Best credit union accounts

ALLIANT CREDIT UNION HIGH-RATE CHECKING

Alliant’s digital tools are a step ahead of those offered by other credit unions. Its mobile check-deposit feature, for instance, lets members make daily deposits of up to $50,000. What’s more, account holders can qualify for an APY of 0.65% by opting out of paper statements and having at least one electronic deposit made to their accounts each month, which includes direct, ATM and mobile deposits, as well as transfers from other financial institutions.

Becoming a member is just as easy: All it takes is a one-time donation of $10 to an Alliant-affiliated nonprofit. And for that you also get access to more than 80,000 surcharge-free ATMs and a minimum of fees.

CONNEXUS XTRAORDINARY CHECKING

Along with a solid lineup of online tools and over 50,000 free ATMs, the Connexus Xtraordinary Checking account offers customers an APY of 1.75% on balances under $25,000.

To qualify for this sky-high rate, customers must enroll in electronic statements and do the following each month: make 15 debit card transactions, receive at least one direct deposit, and schedule at least one online bill payment. If you don’t live within this credit union’s field of membership, a one-time donation of $5 to Connexus Association will get you in the door.