Salem Five Direct Review: Checking, Savings and CDs

  1. Margarette Burnette Author Avatar
  2. Yuliya Goldshteyn Author Avatar
  3. +1
Written by
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Edited by
Last updated on April 17, 2024
Fact Checked
Fact Checked
NerdWallet rating
4.1
Deposit products reviewed:
Best for:Customers who don’t have an existing branch banking relationship with Salem Five Bank and are looking for online checking and savings accounts that pay competitive rates.
Salem Five Direct
4.1
NerdWallet rating

Overview

Salem Five Direct offers online checking and savings accounts with no monthly fees. Each has a reasonable minimum opening deposit, and eOne Savings has a strong interest rate. The bank also has certificates of deposit, some of which tend to have high rates.

Salem Five Direct is a subsidiary of Salem Five Bank, based in Salem, Massachusetts. Customers who already have a checking account at Salem Five Bank aren't eligible for online eOne checking.

» Want more options? See NerdWallet’s analysis of the best savings accounts and the best checking accounts

Pros
  • Competitive savings rates.

  • Well-rated mobile apps.

  • Large, free, nationwide ATM network.

Cons
  • High overdraft fees.

  • Checking and savings accounts generally aren’t available to customers of the brick-and-mortar Salem Five Bank.

Product reviews

Savings

Salem Five Direct eOne Savings
product logo
NerdWallet Rating
4.5
APY
3.51%
With $0.01 min. balance for APY
Bonus
N/A
Salem Five Direct eOne Savings
APY
3.51%
With $0.01 min. balance for APY
Bonus
N/A

Salem Five Direct’s eOne Savings account offers a competitive annual percentage yield and pays interest on balances up to a million dollars. You can open an account with $10 and there are no minimum balance requirements or monthly fees.

How does this savings account compare?AD
product logo
NerdWallet Rating
4.5
Learn moreon partner's site
at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association, Member FDIC
APY
4.00% for 6mo
With $0 min. balance for APY
Bonus
$400
Requirements to qualify
APY
4.00% for 6mo
With $0 min. balance for APY
Bonus
$400
Requirements to qualify

Salem Five Direct eOne Savings

4.5
NerdWallet Rating
APY
3.51%
With $0.01 min. balance for APY
Bonus
N/A
APY
4.00% for 6mo
With $0 min. balance for APY
Bonus
$400
Requirements to qualify
Learn moreon partner's site
at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association, Member FDIC
» Looking for banks with the highest rates? See our list of best high-yield online savings accounts

Rating methodology

How we rate banks and credit unions

Banking writers and editors use an objective methodology to rate banks, credit unions, and other providers, and to recommend the best products.

100+

Financial institutions reviewed

We took a close look at around 100 financial institutions and financial service providers, including the largest U.S. banks based on assets, internet search traffic and other factors; the nation’s largest credit unions, based on assets and membership; and other notable players in the industry. We rated them on criteria including annual percentage yields, minimum balances, fees, digital experience and more.

30+

Categories assessed

Each provider is evaluated across five weighted categories and 30 subcategories, including checking and savings accounts, certificates of deposit, customer experience, and overdraft services. For banks or credit unions without one or more types of accounts, the overall rating is modified to include only applicable categories. Institutions are not penalized if they don't offer every type of account.

60+

Data points analyzed

We considered more than 60 data points for each provider. Depending on the category, these included account fees and rates (such as annual percentage yields), ATM and branch access, account features, account bonuses, customer service access and user-facing technology, such as innovative tools and mobile apps. We gathered this information for each financial institution from its website, a media representative or both.

Star rating categories

The review team is made up of seasoned writers and editors who cover personal banking deposit accounts, such as checking, savings and certificates of deposit, as well as related banking services, such as overdraft programs and ATM networks. For providers without one or more types of accounts, the overall rating is modified to include only applicable categories. Institutions are not penalized if they don't offer every type of account.

Financial institutions and providers surveyed are: Affirm, All America Bank, Alliant Credit Union, Ally Bank, Alto, Amalgamated Bank, American Express National Bank, Andrews Federal Credit Union, Associated Bank, Axos Bank, Bank of America, Bank5 Connect, Barclays, Bask Bank, BMO, Boeing Employees Credit Union, Bread Savings®, BrioDirect, Capital One, Cash App, CFG Bank, Charles Schwab Bank, Chase, Chime, CIBC U.S., CIT Bank, Citibank, Citizens Access, Citizens Bank, Climate First Bank, ConnectOne Bank, Connexus Credit Union, Consumers Credit Union, Current, Customers Bank, Discover® Bank, E*TRADE, EverBank, Fifth Third Bank, First Foundation, First Internet Bank, First Tech Federal Credit Union, FNBO Direct, Forbright Bank, FourLeaf Federal Credit Union, GO2bank, Golden 1 Credit Union, Hope Credit Union, HSBC Bank, Huntington Bank, Ivy Bank, KeyBank, Lake Michigan Credit Union, LendingClub Bank, Live Oak Bank, M&T Bank, Marcus by Goldman Sachs, My Banking Direct, NASA Federal Credit Union, Navy Federal Credit Union, NBKC, Newtek Bank, OMB Bank, OnePay, Openbank, PayPal, Peak Bank, Pentagon Federal Credit Union, PNC, Poppy Bank, Popular Direct, Quontic Bank, Regions Bank, Revolut, Salem Five Direct, Sallie Mae Bank, Santander Bank, SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, Security Service Federal Credit Union, Securityplus Federal Credit Union, Self-Help Credit Union, Service Credit Union, SoFi, State Employees’ Credit Union of North Carolina, Synchrony Bank, TAB Bank, TD Bank, Truist Bank, U.S. Bank, UFB Direct, Upgrade, USAA Bank, Valley Bank, Varo, Venmo, Vio Bank, Wells Fargo, Western Alliance Bank, Zolve and Zynlo Bank.

NerdWallet does not receive compensation for our star ratings. Read more about our ratings methodologies for banks and credit unions and our editorial guidelines.