Savings Account

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!

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.

To close or renew a Certificate click here.

Deposits are federally insured to at least $250,000 (Individual Retirement Accounts up to an additional $250,000) through the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), a U.S. government agency similar to the FDIC.

The NCUA calculator can explain more and help to determine your coverage amount.

Learn More! View our deposit account options and rates.

Visit our Wealth Management website to learn more about investments and choose a Financial Advisor!

Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) are an important part of planning for your future financial well-being. These specialty savings accounts offer tax advantages, and there are two primary categories of IRAs: Traditional and Roth.

1. Traditional IRAs allow tax-deductible contributions - taxes are not paid on your deposits until you begin making withdrawals, so the investments grow tax-deferred.
2. Contributions to Roth IRAs are not tax-deductible, so they are tax-free when you start making withdrawals because you’ve already paid the taxes.

You should discuss your specific situation with a tax expert to ensure that you choose the right plan for your needs.

Choose an IRA that’s right for you!

Your retirement is secure with Stanford FCU! Choose a Traditional or Roth IRA as a savings account or a Certificate.

Our Member Advisors can help you choose the account that’s right for you. Schedule an appointment at a local branch to discuss your options and open your account, or call 888.723.7328 to speak with a Member Care Team Specialist.

Learn more or open an IRA at our Retirement Central resource center.

 Looking for more options? Visit our Wealth Management website to learn more about retirement planning and schedule a free consultation with a Financial Advisor.

Yes! A Health Savings Account (HSA) with Stanford FCU helps you cover expenses not covered by your health insurance. HSAs combine the protection of your high-deductible health insurance plan with a tax-deductible savings account. Our HSA accounts feature no monthly service fees, no minimum balance requirements, free checks, and free online and debit card access− all at great rates!

Set up an appointment with a member of our team for more information, or open your HSA online today.

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!

Yes, our Money Market Account (MMA) lets you enjoy the same high rate whether you’re a small saver or a big depositor. This is one of the many ways your credit union gives back to members. Other financial institutions pay higher dividends for higher balances, but we want every saver to earn more. Learn more.

We also have MMAs for businesses! Check out our business accounts here.

Your retirement is secure with Stanford FCU! You can choose a Traditional or Roth IRA as a savings account or a Certificate.

Deposits are federally insured to at least $250,000 (Individual Retirement Accounts up to an additional $250,000) through the National Credit Union Administration.

Our Member Advisors can help you choose the account that’s right for you. Schedule an appointment at a local branch to discuss your options and open your account, or call 888.723.7328 to speak with the Member Care Team.

Learn more or open an IRA at our Retirement Central resource center.

Looking for more options? Visit our Wealth Management section to learn more about retirement planning and schedule a free consultation with a Financial Advisor.

The penalty for Certificates with terms less than one year is equal to ninety (90) days of dividends on the amount withdrawn, whether earned or not.

The penalty for a Certificate with a term of one year or more is equal to one hundred eighty (180) days of dividends on the amount withdrawn, whether earned or not.

A 7-Month No Penalty Certificate may be closed after seven (7) calendar days from opening with no penalty.

The penalty may be deducted from either dividends or principal.

Certificates are non-negotiable and non-transferable. You’ll receive advance notice of the maturing Certificate 30 days before the maturity date. The Certificate will automatically renew on the maturity date for the same term unless you notify us that you wish to make a change or if your Certificate had a special promotional term. The Interest Rate and Annual Percentage Yield on the renewed Certificate will be the rate that is in effect for that term. A grace period for withdrawal or transfer is available for seven (7) days after the maturity date. Thereafter, withdrawals of the principal balance on the renewed Certificate will again be subject to an early withdrawal penalty until the new maturity date.

Deposits are federally insured to at least $250,000 (Individual Retirement Accounts up to an additional $250,000) through the National Credit Union Administration.

Yes, we have two accounts for children under age 18:

• Youth Savings account is a free savings account designed for children age 0-17, with no minimum balance requirement
• Teen Spending account is an interest-bearing checking account designed for minors age 13-17, with no monthly fees

 Both accounts will require an adult co-signer, so the parent or guardian must also be a member. You can open a child’s account either in person at a local Stanford FCU branch or via Zoom at our Virtual Branch. You’ll need a copy of your child’s picture ID, Passport or birth certificate.

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.

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.

• Everyday Spending
• High Yield Spending
• Student Spending
• Teen Spending

You can also become a member by opening a Savings or Money Market Account.

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:

1. Close your account in Digital Banking
2. Sign a written request and mail it to Stanford FCU, c/o Account Closure, P.O. Box 10690, Palo Alto, CA 94303-0843
3. 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.

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

1. Revocable - at least one Trustor of the Trust must be a member of Stanford FCU
2. 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

1. Revocable - at least one Trustor of the Trust must be a member of Stanford FCU
2. 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.

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.

We absolutely will accept coin deposits! We do not have coin counting machines, so you will need to roll your coins before you bring them in for deposit.

You can find a Stanford FCU branch or fee-free ATM near you by visiting our ATM and Branch Locator.

Questions? Contact us at 888.723.7328 or use Chat.

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.