Fairwinds Credit Union (FL) Sweetens Unlimited Add-On CD Specials

Fairwinds Credit Union (Fairwinds CU) started the new year by offering three Add-On CDs that could be opened with a $1k minimum deposit. While the rates aren't that impressive, the unlimited and unrestricted additional deposits allowed throughout the term are quite note-worthy.

Yesterday, Fairwinds CU improved the competitiveness of the Add-On CDs by offering Loyalty Bonus Rates (25-26 bps higher) “for members who have been with the credit union for at least one year.”

The minimum deposit is $10k of new money and,

a minimum of $10,000 from another financial institution is required to open the account. Any deposit after the $10,000 opening can be funded from an existing FAIRWINDS account or an account elsewhere.

Like the Add-On CDs, the Loyalty Add-On CD Specials offer unlimited additional deposits (in any amount) that are allowed throughout the term, with no restrictions on the maximum aggregate balance. Even though the 44-month Loyalty Add-on CD Special requires a $10k opening deposit, it could still be very useful as a hedge against falling rates. Should rates drop in the next couple of years, the 44-month (bonus rate or not) could be used as a long-term safeguard deposit account.

According to CSR, the Early Withdrawal Penalty is as follows:

• Terms up to 11 months – 3 months interest
• Terms of 12-24 months – 6 months interest
• Terms of 25+ months – 9 months interest

Availability

Headquartered in Orlando, Fairwinds Credit Union’s field of membership (FOM) is primarily residency based, with individuals who live, work, or own a business in following Florida counties eligible to join.

Brevard, Hillsborough, Lake, Manatee, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota, Seminole, or Volusia.

Membership is also open to the faculty, staff, students, alumni of the University of Central Florida.

Family members of current Fairwinds CD members are welcome to apply, even if they live outside the eligible Florida counties.

Joining Fairwinds CU and/or opening an Add-On CD can be done online, or at any of 32 Florida branches located in Altamonte, Apopka, Clermont (2), Deland, Deltona, Fern Park, Kissimmee (2), Lake Mary, Leesburg, Longwood (2), Mount Dora, Orange City, Orlando (11), Oviedo, Sanford, Winter Garden, Winter Park (2), and Winter Springs.

Opening a Loyalty Add-On CD Special can be done online, or at any of the above mentioned branch locations.

Credit Union Overview

Fairwinds Credit Union has an overall health grade of "A" at DepositAccounts.com, with a Texas Ratio of 4.79% (excellent) based on September 30, 2018 data. In the past year, Fairwinds CU has increased its total non-brokered deposits by $92.13 million, an excellent annual growth rate of 4.9%. Please refer to our financial overview of Fairwinds Credit Union (NCUA Charter # 68417) for more details.

Established in 1949, Fairwinds Credit Union is currently Florida’s sixth largest credit union, with nearly 189,000 members and assets in excess of $2.3 billion. Fairwinds CU became the official banking partner of the University of Central Florida in 2012. In February 2018, the Credit Union announced “a $1 million gift to endow a professorship in the University of Central Florida’s proposed FinTech program, the first of its kind in the State University System.”

According to an Apopka Voice article,

“FAIRWINDS has been a great supporter of the College of Business for a very long time, and this most recent gift will help us produce the kinds of graduates Central Florida needs in a highly competitive and fast-changing industry,” said UCF College of Business Dean Paul Jarley. “The futures of FAIRWINDS and the College of Business, the leading supplier of business talent to the region, are intertwined.”

How the Loyalty Add-On CD Special Compares

When compared to 206 similar length-of-term CDs tracked by DepositAccounts.com that require a minimum deposit of $10k or less and are available within the FOM, Fairwinds Credit Union's 44-month Loyalty Add-On CD APY currently ranks third. The unlimited additional deposits are an extra bonus.

The above rates are accurate as of 2/8/2019.

Looking for the best CD rates, either nationwide or state specific? Please refer to DepositAccounts.com’s CD Rates Table.