Navy Federal Credit Union Review 2026
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At a glance
Overview
Navy Federal Credit Union is open to families nationwide with ties to the U.S. military, with many of its branches located on or near military bases. It’s a good fit for anyone looking for a credit union known for providing reliable customer service and an extensive network of more than 300 branches worldwide.
Highlights:
24/7 Customer Service ATM Fee Refunds Free CheckingHighlights:
CDs
Checking
Savings
MMA
Customer Experience
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 CD rating = 4.2/5
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.
Navy Federal Credit Union pros and cons
Pros
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Members have access to more than 300 branches.
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Access is available to more than 30,000 free in-network ATMs.
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Navy Federal has been recognized for offering high-quality customer service.
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The credit union offers annual percentage yields (APYs) on its money market account and certificates that are above national averages.
Cons
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Higher yields on various accounts, including the savings and money market account, can easily be found elsewhere
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Membership is only available to those with a military affiliation.
We want to know what you think about Navy Federal Credit Union
Do you have experience with Navy Federal Credit Union? Let us know your thoughts.
Navy Federal Credit Union banking products
Navy FCU Membership Share Savings account
Pros
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A low $5 minimum deposit is required to open an account, which is common at other credit unions.
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No monthly service fees apply.
Cons
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Savings account yields are very low.
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The account does not come with an ATM card.
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An inactive member fee is assessed quarterly to those who don’t meet minimum balance or account activity requirements.
Navy FCU certificates of deposit
Pros
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Navy Federal offers a wide range of certificate terms.
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Most standard certificates offer highly competitive APYs and require a relatively standard $1,000 deposit to open.
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EasyStart Certificates and the Special EasyStart Certificate require just $50 to open, and money can be added any time.
Cons
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Standard CDs require $100,000 to earn the highest yields.
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While it offers a very high rate, the Special EasyStart Certificate only permits a deposit of up to $3,000.
Navy FCU Money Market Savings account
Pros
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For balances of $2,500 or more, the Money Market Savings account offers a higher yield than the basic savings account at Navy Federal.
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The account doesn’t charge a monthly fee.
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The account comes with check-writing privileges.
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There’s no minimum deposit requirement to open the account.
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There are no transaction limitations.
Cons
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A substantial deposit is required to earn the top APYs, which isn’t robust.
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A minimum balance of $2,500 is required in order to earn interest.
Navy FCU Free Everyday Checking account
Pros
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The account is true to its name, with no monthly fees and no minimum balance or opening requirements.
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Customers get free traditional name-only checks.
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Members have free access to thousands of ATMs.
Cons
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While nice to have for a checking account, the Free Everyday Checking account comes with a very low yield.
Customer experience
Customer support
Branch availability. Navy Federal offers more than 300 branches, some of which are located on military bases. It offers overseas branches located in 10 countries.
Customer service. Customer service representatives are available in the U.S. to speak with members over the phone 24/7. Online, members who have questions can access live chat. Those looking for help to manage their finances will find a bevy of useful tools, including calculators, deployment advice, seminars and events, and more on the credit union's website.
ATM access. While Navy Federal grants fee-free access to 30,000 ATMs across the U.S., consumers should note there are areas where you’ll be hard pressed to find an ATM.
“In Virginia Beach, there were multiple branches and ATMs, likely due to the higher military/veteran population,” said a Bankrate staff member who uses Navy Federal personally. “Now that I live in Charlotte, North Carolina, I don’t have access to a single branch and there’s only one ATM in my area. I would not recommend Navy Federal in the Charlotte metro area for customers who prefer in-person banking.”
Digital experience
Mobile app. Navy Federal offers a mobile app on the Apple App and Google Play stores. The app is highly rated by iOS users, but receives low scores from Android users. The app lets customers do things like deposit checks, pay bills and transfer money between accounts. Apple Pay and Google Pay are options for account holders looking for a mobile wallet.
Digital tools. Navy Federal customers can use Zelle for person-to-person transactions and connect external accounts for easy transfers. Moreover, customers can use the My Credit Score dashboard feature via the accounts page, according to a Bankrate staff member with an account.
Bankrate staff insights
“Navy Federal offers competitive CD rates compared to most banks and credit unions, but low APYs on the basic savings account,” said a Bankrate staff member with an account. “For that reason, I keep minimal funds in there to keep my account open for other products like credit cards and loans, since Navy Federal offers much lower APRs compared to big banks I also use.”
Disclosure: To enhance our product reviews, Bankrate employees often open accounts and provide feedback. They may have been compensated for their time and account maintenance, but this does not affect the integrity of their review.
How Navy Federal Credit Union compares to other banks
Compare different account types offered by Ally Bank. Annual percentage yields (APYs) shown were updated between March 12, 2026 and March 18, 2026.
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Selected bank
Navy Federal Credit Union savings account
Bankrate score
2.8
Bankrate Savings rating = 2.8/5 Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Annual percentage yields (APYs), minimum opening deposit requirements and minimum balances to avoid monthly service fees are some of the things that make up Bankrate’s score. |
Most comparable
America First Credit Union savings account
Bankrate score
3.0
Bankrate Savings rating = 3.0/5 Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Annual percentage yields (APYs), minimum opening deposit requirements and minimum balances to avoid monthly service fees are some of the things that make up Bankrate’s score. |
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Bankrate score
Bankrate Savings rating Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Annual percentage yields (APYs), minimum opening deposit requirements and minimum balances to avoid monthly service fees are some of the things that make up Bankrate’s score. |
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APY
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account. APY includes the effects of compounding interest. APYs last updated between March 12, 2026 and March 18, 2026.
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| 0.25% | 0.05% | |
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Minimum balance for APY
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| $5.00 | $1.00 | |
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Estimated earnings
Interest earned calculation based on a $50,000 deposit amount for a period of 1 year and is rounded to the nearest dollar. Exact earnings are dependent on calendar year, balance, and compounding frequency. Minimum deposit rules may apply.
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| $125 | $25 | |
| Navy Federal’s Share Savings account is required to establish and maintain membership. It can be opened with just $5, but comes with a paltry yield. Interest is compounded and credited monthly. | America First Credit Union’s Share Savings account can be opened with just $1, which is also the amount needed to earn interest. All balances earn a paltry rate, however. | |
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N/A
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APY offering:
0.25%
1/5
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account. APY includes the effects of compounding interest.
Minimum deposit for APY:
$5.00
4/5
The minimum deposit amount a financial institution requires in order to open a savings account.
Monthly service fee:
$0.00
5/5
A monthly charge a financial institution deducts from an account; can sometimes be waived if certain requirements are met.
Minimum balance to avoid fee:
$0.00
5/5
The lowest balance an account must maintain to avoid a monthly fee.
Access to funds:
Great
5/5
Access to funds scores how many and which ways you can withdraw and deposit funds from a savings account.
Additional savings tools:
0/5
Additional savings tools include features such as sub-accounts, roundup savings or other automatic savings features.
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APY offering:
0.05%
1/5
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account. APY includes the effects of compounding interest.
Minimum deposit for APY:
$1.00
4/5
The minimum deposit amount a financial institution requires in order to open a savings account.
Monthly service fee:
$0.00
5/5
A monthly charge a financial institution deducts from an account; can sometimes be waived if certain requirements are met.
Minimum balance to avoid fee:
$0.00
5/5
The lowest balance an account must maintain to avoid a monthly fee.
Access to funds:
Great
5/5
Access to funds scores how many and which ways you can withdraw and deposit funds from a savings account.
Additional savings tools:
No
0/5
Additional savings tools include features such as sub-accounts, roundup savings or other automatic savings features.
|
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account. APY includes the effects of compounding interest.
The minimum deposit amount a financial institution requires in order to open a savings account.
A monthly charge a financial institution deducts from an account; can sometimes be waived if certain requirements are met.
The lowest balance an account must maintain to avoid a monthly fee.
Access to funds scores how many and which ways you can withdraw and deposit funds from a savings account.
Additional savings tools include features such as sub-accounts, roundup savings or other automatic savings features.
Bankrate does not currently track additional product details for this bank.
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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.
