Our take: Alliant Credit Union can be a great online credit union for traditional banking services, including checking and savings accounts, for several reasons—its competitive yields, extensive ATM network, and lack of fees, chief among them.
Banking details
- High earning potential
- Easy to join
- No monthly or overdraft fees
- Huge ATM network
- Helpful banking features
- Online only
- No Zelle integration in mobile app
- Questionable customer service
| High-yield savings APY | 3.01% |
| High-yield checking APY | 0.25% |
| Fees | No monthly or overdraft fees |
| In-network ATMs | 80,000+ |
| NCUA insurance | $250,000 |
Alternatives to Alliant Credit Union banking
- Up to $400 Bonus Tiered Disclosure
New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more) OR $400 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more). Cash bonus amount will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 5/15/2026 and will be available through 12/31/26. See full bonus and annual percentage yield (APY) terms at sofi.com/banking/checking-offer/
- APY disclosures
Annual percentage yield (APY) is variable and subject to change at any time. Rates are current as of 5/28/26. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional rates and information can be found at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet
- Fee Policy
We do not charge any account, service, or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. We do charge transaction fees for outgoing wire transfers, Instant Transfers, and global remittance transfers. Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Bank Fee Sheet for details at sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/.
- Additional FDIC Insurance
SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per depositor per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations. Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $3M through participation in the program. See full terms at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms. See list of participating banks at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks.
- ATM Access
We’ve partnered with Allpoint to provide you with ATM access at any of the 55,000+ ATMs within the Allpoint network. You will not be charged a fee when using an in-network ATM, however, third-party fees may be incurred when using out-of-network ATMs. SoFi’s ATM policies are subject to change at our discretion at any time.
- Early Access to Direct Deposit Funds
Early access to direct deposit funds is based on the timing in which we receive notice of impending payment from the Federal Reserve, which is typically up to two days before the scheduled payment date, but may vary.
- Overdraft Coverage
Overdraft Coverage is a feature automatically offered to SoFi Checking and Savings account holders who receive at least $1,000 or more in Eligible Direct Deposits within a rolling 31 calendar day period on a recurring basis. Eligible Direct Deposit is defined on the SoFi Bank Rate Sheet, available at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet. Members enrolled in Overdraft Coverage may be covered for up to $50 in negative balances on SoFi Bank debit card purchases only. Overdraft Coverage does not apply to P2P transfers, bill payments, checks, or other non-debit card transactions. Members with a prior history of unpaid negative balances are not eligible for Overdraft Coverage. Eligibility for Overdraft Coverage is determined by SoFi Bank in its sole discretion. Members can check their enrollment status, if eligible, at any time by logging into their account through the SoFi app or on the SoFi website.
- 0.70% Savings APY Boost
Earn up to 3.80% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.10% APY) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking & Savings account with Eligible Direct Deposit by 12/31/26. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at sofi.com/banking#2. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.
- Earn up to 3.80% APY8
- Limited Time Offer – New accounts earn a 0.70% APY boost to 3.80% for up to 6 months with eligible direct deposit8
- $0 minimum balance to earn APY
- Earn $50 or $400 when you sign up and set up eligible direct deposit1
- Open Checking & Savings Accts with 1 Sign Up
- Up to 2-Day-Early Paycheck3
- FDIC Insured up to $250k plus up to $3M in supplemental insurance4
Barclays Tiered Savings Annual Percentage Yields (APYs) are accurate as of 06/24/2026. Rates may change at any time without prior notice, before or after the account is opened. The same rate may apply to multiple Tiers and Tiers may change without notice. APY earned is based on the Tier in which your end of day account balance falls. Please see Barclays Tiered Savings for current Tier and APY information.
- Earn 3.65% APY* with Barclays1 Tiered Savings
- $0 min. balance to earn APY
- No monthly maintenance fees
- Easy direct deposits & online transfers
- Deposits are FDIC Insured
Advertised annual percentage yield (APY) is for new accounts only and is accurate as of June 16, 2026. APY tiers apply to the following balances:
- 4.01% APY on balances of $0.01 – $999.99
- 4.01% APY on balances of $1,000.00 – $49,999.99
- 4.01% APY on balances of $50,000.00 – $499,999.99
- 3.14% APY on balances of $500,000.00 – $999,999.99
- 3.14% APY on balances of $1,000,000.00 & Above
This is a variable-rate account, and APY is subject to change at any time without notice. Limit of one Envision High Yield Savings account per customer. Minimum amount to open is $100, with opening funds subject to a 5-business day hold. Fees may reduce earnings on account.
- Earn up to 4.01% APY
- No monthly maintenance fees
- Open an account with as little as $100
- Open an account in as little as 5 minutes
- Backed by the financial strength of Idaho First Bank
Platinum Savings is a tiered interest rate account. Interest is paid on the entire account balance based on the interest rate and APY in effect that day for the balance tier associated with the end-of-day account balance. *APYs — Annual Percentage Yields are accurate as of January 9, 2026: 0.25% APY on balances of $0.01 to $4,999.99; 3.75% APY on balances of $5,000.00 or more. Interest Rates for the Platinum Savings account are variable and may change at any time without notice. The minimum to open a Platinum Savings account is $100.
Platinum Savings APY Boost Promotion Terms and Conditions
This is a limited time offer available to New and Existing customers who meet the Platinum Savings APY Boost promotion criteria.
Accounts enrolled in the Platinum Savings Annual Percentage Yield (APY) Boost promotion will receive a 0.35% APY boost on the Platinum Savings current standard APY tiers for 6 months following the opening of a new account or when an existing Platinum Savings account is enrolled in the promotion. The Platinum Savings APY boost will be applied on account balances up to $9,999,999.00. Account balances above $9,999,999.00 will earn the standard APY. If the standard-published APY should change during the promotion period, the APY boost will move with it, offering an account APY above the standard rate.
The Promotion begins on February 13, 2026, and ends August 31, 2026. Customers enrolled in the promotion prior to the end date will receive the APY boost for the 6-month period outlined in the terms and conditions.
The promotion can end at any time without notice.
New CIT Bank Customers: This Platinum Savings APY Boost promotion offer is valid for New CIT Bank customers, who, at account opening, do not have a valid CIT Bank User ID (a “New Customer”) or any open CIT Bank accounts provided that the following requirements are met:
New customers must open a Platinum Savings account with a valid Promo Code, CITBoost. The Platinum Savings APY Boost Promo Code will appear on the online account opening enrollment web page.. The Promo Code must be used at the time of account opening. Accounts opened during the program period without the Promo Code are ineligible to receive the APY boost.
The enrolled Platinum Savings account must be open to receive the APY boost during the promotional period.
CIT Bank Customers with an account prior to the promotion: This Platinum Savings APY Boost promotion is valid for a Primary account owner with an existing account with a CIT Bank User ID before the start of the promotion, provided that the following requirements are met:
Customers without a Platinum Savings account open prior to the Promotion must open a new Platinum Savings account via the enrollment web page using Promo Code CITBoost.
Customers with a Platinum Savings account opened prior to the promotion may enroll their current Platinum Savings account into the Platinum Savings Boost promotion via the enrollment web page using Promo Code CITBoost.
Customers who are not the Primary account owner on a Platinum Savings account may open a new Platinum Savings account as the primary account owner via the enrollment web page using Promo Code CITBoost.
Accounts opened or enrolled during the program period without the Promo Code are ineligible to receive the APY boost.
There is a limit of one Platinum Savings APY Boost promotional offer per account and per Primary customer. If multiple Platinum Savings accounts are opened, only one account per primary account owner is eligible.
There is no minimum account balance requirement to participate in the Platinum Savings APY Boost promotion.
Additional Important Terms
The Platinum Savings APY Boost promotion may not be combined with other promotions.
Customers are ineligible to participate in the Platinum Savings APY Boost promotion if:
They are earning an APY over the standard rate.
They participated in a cash bonus promotion in the past 6 months.
Custodial accounts and accounts in the name of a Trust are not eligible.
This offer is non-transferable.
The value of Platinum Saving Boost will be reported as interest income on IRS Form 1099-INT for the calendar year in which it was paid. The recipient is responsible for any applicable taxes.
- Earn 4.10% APY* with CIT’s Savings Connect Account
- $100 minimum balance for APY
- No account opening or monthly service fees
- Deposit checks online with the CIT Bank mobile app
- FDIC Insured
Alliant high-rate savings
If you’re comfortable doing all your banking online, Alliant Credit Union is a great option for checking and savings, thanks to its competitive rates, National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) insurance, early payday access, 24/7 fraud monitoring, and 80,000+ in-network ATMs.
The Alliant high-rate savings account is one of the best high-yield savings accounts available across both banks and credit unions, with an extremely competitive APY.
To earn the best rate, you’ll need a minimum balance of $100, which is higher than many competing banks and credit unions. But if you’re choosing a high-yield savings account to earn high interest, chances are good you’re depositing way more than $100 anyway.
Alliant also lets you open up to 19 supplemental savings accounts—all at the same rate—so you can track toward different goals, such as an emergency fund, wedding, house down payment, or vacation.
Alliant high-rate checking
The Alliant high-rate checking account is the perfect companion to Alliant’s high-yield savings offering and one of the best checking accounts currently available. There are no monthly fees and no overdraft fees, and, most importantly, the account earns 0.25% APY. Most checking accounts earn no interest or a nominal 0.01% APY, so this is a huge differentiator.
Alliant has one of the most extensive ATM networks in the country, with more than 80,000 fee-free in-network options. And if you can’t find an ATM in-network, you can use out-of-network ATMs confidently: Alliant offers up to $20 a month in out-of-network ATM fee rebates, in the event you’re charged.
Alliant also offers early access to your paycheck (up to two days) when you get paid with direct deposit. While nice, this has become a standard feature among most online checking accounts.
Jumbo savings
One of Alliant Credit Union’s newest offerings is its jumbo savings account, for balances of $100,000 or greater. If you keep that much in savings, you’ll earn 3.35% APY, rather than the standard 3.01%.
That’s still not enough to make Alliant competitive with some of the highest-paying savings accounts, but given Alliant’s extensive ATM network, high-yield checking, and lack of fees, the credit union offers one of the most well-rounded banking experiences—and it’s still well worth considering.
As with most banks and credit unions, your deposits are only insured up to $250,000. If you keep more money in your jumbo savings, be aware of the risk.
Kids savings
Teaching your kids about money management is important. While you can easily do that at a big bank with a physical location you can visit together, your kid’s savings account will likely earn a measly 0.01%.
Given that today’s digital-first children will likely gravitate toward online banking by the time they reach adulthood, it could make more sense to get them started with an online banking experience now instead.
And Alliant makes a compelling case: Kids earn just as much as adults, with 3.01% APY on deposits. However, as with adult accounts, kids will need $100 or more in the account, which could be a barrier without birthday money from Grandma and Grandma or some savings generated from their weekly allowance.
This account is designed for kids 12 and under, and parents or guardians (joint owners) can easily transfer funds in and out of the account.
Teen checking
Teens can also take advantage of Alliant’s high-interest checking account, with specific guardrails designed for younger consumers, including parental monitoring.
As with the kids’ savings account, parents can transfer money in and out of the teen checking account. And as a next step to learning about money management, teens will get a tap-to-pay debit card; parents can set daily debit card limits to keep spending in check.
This account is bundled with the Alliant high-rate savings account so teens can focus not just on spending, but saving, too.
Alliant certificates
Alliant offers several high-yield certificates of deposit (CDs) at various term lengths and APYs. These rates are very competitive, and there are options for both small deposits ($1,000+) and jumbo deposits ($75,000+).
The table below summarizes current terms, APYs, and dividend rates:
| Term | APY | Dividend Rate |
| 3 – 60 months | 3.10% – 3.65% | 3.06% – 3.59% |
| 3 – 60 months jumbo | 3.10% – 3.70% | 3.06% – 3.64% |
Other Alliant Credit Union products
While our Alliant Credit Union banking review is focused solely on deposit accounts (checking, savings, and CDs), it’s worth noting that you can get a full suite of banking products and services through Alliant. Our review and rating do not apply to these additional products, but here’s a quick look at what you can get:
- Two Visa credit cards (one standard and one cash-back)
- Alliant vehicle loans, including cars, RVs, and specialty Tesla loans
- Alliant mortgages
- Alliant home equity lines of credit
- Alliant personal loans
- Alliant retirement and investment options
How to join Alliant Credit Union
Credit unions are slightly harder to join than banks. Often, community and regional credit unions only allow you to join if you live in a certain neighborhood, work for a specific employer, belong to a specific organization, or serve in the military.
Alliant Credit Union has similar requirements, with a caveat. You’re eligible to join Alliant if:
- You work for or retired from an employer partnered with Alliant.
- You’re an immediate family member or domestic partner of someone who already banks with Alliant.
- You live or work in an eligible community near Chicago, where Alliant is headquartered.
And the caveat? You can still join if you don’t meet any of these requirements. As long as you’re a U.S. citizen or have a Social Security number, you can simply select “Join Alliant Credit Union Foundation” when signing up, and Alliant will pay a one-time $5 fee on your behalf, and voila—you can join!
Alliant Credit Union online banking pros and cons
As our top pick for online credit unions, banking with Alliant has a lot of advantages, but there are drawbacks to consider as well.
Pros
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High earning potential
While the savings account doesn’t have the highest APY available, it’s significantly higher than you’ll find at big banks. The high-rate checking account earns a super competitive rate.
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Easy to join
Unlike some other credit unions, anyone can join Alliant Credit Union—and Alliant will pay the $5 fee on your behalf if applying by joining the foundation.
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No monthly or overdraft fees
Unlike many brick-and-mortar banks and credit unions, Alliant doesn’t charge any monthly fees or overdraft fees.
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Huge ATM network
Alliant has one of the biggest networks of fee-free ATMs (80,000+). Even if you can’t find an in-network ATM, Alliant refunds out-of-network ATM fees up to $20 each month.
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Helpful banking features
Alliant lets you open supplemental savings accounts to better organize your savings, and you can also access your paycheck up to two days early if you set up direct deposit. The mobile app is easy to use and offers several convenient ways to manage your money from the comfort of your home.
Cons
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Online only
You can’t get in-person help to open, manage, or close an account. Everything is done online or over the phone.
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No Zelle integration in mobile app
Some banks and credit unions have Zelle, a peer-to-peer payment system, built directly into their banking app for more secure transactions. Alliant doesn’t currently offer Zelle, but you can connect your account to other payment apps, like Venmo or Cash App, as needed.
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Questionable customer service
Some customers have raised concerns about customer service on review sites like Trustpilot and the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Most criticism is around Alliant’s loans and credit cards; customers seem more satisfied with the core banking products (checking and savings accounts).
Article sources
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About our contributors
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Written by Timothy Moore, CFEI®Timothy Moore is a Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI®) specializing in bank accounts, student loans, taxes, and insurance. His passion is helping readers navigate life on a tight budget.
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Edited by Amanda HankelAmanda Hankel is a managing editor at LendEDU. She has more than seven years of experience covering various finance-related topics and has worked for more than 15 years overall in writing, editing, and publishing.