Our experts answer readers’ banking questions and write unbiased product reviews (here’s how we assess banking products). In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners; however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page.
Golden 1 Credit Union Overall Rating
Golden 1 Credit Union Pros and Cons
Golden 1 Credit Union Regular Savings Account
4/5
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
0.05% to 0.20%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$0
Fees
no monthly service fee
Golden 1 Credit Union Regular Savings Account
4/5
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
0.05% to 0.20%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$0
Fees
no monthly service fee
Golden 1 Credit Union, Member NCUA
Golden 1 Credit Union Regular Savings Account
Golden 1 Credit Union, Member NCUA
Details
Fees
no monthly service fee
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
0.05% to 0.20%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$0
Pros & Cons
$1 opening deposit
No monthly service fee
Mediocre APY
Compounds interest monthly, not daily
$3 excess withdrawal fee
Highlights
Any California resident or employee can become a Golden 1 Credit Union member
Earn a higher APY with a balance of $10,000 or more
Interest compounded monthly, paid monthly
Federally insured by the NCUA
Additional Reading
Read our review
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.
Golden 1 Credit Union Free Checking Account
4.25/5
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
None
Minimum Deposit Amount
$0
Fees
no monthly service fee
Golden 1 Credit Union Free Checking Account
4.25/5
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
None
Minimum Deposit Amount
$0
Fees
no monthly service fee
On Golden 1 Credit Union’s secure site. Golden 1 Credit Union, NCUA insured.
Golden 1 Credit Union Free Checking Account
On Golden 1 Credit Union’s secure site. Golden 1 Credit Union, NCUA insured.
Details
Fees
no monthly service fee
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
None
Minimum Deposit Amount
$0
Pros & Cons
No minimum opening deposit
No monthly service fees
Overdraft protection available
Free box of 40 checks
$2 out-of-network ATM fee
$30 overdraft fee
Highlights
Any California resident or employee can become a Golden 1 Credit Union member
Access to over 30,000 free Golden 1 and CO-OP ATMs
If you use overdraft protection, you can transfer money from savings for a $5 charge
Federally insured by the NCUA
Additional Reading
Read our review
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 Credit Union CD
3.75/5
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
0.15% to 1.10%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$500
Golden 1 Credit Union CD
3.75/5
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
0.15% to 1.10%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$500
Golden 1 Credit Union, NCUA insured.
Golden 1 Credit Union CD
Golden 1 Credit Union, NCUA insured.
Details
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
0.15% to 1.10%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$500
Pros & Cons
Competitive APY, even for low balances
$500 opening deposit
Any California resident or employee can join
$100k minimum to earn highest APY
High early withdrawal penalties
Interest compounded monthly, not daily
No terms over 5 years
Relatively difficult to join as a non-California resident or employee
Highlights
All California residents and employees can join Golden 1 Credit Union, or family members of current members or people who work for certain companies
Terms ranging from 3 months to 5 years
Early withdrawal penalty of 365 days interest on the amount withdrawn for all term lengths
Interest compounded monthly and paid monthly
Federally insured by the NCUA
Additional Reading
Read our review
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.
Golden 1 Credit Union Money Market Account
3.75/5
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
0.05% to 0.20%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$100
Fees
no monthly service fee
Golden 1 Credit Union Money Market Account
3.75/5
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
0.05% to 0.20%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$100
Fees
no monthly service fee
On Golden 1 Credit Union’s secure site. Golden 1 Credit Union, NCUA insured.
Golden 1 Credit Union Money Market Account
On Golden 1 Credit Union’s secure site. Golden 1 Credit Union, NCUA insured.
Details
Fees
no monthly service fee
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
0.05% to 0.20%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$100
Pros & Cons
$100 minimum opening deposit
No monthly service fees
Earn a higher interest if you have a higher account balance
No debit card
No check writing
Online banks can offer a higher interest rate
Highlights
Any California resident or employee can become a Golden 1 Credit Union member
Access to over 30,000 free Golden 1 and CO-OP ATMs
Earn 0.05% APY if you have an account balance between $0.01 and $9,999.99
Earn 0.10% APY if you have an account balance between $10,000.00 and $49,999.99
Earn 0.15% APY if you have an account balance between $50,000.00 and $99,999.99
Earn 0.20% APY if you have an account balance over $100,000
Interest compounded and deposited monthly
Federally insured by the NCUA
Additional Reading
Read our review
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.
Sophia Acevedo, CEPF
Banking Reporter
Evelyn He
Compliance Associate
Evelyn He is a compliance associate at Insider who supports the Personal Finance Insider team. Personal Finance Insider is Insider’s personal finance section that incorporates affiliate and commerce partnerships into the news, insights, and advice about money that Insider readers already know and love. The compliance team’s mission is to provide readers with stories that are fact-checked and current, so they can make informed financial decisions. The team also works to minimize risk for partners by making sure language is clear, precise, and fully compliant with regulatory and partner marketing guidelines that align with the editorial team. Before joining Insider, she served in various legal and compliance roles in different industries, including the legal and pharmaceutical industries. Evelyn obtained her M.S. degree in Marketing at Boston University in 2022. Prior to combining and consolidating her knowledge of law and business, she spent one year finishing 1L courses at Suffolk University Law School to further her legal knowledge. She has also completed MBA business law courses while working on her Bachelor of Business Administration in Management at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her 14-year-old Shih Tzu named Money, and her 4-year-old Bichon named Tibber.
Our experts answer readers’ banking questions and write unbiased product reviews (here’s how we assess banking products). In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners; however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page.
Golden 1 Credit Union Overall Rating
Golden 1 Credit Union Pros and Cons
Golden 1 Credit Union Regular Savings Account
4/5
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
0.05% to 0.20%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$0
Fees
no monthly service fee
Golden 1 Credit Union Regular Savings Account
4/5
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
0.05% to 0.20%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$0
Fees
no monthly service fee
Golden 1 Credit Union, Member NCUA
Golden 1 Credit Union Regular Savings Account
Golden 1 Credit Union, Member NCUA
Details
Fees
no monthly service fee
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
0.05% to 0.20%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$0
Pros & Cons
$1 opening deposit
No monthly service fee
Mediocre APY
Compounds interest monthly, not daily
$3 excess withdrawal fee
Highlights
Any California resident or employee can become a Golden 1 Credit Union member
Earn a higher APY with a balance of $10,000 or more
Interest compounded monthly, paid monthly
Federally insured by the NCUA
Additional Reading
Read our review
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.
Golden 1 Credit Union Free Checking Account
4.25/5
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
None
Minimum Deposit Amount
$0
Fees
no monthly service fee
Golden 1 Credit Union Free Checking Account
4.25/5
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
None
Minimum Deposit Amount
$0
Fees
no monthly service fee
On Golden 1 Credit Union’s secure site. Golden 1 Credit Union, NCUA insured.
Golden 1 Credit Union Free Checking Account
On Golden 1 Credit Union’s secure site. Golden 1 Credit Union, NCUA insured.
Details
Fees
no monthly service fee
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
None
Minimum Deposit Amount
$0
Pros & Cons
No minimum opening deposit
No monthly service fees
Overdraft protection available
Free box of 40 checks
$2 out-of-network ATM fee
$30 overdraft fee
Highlights
Any California resident or employee can become a Golden 1 Credit Union member
Access to over 30,000 free Golden 1 and CO-OP ATMs
If you use overdraft protection, you can transfer money from savings for a $5 charge
Federally insured by the NCUA
Additional Reading
Read our review
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 Credit Union CD
3.75/5
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
0.15% to 1.10%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$500
Golden 1 Credit Union CD
3.75/5
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
0.15% to 1.10%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$500
Golden 1 Credit Union, NCUA insured.
Golden 1 Credit Union CD
Golden 1 Credit Union, NCUA insured.
Details
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
0.15% to 1.10%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$500
Pros & Cons
Competitive APY, even for low balances
$500 opening deposit
Any California resident or employee can join
$100k minimum to earn highest APY
High early withdrawal penalties
Interest compounded monthly, not daily
No terms over 5 years
Relatively difficult to join as a non-California resident or employee
Highlights
All California residents and employees can join Golden 1 Credit Union, or family members of current members or people who work for certain companies
Terms ranging from 3 months to 5 years
Early withdrawal penalty of 365 days interest on the amount withdrawn for all term lengths
Interest compounded monthly and paid monthly
Federally insured by the NCUA
Additional Reading
Read our review
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.
Golden 1 Credit Union Money Market Account
3.75/5
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
0.05% to 0.20%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$100
Fees
no monthly service fee
Golden 1 Credit Union Money Market Account
3.75/5
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
0.05% to 0.20%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$100
Fees
no monthly service fee
On Golden 1 Credit Union’s secure site. Golden 1 Credit Union, NCUA insured.
Golden 1 Credit Union Money Market Account
On Golden 1 Credit Union’s secure site. Golden 1 Credit Union, NCUA insured.
Details
Fees
no monthly service fee
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
0.05% to 0.20%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$100
Pros & Cons
$100 minimum opening deposit
No monthly service fees
Earn a higher interest if you have a higher account balance
No debit card
No check writing
Online banks can offer a higher interest rate
Highlights
Any California resident or employee can become a Golden 1 Credit Union member
Access to over 30,000 free Golden 1 and CO-OP ATMs
Earn 0.05% APY if you have an account balance between $0.01 and $9,999.99
Earn 0.10% APY if you have an account balance between $10,000.00 and $49,999.99
Earn 0.15% APY if you have an account balance between $50,000.00 and $99,999.99
Earn 0.20% APY if you have an account balance over $100,000
Interest compounded and deposited monthly
Federally insured by the NCUA
Additional Reading
Read our review
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.
Sophia Acevedo, CEPF
Banking Reporter
Evelyn He
Compliance Associate
Evelyn He is a compliance associate at Insider who supports the Personal Finance Insider team. Personal Finance Insider is Insider’s personal finance section that incorporates affiliate and commerce partnerships into the news, insights, and advice about money that Insider readers already know and love. The compliance team’s mission is to provide readers with stories that are fact-checked and current, so they can make informed financial decisions. The team also works to minimize risk for partners by making sure language is clear, precise, and fully compliant with regulatory and partner marketing guidelines that align with the editorial team. Before joining Insider, she served in various legal and compliance roles in different industries, including the legal and pharmaceutical industries. Evelyn obtained her M.S. degree in Marketing at Boston University in 2022. Prior to combining and consolidating her knowledge of law and business, she spent one year finishing 1L courses at Suffolk University Law School to further her legal knowledge. She has also completed MBA business law courses while working on her Bachelor of Business Administration in Management at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her 14-year-old Shih Tzu named Money, and her 4-year-old Bichon named Tibber.
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