Campus Federal (Louisiana) Offers Product Line Statewide
At the beginning of the month, Campus Federal added a 72-month CD earning 1.60% APY. The minimum opening deposit is $1k, with no stated balance cap.
The 72-month CD Special is also available as an IRA CD (Traditional and Roth), earning the same APY with the same deposit requirements.
In a Live Chat, CSR stated that the Early Withdrawal Penalty for the 72-month CD is 180 days of interest on the amount being withdrawn, with partial withdrawals allowed, “as long as the withdrawal does not bring the account below the minimum amount [$1k].”
While Campus Federal’s 60-month CD (1.00% APY) doesn’t have an outstanding rate, I’m mentioning it because of the odd way it’s listed on the Rates page. The 60-month CD is listed twice with two different minimum deposit ($5k and $10k), but the same 1.00% APY. To my eye, that looked like some type of error, particularly since no other CD requires a $5k or $10k minimum deposit. According to CSR, it’s not an error: both the two minimum deposit levels and the one APY is correct.
| APY | MIN | MAX | INSTITUTION | PRODUCT | DETAILS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.55% | $1k | - | Campus Federal | 60 Month CD | |
| 3.55% | $5k | - | Campus Federal | 60 Month IRA (Traditional, Roth) |
Lagniappe Checking
Campus Federal’s Lagniappe (pronounced LAN-yap) Checking is a rewards checking account (RCA) that earns 2.01% APY on qualifying balances up to $10k.
| APY | MIN | MAX | INSTITUTION | PRODUCT | DETAILS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.00*% | $0 | $10k | Campus Federal | Lagniappe Checking | |
| OTHER TIERS: 0.05% → $10k+ | |||||
The monthly qualification requirements include,
- At least 15 POS debit or credit card transactions
- At least one direct deposit, ACH auto debit, or Campus Federal bill pay transaction
- Enroll in eStatements
While the APY is good, the small balance cap definitely hurts this RCA’s competitiveness. There are three features, which are unique for an RCA:
- A credit card can be used instead of a debit card to meet monthly requirements.
- A $10 monthly service fee, which will be waived if all three monthly qualification requirements are met or a $5k minimum balance is maintained.
- The Lagniappe Checking has been part of the product line for more than 11 years.
Availability
Headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Campus Federal’s field of membership (FOM) allows any resident of Louisiana to join through membership in the American Consumer Council (ACC), a nonprofit advocacy group established in 1987 to protect consumers.
According to Campus Federal’s About Us page, an ACC membership needs to be established before apply for Campus Federal membership. (Note: ACC membership is listed under “I work for the following select employees group” option on the Campus Federal online application.)
Individuals who live, work, or worship in the city of Baton Rouge, Orleans Parish or the metropolitan statistical area of Shreveport, including Caddo, Bossier and Webster Parishes, also qualify for membership.
Individuals who work, attend, or have an affiliation with the LSU system, Our Lady of the Lake, or Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady (FMOL) health system are eligible to join, as are the employees of 25 SEGs, including Baton Rouge Community College.
Immediate family members of a Campus Federal member in good standing are welcome to apply.
Joining Campus Federal and/or opening a CD can be done online, or at any of nine Louisiana branches, located in Baton Rouge (5), New Orleans (2), and Shreveport (2).
Branch lobby service will be limited due to social distancing. A Campus Federal team member will greet you at the branch door to assist you or you may make an appointment at 888-769-8841 or Contact Us. For up-to-date branch hours and information, visit ATM/Branches.
In addition to a minimum $5 deposit in a share savings account, there is a one-time non-refundable membership fee of $10 required when establishing a new Campus Federal membership.
Campus Federal participates in the CO-OP shared branching network, as well as the Dolphin and Allpoint ATM networks.
Credit Union Overview
Campus Federal has an overall health rating of "A" at DepositAccounts.com, with a Texas Ratio of 5.32% (excellent) based on September 30, 2020 data. In the past year, Campus Federal has increased its total non-brokered deposits by $84.93 million, an excellent annual growth rate of 14.36%. Please refer to our financial overview of Campus Federal (NCUA Charter # 79) for more details.
Established in 1934 by seven Louisiana State University employees, Campus Federal’s original FOM was exclusive to LSU faculty and staff. Although the FOM has greatly expanded, the relationship between Campus Federal and LSU has remained strong, with two branches and several ATMs located on LSU’s campus. Currently the four largest credit union headquartered in Louisiana, Campus Federal has more than 38,000 members and assets in excess of $748 million.
How the CD Compares
When compared to the similar length of term CDs tracked by DepositAccounts.com that require a similar minimum deposit of and are available to Louisiana residents, Campus Federal’s 72-month CD APY currently ranks first.
The above information and rates are accurate as of 2/15/2021.
Looking for the best CD rates, either nationwide or state-specific? Please refer to our CD Rates Table page.
