Compare Checking Accounts
| Criteria | Easy Free Checking | Smart REWARDS Checking | M-Account Checking | FLOW Account |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Recommended for anyone who wants a checking account with no monthly fees and no cost features. |
Recommended for active debit card users who want to earn REWARDS such as high dividends, unlimited ATM use and other benefits. |
Recommended for anyone who doesn't write checks, prefers using their debit card for transactions, uses online and mobile banking, and enjoys the benefits of an electronic checking account. |
Available for teens and young adults (13-20) starting on the road to financial independence. |
|
| Minimum Opening Balance | $201 | $201 | $201 | $201 |
| Monthly Service Fee | N/A | N/A | No fee if enrolled in e-statement $3 if not enrolled in e-statement |
N/A |
| Dividends Earned | N/A |
2.00% APY6 (Up to $15,000) APY6 otherwise is 0.01% ($100 minimum balance to earn dividend) |
N/A | N/A |
| Check Writing Per Month | Unlimited Free | Unlimited Free | N/A4 | N/A |
| MasterCard® Debit/ATM Card | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Meriwest ATM Use | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Point-of-Sale (POS) | Free/Unlimited | Free/Unlimited | Free/Unlimited | Free/Unlimited |
| Non-Meriwest ATM Transactions | 3 free/month (requires Direct Deposit or $750 average daily balance)3 | Free (Must meet all REWARD2 requirements) | No Meriwest fees for non-Meriwest ATM transactions | 3 free/month |
| ATM Surcharge Rebate | N/A | Unlimited (Must meet all REWARD2 requirements) | Up to $100 per year* | N/A |
| eStatements | Free | Required for Account | Required for Account | Free |
| Online Banking / Mobile Banking | Free | Required for Account | Required for Account | Free |
| Online Bill Pay | Free | Free | Free | N/A |
| Monthly Check Images / Annual Tax Forms | Free w/ e-Statement Subscription | Free w/ e-Statement Subscription | N/A | N/A |
| Email/Phone Alerts | Free w/ Online Banking | Free w/ Online Banking | Free w/ Online Banking | Free w/ Online Banking |
| Deposit Checks by phone | Free w/ Online Banking | Free w/ Online Banking | Free w/ Online Banking | Free w/ Online Banking |
| Active military ATM and Debit card fee waiver / rebate | Available7 | Available7 | Available7 | Available7 |
Eligibility Requirements
You are eligible to join Meriwest Credit Union if any of the following applies
- You live, work, worship, or attend school in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties of Northern California, and Pima county of Arizona.
- You are an employee of a participating Meriwest Credit Union member company.
- You are a relative of or reside with a current member of Meriwest Credit Union.
Get StartedRegister for Online Banking
1Plus one-time, non-refundable $5 membership fee for new members.
2To qualify for stated REWARDS in each current month, members must have met the following criteria in the immediate previous month: 1) At least 10 posted and cleared debit card transactions per month OR at least $500.00 in total posted and cleared debit card transactions per month (PIN or signature-based, not including ATM transactions); 2) Establish direct deposit ($1,000 total minimum per month); 3) E-Documents enrollment (receive monthly e-statements and account notices electronically). Dividends earned will be calculated and ATM Surcharge Rebates will be refunded based on prior month-end data.
3Average daily balance on previous month's data.
4Meriwest checks not available; $1.25 per-check fee if other checks written to access the account.
5The Meriwest First-time Auto Buyers Program was established to help our members who are first time auto buyers with no or minimal credit history or professional, non-permanent residential aliens with an auto loan. Ask a representative for details.
6APY is Annual Percentage Yield. Variable rate account, APY is accurate as of January 1, 2020. The minimum balance to open the account is $20, and the minimum average daily balance to earn the stated APY is $100. Balances $15,000 and under earn 2.00% APY as long as monthly criteria2 is met. The remaining balance over $15,000 earns 0.10% APY. If the monthly criteria2 is not met, the entire balance earns 0.01% APY. Fees may reduce earnings.
7All ATM transaction fees will be waived and all ATM surcharges and MasterCard foreign transaction fees will be rebated for ATM and Debit Cards issued to active military members and members who are active military dependents. Official United States Government Identification must be presented for active duty personnel and each dependent to enroll. Fee waivers/rebates will be effective through the expiration date on the military identification card(s). Members are responsible for contacting the Credit Union at the time their military identification card is renewed to continue the fee waivers/rebates. Fees cannot be waived or rebated retroactive to enrollment. Any fees incurred will be rebated at the end of each business day. The account balance must accommodate the fees or surcharges until the rebate is processed.
*ATM Surcharge Rebates limited to $100.00 per calendar year. Any ATM Surcharges incurred are rebated at the end of each day (the account balance will need to accommodate the surcharge until the rebate is processed).