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Alumnifi Credit Union Review

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About AlumniFi

Products and Services

Interest Rates and Fees

Aditi Patel

Top Online Banking Services Editor

Pros

Earn a strong interest rate on savings, particularly with higher balances
No monthly fees or required minimum balance to maintain your account
Includes digital tools to help you set and track financial goals
Simple and accessible membership process
Deposits are federally insured by the NCUA up to standard limits

Cons

Lacks access to ATMs and physical branch locations

About AlumniFi

AlumniFi Credit Union is a digital banking platform designed specifically for college and university graduates. It offers both checking and savings accounts, along with a suite of financial tools tailored to support young adults as they transition into post-grad life. One standout feature is complimentary access to the Changed app, which helps automate savings and accelerate student loan repayment.

Users can also take advantage of on-demand financial education through self-guided lessons aimed at improving money management skills. However, with a relatively narrow range of services, the question remains: Can AlumniFi compete with more established online banks like Ally or Acorns? Read on for a complete breakdown.

Products and Services

AlumniFi Credit Union operates as a digital banking division of Michigan State University Federal Credit Union and is backed by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). This ensures that funds held in its checking and savings accounts are insured up to $250,000 per depositor.

Designed with recent college and university graduates in mind, AlumniFi offers a simple and focused selection of financial products. Its primary offerings include an online checking account, a savings account, and a set of digital tools aimed at helping users manage their finances, pay down debt, and work toward savings goals more effectively.

AlumniFi Checking

The AlumniFi checking account is an interest-earning option that comes with a range of convenient features, including round-up savings, direct deposit, bill payment services, and peer-to-peer (P2P) transfers. Account holders also have access to a network of over 30,000 fee-free ATMs. There are no monthly maintenance charges, overdraft fees, or minimum balance requirements. As of this writing, the account offers a standard annual percentage yield (APY) of 0.50%, with an increased rate of 1.00% APY available for balances exceeding $50,000.

AlumniFi Savings

The AlumniFi Savings account is a high-yield option that charges no monthly maintenance fees and offers tiered interest rates based on your balance. As of now, the account pays:

• Tier 1: 4.25% APY with no minimum balance required

• Tier 2: 4.50% APY on balances of $25,000 or more

• Tier 3: 4.75% APY on balances of $100,000 or more

Members can use their AlumniFi savings account to set personalized savings goals, schedule automatic contributions, streamline student loan repayments, and deposit checks through the mobile app.

Changed App

A standout perk of banking with AlumniFi Credit Union is complimentary access to Changed, a roundup savings app designed to help pay down student loans faster. Normally priced at $3 per month, Changed rounds up your everyday purchases and applies the spare change directly to your loan balance. The app integrates seamlessly with AlumniFi’s online and mobile platforms, making it easy to automate extra payments without even thinking about it. For anyone carrying student loan debt, this feature offers a simple and cost-free way to accelerate repayment.

Financial Education

AlumniFi offers a dedicated financial wellness app called AlumniFi Fin-Life, designed to help users build smarter money habits. The app delivers quick, three-minute lessons each week, making it easy to boost your financial knowledge on the go. In addition, AlumniFi’s financial blog features a wide range of educational content tailored to the needs of recent college and university graduates, covering topics like budgeting, saving, and student loan strategies.

Interest Rates and Fees

AlumniFi takes a tiered-rate approach to its savings account, meaning the more you save, the better your return. As your balance grows, so does your annual percentage yield (APY), making it a strong contender in the market. In fact, its rates outperform many traditional credit unions and even surpass some of the top high-yield savings accounts offered by online banks.

That said, tiered-rate accounts tend to benefit those who can meet higher balance thresholds. If you’re just starting out with saving, you might prefer an account that offers a consistent APY across all balances for a more predictable earning experience.

While credit unions are generally known for being low on fees, they’re not always completely fee-free. Here’s a breakdown of how fees work at AlumniFi Credit Union.

Service Fees

Overall, AlumniFi keeps its fee structure pretty reasonable. There’s no monthly maintenance charge, which is a big plus—especially for those just starting out. Checking accounts are also free from monthly fees, making AlumniFi a budget-friendly choice for everyday banking.

Monthly maintenance fee: $0.00
Stop payment: $25.00
Foreign ATM fee: $1.00
Non-sufficient funds (NSF) fee: $0.00
Dormant account fee: $5.00
Incoming wire transfer: $5.00
Foreign transaction fee: 1%–3%
Debit card replacement: $10.00
Expedited debit card delivery: $30.00–$40.00

Account Requirements

Membership with AlumniFi Credit Union is available to a select group, including alumni, staff, and donors of Michigan State University, Oakland University, and the University of Olivet, as well as all residents of Michigan. If you don’t fall into one of these categories, you can still join by contributing a one-time $10 donation to the Desk Drawer Foundation.

To create an account, click the Get Started button on the top right corner of the AlumniFi homepage. You’ll need to provide a valid government-issued ID and your Social Security number during the application process.

After choosing which account(s) you’d like to open and setting up your login credentials, you’ll have the option to link an external bank account and make your initial deposit.

Customer Support

To reach AlumniFi Credit Union, you can call their customer support line at (855) 955-2965. Alternatively, you can get in touch via email at support@alumnifi.org for assistance.

Bottomline

AlumniFi Credit Union offers a high-yield savings account with a competitive APY, providing an opportunity to grow your savings more quickly. However, you’ll need to qualify for membership to open the account. This option is ideal for college students or recent grads seeking a secure place to save, especially if you prefer an account with no monthly maintenance fees, are comfortable with digital banking, and are interested in the advantages of saving with a credit union rather than a traditional bank.

AlumniFi Credit Union also offers an interest-bearing checking account for those who prefer to manage all their finances in one place. To open either a checking or savings account, you must become a member of the credit union. Membership is available to staff, alumni, and donors of the University of Olivet, Michigan State University, and Oakland University, as well as all Michigan residents. If you don’t meet these criteria, you can still join by making a $10 donation to the Desk Drawer Foundation, making the credit union accessible to almost anyone.

Alumnifi Credit Union

TopOnlineBankingServices.com is a free online platform designed to help users with the process of choosing the services or products that meets their needs by providing helpful reviews, articles and comparison based content. We receive compensation from the various brands we review, compare and rank on the website. TopOnlineBankingServices.com is not a lender, broker or financial institute, nor a party to any engagement related to financial products or transaction. All rates, fees and offers’ terms presented herein are provided by the third party brands we engage with, which may include lenders, brokers and aggregators. We do not make any decision regarding such rates, fees, terms and eligibility or approval of a financial offer. The actual offer you will receive is subject to its provider’s sole discretion including credit score, minimum deposit, minimum balance, requested loan amount, loan term, etc. and there is no guarantee you will qualify for the rates, fees, or terms presented herein. The content herein is not, and shall not be taken as an endorsement, recommendation or solicitation to borrow or obtain any financial service. We encourage you to carefully review the actual offer’s terms you receive from the provider, including all associated fees and costs. Filing for bankruptcy shall not exempt from repayment obligations.

The offers on our page do not represent all account options available.
*APY (Annual Percentage Yield).
Rates / Annual Percentage Yield terms above are current as of the date indicated. These quotes are from banks, credit unions and thrifts, some of which have paid for a link to their website. Bank, thrift and credit unions are member FDIC or NCUA. Contact the financial institution for the terms and conditions that may apply to you. Rates are subject to change without notice and may not be the same at all branches.

Upgrade Disclosures:

Rewards Checking Plus customers who set up monthly direct deposits of $1,000 or more earn 2% cash back on common everyday expenses at convenience stores, drugstores, restaurants and bars – including deliveries – and gas stations, as well as recurring payments on utilities and monthly subscriptions including phone, cable, TV and other streaming services, and 1% cash back on all other debit card purchases. 2% cash back is limited to $500 in rewards per calendar year; after $500, customers earn 1% cash back on all eligible debit card purchases for the remainder of the year. Rewards Checking Plus accounts with less than $1,000 in monthly direct deposits 60 days after account opening will earn 1% cash back on common everyday expenses and 0.50% cash back on all other eligible debit card purchases. Some limitations apply. Please refer to the applicable Upgrade Visa® Debit Card Agreement and Disclosures for more information.
There are no overdraft fees or annual fees. Optional out-of-network ATM withdrawals are subject to a fee of $2.50, plus any third-party fees. Debit card transactions with merchants outside the U.S. or in a foreign currency are subject to a 3% fee. Outbound domestic wire transfers are subject to a fee of $20 after your first fee-free transfer per calendar month. Please refer to the applicable Cross River Bank Checking Deposit Account Agreement and Upgrade Visa® Debit Card Agreement and Disclosures for more information.
Early direct deposit requires set up of recurring electronic direct deposit from your employer, payroll, or benefits provider and is limited to direct deposits under $5000. Early access to direct deposit funds depends on the timing in which we receive notice of impending direct deposit, which is generally up to two days before the scheduled deposit date.
Active Accounts with a monthly direct deposit of $1000 are eligible for additional benefits on Rewards Checking Plus such as additional cash back rewards and more. See the Active Account page for more information.

SoFi Disclosures:

1. Up to $300 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
during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit.
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 12/7/2023 and will be available through 1/31/2026. Full terms at sofi.com/banking. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.
SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit can earn 3.80% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount
required to qualify for the 3.80% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Eligible Direct Deposit will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates
are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 1/24/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
2. APY disclosures
SoFi members who enroll in SoFi Plus with Eligible Direct Deposit or by paying the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee every 30 days or SoFi members with $5,000 or more in Qualifying Deposits during the 30-Day Evaluation
Period can earn 3.80% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated
interest rate. Members without either SoFi Plus or Qualifying Deposits, during the 30-Day Evaluation Period will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates
are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 1/24/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. If you have satisfied Eligible Direct Deposit requirements for our highest APY but do not see
3.80% APY on your APY Details page the day after your Eligible Direct Deposit arrives, please contact us at 855-456-7634. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet. See the SoFi
Plus Terms and Conditions at https://www.sofi.com/terms-of-use/#plus.
3. Fee Policy
We do not charge any account, service or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. We do charge a transaction fee to process each outgoing wire transfer. SoFi does not charge a fee for incoming wire transfers,
however the sending bank may charge a fee. Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Checking & Savings Fee Sheet for details at sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/.
4. Additional FDIC Insurance (must be bolded)
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.
5. 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 incurred when
using out-of-network ATMs are not subject to reimbursement. SoFi’s ATM policies are subject to change at our discretion at any time.
6. 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.
7. Overdraft Coverage
Overdraft Coverage is limited to $50 on debit card purchases only and is an account benefit available to customers with Eligible Direct Deposits of $1,000 or more during the current 30-day Evaluation Period as determined
by SoFi Bank, N.A. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”).
You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY.
Members with a prior history of non-repayment of negative balances are ineligible for Overdraft Coverage.

^{*CIT BANK}Promotion Disclosures

This limited time offer to qualify for a $225 cash bonus with a minimum deposit of $25,000 or a $300 bonus with a minimum deposit of $50,000 is available to New and Existing Customers who meet the Platinum Savings promotion criteria. The Promotion begins on February 26, 2025 and can end at any time without notice.

Customers will receive a $225 or a $300 bonus provided that the program requirements are met:

New CIT Bank Customers: Offer valid for a New CIT Bank Customer, who, at account opening, does not have a valid CIT Bank User ID (a “New Customer”), or any open CIT Bank accounts provided that the following requirements are met:

Offer Requirements

New customers must open a Platinum Savings account with a valid Promo Code, “PS2025.” The Platinum Savings account Bonus 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 bonus.
New customers must deposit at least $25,000 for a $225 bonus, or at least a minimum of $50,000 for a $300 bonus into the enrolled Platinum Savings account within the first 30 calendar days following account opening (the “Funding Period”). The single or multiple deposit(s) of $25,000 or $50,000 or more used to fund the account must come from a funding source outside of CIT Bank. Transfers from existing CIT Bank accounts will not qualify. Funds already on deposit with CIT Bank are ineligible.
The enrolled Platinum Savings account must be open at the time of the bonus payment to qualify.

CIT Bank Customers Prior to the Promotion: Offer valid for a Primary account owner of an existing or newly opened Platinum Savings account with a CIT Bank User ID before the start of the promotion, provided that the following requirements are met:

Offer Requirements

Current customers with a Platinum Savings account opened prior to the promotion may enroll their current Platinum Savings account into the promotion using Promo Code PS2025 or open a new Platinum Savings account via the enrollment web page using Promo Code PS2025. After opening or enrolling the account deposit at least $25,000 for a $225 bonus, or at least a minimum of $50,000 for a $300 bonus into their enrolled Platinum Savings account within 30 calendar days (the “Funding Period”) from the date they enrolled or opened the account. All funds deposited to qualify for the bonus must be new funds from a source outside CIT Bank. Funds already on deposit with CIT Bank are ineligible.
Customers without a Platinum Savings account open prior to the Promotion must open a new Platinum Savings account with a valid Promo Code PS2025 which appears on the enrollment web page for the Platinum Savings Account Bonus Promotion and deposit at least $25,000 for a $225 bonus, or at least a minimum of $50,000 for a $300 bonus into the account within the first 30 calendar days following account opening (the “Funding Period”). All funds deposited to qualify for bonus eligibility must be new funds from a source outside of CIT Bank. Funds already on deposit with CIT Bank are ineligible.
Customers who are not the Primary account owner on a Platinum Savings account may be eligible to earn a $225 or $300 bonus by opening a new Platinum Savings account as a Primary account owner with a valid Promo Code PS2025 which appears on the enrollment web page for the Platinum Savings Account Bonus Promotion, and depositing at least $25,000 for a $225 bonus, or at least a minimum of $50,000 for a $300 bonus to the account within the first 30 calendar days following account opening (the “Funding Period”). The minimum $25,000 or $50,000 used to fund the account must come from a funding source outside of CIT Bank. Funds already on deposit with CIT Bank are ineligible. Transfers from existing CIT Bank accounts will not qualify.
CIT Bank will deposit the qualifying bonus into the customer’s enrolled account within 60-days following the 30-day funding period.
The enrolled Platinum Savings account must be open at the time of the bonus payment to qualify.

There is a limit of one Platinum Savings promotional offer per account and per Primary customer. If multiple Platinum Savings accounts are opened, only one account per primary account owner is eligible.

Custodial accounts and Trust Accounts are not eligible.

This offer is non-transferable.

IMPORTANT: All customers who qualify for the $225 or $300 bonus offer will receive the bonus in the enrolled Platinum Savings account within 60 days after the 30-day funding period.

Example and key dates for the Platinum Savings promotion

Below is an illustration of the promotion requirements and key dates. Individual results may vary based on the date of account opening.

A customer who opens a Platinum Savings account with the promotional code, “PS2025,” on February 26, 2025, funds it with a minimum of $25,000 or $50,000 by March 26, 2025, and satisfies the additional requirements specified above can expect to receive the qualifying bonus no later than May 26, 2025. Below are the key dates and deadlines in this example:


Key dates and deadlines	Details
2/28/2025	The Platinum Savings account is opened by a customer who uses promotion code PS2025.
2/28/2025 – 3/29/2025	The account is fully funded with a minimum of $25,000 or $50,000 via deposit(s) from an external account(s). This represents the 30-day Funding Period.
5/28/2025	The qualified account will be credited the $225 or $300 bonus payment by this date which is 60 days after the end of the funding period.

The value of the $225 or $300 bonus 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.

Platinum Savings interest rates are variable and may change without notice, including after the account is opened.

Live Oak Bank:

1. Important Information about this Personal Savings Bonus Offer:

Customers must meet all of the following requirements to be eligible for the $300 bonus:

New and Existing Customers:
- Only one bonus is available per Tax Identification Number per promotional period.
- Only personal savings accounts are eligible for the bonus offer. Checking accounts, CD accounts and fiduciary accounts (e.g., trusts) are not eligible for this offer.
- Opening of a new account will be subject to approval by Live Oak Banking Company in its sole discretion.
- A new Live Oak Bank personal savings account must be fully funded with at least $20,000 by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on 03/31/2025 to be eligible for the bonus.  If the account is not fully funded by March 31st, then the account is not eligible for the bonus offer.
- All funding of the new personal savings account must consist of funds originating from an external financial institution to qualify; deposits or transfers originating from an existing Live Oak Bank account (whether personal or business) via internal transfer, CD redemption, check, ACH transfer, wire, or loan proceeds do not qualify for bonus offer.
- Beginning on the date in February or March 2025 that the new account attains a balance of at least $20,000, if the balance remains equal to or exceeding $20,000 for 60 consecutive days, then the account will be eligible for the bonus if all other conditions are met. If all eligibility criteria are met, the $300 cash bonus will be deposited to your open, eligible account within 45 days following the expiration of the 60-day period.
- Your new account must not be closed or restricted at the time of payout in order to receive the bonus. Live Oak Bank reserves the right to withdraw or withhold the bonus offer from any customer, with or without notice, if fraud or other suspicious activity is suspected.
- Any promotional amounts received may be subject to taxation.
Existing Customers:
- In addition to the other requirements for the bonus offer, existing Live Oak Bank , customers must maintain their existing account balances (not including interest accrued but not credited to the account) at or above the end of day balance as of February 2nd 2025 11:59:59pm (ET) across their existing personal savings in order to be eligible for the bonus offer.

2. Live Oak Bank Savings Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is valid as of 2/3/2025. No minimum opening balance or deposit required to open. Rates may change at any time without prior notice, before or after the account is opened. No minimum balance to open, but customers must have a balance of $0.01 to earn interest. Fees may reduce earnings.

3. National savings average rate courtesy of the FDIC’s Weekly National Rates and Rate Caps, as of 1/21/2025; average rate used is for deposits under $2,500.

4. Live Oak Bank is a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). As a Live Oak Bank customer, your Live Oak Bank deposits are insured by the FDIC up to $250,000 per depositor, for each account ownership category.

Current:

Current is a financial technology company, not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group, Member FDIC. The Current Visa® Debit Card, which may be issued by Choice Financial Group and/or Cross River Bank, is pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted.

*Faster access to funds is based on comparison of traditional banking policies and deposit of paper checks from employers and government agencies versus deposits made electronically. Delays by the employer, payer, or their banks may result in delayed access to funds beyond our control.

*Boost Bonuses are credited to your Savings Pods within 48 hours of enabling the Boost feature and on a daily basis thereafter, provided that the Savings Pod has accrued a Boost Bonus of at least $0.01. No minimum balance required. The Boost rate on Savings Pods is variable and may change at any time. The disclosed rate is effective as of August 1, 2023. Must have $0.01 in Savings Pods to earn a Boost rate of either 0.25% or 4.00% annually on the portion of balances up to $2000 per Savings Pod, up to $6000 total. The remaining balance earns 0.00%. To earn a Boost rate of 4.00% with at least one Eligible Payroll Deposit equalling a minimum of $200. For more information, please refer to Current Boost Terms and Conditions.