SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union CD Rates for 2025
Review
Updated
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Given that it's one of the largest credit unions in California, it's not surprising that SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union CD rates are competitive, but it may surprise you to find out how competitive.
However, only members can take advantage of SchoolsFirst's share certificates, and eligibility is exclusive to the education industry in California. See exactly who can qualify -- and how the rates really stack up -- in our full SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union CD review.
APY = Annual Percentage Yield
SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union offers a variety of Share Certificates, otherwise known as CDs. However, while the APYs on its two promotional certificates are straightforward, all of its other terms are a bit more complicated. First, each term is a range of months, like 3-5 months, 6-11 months, etc, and second, your eligible APY depends on your CD balance and will fall under one of four different tiers. It's best to visit SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union's website to review this information.
| 6 Mo. APY | 37 Mo. APY |
|---|---|
| 4.25% | 4.30% |
A high-interest savings account offers rates competitive with the best CDs accounts, but without having to lock your money away for months or even years at a time. Here are some top-rated high-yield savings account options from our experts.
| Account | APY | Promotion | Next Steps |
|---|---|---|---|
Open Account for SoFi Checking and Savings
On SoFi's Secure Website.
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
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= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
up to 3.80%
Rate info
SoFi members who enroll in SoFi Plus with Eligible Direct Deposit or by paying the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee every 30 days or SoFi members with $5,000 or more in Qualifying Deposits during the 30-Day Evaluation Period can earn 3.80% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. Members without either SoFi Plus or Qualifying Deposits, during the 30-Day Evaluation Period will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 1/24/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. If you have satisfied Eligible Direct Deposit requirements for our highest APY but do not see 3.80% APY on your APY Details page the day after your Eligible Direct Deposit arrives, please contact us at 855-456-7634. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet. See the SoFi Plus Terms and Conditions at https://www.sofi.com/terms-of-use/#plus.
Min. to earn: $0
|
New customers can earn up to a $300 bonus with qualifying direct deposits!
|
Open Account for SoFi Checking and Savings
On SoFi's Secure Website. |
Open Account for Capital One 360 Performance Savings
On Capital One's Secure Website.
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
3.60%
Rate info
See Capital One website for most up-to-date rates. Advertised Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is variable and accurate as of April 8, 2025. Rates are subject to change at any time before or after account opening.
Min. to earn: $0
|
N/A
|
Open Account for Capital One 360 Performance Savings
On Capital One's Secure Website. |
Open Account for Barclays Tiered Savings
On Barclays' Secure Website.
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
4.00%
Rate info
Balances less than $250,000 earn 4.00%, and balances greater than $250,000 earn 4.20%.
Min. to earn: $0
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N/A
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Open Account for Barclays Tiered Savings
On Barclays' Secure Website. |
It's possible to get competitive APYs from SchoolsFirst share certificates, several of which can stand toe to toe with our top CD rates. If a Promotional Share Certificate doesn't meet your needs, however, be prepared to fork over a lot of dough, for a long time, to get the best possible rates.
| Bank & CD Offer | APY | Term | Min. Deposit | Next Steps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
APY:
4.10%
|
Term:
14 Months
|
Min. Deposit:
$500
|
Open Account for
On LendingClub's Secure Website. |
|
|
APY:
4.00%
|
Term:
1 Year
|
Min. Deposit:
$0
|
Open Account for
On Discover Bank's Secure Website. |
|
|
APY:
4.00%
|
Term:
6 Months
|
Min. Deposit:
$1
|
Open Account for
On Raisin's Secure Website. |
Folks who want the best possible APY (annual percentage yield) should look into the limited-time Promotional Share Certificates. If you want more term variety, check out the standard Share Certificates, which offer an array of maturity lengths and rates.
If you're looking for the most competitive APY from SchoolsFirst, you'll want a promotional rate. The Promotional Share Certificate is more than just good for SchoolsFirst, however -- it's right up there with our top 12-month CD picks. And it even has a pretty reasonable minimum deposit requirement.
A few downsides to consider, starting with the fact that there is only one maturity term. If that doesn't suit your timeline, it could be a dealbreaker. Another thing to note is that the promotional rate only applies to the initial term. If you let the certificate rollover, it will renew at the current rate. Finally, only credit union members are eligible to open an account.
Unlike the Promotional Share Certificate, the standard certificates have rates that vary wildly based on the term length and the size of your deposit. The top rates require not only a significant (read: five-figure) deposit, but also signing up for a long 60-month term.
The positive part of this is that most institutions actually reduce rates on longer-term certificates, so this could be a good option if you're specifically looking for something with a long maturity term. Keep in mind you'll need to be a member of the credit union to get a share certificate, and membership eligibility is fairly strict.
Due to the complexity of SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union's Share Certificate rates and terms, it's best to visit its website for the most detailed look.
SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union also offers the following CD accounts:
The Promotional Share Certificate is a good fit for anyone who wants a competitive APY -- provided they qualify to join the credit union first. Only members can open accounts.
Joining requires you to meet one of these conditions:
Eligible schools and companies will be located within the state of California.
You will need to provide supporting documents of your eligibility when you apply to join SchoolsFirst. For example, if you are a current employee at an eligible school, you would need to submit a pay stub to verify your employment.
APY = Annual Percentage Yield
At Motley Fool Money, certificates of deposit (CDs) are rated on a scale of one to five stars, primarily focusing on annual percentage yield (APY) and early withdrawal penalty fees. Our highest-rated CDs generally include competitive APYs without complex qualification tiers, low withdrawal fees, reliable brand trust and reputation, and ease of use.
Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates bank accounts.
SchoolsFirst has branches throughout California. To join, prospective members must be part of an eligible education-related organization or school in California.
Yes, if you withdraw money from your share certificate before it matures, you will be charged a penalty fee. If your certificate matures, it will automatically rollover into a new term. You will need to withdraw the funds within the grace period to avoid early withdrawal penalties.
SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union offers a variety of share certificates. Share certificates and certificates of deposit, or CDs, are essentially the same thing. The main difference between the two products is that CDs are primarily issued by banks, while share certificates are issued by credit unions.
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Motley Fool Money is 100% owned and operated by The Motley Fool. Our knowledgeable team of personal finance editors and analysts are employed by The Motley Fool and held to the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page. APYs are subject to change at any time without notice.
