Alliant Credit Union vs. Connexus Credit Union: Which Is Best for You?
Credit unions tend to be known for tight membership requirements and few account options. But Alliant and Connexus are two with the chops to prove that thinking wrong.
Both institutions have a variety of accounts and make it easy to become a member. But which would work better for you?
Snapshot comparison
Alliant | Connexus | |
Checking accounts | Alliant High-Rate Checking
| Connexus Xtraordinary Checking
|
Savings accounts | Alliant High-Rate Savings
| Connexus Personal Savings
|
Certificates of deposit | Alliant share certificate interest rates
| Connexus share certificate interest rates
|
Overdrafts, ATMs, customer service | ||
Choose Alliant if:
You want higher savings account rates.
You want a larger ATM network.
Choose Connexus if:
You want a high rate on your checking balance.
You want a high rate on a share certificate — and are willing to deposit more to get it.
Alliant vs. Connexus: Basic checking accounts
Alliant High-Rate Checking | Connexus Xtraordinary Checking | |
Monthly fee | $0. | $0. |
Minimum deposit to open | None. | None. |
APY | 0.25% APY. | 1.35% APY on up to $25,000. |
ATM network and fees |
|
|
Sign-up bonus | None. | None. |
» Learn how Alliant and Connexus stack up against top banks with NerdWallet’s round-up of best checking accounts.
Alliant vs. Connexus: Basic savings accounts
Alliant High-Rate Savings | Connexus Personal Savings | |
APY on balances of $100 or more | 0.55% APY. | 0.25% APY. |
Monthly fee | $0, with e-statements.
| $0. |
Minimum deposit to open | $5, which Alliant will credit back to your account. | $5. |
Sign-up bonus | None. | None. |
» Want to compare these accounts to those offered at other banks and credit unions? Check out our round-up of NerdWallet's best savings accounts.
Alliant vs. Connexus: Share certificates
Alliant | Connexus | |
---|---|---|
Minimum opening deposit | $1,000. | $5,000. |
APY on one-year term | 0.50%. | 0.71%. |
APY on three-year term | 0.60%. | 0.90%. |
APY on five-year term | 0.65%. | 1.01%. |
» Find out where you'll get the best CD rates this month
Alliant vs. Connexus: Credit union experience
Alliant | Connexus | |
---|---|---|
Branches | One, in Chicago. | Participates in the Co-op network with access to 5,600 branches across the country. Less than 15 Connexus branches, all in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio and New Hampshire. |
Membership requirements | Sign up to support Foster Care to Success, a nonprofit that supports foster children. (Alliant will pay $5 to the organization on your behalf.) | Make a $5 donation to the Connexus Association, a financial literacy organization. |
Banking apps (current ratings from app store users) |
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Customer service |
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Alliant vs. Connexus: Overdraft fees
Alliant | Connexus | |
Overdraft fee |
| $29.95 per transaction. |
Overdraft protection transfer fee | $0 for a savings transfer, $3 for a line of credit. | $0 for a savings transfer or line of credit. |
Extended overdraft fee | None. | None. |
Banking from home
As long as you don’t mind managing your accounts online — or you live near a branch — Alliant and Connexus are both good choices. Interested? Read our introduction to online and mobile banking. If you prefer in-person service, check out our list of best national banks.