Review
Updated
Fact Checked
Eric McWhinnie
The best money market accounts offer higher APYs than most savings accounts, plus the ability to write checks or access money with a debit card. The Navy Federal Money Market Savings Account, however, doesn't fit this criteria. True, you can write checks from your account, but your savings rate will be significantly lower than other top-tier accounts. Read on to learn the pros and cons of the Navy Federal Money Market Savings Account in our detailed review.
Ratings Methodology
Rates as
of May 18, 2024
Federally insured by NCUA.
Rating image, 3.50 out of 5 stars.
3.50/5
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
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor
Rating image, 3.50 out of 5 stars.
3.50/5
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
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor
Monthly Fee
$0
Min. Balance
$0
APY
up to 2.25%
Rate info
APYs are tiered based on MMA type (Standard vs. Jumbo) and deposit amount. The highest 2.25% APY is earned by Jumbo MMA holders with a $1,000,000 and over deposit.
Min. To Earn APY
$0
- No monthly fees
- ATM access
- No minimum deposit required
- Low APYs
- High balance required to earn top-tier rates
- Need to join credit union for eligibility
The Navy Federal Credit Union requires an uber-high balance to get its best APY, which isn't even close to competing with the best money market accounts. It might be right for those who already bank at Navy Federal Credit Union and want to keep all their money at one institution. Otherwise, there are better options available.
Compare savings rates
Make sure you're getting the best account for you by comparing savings rates and promotions. Here are some of our favorite high-yield savings accounts to consider.
| Account | APY | Promotion | Next Steps |
|---|---|---|---|
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 |
up to 4.60%
Rate info
You can earn the maximum APY by having Direct Deposit (no minimum amount required) or by making $5,000 or more in Qualifying Deposits every 30 days. See SoFi Checking and Savings rate sheet at: https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
Min. to earn: $0
|
New customers can earn up to a $300 bonus with qualifying direct deposits!
|
|
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 |
5.00% APY for balances of $5,000 or more
Rate info
5.00% APY for balances of $5,000 or more; otherwise, 0.25% APY
Min. to earn: $100 to open account, $5,000 for max APY
|
N/A
|
|
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
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 |
5.25%
Rate info
To ensure you keep getting the highest rate at UFB, you'll need to keep an eye on their rates. Occasionally, the bank launches new accounts with higher rates. Existing accounts need to contact the bank to request being moved to one of these new accounts.
Min. to earn: $0
|
N/A
|
Full Navy Federal Money Market Savings Account review
Top perks
No monthly fees: Unlike some banks, you don't have to pay monthly service fees to maintain this account, nor do you have to meet certain criteria, like a minimum balance, to waive the fee. This account is always free.
ATM access: You can withdraw and deposit cash at over 30,000 fee-free ATMs. Plus, you can also access over 1.7 million out-of-network ATMs for a $1 service fee.
No minimum deposit requirements: Some money market accounts require large minimum deposits to get started. But not this one. You can open an account with $0, though to take advantage of the account's stated APY (albeit at the lowest tier), you'll need at least $2,500 with the standard account, while the Jumbo account starts earning at its lowest tier with your first dollar deposited.
What could be improved
Low APY: This account does not have a competitive APY. No matter which tier you fall into, your savings will earn interest at a slower pace than the best ongoing rates. If your goal is to earn interest on your savings, you're better off looking at other money markets or high-yield savings accounts.
High balance required to earn the best APY: Not only does this account have a low APY, but you need at least $1 million to snag it. Note: If you want to earn the highest APY that comes with depositing $1 million or more, you'll need to open a Jumbo Money Market Savings Account. Navy Federal will not let you convert a regular Money Market Savings Account into a Jumbo Account.
Need to join the credit union for eligibility: To join, you need to be an active-duty or former military member, a Department of Defense worker, or an immediate family member of one or the other. While it's typical for a credit union to require membership before opening accounts, it's certainly something to keep in mind.
How to access your money
Navy Federal Credit Union has over 350 branches in 30 states, plus overseas branches in 9 countries, giving you both in-person and online access to your money.
Deposit options
You can deposit money into your Navy Federal Money Market Savings Account in the following ways:
- Deposit cash or check at a bank branch or in-network ATM
- Mobile check deposits
- Electronic bank transfer (ACH)
- Wire transfer
- Direct deposit
- Transfer from another Navy Federal Credit Union account
Withdrawal options
Unlike other banks and credit unions we've reviewed, Navy Federal Credit Union has no cap on how many withdrawals you can make per month. With that in mind, here's how you can withdraw funds from your account:
- Withdraw cash at a bank branch or ATM
- Write a check
- Electronic bank transfer (ACH)
- Wire transfer
- Transfer to another Navy Federal Credit Union account
Navy Federal Money Market Savings Account is right for you if:
- You're an active-duty or former military member, a Department of Defense worker, or an immediate family member.
- You already have accounts at Navy Federal Credit Union and want to keep all your money at one financial institution.
- You don't mind earning a less-than-stellar APY if it means supporting your credit union.
Keep reading about Navy Federal Credit Union:
Our money market account methodology
At The Motley Fool Ascent, we evaluate money market accounts based on four main criteria: annual percentage yield (APY), brand and reputation, fees and minimum balance requirements, and perks.
Our scores are weighted as:
- APY: 60%
- Brand and Reputation: 15%
- Fees and Minimums: 15%
- Perks: 10%
Learn more about how The Motley Fool Ascent rates bank accounts.
FAQs
-
You can find Navy Federal Credit Union in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.
-
Yes, as long as you live in the same household, roommates can join with your access number.
-
It could be a great fit if you value customer service and want a bank that feels like family. It offers many fee-free accounts, including savings and checking, plus a full suite of rewards credit cards. That said, if your goal is to earn more interest, you might be better served by another bank or credit union.
Our Banking Experts
Steven is a personal finance writer covering topics from mortgages to credit cards to market news. He has written for The Motley Fool Canada, Ramsey Solutions, Nerdwallet, Clever Real Estate, and other major outlets. Steven launched his writing career at the age of four with his first book, "Revenge of the Bad Guys." He currently lives in Portland, Oregon.
Fact Checked
Eric McWhinnie
Eric McWhinnie has been writing and editing digital content since 2010. He specializes in personal finance and investing. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance.
Share This Page
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. The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
American Express is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.