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How much $$ to maintain a CU savings/checking accounts?

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Caardvark
Frequent Contributor

How much $$ to maintain a CU savings/checking accounts?

So... now that I just joined NFCU I am a member of three credit unions (+ two banks) and my wife is a member of two credit unions. Each one has a savings account and in some cases a checking account as well. Now, I'm wondering what the best strategy is for maintaining the account balances. Should I be maintaining a certain minimum balance in each account? Or, when it comes to getting credit products later, do they not care? While we have a comfortable amount of near liquid assets we keep <$10K in actual cash. I could simply spread this out among the different accounts but ~$1K in each of nine accounts is not convenient. If I ever needed $3K in a hurry I'd have to go to three different accounts.

 

Each CU was joined with a specific purpose of wanting one of their credit products down the road. So, I want to make sure I'm not reducing my odds of getting said credit by keeping <$200 in some of the accounts.

 


Message 1 of 18
17 REPLIES 17
Jnbmom
Credit Mentor

Re: How much $$ to maintain a CU savings/checking accounts?

In my experience it doesn't matter what I keep in them in regards to getting credit products. DH and I each have an account with Navy and Penfed and I have a DCU and local CU.

 

DH literally has 5.00 bucks in navy's checking and savings and has very nice limits with his cards. I keep around 500 in both navy and penfed and just now am starting to put most of my extra in navy, I kinda don't like penfed as much and my cards with them haven't budged.Actually am going to close my checking with Penfed as their policy in regards to avoiding monthly service fees stinks.

EXP 780 EQ 796 TU 810
Message 2 of 18
coldfusion
Community Leader
Mega Contributor

Re: How much $$ to maintain a CU savings/checking accounts?


@Jnbmom wrote:

In my experience it doesn't matter what I keep in them in regards to getting credit products. DH and I each have an account with Navy and Penfed and I have a DCU and local CU.

 

DH literally has 5.00 bucks in navy's checking and savings and has very nice limits with his cards. I keep around 500 in both navy and penfed and just now am starting to put most of my extra in navy, I kinda don't like penfed as much and my cards with them haven't budged.Actually am going to close my checking with Penfed as their policy in regards to avoiding monthly service fees stinks.


+1 

 

IME both CU have also been generous with me even though I keep < $1K balances in each.  I do make small regular automatic deposits into each with sporadic bill payments to show some regular activity, but I can't specifically correlate that with their generosity. 

 

(11/2024)
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Artist formerly known as the_old_curmudgeon who was formerly known as coldfusion
Message 3 of 18
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: How much $$ to maintain a CU savings/checking accounts?

I keep whatever minimum each requires.
The bulk of cash is where it can grow the fastest.
Message 4 of 18
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: How much $$ to maintain a CU savings/checking accounts?

I just joined NFCU myself a week ago.  The rep told me that $50 combined between the two accounts would be enough to prevent any Adverse Action (inactivity fees, closing due to inactivity, etc.).  This can happen after 12 consecutive months of inactivity.  If some activity happens (e.g. any withdrawl or deposit in the account of any amount) that is also sufficient to prevent AA -- in which case you could have far less than $50 combined.

Message 5 of 18
Jnbmom
Credit Mentor

Re: How much $$ to maintain a CU savings/checking accounts?


@Anonymous wrote:

I just joined NFCU myself a week ago.  The rep told me that $50 combined between the two accounts would be enough to prevent any Adverse Action (inactivity fees, closing due to inactivity, etc.).  This can happen after 12 consecutive months of inactivity.  If some activity happens (e.g. any withdrawl or deposit in the account of any amount) that is also sufficient to prevent AA -- in which case you could have far less than $50 combined.

 

 

 

Thanks for that tip, just transfered 50.00 into dh's acoounts


EXP 780 EQ 796 TU 810
Message 6 of 18
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: How much $$ to maintain a CU savings/checking accounts?

Note that another approach would only entail keeping $9 between the two accounts ($5 of which would be the minimum $5 share for the savings).  You could start with $8 in savings and $1 in checking, and then set up an automated transfer of $2 from savings to checking and another auto-transfer of checking to transfer.  The transfers could be quarterly or monthly.

 

That meets the activity requirement and therefore skirts the $50 minimum.

Message 7 of 18
Caardvark
Frequent Contributor

Re: How much $$ to maintain a CU savings/checking accounts?

All good info. Thanks to all.

 

I transferred $100 when I opened the accunts. Thanks to the info in thisd thread I'm just going to split it between the two accounts and let it be. I was hoping this would be the case because I wanted to avoid putting too much in there since their rates are pretty abysmal. 


Message 8 of 18
Glen_M
Frequent Contributor

Re: How much $$ to maintain a CU savings/checking accounts?

One other thing that usually prevents any kind of adverse action, and often qualifies you for perks, is to have direct deposit with a lender.  Some of them don't set a minimum $ amount, some do (and even if they do it usually isn't terribly high).  If your employer makes it possible to divide your direct deposit by % or flat $ amounts, you can get the perks of several institutions simultaneously.



Message 9 of 18
Kforce
Valued Contributor

Re: How much $$ to maintain a CU savings/checking accounts?

I have a few CU accounts and keep <  $50 in each.

Great auto, personal loans and credit card offers.

They don't need to see large balances.

Just want you as a member.

Put your money where it does you the most good !

 

 

 

Message 10 of 18
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