Free Checking + Money Market =
a perfect combo
Some things are just better together — like our Free Checking and Money Market accounts. It’s the perfect pairing for simpler money management and bigger savings.
Start with Free Checking hereSave more. Manage better.
$0 Monthly Fee
No overdraft fees1
Get Paid Early with Direct Deposit2
Set up Direct Deposit and access your funds up to 2 days early
30,000+ Free ATMs Nationwide
Find one near you on our top-rated Mobile App3
Free ID Theft Protection
Enroll your debit card through Mastercard’s ID Theft Protection platform
Pay and Send with Ease and Security
Debit Mastercard® lets you shop with zero liability protection and Zelle® lets you send money quickly
RoundUp
Automatically grow your savings with every purchase you make
- A rate that’s 4x the California average.†
- No minimum deposit or monthly fees
- Insured up to $250,000 by the NCUA ($500,000 for joint owners)
† Informa rates as of 9/25/2025 on balances of $250,000
Earn more when you save more
|
APY4 |
Dividend Rate |
Minimum Balance |
Checking account* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.85% | 3.78% | $250,000.00 | Yes |
| 3.60% | 3.54% | $100,000.00 | Yes |
| 3.35% | 3.30% | $50,000.00 | Yes |
| 3.00% | 2.96% | $1.00 | Yes |
| 0.05% | 0.05% | $1.00 | No |
* Recurring monthly deposits of $500 or more to the Patelco checking account includes direct deposits, ACH transfers, Zelle, Venmo, PayPal, cash, check, or wires. Patelco to Patelco account transfers, charge backs or promotional incentive payments from Patelco are not qualified deposits.
Get to know Patelco
514,000+
members nationwide and growing
36
local branches including Patelco Virtual Branch™
89
years of proudly serving the community
$1,500
average annual savings per loyal household5
In-app digital gift card purchases from brands you love with 2% to 20% cash back to your new Patelco checking account
Frequently Asked Questions
-
No. We don’t charge a monthly fee or require a minimum balance to waive the monthly fee.
Yes. You need to have a Patelco checking account and deposit a minimum of $500 total each month to the checking account to qualify for the higher rate in your Money Market Plus account. Upon opening your Money Market Plus account, you’ll have up to 3 months to meet this requirement.
You’ll automatically enjoy the higher APY based on the deposit tier you maintain during those 3 months.
If you don’t have a Patelco checking account or if you have a Patelco checking account but don’t meet the monthly $500 minimum deposit requirement, your Money Market Plus account will earn the Regular Savings interest rate currently at 0.05% APY.
The good news is once you establish the $500 deposit during a month, you will receive the higher interest rate the following month, based on the deposit balance you maintain.
More details may be found in our Account Overview.The Money Market Plus account offers a tiered rate based on your daily account balance in the account. Plus, you must have a Patelco checking account that meets the monthly recurring deposit requirement of $500 or more.
The following variable interest rates will apply to your account balance: 3.85% APY on balances of $250,000.00 or greater, 3.60% APY on balances between $100,000.00 and $249,999.99, 3.35% APY on balances between $50,000.00 and $99,999.99, 3.00% APY on balances up to $49,999.99.
You’ll automatically earn the tiered rate listed above based on the daily account balance maintained when you open the account and for the 3 months following. If you want to continue earning higher interest rate after that, you’ll need to have a Patelco checking account (under the same membership) with monthly recurring deposits of $500 or more into the checking account.
If you do not meet the qualifying checking account requirements by the 3rd calendar month after the account is open, you’ll earn the Regular Savings interest rate, which is currently at 0.05% APY, regardless of the balance you maintain.
Once you meet the requirements, you’ll start earning the higher interest rate in the applicable balance tier the following month.
Keep in mind the APY (Annual Percentage Yield) is a variable rate and may go up or down depending on the rate environment.
More details may be found in our Account Overview.Yes. Your Money Market account is insured by NCUA for up to $250,000 (or $500,000 in a joint account for two people).
Like the FDIC, NCUA provides federal insurance for credit union accounts, while the FDIC provides insurance for bank accountsYou can find one of the 30,000+ fee-free ATMs at patelco.org/locations or on your Mobile App. This includes most 7-Eleven® stores.
ALL Members who set up direct deposits into their Patelco checking, savings, or money market accounts can get paid up to 2 days early2 — so you can access your funds faster.
Your checking account connects you to CashBack+ in our Mobile App, where you can purchase gift cards from top brands for groceries, gas, travel and more, with up to 20% bonus value.
RoundUp is an automatic savings tool that helps you save with every purchase. Every time you use the debit card linked to your checking account, we’ll round up to the nearest dollar and transfer the difference from your checking to your savings account of your choice. So, if you spend $5.75 at the coffee shop, we’ll round up the purchase to $6.00, and transfer $0.25 to your savings. Every cent counts toward growing your savings!
To enroll, log in to Patelco Online™ or the Mobile App, and navigate to the main menu, then select Accounts, then RoundUp. For Plus Checking accounts, please contact us to enroll.Patelco is a member owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative. When you join Patelco, you become a member and a shareholder. That’s why we’ll also open a Regular Savings account and deposit one share ($1) in your account when you join.
Our mission is to help members achieve lifelong financial wellbeing so you can live happier, fuller lives.
Unlike the big banks or other for-profit financial institutions, we invest our profits back in our members with better rates and low to no fees.
We also offer free financial advice to anyone who wants to improve their financial situation. Members have told us that they feel seen, heard, informed, and supported to make more confident financial choices.
Membership is free and comes with great benefits. You become a member when you open an account with us.
Make an appointment to visit a Patelco branch near you. Or meet face-to-face online using our Virtual Branch — where you can drop in or schedule an appointment to meet on a video call from the comfort of your home or office.
1 You must enroll in Instant BackUp on your checking account to receive overdraft coverage up to $500. You’ll pay interest only on the amount you borrowed for the amount of time it’s outstanding. Talk to our Patelco team for assistance and learn more here. No overdraft fees applies to checking accounts opened after 04/05/23.
2 Early access to direct deposit funds depends on the timing of the receipt of the payment file from the payer. We generally make these funds available on the day the payment file is received up to 2 days earlier than the scheduled payment date.
3 Source: Over 34,700 5-star reviews across Apple iOS and Google Play app stores.
4 APY=Annual Percentage Yield. Rates are effective as of 10/01/2025 and are subject to change before or after account opening without notice. Rates vary by tier and apply to the full balance.
The following variable interest rates will apply to your account balance: 3.85% APY on balances of $250,000.00 or greater, 3.60% APY on balances between $100,000.00 and $249,999.99, 3.35% APY on balances between $50,000.00 and $99,999.99, 3.00% APY on balances up to $49,999.99.
In order to attain higher interest rates the account must meet the eligibility requirements, that is a Patelco checking account (opened under the same Member Number) with a total monthly deposit of $500 or more. If the account fails to meet eligibility, the lower interest rate of 0.05% APY will be defaulted. Qualifying deposit transactions include: Payroll direct deposits, Social Security (or other government benefit) direct deposits, ACH transfers, Zelle®, Venmo, PayPal or other similar deposits, cash deposits, check deposits (except checks written from another Patelco account), wire transfers, multiple deposits (of the types listed above) that add up to at least $500 in a calendar month. Qualifying deposit transactions do not include Patelco account-to-Patelco account transfers, chargebacks or promotional incentive payments from Patelco.
For more details, read our Money Market Plus Account Overview.
5 Based on the Credit Union National Association Membership Benefits Study in Q4 2024 and rates and fees as of 03/17/2025. Assumed to have a $30,000, 60-month new auto loan, a classic credit card with an average balance of $5,000, a $200,000, 30-year fixed rate mortgage (a 30-year fixed rate mortgage is replaced with a 5-year adjustable rate mortgage if it yields a greater benefit as it is assumed more in demand), $5,000 in an interest-bearing checking account, $10,000 in a 1-year certificate account, and $2,500 in a money market account.