This product has been scored using WalletHub’s proprietary rating system for banking products. We evaluated this account for various consumer needs and picked the rating for the need with the highest score, which is "Everyday checking with an above-average balance."
Market Comparison
5.0
Fees: 5.0
Interest Rates: 5.0
Annual Cost: 5.0
Other Features: 5.0
APY
0.01% - 8.00%
Monthly Fee
None
Signup Bonus
None
No ATM Fees
Interest Rate Breakdown
Balance
APY
$0 - $15,000
8.00%
$15,001+
0.01%
Minimum to Open: $0
Additional Info
Earn up to 8.00% APY for the first three months, up to 4.00% APY after that*
Free Checking account, no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements
Top 100 credit union, serving over 360,000 members nationwide
Get your paycheck up to 2 days early*
Access to over 100,000 ATMs nationwide
Top-rated Mobile app with Zelle®, mobile check deposit, and more
NCUA Insured
*1. Membership must be opened by 12/31/2026 to receive this promotional offer. The 3-month introductory period begins the month the membership is opened and ends on the last calendar day of the 4th month. During the 3-month introductory period Level 1 will earn 4.00% APY and Level 2 will earn 8.00% APY. After the 3-month introductory period, balances up to $15,000 will earn the stated higher rate and the portion of the balance over $15,000 will earn the stated lower rate. See rate sheet or website for current rates. The member account must meet all requirements to achieve either Level 1 or Level 2 for all three months to be eligible to receive the respective higher APY.
To earn monthly dividends and reimbursements of other banks’ ATM surcharge fees up to $20.00 per month, your account must meet all three of these requirements to qualify for Level 1 or Level 2. Please note, Level 1 ATM surcharge fees are covered up to $10.00 per month and Level 2 ATM surcharge fees are covered up to $20.00 per month.
To achieve Level 1, you must have monthly direct deposits totaling at least $1,000 into your PowerPlus Checking account on an ongoing monthly basis, enrollment in eStatements and completion of at least fifteen (15) qualified transactions.
To achieve Level 2, you must have direct deposits totaling at least $3,000 into your PowerPlus Checking account on an ongoing monthly bases, enrollment in eStatements and completion of at least thirty (30) qualified transactions.
For additional information and disclosure, visit the BCU website.
Do not open an account with this bank, they are terrible! Do not, I repeat, DO NOT bank here, they do not care about you or your well being. I have been with them for 10 years and I have problems with them every single time I call. I have property in Mexico and travel often. Over the last three years I have needed to replace my debit card 3-4 sperate times due to my account being compromised, BCU representatives gave me no options other than standard shipping. They do not offer Overnight services for anything and when you deposit a check, they will hold your check deposits for 21 days with no reason because by law they don't have to give you one. They will not help you when your in an emergency either! I am currently stranded in Sinaloa, MX with a boken down truck and they will not release my check funds to me to get my truck out of the shop and get back to Mexico. They are holding my money until 5/5/26 because they listed the check fraudulent. This check came from my mom. I called them the day I was going to deposit it to let them know it was going to be deposited and I needed the funds immediately and I sent them 2 months worth of bank statements, multiple screen shots, and I even had my moms bank write a letter with the check transaction, copy of the check. I sent them everything that they requested. Every time I called, they wanted something different and each time I sent it they still said they were goin got hold my check even though its not fraudulent. This is the story they are sticking to over a check from my mom which also has the exact same address on it that is on my banking account at BCU. Needless to say, I am ending my business with this bank and going to another credit union.
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Product: BCU Checking
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Blaiz Turbeville @blaiz_tastic
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1 Star Rating
Mobile deposit is a JOKE. I thought I was saving time depositing my check via the moblie option in the app, if I had ANY clue they we're going to take a WEEK to verify the check I would've used a different bank. 0 sense of urgency.
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Product: BCU Checking
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BCU @MyBCU
Thank you for your feedback, Blaiz. Mobile deposits are subject to federal rules under the Expedited Funds Availability Act, which sometimes require holds while checks are verified. The delay you experienced isn’t typical of our service, and we’d be happy to review your deposit if you contact us directly at [email protected].
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Allan Arenas @bogummy87
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1 Star Rating
Worst Bank/Credit Union ever. Do not bank with them. They do not hold any accountability for helping their members at all. You're better off with Chase or Bank of America. Pray you don't get locked out of your account over the weekend because you won't be given access to it. I'm moving my account away from them soon. Also, don't do your auto loan with them; you'll never pay it down.
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Product: BCU Checking
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BCU @MyBCU
Hello, we are very sorry about your experience. Since your account information needs to be secure, we can not assist on WalletHub. If you could please send your contact information to [email protected], we'll be able to reach out to assist.
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Arny Gee @simgas29
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1 Star Rating
I applied for a checking account on 16 September and I was approved, but then a couple of days later, they asked me to send in proof of address, ID, and Social Security card. I did all of that only for them to turn around and ask me for proof of direct deposit and who referred me. However, on the website, it says that subscribing to Life. Money. You. will make you eligible for membership. I just feel like this is the worst credit union I've ever tried to be a part of; they closed my account after I sent all my information in. I wasn't applying for a loan, so I don't understand why I had to show proof of income. It makes me wonder what they are doing with my information. The review team looked at everything but still kept coming back asking for more proof. I wouldn't recommend BCU to anybody. They are the worst; stay away from them.
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Product: BCU Checking
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hwirthj @hwirthj
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1 Star Rating
Absolutely hate this bank; nothing makes sense. I can never find anything in the mobile app because it is confusing. There are no branches to go to since they keep closing them. When you try to do a mobile deposit, it doesn't tell you how long it will take, and you have to write "for mobile deposit only" on it. Then, if it doesn't go through, you can't try to deposit it anywhere else. I've had to take 50-plus pictures of this check to get it deposited because the system they use is so outdated. When I started with this bank, I was told we get paid 2 days early, but really, we don't because it doesn't show up until 10 PM. You can't tell me it's because they can't see it because any other bank has it done by noon at the latest. Apparently, there's no such thing as suspicious charges that are in a different state anymore because of online banking? I've never heard that one before. I would rather have the protection and have to contact you to see why my card isn't going through than go through this fraud issue again. Like, I literally have nothing positive to say about this bank.
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Product: BCU Checking
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BCU @MyBCU
Hello there, we sincerely apologize for your recent experience. It is never our intention to frustrate our members with our products or resources. We would appreciate the opportunity to investigate this matter further. Please send your contact details to [email protected], and a specialist will assist you promptly.
Thank you for your understanding.. We would appreciate the opportunity to investigate this matter further; please send your contact details to [email protected], and a specialist will assist you.
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BCU @MyBCU
Hello, we are very sorry about your experience. With your account information needing to be secure, we can not assist on WalletHub, but if you could please send your contact information over to [email protected], we'll be able to reach out to assist.
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Nicole Newman @nicolenewman17
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2 Star Rating
Update - I was given a refund on Friday, 6/20, and it's now Tuesday, 6/24, yet it still hasn't appeared in my account. I called, and they blamed the delay on Visa. I mentioned that when I banked with Chase, which also uses Visa, I never encountered this problem, and the representative was silent. He informed me that it could take until Friday for them to process the refund. I suspect there might be improper activities going on behind the scenes. BCU takes a long time to process refunds, and I think they delay them to collect overdraft fees. I've been banking with them for 5 years now, and that is my biggest complaint. Previously, I banked with Fifth Third, who faced legal action for similar practices. It seems BCU does the same thing, unlike Chase, where refunds were processed immediately.
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Product: BCU Checking
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BCU @MyBCU
Hey Nicole! We totally understand how frustrating it can be to wait for a refund. Just so you know, fraud and dispute claims usually take up to 10 business days. But no worries! We're here to help. If you shoot us your contact info at [email protected], we’d love to dive deeper into your claim. Thanks for your patience
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GK Nguyen @giao74
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1 Star Rating
I called on March 10, 2025, to close my savings account. Gabriel, who assisted me, told me the account is now closed and gave me the confirmation number. Two weeks later, the account is still open. Yes, they lied. I recently scheduled two payments, and BCU informed me that the payments had been processed. My credit card company now told me the payment was returned, and I am responsible for late fees and returned fees. Not an email or a call from BCU as to how that happened. I am filing a complaint with the Illinois Department of Financial Services and the Better Business Bureau.
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Product: BCU Checking
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BCU @MyBCU
Hello, we sincerely apologize for your recent experience. It is never our goal to make any members feel misled or to provide incorrect information. We would appreciate the opportunity to investigate this matter further; please send your contact details to [email protected], and a specialist will assist you.
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Mk Ss @mks44
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1 Star Rating
Transferred money from one bank to BCU. BCU placed a hold on the funds for 8 days, EVEN AFTER the check cleared the original bank. Then the customer service representative asked me what I wanted to use the money for. Why does the bank need that information? They asked ME to provide documentation from the source bank confirming that the check had cleared. I provided an image with the BCU information stamped on the bank, but that was not enough. I spoke to a supervisor, who gave me an unsatisfactory explanation about the Federal Reserve needing to notify them that the funds were processed. This was after the funds were already deducted from the source bank account. I would not recommend using their services. Consider any bank but BCU!!!!!
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Product: BCU Checking
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BCU @MyBCU
Hello, we are very sorry about your experience. With your account information needing to be secure, we can not assist on WalletHub, but if you could please send your contact information over to [email protected], we'll be able to reach out to assist.
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Ariel Mays @maysariel09
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1 Star Rating
TERRIBLE! DO NOT BANK HERE! I was charged three different overdraft fees on June 20, 2024, for three repayment transactions that come out of my paycheck. My paycheck was deposited on June 20, 2024. I called customer service to have the overdraft fees removed because they were incorrectly applied. My account was not negative, as I was paid on the exact date of the repayment transactions deducted from my paycheck. Customer service informed me I could not have the overdraft fees reversed because, due to the national Juneteenth holiday, my paycheck didn’t post to my account until 8 PM on June 20, 2024, and the repayment transactions were posted at 5 PM on the same day. Consequently, I am being charged overdraft fees due to their delay in posting my funds, even though I was paid. This is utterly unacceptable and demonstrates how these banks profit at the expense of their customers. No wonder this bank has so many negative reviews. I'll be closing my account. It's not worth it for them to take my hard-earned money. They clearly do not care.
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Product: BCU Checking
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BCU @MyBCU
Hello, we are very sorry about your experience. With your account information needing to be secure, we can not assist on WalletHub, but if you could please send your contact information over to [email protected], we'll be able to reach out to assist.
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Zikia Nesbitt @Zikia1986
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1 Star Rating
This is the worst bank to bank with. Please run... I recently had fraudulent activity on my account. They canceled the cards, which is normal. I was told a new card was shipped on May 25th, only to find out on June 6th that my card was sent to the wrong address. I then spoke with someone who claimed they would overnight me a new card, since my rent is now late, however that was on June 6th and today is June 7th, and I haven't received notification via email about delivery. I have an account with UPS and an account with FedEx which I can see incoming deliveries. I found out I will not receive my card until Monday evening on June 10th. Meaning, I have been put in a complete hole. I cannot get virtual card information to even pay my rent. To add insult to injury, my overdraft protection was taken away from me for 6 months because of the fraudulent activity, which I reported. Horrible leadership, customer service workers.
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Product: BCU Checking
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BCU @MyBCU
Hello, we are very sorry about your experience. With your account information needing to be secure, we can not assist on WalletHub, but if you could please send your contact information over to [email protected], we'll be able to reach out to assist.
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