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Certificates

The savings that boosts your return with a highly competitive rate.

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Certificate Dividend Rate  APY 
6 Month Term 0.197% 0.200%
1 Year Term 0.295% 0.300%
18 Month Term 0.393% 0.400%
2 Year Term 0.492% 0.500%
3 Year Term 0.590% 0.600%
4 Year Term 0.688% 0.700%
5 Year Term 0.786% 0.800%

Certificate Annual Percentage Yield (APY) effective as of June 4, 2020, and may change without notice. Fees may reduce earnings. Penalty for early withdrawal.

Minimum certificate deposit of $1,000. Maximum is $250,000 deposit per certificate; $1 million per household. Minimum required to open a child’s certificate is $500; child must be under 18 years of age. Minimum of $500 balance required to earn dividends. We may impose a penalty if you withdraw any of the principal before maturity.

NOTE: Rate Climber Certificate is no longer offered as of August 1, 2018. View current Rate Climber Certificate rates on our full Rates page.

Certificates

KEY BENEFITS

  • Get a higher rate than most regular savings accounts
  • Plan easier with a more predictable savings balance
  • Diversify beyond traditional savings accounts and other investments

 CERTIFICATE DETAILS

  • Available in amounts of $1,000 or more1 ($500 or more for members under 18)
  • Terms from 6 months to 5 years

Questions?

Our experienced, helpful member service team is ready to support you!

1-800-621-2105

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What's the Difference?

 

Certificates

  • Interest rate doesn't change during the term of the account
  • No fees when you hold your account to maturity, but there can be penalties for early withdraw
  • No access to your deposit through checks, ATM transactions, or electronic transfers
  • Accurately estimate your earnings over time with a fixed interest rate
  • Possibly get higher rates than Savings accounts when you select longer terms
  • Choose a term from 6 months to 5 years

 

Savings Accounts

  • Typically lower interest rates than certificates, but your funds are liquid and easily accessible
  • Access to ATMs and compatible with electronic transfers
  • Interest rate can adjust while you hold the account
  • Elements' Helium Savings Account has rates as high as 0.65% APY for balances greater than $2,500

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Q: What is the penalty for early withdrawal on a certificate?
A: The amount of the early withdrawal penalty is based on the term of your account. The penalty is calculated as a forfeiture of part of the dividends that have been or would be earned on the account. Get full details here.

Q: How is my interest calculated on my certificate?
A: For each account, the dividend period is the account’s term. The dividend period begins on the first day of the term and ends on the maturity date. The compounding and crediting frequency of dividends are stated in the Certificate Truth-in-Savings Disclosure.

How to get started

 

You can apply online in as little as 10 minutes! Or call 1-800-621-2105 to get started.

What you’ll need to open an account:

  • Your government-issued ID (driver’s license, state ID or passport)
  • Social Security number

What to expect during the application process:

  1. We’ll contact you within 1 business day after you submit your application to review documentation that we’ll need from you and answer questions you may have.
  2. We’ll contact you with a decision within 10 business days.
  3. That’s it – your Elements Certificate is now open!

How Much Will My Certificate Earn?

Certificate Calculator

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  1. 1 Minimum certificate deposit of $1,000. Maximum is $250,000 deposit per certificate; $1 million per household. Minimum required to open a child’s certificate is $500; child must be under 18 years of age. Minimum of $500 balance required to earn dividends. We may impose a penalty if you withdraw any of the principal before maturity.