Money Market Account
Become a Stanford FCU Ambassador and boost the dividend rate on your Money Market Account.
The FDIC provides oversight and insurance for banks and thrifts, while credit unions are insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). Both institutions insure accounts up to $250,000.
You can learn more about the difference between banks and credit unions by watching our short video.
Not a member yet? Join today!
If you want a banking experience that delivers lower home and vehicle loan rates, higher savings and investment rates, and leading-edge Digital Banking access, Stanford Federal Credit Union is the banking choice for you. We’re a member-owned financial cooperative providing personal service along with convenient nationwide access through Co-op shared branches.
Joining is easy! You can open an account online with as little as $5.00. Open your account today!
You can find a Stanford FCU ATM, and 30,000 more fee-free ATMs by visiting our ATM and Branch Locator.
If you have a debit card, you can also receive cash back at no charge when you make a purchase at a retail location.
For your convenience, we also participate in shared branching with Co-op, a cooperative effort between credit unions nationwide to assist each other’s members. As a result, you can conduct business on your Stanford FCU accounts at other credit unions throughout the country as though you were at your local branch.
For a list of shared branch locations, visit our ATM and Branch Locator.
In addition to STAR® and Plus, we also use Co-op, with over 30,000 fee-free ATMs nationwide. You can get cash back when you make a purchase at many retailers like grocery stores.
We also participate in shared branching with Co-op, a cooperative effort between credit unions nationwide to assist each other’s members. As a result, you can conduct business on your Stanford FCU accounts at other credit unions throughout the country as though you were at your local branch (some service limitations may apply).
For a list of shared branch locations, visit our ATM and Branch Locator.
You can transfer funds between your Stanford FCU accounts, to another Stanford FCU member (if you know the account number), or to and from your accounts at another financial institution. If you want to send money to someone who is not a Stanford FCU member, you can use Zelle® or send a Wire Transfer.
- Click here to transfer funds between your Stanford FCU accounts
- Click here to transfer funds to another member
- Click here to transfer funds to and from your accounts at another financial institution
- From there you can connect your external account instantly through Plaid
- Once the external account is established, it will always appear under the normal Transfer Funds service as an option to transfer to or from
Rates may change frequently, but they’re always updated on our website. View our current Certificate rates online 24/7.
You can learn more about our Certificates, Money Market, and other savings accounts online, too!
Current members can open new accounts through Digital Banking. Non-members must first apply for membership online in as little as 10 minutes.
Not a member yet? Joining is easy! You can open an account with Stanford FCU with as little as $5.00. Open your account online today!
To open a Certificate or CD, you must be a current member of Stanford Federal Credit Union. If you are a member, click here to open a new account.
If you are a current member and have not registered for Digital Banking, you can enroll here.
If you are not yet a member and would like to open a Certificate, please first open a checking (spending) or savings account to become a member.
Once your Certificate matures you have a seven (7) calendar day grace period following maturity to renew or make changes. Your Certificate will automatically renew for the same term, or you can choose a different term or close the Certificate directly in Digital Banking. You can close or renew a 7-Month No Penalty Certificate any time after the first 7 days from opening.
If you don’t make any changes through the portal or by contacting us, your Certificate will automatically renew for the same term on the last day of the maturity grace period with the rate that is in effect on that day. You can view current rates at sfcu.org/why-stanford-fcu/market-leading-rates/deposit-rates.
Follow these steps to cancel a scheduled bill payment:
- Log in to Digital Banking
- Choose Move Money
- Then Bill Pay
- Click Activity at the top
- Select the scheduled payment you want to cancel
- To finish, select Cancel Payment twice to confirm your request
Note that if a payment doesn’t appear under the Scheduled heading it has already been processed and can’t be canceled.
Bill Pay is a free service offered to Stanford FCU members through Digital Banking. All you need is a Stanford FCU checking (spending) account.
It’s easy to get started:
- Log in to Digital Banking
- Choose Move Money
- Bill Pay
Follow the prompts.
The services available in Bill Pay include:
- Set up payees once to easily make payments
- Schedule automatic monthly payments for recurring bills
- View payment history for each payee
- Receive notifications about bills and payments
- Pay bills from your Stanford FCU checking (spending) account
- Pay the balance in full, instead of the minimum payment due
- Make a partial payment (e.g., an extra mortgage payment)
- Payee’s account number required
- Download or export payment data
- Receive and pay eBills
It’s easy to get started:
- Log in to Digital Banking
- Choose Move Money
- Select Bill Pay
- Complete a few more easy steps and you’re enrolled!
No! You’re a member for life and we don’t want to see you go! You can access your accounts and perform most transactions worldwide 24/7 through Digital Banking or schedule an appointment at our Virtual Branch. We also have over 6,000 shared branch locations with other credit unions, where you can conduct business as if you were at one of our local branches.
Form W-8BEN, a Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner for U.S. Tax Withholding, is used by a foreign person to establish both foreign status and beneficial ownership, and to claim income tax treaty benefits with respect to income other than compensation for personal services. We must have this form on file to guide us on the tax withholding for any interest-bearing accounts that you have with us. You can complete the W-8BEN form in Digital Banking.
Yes, your debit card and credit card are accepted internationally AND they have no foreign transaction fees!
If your ATM card is linked to a checking (spending) account, it will also be accepted internationally. If you’re traveling out of state or out of the country, be sure to set a Travel Notice so we don’t block your credit or debit card. List all areas you may be visiting, including layover cities. Once submitted, you should receive a secure Message that it has been received.
If you’re already traveling, please call us at 888.723.7328 for assistance.
We don’t allow card transactions in countries sanctioned by the U.S. or prohibited by U.S. law.
We have other convenient online Card Tools for your debit card, like text alerts, locking and unlocking your card, and more. You’ll be automatically enrolled to receive fraud alerts.
You may have received a call, text or email from our fraud prevention center due to suspicious activity on your Card. If they suspect your card security has been breached, they may suspend the use of your card until you validate the questionable purchases.
Always remember to file a Travel Notice before leaving the country or even your state, so we don’t block your card for suspicious activity. List all areas you may be visiting, including layover cities. Once the Travel Notice is submitted, you’ll receive a secure Message that it has been received. Please allow one business day for processing.
You can also manage your credit and debit cards with convenient online Card Tools like text alerts, locking and unlocking your card, notifying us when you’ll be traveling, and more. You’ll be automatically enrolled to receive fraud alerts.
If you suspect your Stanford FCU card has been compromised, contact us immediately at 888.723.7328 so that we can help protect you.
If your personal identification number (PIN) isn’t working, you may need to reset it. There are multiple ways to reset your PIN.
In Digital Banking
- Go to Card Center > Digital Card Controls > Set/Reset PIN. We’ll send you a Secure Access Code to complete a PIN change.
By phone
- If you reside within the U.S.: You can reset your card PIN yourself by calling 888.891.2435. Be sure to call from the phone number we have on file at Stanford FCU.
- If you reside outside the U.S.: Go to Card Center > Digital Card Controls > Set/Reset PIN. We’ll send you a Secure Access Code to complete a PIN change. If you need further assistance, please call 650.723.2509 or 888.723.7328 to speak with a Member Care Team Specialist.
You can visit one of our branch locations to have a new card issued instantly. If your card is lost or stolen, you can log in to Digital Banking to order a new card, grab the card info for online purchases, download the digital version to your wallet, and report your card lost or stolen. Don’t use this service if you need rushed delivery, are shipping to an alternate address, or you’re simply replacing a damaged card and want to keep the same card number.
- Log in to Card Center in Digital Banking
- Click on Replace & Order Card
- Follow the steps to submit your request and block your card
- Return to Card Center to add your new card to your digital wallet and grab your card info for online shopping and updating any recurring payments
- If you see suspicious transactions in your account history, visit Dispute Transactions in Card Center to report them to us
You can also block your card and receive a new one by calling 800.234.5354 (domestic) or 303.967.1096 (international collect).
If you simply need a replacement for a damaged card, please contact a Member Care Team Specialist at 888.723.7328 or send us a secure Message through Digital Banking to request a new card.
Take control of your cards with Card Tools!
Credit and debit cards are often a source of fraud, as retailers frequently experience data breaches and the card information they store becomes available on the black market. Stanford FCU has strong fraud prevention systems to help protect our members, but we also have tools to help you manage your own cards!
Check out the Card Tools that are available in Digital Banking and take control of your cards today!
If you already have a beneficiary on file, you’ll see the beneficiary name appear under Add As Beneficiary on the Account when you open a new deposit account in Digital Banking. Simply check the box next to the beneficiary name you wish to add to the new account.
You can also add and delete new beneficiaries through the Manage Beneficiaries tool in Digital Banking, use authenticated Chat through Digital Banking, call us at 888.723.7328, or schedule an appointment at our Virtual Branch.
Yes! You can open a savings or checking (spending) account without leaving the comfort of your home. Review our savings and checking account options first. Current members can open accounts through Digital Banking. Non-members can also join and open an account online.
You can also become a member by opening a Savings or Money Market Account.
You can check your account balances and transactions 24/7 by logging in to Digital Banking. Learn more about Digital Banking on our website.
Before you close your Stanford FCU account, please note that you’re a member for life, and we have hundreds of members doing business with us around the world! Our Visa debit and credit cards are international, with no foreign transaction fees. Let us know how we can serve you!
If you absolutely must close your account (and we hate to see you go), there are three options:
- Close your account in Digital Banking
- Sign a written request and mail it to Stanford FCU, c/o Account Closure, P.O. Box 10690, Palo Alto, CA 94303-0843
- Visit a local Stanford FCU branch
Members also have access to 6,000 Co-op shared branches at other credit unions, where you can conduct transactions on your Stanford FCU accounts.
Your account number can be located:
- Within Digital Banking: Select the account, then click the three dots
> and select Account Details to view the Account Number - On the bottom of your checks:
- Contact our Member Care Team at 888.723.7328, visit any of our branch locations, or send a secure Message in Digital Banking. For security purposes we will not include any account numbers via email.
You can close a checking (spending), savings or money market account in Digital Banking and direct us on what to do with the remaining account balance: Either transfer the balance to another Stanford FCU account where you’re the primary or joint owner, or have a Cashier’s Check mailed to you. Click here to close an account in Digital Banking.
You may close a Certificate on the maturity date or during the 7-day grace period that follows it.
Alternatively, you may close your account by calling 888.723.7328, sending a secure Message in Digital Banking, or visiting a local Stanford FCU branch.
A trust is an estate-planning tool used primarily to avoid the delays and costs of the probate process, which is what happens when someone passes away with only a will or no will.
Choosing and creating a trust can be a complex process; the guidance of an attorney with estate planning expertise is highly recommended.
Types of Stanford FCU Trusts
- Revocable - at least one Trustor of the Trust must be a member of Stanford FCU
- Irrevocable - either all of the Trustors or all of the Beneficiaries of the Trust must be members of Stanford FCU
Upon creating the agreement, the member transfers title to their Stanford FCU assets to be held in trust.
If you’ve created a trust agreement and would like to transfer title of your credit union assets to be held in trust, you will need to complete a Trust Agreement.
If you’re not yet a member and need to establish an account that you would like held in trust, you will need to become a member and complete a Trust Agreement.
Questions? Contact our Member Care Team at 888.723.7328 or schedule an appointment at a local branch.
Please click here for our fillable Trustee’s Account Agreement form, or Trust Agreement form.
A trust is an estate-planning tool used primarily to avoid the delays and costs of the probate process, which is what happens when someone passes away with only a will or no will.
Choosing and creating a trust can be a complex process; the guidance of an attorney with estate planning expertise is highly recommended.
Types of Stanford FCU Trusts
- Revocable - at least one Trustor of the Trust must be a member of Stanford FCU
- Irrevocable - either all of the Trustors or all of the Beneficiaries of the Trust must be members of Stanford FCU
Upon creating the agreement, the member transfers title to his Stanford FCU assets to be held in trust.
Check holds vary based on the length of membership and the check amount. Click here to request a Check Hold Release through Digital Banking.
Although you can order checks from any vendor, we strongly recommend that you order them through Stanford FCU’s preferred vendor. This helps ensure quality and security to ensure there are no issues with your checks. And the first box of checks is free for new members!
If you previously ordered checks through Stanford FCU and your information has not changed, you may reorder checks in Digital Banking.
You can also visit any of our branch locations or call a Member Care Team Specialist at 650.723.2509 or 888.723.7328 toll free.
If you previously ordered checks through Stanford FCU and your information has not changed, you may reorder checks through Digital Banking by clicking here.
If any of your information has changed, you will need to contact us to place your order: Visit any of our branch locations, call a Member Advisor at 888.723.7328, or send a secure Message through Digital Banking.
You can open a savings or checking account at the same time you become a member. Once you become a member, you can open additional accounts and apply for loans through Digital Banking. You can also open accounts at any Stanford FCU branch.
Yes! To find a deposit-taking ATM near you, please use our ATM and Branch Locator. You will find a list of our branches and thousands of fee-free and deposit-taking ATMs throughout the country.
Our policy is to make funds from your cash and check deposits available to you on the first business day after the day we receive your deposit. Funds from deposits (cash or checks) made at ATMs that we do not own or operate may not be available until the fifth business day after the day of the deposit. If the deposit is made at a non-Stanford FCU ATM, we may also extend the hold depending on the type of check deposited.
You can also make deposits electronically using mobile deposit within our mobile app. Just download the Stanford FCU mobile app from the App Store or Google Play, then follow the prompts to enroll.
The maximum daily ATM withdrawal is $500. If you need to withdraw more, please call us at 888.723.7328 or visit a branch.
Out of town? No problem!
For your convenience, we participate in shared branching with Co-op, a cooperative effort between credit unions nationwide to assist each other’s members. As a result, you can conduct business on your Stanford FCU accounts at other credit unions and ATMs throughout the country as if you were at your local branch (with some service restrictions).
For a list of participating shared branch locations, please visit our ATM and Branch Locator.
You can get a free Cashier’s Check from a local Stanford FCU branch, any shared branch in the U.S., or request one through Digital Banking (if the check will be payable to you). You’ll receive an email confirmation after your request is received, and you should receive your check within 7 to 10 business days.
If you need a Cashier’s Check made payable to another person, you can use Chat or send a secure Message through Digital Banking.
It’s easy to get even more value from your Stanford FCU membership - just deposit your payroll with us or use our debit or credit card for your everyday expenses to access your Loyalty+ rewards (formerly Membership Rewards)!
At Stanford FCU, we want to help you make the most of your banking experience. That’s what Loyalty+ is all about. You get more value when you do more business with us. There are two levels of membership based on your engagement: Partner and Ambassador.
You’ll enjoy exclusive benefits like bonus deposit rates, loan discount rates, and unlimited free worldwide ATMs.
Learn more on our Loyalty+ web page, and view your Loyalty+ status in Digital Banking.
If you are a member of Stanford FCU, then all Stanford FCU ATMs are free! If you are a member of the Co-op Shared Branch Network, then our ATMs are free for you as well.
Stanford FCU members with Student Spending accounts and members with an Ambassador relationship get free unlimited worldwide ATMs, with all ATM fees reversed.
All Stanford FCU members have access to 30,000 fee-free ATMs nationwide. Use our ATM Locator to find one near you.
If you use your debit card, you can also receive cash back at no charge when you make a purchase at a retail location.
If you are a non-member you will be charged $3.00 per transaction (unless you are a member through Co-op). The only time our members will be assessed an ATM fee is when you withdraw cash from an ATM that is not in our network (the fee will be charged by the other bank, not Stanford FCU).
Please refer to our Schedule of Fees for a complete list of fees.
Stanford FCU does not charge our members to use non-Stanford FCU ATMs, however the owner of the other ATM may charge a fee. We waive those bank fees for members with Student Spending Accounts, and those with an Ambassador or Partner Loyalty+ relationship (and provide other benefits!). All members can find over 30,000 fee-free ATMs by using our ATM and Branch Locator.
There are no fees for replacing a lost or stolen card.
You can view our current ATM and Debit Card fee(s) on our Schedule of Fees. All fees are subject to change without notice.
Stanford FCU charges a monthly $5.00 inactivity fee for an account with less than $2,500 and no activity for the past 12 months. For current information about our fees, please see our Schedule of Fees.
The inactivity fee was disclosed in the Member Agreement you received at the time you opened your account. If you have other active accounts or loans, you will not be charged this fee.
Avoid Inactivity Fees
You can avoid the fee by making at least one transaction every six months, or opening other active accounts such as:
- New and used auto loans – consider refinancing an existing loan to lower your monthly payment
- Rewards Credit Cards with no foreign transaction fees, balance transfer fees, or annual fee (and you’ll earn rewards on every purchase)
- Home loans you can trust, with great rates and personal service
- High-rate Money Market and Certificates help you earn more
- Investment products to help your savings grow
You can automatically generate a verification of deposit letter in Digital Banking! Click here.
A Digital Card is a copy of your regular credit or debit card that’s available in Digital Banking’s Card Center. No more waiting weeks for a plastic card to arrive by mail - your card number, expiration date and CVV are available for your online shopping, subscription services, and loading into your mobile wallet.
Whether you’re waiting for your first card or a replacement card, your Digital Card is available within two days:
- Visit Card Center in Digital Banking
- Click on Digital Card Controls at the very top
- Enter the secure access code that will be sent to confirm your identity
Activating your plastic card
Your regular plastic card will be mailed to your primary address and there are three easy ways to activate it. Do not activate your plastic card before it arrives! Mail theft could put your account at risk.
- Activate your card online:
- Visit Card Center in Digital Banking
- Click on Digital Card Controls at the very top
- Enter the secure access code that will be sent to confirm your identity
- Click on Activate Card
- Select the card from the dropdown
- Enter the expiration date and CVV on your card
- Click Submit
- Visit Card Center in Digital Banking
- Activate your card by calling 888.691.8661 from the phone number we have on file for you and follow the prompts (you can verify or update your phone number in the Profile & Settings section of Digital Banking).
- Activate your card at an ATM or by making a point of sale (POS) purchase - use this method only if you have your PIN.
There could be many reasons why this is happening. Please call a Member Care Team Specialist at 888.723.7328 toll free. You can also use Chat during business hours to resolve the issue.
If you’re traveling out of state or out of the country, be sure to set a Travel Notice so we don’t block your credit or debit card. List all areas you may be visiting, including layover cities. Once submitted, you should receive a secure message that it has been received.
We do not allow card transactions in countries sanctioned by the U.S. or prohibited by U.S. law.
Stanford FCU credit and debit cards have NO foreign transaction fees - this is great for international travelers!
Plus, you earn cash back or rewards points on all credit card purchases.
Traveling Abroad?
We offer a foreign currency exchange service, which makes it safe and easy to purchase foreign currencies at a branch.
To set a Travel Notification on your card: Submit a travel notice in Digital Banking and list all areas you may be visiting, including layover cities. Once submitted, you should receive a secure message that it has been received.
Please allow at least one business day for processing. The more advance notice you can provide, the better. If you already started your trip, please call 888.723.7328 for assistance.
Note: We do not allow card transactions in countries sanctioned by the U.S. or prohibited by U.S. law.
Exchange rates are calculated in global currency markets. The reasons for fluctuations in exchange rates include inflation, interest rates, budget deficits, public debt, trade policy, political stability, and economic performance.
If you are traveling out of state or out of the country, be sure to set a Travel Notice so we don’t block your credit or debit card.
To set a Travel Notice on your card:
- Log in to Digital Banking
- Click Services > Submit Travel Notice, then follow the prompts (list all areas you may be visiting, including layover cities)
- Once the Travel Notice is submitted, you will receive a secure Message that it has been received
Please allow at least one business day for processing. The more advance notice you can provide, the better. If you already started your trip, please call 888.723.7328 for assistance.
We do not allow card transactions in countries sanctioned by the U.S. or prohibited by U.S. law.
