Premier Members Credit Union Review 2024
Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us and terms apply to offers listed (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate products and services to help you make smart decisions with your money.
The bottom line: Premier Members Credit Union is a good choice if you’re looking for high certificate or money market account rates. You’ll need to look elsewhere to earn the best high-yield savings account rates, though.
How Premier Members Credit Union products compare
Editor’s Rating
Editor’s Rating
Editor’s Rating
Editor’s Rating
Premier Members Credit Union: Overall Credit Union Rating
Premier Members Credit Union is a good choice if you’re looking for high certificate or money market account rates.
Premier Members Credit Union: Pros and Cons
Compare Today’s Rates
Premier Members Credit Union Membership Share Savings Account
The Premier Members Credit Union Membership Share Savings is good if you want a savings account with no monthly fee. It pays a low interest rate, though, and you can earn a much higher rate the best online banks.
Premier Members Credit Union Smart Checking Account
Fees
no monthly service fee
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
None
Minimum Opening Deposit
$25
- $25 minimum opening deposit
- No monthly service fee
- Credit score monitoring
- Free overdraft protection if you enroll in automatic transfers from savings
- No interest earned
- $32 overdraft fee
Insider’s Take
The Premier Members Credit Union Smart Checking Account is a good choice if you’re looking for a free account with overdraft protection. You’ll want to look elsewhere for a high-interest checking account, though.
Product Details
- 17 branches in Colorado, or open an account online from around the U.S.
- Over 5,000 shared branches in the U.S.
- 30,000 free ATMs nationwide in the Co-op network
- There are many ways to become a member if you live in Colorado, or join Impact on Education if you don’t otherwise qualify
- Federally insured by the NCUA
The Premier Members Credit Union Smart Checking Account is a good option if you’re looking for a free checking account. Premier Members CU has a few other checking accounts, too, but you’ll need to either pay a monthly fee or qualify to waive the fee on each of them.
Many institutions require at least $1,000 to open a certificate, but you only need $500 with Premier Members Credit Union.
Premier Members Credit Union Money Market Account
Fees
no monthly service fee
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
0.50% to 5.00%
Minimum Opening Deposit
$5
- Competitive interest rates for low balances
- $5 opening deposit
- Paper checks
- No monthly service fee
- Less competitive interest rates for high balances
- Interest compounds monthly, not daily
- No debit or ATM card
Insider’s Take
The Premier Members Credit Union Money Market Account is solid money market account that offers an especially high interest rate on low account balances.
Product Details
- 17 branches in Colorado, or open an account online from around the US
- Over 5,000 shared branches in the US
- There are many ways to become a member if you live in Colorado, or join Impact on Education if you don’t otherwise qualify
- Reverse-tiered account, with 7 tiers
- Earn high rates on balances under $10,000, with highest rates under $2,000
- Interest compounded monthly, paid monthly
- Federally insured by the NCUA
The Premier Members Credit Union Money Market Account is solid money market account that offers an especially high interest rate on low account balances. You may earn 5.00% APY on balances up to $2,000.
If you plan to keep more than $2,000 in your account, the rate will vary depending on your account balance. Generally, higher account balances offer lower interest rates.
How Premier Members Credit Union Works
Premier Members Credit Union has 17 branches in Colorado. It’s part of the CO-OP Shared Branch Network, so you have access to over 5,000 shared branches and 30,000 ATMs around the US. You can also open accounts online even if you don’t live in Colorado.
To contact customer service, call Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. MT, or Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. MT.
The Premier Members Credit Union mobile app has 4.7 out of 5 stars in the Apple store and 4.5 out of 5 stars in the Google Play store.
Your deposits are federally insured by the NCUA for up to $250,000, or up to $500,000 for a joint account. With NCUA insurance, your money is safe even if the credit union shuts down.
How to Join Premier Members Credit Union
Premier Members Credit Union is a credit union, not a bank, so only certain people can become members. The easiest way to become a member is probably by joining Impact on Education, a charity of the Boulder Valley School District. You can join Impact on Education even if you don’t live in Colorado.
For Colorado residents, there are other ways to be eligible for membership:
- Live or work in one of the following counties: Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Boulder, Delta, Denver, Douglas, Elbert, El Paso, Garfield, Jefferson, Larimer, Mesa, Montrose, Pueblo, or Weld
- Be a student, faculty member, or staff member in either the Boulder Valley School District or Westminster Public Schools
- Be an employee or family member of an employee of Ball Corporation, Boulder Community Health, IBM, Lexmark, or Medtronic
- Be an employee or member of one of 750 organizations the credit union serves (call customer service to ask whether your company qualifies)
- Have a family member who already has accounts with Premier Members Credit Union
When you join, you’ll also need to open a Premier Members Credit Union Membership Share Savings Account.
Premier Members Credit Union Trustworthiness and BBB Rating
Premier Members Credit Union does not have any public controversies.
It is a Better Business Bureau-accredited company. The BBB focuses on consumer trust, and it gives Premier Members Credit Union an A+ rating. A strong BBB score indicates that a company responds effectively to customer complaints, advertises honestly, and is transparent about business practices.
Premier Members Credit Union vs. Ally
Both institutions pay high interest rates on money market accounts. The best option for you will likely depend on how much money you want to keep in the account. Ally pays the same rate on your entire balance, while Premier Members CU has a tiered rates system that pay you higher rates on lower balances.
Your choice could also come down to what other accounts you want to open. Ally pays a much higher savings interest rate than Premier Members CU.
Premier Members Credit Union vs. Affinity Plus Credit Union
Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union has 26 branches in Minnesota. If you don’t live in Minnesota, you can still open accounts online.
Both Premier Members Credit Union and Affinity Plus Credit Union have standout money market accounts with tiered interest rates. Your preference between the two accounts may come down to your account balance.
Affinity Plus Credit Union has two tiers. On balances up to $25,000 you’ll earn 3.00% APY, and on balances over $25,000 you’ll earn 2.00% APY.
Premiers Credit Union has seven tiers in its Premier Members Credit Union Money Market Account. You’ll earn the highest interest rate — 5.00% APY — on balances of up to $2,500. Then, the rate will vary depending on how much money you have in the account. Generally, higher account balances offer lower interest rates.
Premier Members Credit Union: Frequently Asked Questions
Premier Members Credit Union has 17 branches in Colorado. Credit union branches are located in the following cities: Arvada, Boulder, Broomfield, Castle Rock, Centennial, Erie, Estes Park, Firestone, Longmont, Louisville, Pueblo, Thornton, and Westminster.
Premier Members Credit Union currently has share certificates with a minimum opening deposit of $500 paying 3.00% to 4.00% APY.