Golden 1 Credit Union Review 2023

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Golden 1 Credit Union Overall Rating

Golden 1 Credit Union Pros and Cons

The Golden 1 Credit Union Regular Savings Account is a great free savings account if you don’t plan on making a lot of withdrawals. Otherwise, you’ll have to pay a $3 charge on each withdrawal if you make more than three per month.

If you don’t want to deal with excessive withdrawal fees or a high interest rate, you may prefer a savings account in our best savings accounts guide.

The Golden 1 Credit Union Free Checking Account is one of the credit union’s strongest products. There’s no minimum opening deposit or monthly service fees. You also have free access to over 30,000 free ATMs through the Golden 1 and CO-OP ATM networks. 

Golden 1’s CDs pay decent interest rates. You’ll also only need $500 to open a CD, which is less than what other financial institutions require. Be mindful of high early withdrawal penalties, though.

You may like the Golden 1 Credit Union Money Market Account if you’re willing to maintain a high balance on your account — you’ll earn a very low rate on balances under $10,000. However, there’s no easy access to your account with an ATM card or paper checks, so it might be difficult to get money in a pinch.

About Golden 1 Credit Union

Golden 1 Credit Union is a California financial institution. It has 70 branches across the Golden State and access to over 30,000 free ATMs through the Golden 1 and CO-OP ATM networks. 

You must live in California to join. Military service members who typically reside in California are also eligible if they are currently out of state. To become a member, you’ll need to open a saving account with at least $1.

To contact customer support, call Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT or on the weekend from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT. 

Golden 1 has mixed mobile app ratings. In the Google Play store, it has 3.2 out of 5 stars, but in the Apple Store, it received 4.8 out of 5 stars.

It’s also federally insured by the NCUA. This means the NCUA oversees the credit union to ensure that it follows laws and regulations, and up to $250,000 in an individual account is protected. 

Is Golden 1 Credit Union Trustworthy?

Golden 1 Credit Union hasn’t been involved in any recent scandals. 

It’s also received an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau for how it addresses customer issues and handles transparency. 

A good BBB rating isn’t necessarily the be-all, end-all. When deciding where to bank, talk to current members about their experiences or consider reading online customer reviews. 

How Golden 1 Credit Union Compares 

We compared Golden 1 Credit Union to two other financial institutions from our best banks and credit unions in California guide: Bank of America and Citi.

Picking your favorite among these three financial institutions may largely depend on whether you’d prefer national banking or regional banking.

Bank of America and Citi are both national banks, which means that branches are available throughout the US. Meanwhile, Golden 1 Credit Union is a regional bank; it only has branches in California. 

If you don’t have a preference between national and regional banks, you’ll want to see which accounts best fit your needs. 

Golden 1 offers the most appealing CDs. It pays competitive interest rates and has a $500 minimum opening deposit for all terms. 

Bank of America offers a decent checking account that lets you waive monthly service fees in several ways. Its robust national presence also makes it easy to access your money.

Citi is a worthwhile option if you’re looking for a full banking experience. Its accounts are organized into packages so you can choose between several different checking and savings accounts.