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  First Tech Rewards Checking®
First Tech Rewards Checking®
in Checking Accounts from First Tech Federal Credit Union · Insured by NCUA
Claimed

First Tech Rewards Checking®

Claimed
in Checking Accounts from First Tech Federal Credit Union · Insured by NCUA
SuperMoney Net Recommendation Score +60  

SUPERMONEY NET RECOMMENDATION SCORE

This product is strongly recommended by SuperMoney users with a score of +60, equating to 4.2 on a 5 point rating scale.

+60

Recommendation score measures the loyalty between a provider and a consumer. It's at +100 if everybody recommends the provider, and at -100 when no one recommends.

Strongly recommended

6 users recommend
4 users are unsure
0 users don't recommend
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Highlights
Community Rating Strongly recommended
Cashback Rewards N/A
APY (Annual Percentage Yield) 4.00%
(Verified 08/04/2023)
Monthly Fee $0
(Verified 08/04/2023)
Minimum Balance to Avoid Monthly Fee Starting at $0
Number of Reviews 10

First Tech Rewards Checking® Review

First Tech Rewards Checking® is offered by First Tech, a credit union founded in 1952 and based in San Jose, CA. First Tech Rewards Checking® is available in 50 states (and Washington, DC).

Key Takeaways

  • Up to 4.00% annual percentage yield (APY). This account offers an annual percentage yield of up to 4.00%, which is much higher than the average for the checking accounts that we track.
  • $0 monthly fee. This account does not charge any monthly account fees.
  • Small minimum initial deposit. You only need $10 to open an account.
  • ATM fee rebates. This account will reimburse you for ATM fees (see terms and conditions for details).
  • Bill pay. Pay your bills to practically anyone in the United States through First Tech Federal Credit Union.

First Tech Rewards Checking® Pros & Cons

Pros Cons
  • Loans & HELOCs: 0.25% cash back on minimum loan payment from other First Tech accounts up to $15 per month
  • Credit Card: Additional 0.5% cash back up to $15 per month on spending and $10 streaming subscription rebate
  • Available in all 50 states.
  • High variable APY*.
  • Insured by NCUA.
  • Access to physical branches.
  • Free debit card
  • Access to a nationwide network of ATMs.
  • No signup bonus.
  • Higher than average wire transfer fees.
  • Charges a higher than average fee on out-of-network ATM transactions.

First Tech Rewards Checking® FAQ

Are checking accounts from First Tech federally insured?

Yes, your checking accounts are insured up to $250,000 per share owner for each account ownership category. The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), a federal agency, administers the insurance fund and regulates federally insured credit unions. The fund is backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.

What APY does First Tech Rewards Checking® offer?

First Tech Rewards Checking® Rates & Terms
Description
APY (Annual Percentage Yield) 4.00%*

First Tech Rewards Checking® offers an APY of 4.00% (APY stands for annual percentage yield, rates may change). This is higher than the typical APY for online-only checking accounts, which is around 1% APY.

What are the account minimums for First Tech Rewards Checking®?

First Tech Rewards Checking® requires a minimum initial deposit of $10 to open an account.

First Tech Rewards Checking® Minimums
Description
Minimum Opening Deposit Starting at $10
Minimum Balance to Avoid Monthly Fee Starting at $0
Minimum Balance to Earn APY $0

What fees does First Tech Rewards Checking® charge?

The good news is that this account does not have a monthly Service Charge.

First Tech Rewards Checking® Fees
Description
Monthly Fee $0
ATM Fee: In-Network $0
ATM Fee: Out-of-Network Starting at $2
Foreign Transaction Fee (Debit Card) 1%
NSF Fee $28
Overdraft Item Fee $33
Overdraft Protection Fee (per transfer) $0
Returned Deposit Fee (Domestic) $10
Returned Deposit Fee (International) $10
Stop Payment Fee $20
Wire Transfer Fee - Domestic (Incoming) $5
Wire Transfer Fee - Domestic (Outgoing) $20
Wire Transfer Fee - International (Incoming) $5
Wire Transfer Fee - International (Outgoing) $50
Paper Statement Fee $3
Online Bill Pay Fee $0
Check Copy $2
Debit Card Replacement Fee $0
Early Account Closure $0

Does First Tech Rewards Checking® charge overdraft fees?

Yes, First Tech Rewards Checking® charges a $33 fee for every overdraft.

What features and perks does First Tech Rewards Checking® offer?

This account includes the following features:

  • ATM rebates - This account will reimburse you for any domestic ATM fees.
  • Check images with statement - Reconciling your accounts and complying with document retention standards is easier when you have access to a copy of your checks.
  • Fraud monitoring - First Tech Rewards Checking® monitors transactions for potentially unauthorized activity, such as when a debit card is unexpectedly used in a different location or you make a sudden string of costly purchases.
  • Online Bill Pay - Online Bill Pay allows you to pay bills easily from your account.
  • Mobile Banking Services - First Tech Rewards Checking® allows you to manage your money online or with a mobile app. This includes depositing checks in your account with a mobile app on your smartphone.
  • Nationwide ATM network - Conveniently transact at a nearby ATM.

How do people rate the customer service and user experience of First Tech Rewards Checking®?

Overall, First Tech Rewards Checking® is strongly recommended based on community reviews that rate customer service and user experience.

First Tech Rewards Checking® Disclosure: First Tech Rewards Checking® is a tiered rate account. Membership is required and subject to approval. 20 Transactions Any debit & credit card transactions with minimum monthly spend of $500 and Monthly direct deposit/ ACH of $1,000+ and eStatement enrollment. APY = Annual Percentage Yield. Rates effective as of 02.01.2023 and are subject to change at any time. Membership Savings has a 0.05% APY. First Tech Rewards Checking (FTRC) Qualified APY is 4.00% on the first $15,000 and 0.10% on remaining balance; FTRC Non-Qualified APY is 0.01% on all balances. Terms and conditions apply.
SuperMoney Disclosure: SuperMoney.com is an independent, advertising-supported service. The owner of this website may be compensated in exchange for featured placement of certain sponsored products and services, or your clicking on links posted on this website. Read more...
Editorial Disclaimer: Editorial and user-generated content on this page is not provided or commissioned by the issuer. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone and have not been approved or otherwise endorsed by any financial institution, including those that are advertising partners.

Message From First Tech Rewards Checking®

Pick the right account that fits your needs. We have a range of checking account options to fit your life. Our checking accounts are more than just access to your money, whenever and however you need it. They also help you earn rewards, as well as track savings and expenses to elevate your financial life. Start exploring your options now.

First Tech Rewards Checking® is a tiered rate account. Membership is required and subject to approval. 20 Transactions Any debit & credit card transactions with minimum monthly spend of $500 and Monthly direct deposit/ ACH of $1,000+ and eStatement enrollment. APY = Annual Percentage Yield. Rates effective as of 02.01.2023 and are subject to change at any time. Membership Savings has a 0.05% APY. First Tech Rewards Checking (FTRC) Qualified APY is 4.00% on the first $15,000 and 0.10% on remaining balance; FTRC Non-Qualified APY is 0.01% on all balances. Terms and conditions apply.

Contact

Hours of Operation

  • Sunday Closed
  • Monday 9:00am - 5:00pm
  • Tuesday 9:00am - 5:00pm
  • Wednesday 9:00am - 5:00pm
  • Thursday 9:00am - 5:00pm
  • Friday 9:00am - 6:00pm
  • Saturday 10:00am - 1:00pm

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Availability

  Available in 50 states and Washington, D.C.
  • Alabama
  • Alaska
  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Hawaii
  • Idaho
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Maine
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • Montana
  • Nebraska
  • Nevada
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • New Mexico
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • North Dakota
  • Ohio
  • Oklahoma
  • Oregon
  • Pennsylvania
  • Rhode Island
  • South Carolina
  • South Dakota
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Vermont
  • Virginia
  • Washington
  • Washington, DC
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin
  • Wyoming

Feature Breakdown

Minimum Opening Deposit Starting at $10
Minimum Balance to Avoid Monthly Fee Starting at $0
Minimum Balance to Earn APY $0
Monthly Fee $0
(Verified 08/04/2023)
ATM Fee: In-Network $0
ATM Fee: Out-of-Network Starting at $2
Foreign Transaction Fee (Debit Card) 1%
NSF Fee $28
Overdraft Item Fee $33
Overdraft Protection Fee (per transfer) $0
Returned Deposit Fee (Domestic) $10
Returned Deposit Fee (International) $10
Stop Payment Fee $20
Wire Transfer Fee - Domestic (Incoming) $5
Wire Transfer Fee - Domestic (Outgoing) $20
Wire Transfer Fee - International (Incoming) $5
Wire Transfer Fee - International (Outgoing) $50
Paper Statement Fee $3
Online Bill Pay Fee $0
Check Copy $2
Debit Card Replacement Fee $0
Early Account Closure $0
Immigration Status Considered
  • U.S. Citizen
  • U.S. Permanent Resident
Verification Documents Required
  • Proof of Identity
  • Government Issued Photo ID
  • Social Security Number
Account Features
  • Free Bill Pay
  • Mobile Check Deposit
  • No Monthly Maintenance Fee
  • Interest Bearing Account
  • ATM Reimbursement
  • Nationwide ATM Network
  • Check Images with Statement
  • Mobile Banking
  • Fraud Monitoring
  • Fraud Protection
  • Debit Card
  • Bauer Financial A+/A Rating
  • Insured by NCUA
  • Branch Access
Signup Bonus Starting at $0
Signup Deposit Requirement $0
APY (Annual Percentage Yield) 4.00%
(Verified 08/04/2023)

First Tech Rewards Checking® Community Reviews

 

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SUPERMONEY NET RECOMMENDATION SCORE

This product is strongly recommended by SuperMoney users with a score of +60, equating to 4.2 on a 5 point rating scale.

+60

Recommendation score measures the loyalty between a provider and a consumer. It's at +100 if everybody recommends the provider, and at -100 when no one recommends.

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