Alliant Credit Union Account Basics
Checking
Alliant Credit Union High-Rate Checking. This checking account offers 0.25% APY without monthly service fees or minimum balance requirements, making it one of the best checking accounts out there. You must receive eStatements and make at least one electronic deposit per month in order to earn dividends on your balance; that deposit can be a direct or payroll deposit, an ATM or mobile deposit or a transfer from another financial institution.
This account comes with a Visa debit card and is eligible for free overdraft protection when you link an Alliant savings account. Checking dividends are paid on the last day of the month.
Alliant Credit Union High-Rate Checking rates and details are accurate as of 04/10/2025.
Alliant Credit Union High-Rate Checking
Annual Percentage Yield
0.25%
Minimum Deposit Requirement
$0
Monthly Maintenance Fee
$0
0.25%
$0
$0
Alliant Credit Union Teen Checking. This account is available for members who are 13 to 17 years old, with joint ownership by a member parent. There is no minimum balance or monthly fee, and this account also earns 0.25% APY. The Visa debit card has a daily spending limit of $5,000 for signature-based purchases and a limit of $500 for ATM withdrawals and PIN-based purchases.
Savings
Alliant Credit Union High-Rate Savings. Alliant’s high-yield savings account offers 3.10% APY. The minimum deposit to open the account is $25, but you must maintain an average daily balance of $100 in order to earn dividends. Like the best savings accounts, this account doesn’t charge a monthly fee.
Alliant Credit Union High-Rate Savings rates and details accurate as of 05/05/2025.
Alliant Credit Union Supplemental Savings. Once you have a High-Rate Savings account with Alliant, you can open up to 19 supplemental accounts. You can name these accounts for your savings goals, and each one earns the same APY as your main high-yield savings account. You must keep at least $5 in each savings account to maintain it, and the minimum balance of $100 in order to earn dividends applies to each supplemental account.
Alliant Credit Union Kids Savings Account. Children aged 12 and younger can open their own high-yield savings account as a co-owner with an Alliant-member parent, grandparent or guardian. Alliant pays the $5 opening deposit and there are no monthly fees. The account requires a $100 balance to earn the same APY as the High-Rate Savings account.
Alliant Credit Union Kids Savings Account rates and details accurate as of 05/05/2025.
CDs (Share Certificates)
Alliant brands its certificates of deposit (CDs) as certificates. Alliant offers certificates with maturity dates ranging from three to 60 months. The highest APYs at Alliant are competitive with the top CD rates. You must be an Alliant Credit Union member to open a CD.
| Certificate Term | APY |
|---|---|
| 3 Month | 3.10% |
| 6 Month | 4.10% |
| 12 Months | 4.10% |
| 18 Months | 3.60% |
| 24 Months | 3.60% |
| 36 Months | 3.60% |
| 48 Months | 3.65% |
| 60 Months | 3.65% |
Alliant requires a minimum deposit of $1,000 to open a certificate. Dividends on Alliant Certificates are compounded on a monthly basis.
For those interested in retirement savings, Alliant also offers an Alliant Traditional IRA Certificate, a Roth IRA Certificate and a SEP IRA Certificate. Each of these IRA certificates earns the same APY as the regular Alliant Certificate. The same $1,000 minimum deposit is required.
Other Accounts
Alliant Credit Union offers a variety of other services beyond its banking offerings, including:
- Credit cards
- Home loans
- Vehicle loans
- Personal loans
- Commercial real estate lending
- Traditional, Roth and SEP IRAs
- Trust accounts
- Custodial accounts
- Life, home and auto insurance
Access on the Go
Alliant is an online credit union, so it has a robust set of online and mobile banking tools for its members. The credit union’s app is available for iOS (receiving a rating of 4.7 stars out of 5 on the App Store) and Android (rated 4.5 stars out of 5 on Google Play). The app allows users to deposit checks, monitor balances and make payments with bill pay. If you have a question about your account, you can ask via the app’s secure messenger.
The Alliant Mobile Banking app also features a planning tool that helps users create and monitor budgets and set financial goals.
Alliant’s ATM network includes more than 80,000 free locations. Participating ATMs are available at convenience and grocery stores, and even at some banks and credit unions. Deposits are not accepted at all locations. If you use an ATM outside the network, Alliant offers up to $20 per month in ATM fee rebates, which can be applied to deposits, withdrawals, transfers or balance inquiries.
Alliant Credit Union Fees
While Alliant Credit Union is known for its minimal fees, there are still some potential charges you should know about before becoming a member.
| Fee Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Paper account statement (for savings accounts only) | $1 |
| Inactivity fee (for savings accounts only) | $10 |
| Outgoing foreign wire transfer | $50 |
| Outgoing domestic wire transfer | $25 |
Alliant Credit Union Overdraft Fees
Alliant does not charge overdraft fees. In 2021, the credit union announced that it would eliminate overdraft fees on all of its checking and savings accounts.
Alliant Credit Union ATM Fees
Alliant Credit Union does not charge ATM fees either. Their checking accounts offer access to 80,000+ surcharge-free ATMs across the country. And even if you use an out-of-network ATM, Alliant will rebate the fees charged by those ATM operators up to $20 monthly. If you’re a frequent user of ATMs, these rebates could save you up to $240 a year. Plus, Alliant typically deposits rebates to your account within one business day, so you won’t have to wait for your funds to arrive.
Alliant Credit Union Foreign Transaction Fee
All international debit card purchases and ATM withdrawals will incur an international service assessment fee (also known as the foreign transaction fee) of 1%. Note that Alliant’s $20 ATM monthly rebates do not apply to foreign transaction fees.
How Alliant Credit Union Stacks Up
Alliant’s excellent online and mobile banking tools make it a solid option for people who feel comfortable with digital banking. And Alliant’s High-Rate Checking account often earns a spot on Forbes Advisor’s Best Checking Accounts.
Alliant offers competitive APYs—and its offering of supplemental savings accounts make it easier to save for specific goals. The barrier to membership is low, and Alliant’s few fees are clearly explained to customers.
Alliant vs. Ally
Alliant Credit Union and Ally Bank are both online-only banks offering a broad range of banking products and services with competitive rates and low fees. Alliant may be a more suitable option if you’re searching for savings accounts with debit cards or interest-bearing checking accounts. However, you may want to opt for Ally when it comes to CDs. While both financial institutions offer competitive CD rates, Ally has no minimum deposit requirements and offers more CD options.
Alliant vs. Marcus
Alliant Credit Union offers a full suite of financial products and services, including checking accounts, savings accounts, mortgages, student loans, auto insurance and trust accounts. In contrast, Marcus by Goldman Sachs only focuses on savings accounts and CDs. Also, since Marcus is an online-only bank, it doesn’t have ATMs or branch networks.
One advantage of Marcus is its impressive 3.65% APY on all balances, up to maximum balance limits APY on its Marcus by Goldman Sachs High-Yield Online Savings Account, significantly higher than Alliant’s 3.10% APY. And unlike Alliant, Marcus doesn’t impose minimum deposit or balance requirements to earn interest, making it an excellent option for those just starting to build their savings. Overall, Marcus may be a better place to store your emergency funds. But if you’re looking for a financial institution that offers a breadth of services, consider Alliant.
Marcus by Goldman Sachs High-Yield Online Savings Account rates and details accurate as of 05/28/2025.
PenFed vs. Alliant
Both Alliant and PenFed Credit Union offer a wide range of financial products such as credit cards, mortgages and checking accounts. However, PenFed charges a $10 monthly service fee for its interest-earning checking account, if the balance is below $500. Though PenFed has a slightly more extensive ATM network, they charge $1.50 for withdrawals and $1.00 for balance inquiries at non-PenFed ATMs.
Is Alliant Credit Union Good?
Whether Alliant Credit Union is a good option depends on your banking needs. The credit union has a lot to offer with its competitive APYs, extensive ATM network, minimal fees and low balance requirements. If you’re thinking about banking with Alliant, make sure to perform your due diligence and carefully read the fine print before opening accounts or signing any contracts.
Methodology
Forbes Advisor rates banks based on various factors, including their fees, interest rates and ATM networks, among other characteristics. We assign separate ratings to financial institutions and their individual products, such as checking accounts, savings accounts and certificates of deposit (CDs). We rate banks based on a scale of one to five stars, with one star as the poorest rating and five stars as the best.
To learn more about our rating and review methodology and editorial process, check out our guide on How Forbes Advisor Reviews Banks.
Forbes Advisor Staff Lisa Rowan and Banking Review and Writer Jamela Adam contributed to this article.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is my money safe at Alliant Credit Union?
Yes. Alliant deposit accounts are insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) for up to $250,000, per depositor, for each account ownership category, in the event of a credit union failure.
Does Alliant Credit Union have branches?
No. Its headquarters are located in Chicago. In addition to utilizing online and mobile app support, you can access a network of more than 80,000 ATMs.
Does Alliant Credit Union charge monthly fees?
There are no monthly maintenance fees. Standard fees apply for foreign transactions and inactivity.
Why would I choose a credit union over a traditional or online bank?
Today, consumers have more banking choices than ever, whether that means using a traditional brick-and-mortar bank, an online bank or a credit union. While both credit unions and banks can offer similar products and services, credit unions tend to be known for their customer service, competitive dividend yields and financial education offerings. Understanding the differences between banks and credit unions can help you make the right decision for your family.
