Last Updated: 01/21/2026
SuperMoney User Recommendation Score +73
Strongly recommended11 total votes
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Highlights
Community Rating
Strongly recommended
Welcome Offer
N/A(Verified 04/13/2024)
Cashback Rewards
N/A
APY (Annual Percentage Yield)
0.15% - 0.35%(Verified 06/21/2024)
Disclaimer popup with additional information
Monthly Service Fee
$10(Verified 01/21/2026)
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Number of Reviews
Access America Checking Review
The Access America Checking is offered by PenFed Credit Union, a credit union founded in 1935 and based in Tysons, VA. Access America checking account is available in 50 states and Washington, DC.
Key Takeaways
- Higher than average APY. Access America Checking has an annual percentage yield of up to 0.35%, which is higher than the national average interest rate on savings accounts.
- No monthly maintenance fee. Two ways to avoid a $10 monthly fee. Set up monthly direct deposits of $500 or more OR Maintain a daily balance of $500 or more
- No ATM fees. Access America Checking does not charge fees on ATM transactions .
- Soft credit pull. PenFed Credit Union will not perform a hard credit pull when you open an account.
Access America checking account Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
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Access America checking account FAQ
Are checking accounts from PenFed Credit Union 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 Access America checking account offer?
Access America checking account offers an APY starting at 0.15% and ranging up to 0.35% (APY stands for annual percentage yield, rates may change).
| Rates | Amount |
| APY (Annual Percentage Yield) | 0.15% - 0.35% |
What are the account minimums for Access America checking account?
Access America checking account requires a minimum initial deposit of $25.
| Description | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minimum Opening Deposit | $25 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minimum Average Combined Balance to Avoid Monthly Maintenance Fee | Starting at $500 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minimum Direct Deposit to Earn APY | $500 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
What fees does Access America checking account charge?
Two ways to avoid a $10 monthly fee. Set up monthly direct deposits of $500 or more OR Maintain a daily balance of $500 or more| Description | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Monthly Service Fee | $10 (see terms and conditions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Paper Statement Fee | Starting at $2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ATM Fee: In-Network | Starting at $0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NSF Fee | $30 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Early Account Closure | Starting at $0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Card Replacement Fee (Standard Delivery) | Starting at $0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Online Bill Pay Fee | Starting at $0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stop Payment Fee | Starting at $20 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Check Copy | $1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign Transaction Fee (Debit Card) | Starting at 2% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wire Transfer Fee - US Domestic (Outgoing) | Starting at $25 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wire Transfer Fee - International (Outgoing) | Starting at $30 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wire Transfer Fee - International (Incoming) | Starting at $0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Returned Deposit Fee (International) | Starting at $5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wire Transfer Fee - US Domestic (Incoming) | Starting at $0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Monthly Maintenance Waiver Requirements | Two ways to avoid a $10 monthly fee. Set up monthly direct deposits of $500 or more OR Maintain a daily balance of $500 or more | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Uncollected Funds Fee (Deposits on hold) | $10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
What features and perks does Access America checking account offer?
This account includes the following features:
- Mobile Banking Services - Access America checking account allows you to manage your money online or with a mobile app. This includes depositing checks1 in your account with a mobile app on your smartphone.
- Nationwide ATM network - Conveniently transact at a nearby ATM.
- Soft credit pull - Access America checking account performs a soft credit pull so you can check whether you qualify without hurting your credit.
What is the customer support email for Access America checking account?
The customer support email for Access America checking account is info@hq.penfed.org.
How do people rate the customer service and user experience of Access America checking account?
Overall, Access America checking account is strongly recommended based on community reviews that rate customer service and user experience.
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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 Access America checking account
Hours of Operation
Sunday
Closed
Monday
8:00AM - 4:00PM
Tuesday
8:00AM - 4:00PM
Wednesday
8:00AM - 4:00PM
Thursday
8:00AM - 4:00PM
Friday
8:00AM - 4:00PM
Saturday
Closed
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Bonus Offer
N/A
Cashback Rewards
N/A
APY (Annual Percentage Yield)
0%
Disclaimer popup with additional information
Monthly Service Fee
$0
Disclaimer popup with additional information
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Learn MoreSuperMoney Net Recommendation Score
SuperMoney users strongly recommend this product, giving it a user recommendation score of +73, or 4.5 on a 5-point rating scale.
+73
-1000+100
No one recommends
Everyone recommends
Access America Checking Community Reviews
Would you recommend Access America Checking to your friends?
Des' M.
Jan 13, 2022
May or may not recommend
You cant go wrong with a credit union because they have lower rates on loans, they are more forgiving of the qualification standards and a powerful presence in the community. They also offer higher rates on savings accounts. If you live in the area of this credit union , sometimes they can print your card out for the same day that you lose it if you do. I always bank ...Show More
ER
Emma R.
Jan 6, 2022
May or may not recommend
Honestly, this is absolutely wonderful! Your vast network of ATMs will come in handy for frequent freelancers like me who love to tour the world. Also one of the best customer service experiences I've ever had.
Thank you Penfed for your excellent customer service. So far, so good. I feel safe with this bank.
ES
Emily S.
Nov 2, 2021
May or may not recommend
Penfed doesn't have crazy fees and luckily there's a lot of ATM's available around for it too. The only drawback is you have to deposit $500 monthly if you want to avoid the fee though so it'd be best suitable for adults rather than younger teenagers. You can gather 0.15% interest in your checkings as well but it's a bit lower than average the bank.
MB
Michael B.
Jul 15, 2021
May or may not recommend
Everything you could ask for! Some highlights (personally) would be the $0 out-of-network fee at an ATM and the precise APY percentage.
SA
Samuel A.
May 21, 2021
May or may not recommend
Fast innovation with excellent solutions in meeting customer's needs and delivering value. Funds are backed up by credit of the US Government, no monthly charges, zero ATM fee with highly professional agents. I enjoy working with PenFed.
AF
Anthony F.
Apr 22, 2021
May or may not recommend
When I signed up for PenFed a year ago, I was skeptical and had concerns but 3 months in, I realized PenFed was a great credit union and better than a lot of the others I've used in the past. PenFed has no annual fee so even if you don't use your card for months, you wont be charged anything extra beyond what you owe and for that, I ...Show More
Brett S.
Apr 3, 2021
May or may not recommend
Honestly, this place seems like it has a pretty sweet deal going for it. One of the biggest advantages I can see is the sheer convenience of using this over a smaller credit union; the vast network of ATMs you have access to is certain to come in handy for people like myself who travel frequently. Beyond that, the minimum deposit required to avoid a monthly fee is relatively minor ...Show More
Anthony C.
Mar 15, 2021
May or may not recommend
I love this credit union because you can become a member easily not like other places. They also do not charge high ATM fees and they have a good network of branches everywhere in the area.
U
Anonymous
Mar 2, 2021
May or may not recommend
As credit unions go PenFed is comparable to others but you have to keep a 500$ balance to have the monthly fee waived and there are no sign up bonuses. The APY is competitive but you have to have the minimum of 500 for it to accumulate.
Peter A.
Apr 14, 2019
May or may not recommend
Excellent customer service and low fees. Bill-pay and automated payments work well.
U
Anonymous
Aug 2, 2015
May or may not recommend
Most credit unions have at least some restrictions about who can join. You can join PenFed by buying a membership in one of their chosen organizations if you don't qualify otherwise. But you need $25 to open an account and there is a $10 monthly fee. Ouch.
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