Ardent CU (PA) Has Limited-Time 30-Month Flex CD
UPDATE 10/31/2016: Ardent Credit Union has announced today that it will offer its 30-month Flex CD through November 15, 2016.
Now through October 31 November 15, 2016, Ardent Credit Union (Ardent CU) is offering an increased rates on its 30-month Flex CD (2.00% APY). This limited-time offer requires a minimum opening deposit of $100 and is capped at $500k; all funds must be new money.
Besides having a competitive rate, the 30-month Flex CD also allows funds (new money) to be added at any time during the CD’s term, and
Up to 50% of the Flex CD balance may be withdrawn one time during the term without penalty.
I couldn’t find anything on the Credit Union’s website concerning a withdrawal of more than 50% of the balance, so I did a Live Chat with CSR (who just happened to be named Ken).
[Me] Hi, Ken. Could you tell me what the early withdrawal penalty is for the 30-month CD if the withdrawal is MORE than the 50% allowed?
[Ken] You would be penalized based on the interest earned on the amount above the 50% max.
[Me] I understand that, but what is the penalty? a specific percentage or dollar amount?
[Ken] It is calculated at the time of the withdrawal. The good news is that you never lose any of your investment. The penalty would come from the interest only.
Availability
Headquartered in Philadelphia, Ardent Credit Union’s field of membership (FOM) is primarily residency based, with individuals who live, work, worship, volunteer, or attend school in the Pennsylvania Counties of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, or Philadelphia, eligible to join.
Relatives of current Ardent CU members also qualify for membership. In this instance, relatives are defined as “parent, sibling, grandparent, spouse, child, grandchild, stepparent, stepchild or stepsibling.” Household members (any person sharing a residence as part of a single-family unit) are also eligible for membership.
Joining Ardent CU and opening a 30-month Flex CD can be done online, or at any of eight Pennsylvania branches located in Collegeville (2), King of Prussia, Norristown (2), and Philadelphia (3).
The Membership Application is available as a download, and can be returned by snail mail, or dropped off at any branch location.
Credit Union Overview
Ardent Credit Union (NCUA Charter # 22637) has an overall health grade of "A" at DepositAccounts.com, with a Texas ratio of 6.11% (excellent), based on June 30, 2016 data. In the past year, Ardent CU increased its total deposit by $29.16 million, an excellent annual growth rate of 5.85%. Please refer to our financial overview of Ardent Credit Union for more details.
Ardent Credit Union was established in 1977 as the Sb1 Federal Credit Union, serving GlaxoSmithKline employees. Ardent CU is currently Pennsylvania’ 12th largest credit union, with nearly 31,000 members and assets in excess of $628 million. The re-brand happened just four months ago, and according to a May 2016 CU Insight press release,
”Ardent is a name that’s about passion”, says Rob Werner, President/CEO of Sb1 Federal
Credit Union. “It reflects our spirit and drive to serve our members and connects us to
our proud Philadelphia roots. The name Ardent stands for everything banking should
be — passionate, caring, and intensely devoted to the people we serve."
How the CD Compares
When compared to the 339 similar length-of-term CDs tracked by DepositAccounts.com that require a similar minimum deposit and are available within the FOM, Ardent Credit Union's 30-month Flex CD APY currently ranks first. The penalty-free partial withdrawal (up to 50%) and the ability to add funds at any time is icing on the cake.
The above rates are accurate as of 10/31/2016.
To search for the best CD rates, both nationwide and state specific, please refer to the CD rates section of DepositAccounts.com or our Rates Map page.
Acquisition of a student ID is tough because it connotes a more formal connection between you and the school. More formality most often means higher expense. So I don't have a lot of hope. However:
Ask nicely, anyway, to speak with the credit union's compliance officer. It is the compliance officers who lay down the law, not (for example) mere reps . . who might be making rules up or guessing. Compliance officers, OTOH, know the rules cold. That is their job. Various compliance officers define "student" and/or "attending school" differently. If the credit union is seeking money and members, definitions will be looser. If not, definition will be strict and you're probably SOL. But it costs nothing to have a word with the compliance officer, just to be certain. Sometimes an opening will reveal itself unexpectedly. It's worth a shot.
in absentia