glxpass said:I have some jumbo CDs with Alliant and have been happy with them. Their share savings account is at 4.35% APY (average daily balance of $100+), and their HSA savings is at 5.15% APY (also average daily balance of $100+).

Wow! Thanks for posting.

Absolutely did NOT realize their share savings was paying so much.

Dy-no-mite!

For those who are Alliant CU members...i have some questions for those who actively use their debit/atm card....
I had been considering joining them because of their nice cd and share rates, but based on what i saw on their website (and talking to an Alliant CSR, who was very helpful and friendly, by the way)....it seems like they are very restrictive regarding atm usage...

According to the site (and CSR) though you have free atm access through the Coop Network (as far as not getting charged by the other bank) they only allow 8 free atm transactions per month (and that includes any atm transactions, such as balance inquiries, transfers and withdrawals at the atms) before a $1 per transaction fee kicks in by Alliant..

I was wondering if anyone had ever "tested" that to see if it is true....especially when using at Coop atms (they say that the fee kicks in whether it is a non-coop or coop atm).....Sometimes computers at banks or cu's are actually set up different then they say, that is why i was curious....

Of course, i am referring to non-alliant atms..i don't live in their home base area, so obviously, could not use Alliant CU's actual atm machines.....(they have no fees on their own atms, of course)....

Also, another thing i should mention is that their Online Application does not appear to work (it worked until the end and then didn't process) and they didn't seem to have much interest in getting it fixed..i mentioned it to the CSR and he didn't even say he would report it! Just told me to do the PDF application and mail it in!
That did seem a bit weird....

Anyway, would appreciate your comments..how you like them, and especially about the atm fee business...that does seem quite restrictive to me...otherwise, it looks like they have a really nice set-up (except for that non-working Online Application...lol)

craig10x, many people, including myself, had problems with the on-line application failing. Ironically, even though I was told it failed, and ended up visiting a branch -- I realized after the fact that I had a local branch of Alliant -- to join the CU, later I found that the application had actually gone through! To make it worse, I tried the on-line application twice, failed twice, and ended up with an extra two memberships, which I cancelled. Despite the cancellations, I keep getting reminded that I need to send in signature cards for those memberships, or they'll cancel me! LOL! (I've been repeatedly told by CSRs to just ignore those warnings; eventually their automated system will "figure it out" or "give up.") My real account of course had the signature cards filled out when I applied in person.

I suggest you contact a CSR and confirm that your online application truly failed.

I don't have an ATM card, and can't help you there, but you do have an option of getting a checking account with them, where you can direct your CD funds to go upon maturity.

glxpass said:kaneohe said:guardian44 said:

Finally, membership is straightforward. Just join your local PTA or PTO and you qualify. You can also join the NATIONAL PTA but that costs $25. For me to join my local PTO cost exactly $1.

Here's a link to the Alliant web site to get you started:

Alliant CU Link


where did you find that part about joining the local PTA. I didn't see that on the link ..........only saw the part about joining the National PTA.
If you start an on-line application and click continue, you'll see that option as one of the select employer groups, I believe. If you look at the PDF Enrollment Form that can be printed and sent in as an alternative, you'll see a box you can check for Local PTA/PTSA.

Apologies for delayed reply. Ice storm --> no power for 20 hours.

Anyway, I found the local PTA/PTO option on the downloaded application. There was a checkoff box and I checked it. As I posted in the OP, I downloaded the application to become a member, filled it out, and mailed (actually overnighted) it in. Mailed it on a Thursday to score the double interest.

I pretty much have to agree with several other posters here:

The on-line application process might not give newcomers a happy outcome. In particular, the on-line application limits you to circa US$10K (not sure of exact amount). But since you must deposit US$25K to obtain 4.9%APY, well, the on-line appy is useless for that reason alone. I went all the way through the on-line process, only to discover at the end I needed a do-over with paper.

The application for the Share Certificate is a separate download and is filled out separately. However, the Share Certificate application is permitted to be mailed with your membership application, beneath the same cover. Also, I sent in only one check, which covered my required $5 Share Savings account and the full amount for my new Share Certificate account.

I also sent them a B&W copy of my driver's license and a copy of a recent power bill. It was not necessary, and it was not required, to send the power bill copy; but I'm a "belt and suspenders" kind of guy.

Just curious...does Alliant's Online Banking have ACH Transfers available to other banks/cu's? Looking at their Online Banking demo, it looks like it does.....If it has, have you used it? How long do the transfers take? Any fee inbound or outbound?

Thanks for the information. My application was back in late January, so that explains the free $5.

akhan7 said:Could anyone who has recently joined Alliant tell if a new membership for a savings/CD results in a hard INQ?
Good question. Yes, it's a hard credit inquiry. For me, Equifax.

Thanks!

Before I waste a hard-pull at all (for the great savings/CD rates) how is there online banking interface? Can you do ACH transfers?

moonsunboat said:From their website, they do provide competitive rates for everything. But do they have my investment FDIC-insured if I put money in?

No, but it's insured by NCUA, the similar federal insurance that applies to credit unions.

For everyone's information, I checked the safe and sound rating on bankrate.com, and it is three stars out of five, or "performing."

The five ratings are as follows:
1 Superior «««««
2 Sound ««««
3 Performing «««
4 Below peer group ««
5 Lowest rated «

I would be curious to know why they are paying so much above market rates when they clearly don't have to.

--VanceWade