AARP Savings and Money Market Accounts

[6/4: Rates are changing, and may vary depending on when the account was opened. Rate shown below preserved for posterity.]

AARP Financial's savings rates have been mentioned in other threads, but I'd like a discussion focused on just these accounts.

AARP Savings Rates

High yield savings pays 4.5% APY, and Jumbo Secure MMA pays 4.75%.

I am a AARP member already, but am wondering, what's the catch? How can they pay so much more than anyone else? If I go to the trouble of setting up an account, are they likely to drastically lower the rate next week? I am not normally a rate-chaser, but these rates are so much higher than anyone else, it makes you wonder.

Info, thoughts, comments?

Edited to add: I decided to try this out myself and opened an account online. Details and updates in the thread.

Thx for posting this gem. Not sure why the 5yr CD rates are lower than liquid savings:

5-Year (260-Week)
$500 $500-$19,999 3.93% 4.00%
$20,000 $20,000-$99,999 4.03% 4.11%
$100,000 $100,000+ 4.08% 4.16%

I think you're right to be suspicious about the high rates offered on the liquid end. It could very well be temporary and serve to draw in customers. However, because it doesn't say this is a promo, makes you wonder what the real reasons are behind the higher than industry average rates. Could it be distressed capital raising?? Since it is FDIC insured that should buffer any negative concerns about safety.

Also, I totally was not aware AARP had a "bank" arm. Was a member but let my membership lapse. Seems like AARP these days are operating as a quasi bank/insurance more than a senior advocate organization. However, given the demographic it targets, it is a no brainer that they would take the opportunity to peddle bank and insurance products the hardest. Quite a captive lucrative target group ripe for good pickings

I read that the products were offered via Huntington NB and UFB Direct, but why are the AARP rates so much higher than the equivalent products at those banks? Who in the world is managing a MM account that produces 4.75%?

UncaMikey said: ...

I am a AARP member already, but am wondering, what's the catch? How can they pay so much more than anyone else? If I go to the trouble of setting up an account, are they likely to drastically lower the rate next week? I am not normally a rate-chaser, but these rates are so much higher than anyone else, it makes you wonder.
...

I'm not putting down seniors or older members, but how many people aged 50+ trust an internet bank (non-local bank), not already have their money tied up, or are even aware that the local 2.5% interest rates are bad?

poo said: I'm not putting down seniors or older members, but how many people aged 50+ trust an internet bank (non-local bank), not already have their money tied up, or are even aware that the local 2.5% interest rates are bad?

LOL, you're joking, right? I'm in my late 50s, and I'm on the internets all by myself right now, writing this FW post, and there's not a young whippersnapper here to help me out. Amazing, huh?

Seriously, you need to venture out of your age cohort, whatever it is. You may be surprised by what you find.

poo said: UncaMikey said: ...

I am a AARP member already, but am wondering, what's the catch? How can they pay so much more than anyone else? If I go to the trouble of setting up an account, are they likely to drastically lower the rate next week? I am not normally a rate-chaser, but these rates are so much higher than anyone else, it makes you wonder.
...

I'm not putting down seniors or older members, but how many people aged 50+ trust an internet bank (non-local bank), not already have their money tied up, or are even aware that the local 2.5% interest rates are bad?

Why do you need to be 50+? Hell there was tons of people on this board who claimed to be teachers just to get a slightly higher rate from BOA even tho they were not teachers. Do you think they are going to care and not lie about there age? The difference between this savings account and next highest savings is almost 200 bps currently which was a much larger margin than 100 bps for 60 days that the NEA account gave over the AAA account.

poo said:

I'm not putting down seniors or older members, but how many people aged 50+ trust an internet bank (non-local bank), not already have their money tied up, or are even aware that the local 2.5% interest rates are bad?

Hey, we old guys invented the freakin' internet!

dolmar said:

Why do you need to be 50+? Hell there was tons of people on this board who claimed to be teachers just to get a slightly higher rate from BOA even tho they were not teachers. Do you think they are going to care and not lie about there age? The difference between this savings account and next highest savings is almost 200 bps currently which was a much larger margin than 100 bps for 60 days that the NEA account gave over the AAA account.

By 200 basis points do you mean 45-70 basis points?

verruckterBaum said: dolmar said:

Why do you need to be 50+? Hell there was tons of people on this board who claimed to be teachers just to get a slightly higher rate from BOA even tho they were not teachers. Do you think they are going to care and not lie about there age? The difference between this savings account and next highest savings is almost 200 bps currently which was a much larger margin than 100 bps for 60 days that the NEA account gave over the AAA account.

By 200 basis points do you mean 45-70 basis points?

Sorry I was not aware any place was paying rates as high 4% and was comparing to BOA/Chase/Citi/Wachovia/Wells Fargo and WAMU savings accounts.

Anyone notice the official AARP website has no links to aarp savings?

http://www.aarp.org/aarp_benefits/offer_financial/

Could this be a scam?

I think there is no link because it is really new. The site seems legit

jailguard said: Anyone notice the official AARP website has no links to aarp savings?


http://www.aarp.org/aarp_benefits/offer_financial/


Could this be a scam?
WHOIS says:
Registrant:
AARP Services, Inc.
601 E Street NW
Washington, DC 20049
US

Domain Name: AARPSAVINGS.COM

Administrative Contact :
Williams, David
dawilliams@aarp.org
601 E St.
Washington, DC 20049
US
Phone: 202-434-3672

Technical Contact :
Sys Admins, WSO
wso_admin@aarplist.org
601 E Street
Washington, DC 20049
US
Phone: 202-434-3674

Record expires on 31-May-2011
Record created on 31-May-2006

So yeah, it's legit. I emailed my mother and a close friend about it. I know y'all were redding poo, but my close friend (over the age of 65) does not trust "internet banks." I have fruitlessly tried to get her to open online accounts a few times...maybe this time she'll actually go for it. Her husband is even wary of credit cards and got annoyed with me when I convinced her to open the Citi CashReturns 5% Cash Back card. Now obviously I know that not all people age 60+ are like this, but I believe that I can safely say that their attitudes are far more prevalent in their age demographic than in mine [born in the disco decade].

Anyone opened an account yet? How was the opening process? And do they give you an account number instantly so you can wire the funds?

UPDATE: Hey, someone has to try this out, so I just applied online.

Online account application went fine. They asked for SSN, DL#, DOB and some other questions, paused to verify that info against my credit history, approved in about 60 seconds. Downloaded signature card, which is to be returned with initial deposit.

One nice feature: you can send the sig card and deposit check via UPS Store, for free. You download a UPS Work Order Deposit Form and take it to any UPS Store.

There seems to be a fee ($30) if you close the account in less than 180 days.

So far, so good. I have done all my financial stuff online for a long, long time, and the AARP site seems as secure and efficient as any. I will add to the savings account if all goes well. Once I get the ABA routing number and account number, I'll set up the the AARP account in my primary investment account, so I can transfer money in/out.

Edited to add: I got a verification email immediately. Funding checks are made payable to Huntington Nat'l Bank.

Sunsue2 said: Why tie up your money when you can keep it liquid and wait for a good investment to come along!

These AARP interest rates are for savings accounts, not CDs -- your money is not tied up, although apparently there is a small fee if you completely close your account in less than 180 days.

A wire transfer is an option for initial funding, but I believe those cost $20.

I have an account number, but no ABA routing number. I plan on doing the initial funding by check (how 20th century!) then set up the AARP account in my investment account at another institution so I can do ACH pull/push.

Here is the number for the wire transfer I gather from their website:

Wire Transfer
To send an incoming wire to your account, provide the sending financial institution The Huntington National Bank's routing number (274070484) and your account number (located in the bottom, middle portion of your check). If the wire is being sent to fund a new account, simply note "New Account" on the wire transfer. Please ask your bank to use the following wire instructions:

The Huntington National Bank ABA# 274070484
Credit: Your name and 9-digit account number

You can complete and print the online Wire Transfer form and take it with you to your financial institution. To access the Wire Transfer form, click here. The form includes all of the information (detailed above) that you will need to initiate the wire.

If you have any questions regarding deposit information, call the Customer Care number at 866-421-5806, and for international calls, call 317-229-4011.

Can you set up for free ACH transfer?

Argyll said: Can you set up for free ACH transfer?

I poked around online, and didn't see anything about ACH transfers, only trfs between AARP accts and wire transfers.

With the ABA # and an acct #, however, I plan on adding the AARP acct to my account at another institution, and do ACH push/pull from there.

Hmmm tried to signup, but ...

Our records indicate that you already have an account with Waterfield Financial Services. Please contact customer service at 1-866-421-5806.

Called them up, voicemail asked for my SS#, and told me no such account existed.

AARP Savings down to 1.05% APY