Golden 1 Credit Union Review 2023
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At a glance

CDs
Checking
Savings
MMA
About Bankrate Score
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 Fees
Offers featured here have been sponsored by our partners, which impacts how, where, and in what order the products appear.

APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
Bankrate Savings rating = 4.7/5
Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Our scoring formula weighs several factors consumers should consider when choosing financial products and services.

APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
Bankrate Savings rating = 4.9/5
Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Our scoring formula weighs several factors consumers should consider when choosing financial products and services.

APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
Bankrate Savings rating = 4.5/5
Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Our scoring formula weighs several factors consumers should consider when choosing financial products and services.
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. 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.
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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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A fee is charged when over three in-branch savings account withdrawals take place in a month.
Golden 1 Credit Union banking products
Golden 1 Credit Union savings overview
Golden 1 also offers Youth Savings, FlexSavings, Santa Saver and Coverdell Education Savings accounts, all of which require low opening deposits.
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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Lobby withdrawals or transfers in excess of three during a calendar month will trigger an excessive withdrawal fee.
Offers featured here have been sponsored by our partners, which impacts how, where, and in what order the products appear.

APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
Bankrate Savings rating = 4.7/5
Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Our scoring formula weighs several factors consumers should consider when choosing financial products and services.
Bank experience
Golden 1 Credit Union has more than 70 branches in California. 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.
The credit union’s mobile app is highly rated on iOS with a 4.7 rating, but it scores significantly lower among Android users, at 3.7 stars. Members can make peer-to-peer payments using Popmoney in the mobile app or when logged on to Golden 1’s website.
About Golden 1 Credit Union
Golden 1 Credit Union was founded in 1933 and has become one of the largest credit unions in the U.S., with more than 1 million members and over $18 billion in assets. Membership is open to those who live or work in California.
The credit union offers checking accounts, savings accounts, a money market account, CDs and other financial products. Golden 1 is headquartered in Sacramento and has a network of more than 70 branches.
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.