Golden 1 Credit Union Review
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At a glance
Overview
Those who live or work in California and are looking for a reliable credit union with a solid branch footprint and low fees may find Golden 1 a good fit for their banking needs.
Highlights:
Free Checking No Monthly FeesHighlights:
CDs
Checking
Savings
MMA
Overall
Golden 1 Credit Union is one of the largest credit unions in the U.S. and offers members a wide selection of products and services. Membership is open to those who live or work in California or are an immediate family member or domestic partner. Most accounts require a small amount to open, and many also feature low or no monthly fees.
Pros
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There are no monthly service fees for basic accounts such as Free Checking and Regular Savings.
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Members can access more than 30,000 in-network ATMs and over 80 Golden 1 branches, in addition to shared ATMs and branches in the CO-OP network.
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Membership requirements are easy for those living or working in California.
Cons
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Yields are not as attractive as at other top credit unions.
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The money market account doesn’t include check-writing capabilities.
Golden 1 Credit Union banking products
Golden 1 Credit Union savings overview
Pros
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The Regular Savings Account requires just $1 to open.
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There’s no monthly maintenance fee with the Regular Savings Account.
Cons
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You can find a higher APY at many online banks or other financial institutions.
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At least $100,000 is required to earn the top rate, which is still below average.
Golden 1 Credit Union CD overview
Pros
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You can get started with just a $500 opening deposit.
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Golden 1 offers share certificate terms in monthly increments ranging from three months to five years, allowing customers to customize terms to their needs.
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Monthly dividends can be added to the certificate balance or transferred to a different account without penalties.
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The 16- and 22-month certificates have a highly competitive APY.
Cons
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While many of the certificate rates are above national averages, higher rates can be found elsewhere.
Golden 1 Credit Union money market overview
Pros
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Only $100 is required to open the Money Market Savings Account.
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There’s no monthly fee.
Cons
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The account doesn’t offer check-writing privileges.
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Account balances of under $10,000 earn at a lower APY that’s below the national average.
Golden 1 Credit Union checking overview
Pros
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There’s no minimum balance requirement or monthly fee on the Free Checking Account.
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There’s no NSF fee, and the $20 overdraft fee is below average.
Cons
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The Free Checking account is noninterest-bearing.
Bank fees
| Fee | Charged? |
|---|---|
| Overdraft fee | $20 |
| Non-sufficient funds fee | None |
| Account maintenance fees | None |
| Out-of-network ATM fee | $2 |
| Incoming wire transfers | None |
Customer experience
Branch access. Golden 1 Credit Union has 83 branches in California, plus its members have free access to shared branches in the CO-OP network.
Customer service. Member representatives are available 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT, Monday-Friday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., on weekends, to answer questions or help with member accounts. If members need extra assistance for navigating account-related problems, they can also contact a specialized Member Advocate Team via email and expect a response by the next business day.
Highly rated app. The credit union’s mobile app is highly rated on iOS with a 4.8 rating and on Google Play with a 4.6 star rating.
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Review methodology
We assign a score to each type of account and its features, weigh them carefully based on importance to account holders and determine an overall score. Read our full review methodology.
