Competitive interest rates on CDs
  • Low required opening amount
  • Can choose how to receive interest

Cons:

  • CDs are not eligible for fund transfers
  • Early withdrawal has penalty and fee
  • No interest rate guarantee
  • Customer service has specific hours
USAA CD Review

USAA provides a good variety of CD terms. The terms range from three-months to seven-years. They offer fixed-rate CDs, jumbo and super jumbo CDs, and variable-rate CD terms. Each of these types of CDs offers different term lengths.

The standard fixed-rate CDs have low opening required amounts. Each of those CD terms requires $1,000 to open and earn interest. The standard CD terms range from 91-days to seven years. The variable-rate CDs only require $250 to open.

The USAA standard fixed-rate CDs offer competitive interest rates. The rates are competitive with other online CDs. They are much higher than the typical bank rates. These CD interest rates are not tiered. Any amount above the required opening amount earns competitive rates.

Everything for your USAA accounts can be done online. You can apply to become a member online. Once you are approved, you can open their CDs and other accounts online. They also offer a mobile app.

The jumbo and super jumbo CDs with USAA have high opening required amounts. The jumbo CDs require $95,000 to open. Super jumbo CDs require $175,000 to open. Standard CDs require $1,000 to open.

To transfer money electronically into your USAA CD, you must link another account. This linked account can be an external account or another account with USAA. Once the account is verified, you can transfer money electronically.

To open accounts with USAA, you must first become a member of the bank. Those who are eligible to join include active military and former military members. Eligible family members of those serving, cadets, and midshipmen are also able to join.

USAA CDs offer competitive rates, but not an interest rate guarantee. If the interest rates increase shortly after you open your CD, your USAA rates will not increase. Each of the CD terms offers competitive rates.

Read the full USAA review.

Vio Bank CD Review

Vio Bank offers a wide variety of CD terms. There are 11 different CD terms available through Vio Bank. The terms range from 6-months to 120-months. Each of the CD terms can be opened online. You must be 18 years or older to open an account with Vio.

The Vio Bank CDs offer competitive interest rates. The rates are competitive with other online accounts. They are much higher than typical bank rates. Each term offers rates competitive with other online CDs of the same term length. Vio Bank regularly monitors interest rates. This helps to ensure their rates are competitive with national rates.

The amount required to open Vio Bank CDs is low. Each CD only requires $500 to open. You can open any of the CDs online, with that set amount. With the required opening amount, you will earn the competitive interest rates on the CD.

When you open a CD with Vio Bank, you can choose how often and how to receive earned interest. Choose how often your interest credits to your CD. There may be options on what account to have the interest credit to as well. If you close your account before the interest credits, you will not receive your earned interest.

Vio Bank CDs are not eligible for fund transfers. Only the savings accounts are eligible for the fund's transfer. If you try to transfer funds to or from your Vio Bank CD, you will receive an error message.

To withdraw money from the CDs before the maturity date has a set penalty and a fee for terms longer than 31 days. For terms 31 days or shorter, the penalty is all the earned interest on the withdrawn amount. For terms from 32 days to 12 months, the penalty is one percent on the withdrawn amount and a $25 fee. For terms longer than 12-months, the penalty is three percent of the withdrawn amount and a fee of $25.

Vio Bank does not offer an interest rate guarantee. The rate on the day you open your Vio Bank CD is the rate you earn for the life of the CD term. If the rates increase shortly after opening your account, your CD rate will not increase.

Vio Bank is an entirely online bank. Customer service has specific hours and ways to contact them. Reach a representative through phone, email, or mail. Vio does offer extended customer service hours. But, a representative is not available anytime.

Read the full Vio Bank review.

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