FAQs

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!

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 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.

You can automatically generate a verification of deposit letter in Digital Banking! Click here.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Rates may change frequently, but they are always updated on our website. View our current Savings, Money Market and Certificate rates online 24/7.

 Find the deposit account that’s right for you

Stanford FCU offers a variety of convenient savings account options to suit the unique banking needs of each individual or family. Learn more about our savings accounts by selecting one of the links below!

• Share (Savings) Accounts
• Companion Account
• Money Market Account
• Share Certificates
• Individual Retirement Account
• Health Savings Account
• Youth Savings Account

Current members can open a savings account through Digital Banking. Non-members can open an account online.

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!

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