Insider’s experts choose the best products and services to help make smart decisions with your money (here’s how). In some cases, we receive a commission from our our partners, however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page.
How Travis Credit Union products compare
Overall credit union rating
Pros and cons
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
0.00% to 0.15%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$5
Fees
$9 quarterly service fee (with options to waive)
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
0.00% to 0.15%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$5
Fees
$9 quarterly service fee (with options to waive)
On Travis Credit Union’s website
Details
Fees
$9 quarterly service fee (with options to waive)
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
0.00% to 0.15%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$5
Pros & Cons
Highlights
All members must open the Travis Credit Union Prime Savings Account. Take note you’ll need to maintain at least $100 across savings, money market, checking, and certificates, or you’ll have to pay a $9 quarterly service fee.
However, you’ll be able to waive the fee regardless of your account balance if you receive direct deposits of $500 or more monthly, or make at least three transactions of $10 or more each month from your checking account.
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
None
Minimum Deposit Amount
$0
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
None
Minimum Deposit Amount
$0
On Travis Credit Union’s website
Details
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
None
Minimum Deposit Amount
$0
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Travis Credit Union Free Checking is an overall solid checking account. It doesn’t charge monthly service fees, and there aren’t any minimum balance requirements.
You can also avoid overdraft fees if you get overdraft protection by linking your checking account to a savings account. However, keep in mind there’s a $5 overdraft protection transfer fee if you utilize overdraft protection.
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
0.90% to 3.25%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$500
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
0.90% to 3.25%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$500
On Travis Credit Union’s website
Details
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
0.90% to 3.25%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$500
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Travis Credit Union Standard Certificates have low minimum opening deposits and standard-to-low early withdrawal penalties. There are certificate specials for 11-month and 15-month share certificates, which offer a much higher interest rate than the average CD.
Jumpstart Money Market Account
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
0.00% to 4.00%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$0
Jumpstart Money Market Account
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
0.00% to 4.00%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$0
On Travis Credit Union’s website
Details
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
0.00% to 4.00%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$0
Pros & Cons
Highlights
The Travis Credit Union Jumpstart Money Market Account is a unique reverse-tiered money market account. It might be a good option depending on how much you usually keep in an account.
With a reverse-tiered money market account, you’ll earn a higher interest rate on lower account balances. Here’s how it works:
- You’ll earn 4.00% APY on the first $1,000 in your account
- You’ll earn 1.75% APY on account balances between $1,000.01 and $3,000
- You’ll earn 0.75% APY on account balances between $3,000.01 and $5,000
You won’t earn any interest on account balances over $5,000. You’ll also only be able to deposit new money in a Jumpstart Money Market Account. This means money that hasn’t been deposited into another Travis Credit Union account.
How Travis Credit Union works
Travis Credit Union is a community development financial institution (CDFI) with 24 active branches in Northern California. It’s part of the CO-OP ATM network, so it has access to over 30,000 ATMs throughout the US.
To contact customer support, call from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. PT on weekdays or 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT on Saturdays.
The bank’s mobile app is rated 4.6 out of 5 stars in the Google Play store and 4.8 out of 5 stars in the Apple store.
Travis Credit Union is federally insured by the NCUA. Up to $250,000 is safe in an individual bank account, and $500,000 is secure in a joint bank account.
How to join Travis Credit Union
To become a member of Travis Credit Union, you or a family member must meet one of the following requirements:
- You live, work, worship, or go to school in a select county in Northern California (Solano, Yolo, Contra, Costa, Merced, Napa, Alameda, Colusa, Placer, Sacramento, Sano Joaquin, Sonoma, or Stanislaus county)
- You are military or civilian personnel of Travis Air Force Base
All members must open a Travis Credit Union Prime Savings Account with at least $5 and pay a one-time $5 membership fee.
The role of community development financial institutions
CDFIs serve low-income and disadvantaged communities. Banks and credit unions have to undergo certification by the US Department of Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund and meet specific requirements to address banking barriers.
Travis Credit Union is a Juntos Avanzamos designated credit union. Juntos Avanzamos is an initiative that is dedicated to helping Hispanic and immigrant people find suitable financial products. To receive the designation, financial institutions will need to show it is committed to serving its local community. For example, a financial institution must permit alternative ID forms if you don’t have a US ID.
You can read more about how Travis Credit Union serves its local community through its 2021 Community Impact Report.
Travis Credit Union trustworthiness and BBB rating
Travis Credit Union hasn’t been involved in any recent controversies.
We also share ratings from the Better Business Bureau so you may see how an institution addresses customer issues. Travis Credit Union received an A+ rating from the BBB.
A good BBB rating doesn’t necessarily mean your relationship with the credit union will be perfect, though. Talk to current customers or read online customer reviews to see if a particular financial institution may be suitable.
Travis Credit Union vs. 1st Nor Cal Credit Union
Another financial institution based in Northern California is 1st Nor Cal Credit Union. To become a member of 1st Nor Cal Credit Union, you or a family member live, work, go to school, or worship in Contra Costa, Solano, or Alameda counties. All members must open a savings account with at least $5.
Both banks pay low interest rates on their regular savings accounts. However, you’ll earn 0.15% APY with Travis Credit union if you maintain more than $10,000 in your account, which is more than Golden 1 Credit Union offers.
If you’d like to open a money market account, Travis Credit Union might be more appealing. The minimum opening deposit for the Travis Credit Union Jumpstart Money Market Account is $0. At 1st Nor Cal Credit Union, you’ll need an initial deposit of $10,000, which is pretty steep compared to other brick-and-mortar banks.
Travis Credit Union vs. Golden 1 Credit Union
Golden 1 Credit Union is a regional financial institution with numerous branches in Northern California. Golden 1 Credit Union lets you join if you live in California or you are a military service member who resides in California. All members must open a savings account with at least $1.
If you’re searching for a money market account, you might prefer Travis Credit Union over Golden 1 Credit Union. The Travis Credit Union Jumpstart Money Market Account has a lower minimum opening deposit than the Golden 1 Credit Union Money Market Account. Travis Credit Union also offers a high interest rate for money market account balances of $5,000 or less.
If you’d like to get a share certificate, both credit unions pay higher interest rates than the average CD. Both banks also have low minimum opening deposits for CDs, so the best for you may ultimately depend on the term you choose.
Frequently asked questions
To become a member of Travis Credit Union, you or a family member must live, work, worship, or go to school in a select county in Northern California. Solano, Yolo, Contra Costa, Merced, Napa, Alameda, Colusa, Placer, Sacramento, Sano Joaquin, Sonoma, or Stanislaus county are all eligible locations. You may also become a member if you are military or civilian personnel of Travis Air Force Base.
All members must open a Prime Savings Account with at least $5 and pay a one-time $5 membership fee.
There isn’t a minimum opening deposit required for checking and money market accounts. If you’d like to open a share certificate, you’ll need a minimum of $500.
Top Offers From Our Partners
Wealthfront Cash Account
