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
Offers featured here have been sponsored which impacts how, where, and in what order the products appear. Not all offers are displayed on this page.
These are sponsored offers rated highly by us for competitive rates, fees, and minimums.
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 = 4.4/5
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 = 4.6/5
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 = 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.
Offers featured here have been sponsored which impacts how, where, and in what order the products appear. Not all offers are displayed on this page.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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