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Patelco Credit Union Review

Updated April 25, 2025
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At a glance

Overview

Patelco Credit Union is a full-service credit union offering a range of competitive deposit products, making it a worthwhile option for Northern Californians who meet the credit union’s requirements.

Highlights:

High APY Free Checking
4.2
Rating: 4.2 stars out of 5
Bankrate Score
Info Icon

CDs

Rating: 4 stars out of 5
4.0 /5

Checking

Rating: 4.7 stars out of 5
4.7 /5

Savings

Rating: 3 stars out of 5
3.0 /5

MMA

Rating: 3.9 stars out of 5
3.9 /5
Sponsored offers
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These are sponsored offers rated highly by us for competitive rates, fees, and minimums.

Bank logo
Member FDIC
CD
4.40
%
APY
APY
Info Icon
As of 5/13/2025
Rating: 4.9 stars out of 5
$500
Minimum deposit
View offer Arrow Right Icon
Promoted offer: Expires 5/28/25. APY may change before CD is opened & funded.
Bank logo
Member FDIC
CD
4.30
%
APY
APY
Info Icon
As of 5/13/2025
Rating: 4.9 stars out of 5
$500
Minimum deposit
View offer Arrow Right Icon
Promoted offer:
Bank logo
Banking services provided by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC*
Checking Account
3.75
%
APY
APY
Info Icon
As of 5/13/2025
$0
Min. balance for APY
View offer Arrow Right Icon

Overall

Patelco Credit Union is a full-service credit union primarily serving members in Northern California. From investing and insurance to credit cards and savings, Patelco offers all the products you’d want to keep your banking under one roof. Patelco offers strong APYs on most of its share certificates and provides fee-free checking and money market accounts. But the yields for its savings account are extremely low, dimming the appeal of keeping all of your accounts with the credit union.

Pros

  • Checkmark Icon

    Patelco’s money market account pays a top-of-the-market APY on certain balance tiers.

  • Checkmark Icon

    It offers a free checking account without a minimum deposit requirement.

Cons

  • The savings account pays a below-average yield.

  • Patelco doesn’t offer out-of-network ATM fee rebates.

Patelco Credit Union banking products

Patelco Credit Union savings overview

3.0
/5
Rating: 3 stars out of 5

Pros

  • Checkmark Icon

    The savings account doesn’t charge a monthly service fee.

  • Checkmark Icon

    The deposit needed to open and earn interest is just a penny.

Cons

  • The APY is low, even below the national average.

Patelco Credit Union CD overview

4.0
/5
Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Pros

  • Checkmark Icon

    The range of share certificate terms lets members easily build a ladder.

  • Checkmark Icon

    The minimum deposit is only $250.

Cons

  • Yields for the shortest certificate terms are low and dividends aren’t paid until maturity.

  • Higher yields can be found elsewhere.

Patelco Credit Union money market overview

3.9
/5
Rating: 3.9 stars out of 5

Pros

  • Checkmark Icon

    Even with a tiered APY, the yield is competitive.

  • Checkmark Icon

    Savers only need a $1 deposit to open and earn interest.

  • Checkmark Icon

    The account doesn’t charge a monthly fee.

Cons

  • You may be able to find higher yields elsewhere on balances of $10,000 and more.

Patelco Credit Union checking overview

4.7
/5
Rating: 4.7 stars out of 5

Pros

  • Checkmark Icon

    The Free Checking account has no monthly fee or deposit requirement.

  • Checkmark Icon

    It offers free overdraft transfers from a linked account

  • Checkmark Icon

    Patelco members get free access to thousands of CO-OP ATMs.

Cons

  • Patelco charges $1.75 to use out-of-network ATMs and doesn’t offer rebates.

Bank fees

Fee Charged?
Overdraft fee $15
Non-sufficient funds fee $28
Monthly maintenance fees None
Out-of-network ATM fee $1.75
Excessive transaction fee None

Customer experience

Customer service. Patelco Credit Union customer service representatives are available by phone. Customers can also send email via the credit union’s website, meet with an agent virtually via live chat from 9 am to 5 pm PT, or schedule an appointment with a Patelco representative in person, virtually or over the phone. 

Digital experience. Patelco offers a highly rated app for both iOS and Android devices. Members can deposit checks and pay bills through their mobile devices. Patelco also hosts regular webinars to help members learn more about managing their finances.

Customers can make person-to-person payments using Zelle and can also add their debit card to Apple Pay and Google Pay.

Patelco Credit Union logo

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Review methodology

With so many financial institutions to choose from, it can be hard to know who to trust. Bankrate’s ever-growing list of bank and credit union reviews is updated regularly. Our editorial team analyzes and reviews each institution across deposit products such as savings accounts, checking accounts, certificates of deposit (CDs) and money market accounts (MMAs). Banks are rated by important factors such as offered interest rates, fees, minimum balance requirements, access to funds and more.

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.