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Vio Bank VS Comenity Direct

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: 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
  • 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
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.

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.

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