You need your money to be safe and secure — and available when you need it. Look for a bank or credit union that best meets your needs.
Check out national and community banks, credit unions, military banks and credit unions, and online-only banks. Ask if you qualify for military savings programs. As a servicemember, you may have special opportunities to boost your savings. Confirm any institution you’re considering is federally insured.
Compare offers from a few credit unions and banks to choose the best deal for you.
- What are the fees and interest rates?
- Are there branches nearby?
- Are there lots of ATMs you can use? Are there fees to use other ATMs, and do they reimburse them?
- Do they offer mobile banking features?
- What are the minimum banking requirements?
- Does the bank or credit union offer early direct deposit of active duty pay? This lets you to access your pay sooner than the regular military paydays on the 1st and 15th of the month.
Set up automatic contributions to your Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) to help you save for retirement. The government will match your contributions to your TSP up to a certain percentage. That’s like free money.
