Certificates

When you're looking for steady growth combined with absolute security, our Certificates are an attractive option. They are the perfect choice for savers who want a higher, guaranteed rate of return for a fixed term. Certificates yield dividends that can compound or be transferred for your immediate use.

Terms from three months to five years. Click on Savings Rates to see our current rates.
Dividends are paid monthly
Add-on contributions are permissible at any time during the term of the Certificate
Earnings can be deposited into the account you designate
Automatic renewal at maturity
May be used as security against a credit union loan (with the exception of IRA Certificates). You will continue to earn dividends!
Higher yields are available on our Jumbo Certificates; minimum deposit $100,000

Jump-Up Certificate

The Credit Union's Jump-Up Certificate gives you the ability to "jump-up" the rate of your 24-month Jump-Up Certificate to the current listed rate and yield for a standard 24-month Certificate. The minimum deposit is only $5,000. Member must present a Jump-Up rate coupon to take the jump. Coupon is received at the time of the account opening. The interest rate and APY may be increased one-time during the 24-month term by redeeming the Jump-Up rate coupon. At the time of redemption, the Jump Rate APY will be equal to the current non-promotional 24-month Certificate rate in effect at the time of the jump. Once this option is used, or upon first maturity, the "jump up" capability will expire. The new rate will carry forward from the date of the increase, and will not be retroactive.

All member accounts with the Credit Union are insured up to $250,000 by ASI (American Share Insurance), the nation's largest private deposit insurer, and an additional $250,000 by ESI (Excess Share Insurance).

Certificate account laddering: a sound saving strategy

Many financial experts suggest staggering or laddering the purchase of short-term certificate accounts. You can build a system of guaranteed steady returns, as well as incorporate a certain amount of liquidity into the investment process.

Basically, laddering refers to buying certificate accounts with varying dates of maturity. For example, let's say you have $10,000 to invest. To establish a one-year ladder, you would put $2,500 each into: a three-month certificate account, a six-month certificate account, a nine-month certificate account and a one-year certificate account. That means you have a certificate account maturing every three months. Upon maturity, you would simply roll over each certificate account into a one-year certificate account to continue the pattern.

This system allows you to achieve a more consistent return on your savings. If rates move up, you'll be able to earn the higher rate on part of your money. And, if rates decline, only a portion of your money will be affected. Remember, you always have the option of choosing a longer term certificate account to lock in higher returns. Here's an example of what your return would be using a laddering strategy versus putting the full amount in a three-month certificates.

Laddering versus Short-Term Investing

In this example, all funds are deposited for two years. Dividends are compounded daily. Rates are shown using three scenarios; flat rate environment, falling rate environment, and rising rate environment (which we are experiencing currently). Rates shown below are for example purposes only. For current rates, visit our rates page.

Flat Rate Scenario

Dividend rates remain the same for two years.

Term	Dividend Rate	Laddering $2,500 each term	Short-Term $10,000 in 3-mo. term
3-mo.	3.50%	Total Earnings	Total Earnings
6-mo.	3.75%	$805.95	$725.05
12-mo.	4.00%	Laddering Advantage
24-mo.	4.25%	$80.90

Falling Rate Scenario

Dividend rates fall 0.50% for second year.

Term	2nd Year Rates	Laddering $2,500 each term	Short-Term $10,000 in 3-mo. term
3-mo.	3.00%	Total Earnings	Total Earnings
6-mo.	3.25%	$772.37	$671.56
12-mo.	4.75%	Laddering Advantage
24-mo.*	4.25%	$100.82

Rising Rate Scenario

Dividend rates go up 0.50% in second year.

Term	2nd Year Rates	Laddering $2,500 each term	Short-Term $10,000 in 3-mo. term
3-mo.	4.00%	Total Earnings	Total Earnings
6-mo.	4.25%	$846.46	$778.80
12-mo.	4.50%	Laddering Advantage
24-mo.*	4.25%	$67.66

* The 24-month certificate rate remains the same for the full term whether market rates rise or fall. The certificates with the three other terms renewed at the new rate for the second year. For the 3-month, the rate change took effect for the 5th term. It took effect for the 3rd term for the 6-month, and the 2nd term for the 12-month.

You can see how laddering comes out ahead of a short-term certificate strategy in all three scenarios. The continual cycle of staggered maturity dates allows you to earn respectable returns no matter what market rates do.