GTE Financial 48-Month Jumbo Share Certificate Rate Soars To The Top

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Deal Summary: 48-month Jumbo Share Certificate, 5.12% APY, $100k minimum deposit.

Availability: Easy membership requirement; residents of select Tampa Zip Codes; several SEGs.

Following a significant rate increase of 42 bps, the GTE Financial 48-month Jumbo Share Certificate earns 5.12% APY, which is currently the highest rate offered on a nationally available 4-year CD. The minimum opening deposit is $100k, with no stated balance cap.

APYMINMAXINSTITUTIONPRODUCTDETAILS
3.56%$100k-GTE Financial48 Month Jumbo Share Certificate
3.56%$100k-GTE Financial48 Month Jumbo IRA
3.31%$500-GTE Financial48 Month IRA (Traditional, Roth)
3.31%$500-GTE Financial48 Month Share Certificate
Rates as of September 28, 2023.

GTE Financial also offers “regular” Share Certificates with APYs 26-27 bps lower than the Jumbo Share Certificates APYs and can be opened with a minimum $500 deposit.

GTE Financial Jumbo Share Certificates are also available as Jumbo IRA Certificates (Traditional, Roth, CESA, SEP), earning the same APYs with the same deposit requirements.

The 60-month Jumbo Share Certificate also had a significant rate change, but in the other direction: following a drop of 150 bps, the 60-month Jumbo Share Certificate now offers a decidedly uncompetitive 3.30% APY.

APYMINMAXINSTITUTIONPRODUCTDETAILS
3.31%$100k-GTE Financial60 Month Jumbo Share Certificate
3.04%$500-GTE Financial60 Month Share Certificate
Rates as of September 28, 2023.

As stated in the Share Certificate Account Disclosure, the Early Withdrawal Penalty reads as follows:

The penalty applies to the amount withdrawn each time a withdrawal is made, and is based on the dividend rate in effect at the time of the withdrawal. The penalty will equal 90 days of dividends for accounts with terms of 12 months or less, and 180 days of dividends for account with terms greater than 12 months. If dividends are insufficient to cover any applicable penalties, there is the possibility of a principal reduction.

According to the fine print on the landing page,

No withdrawals may be made on a GTE Financial Share Certificate in the first 60 days of account opening.

Helpful Forum Post

The January 30, 2023 Forum post by DA reader, John19, is well worth the read. With 72 comments from other DA readers, the thread provides a great deal of first-hand information about GTE Financial.

Availability

Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, GTE Financial’s field of membership (FOM) has a way for virtually any U.S. citizen or resident alien to join.

Easy membership: Joining GTE Financial’s non-profit educational financial club, CU Savers (one-time $10 membership fee), qualifies for credit union membership.

Residency: Individuals who live, work, worship, or attend school in the following Tampa Zip Codes are eligible to join - 33602, 33603, 33604, 33605, 33606, 33607, 33609, 33610, 33619.

Employment: Employees of a Community Partner (SEG) qualify for membership. Individuals who have an immediate family member who works for a Community Partner are also membership eligible.

Relationship: Immediate family members (spouse, child, parent, sibling, stepparent, stepchild, grandparent, or grandchild) of a current GTE Financial member is also welcome to apply.

Account Opening

Joining GTE Financial and/or opening a Jumbo Share Certificate can be done online, or at any of 24 Florida branches located in Bradenton, Brandon, Clearwater, Crystal River, Hudson, Lakeland (2), Lutz, New Port Richey, Ocala, Plant City, Riverview, Sarasota, Seffner, Seminole, St. Petersburg (2), Tampa (6), and Temple Terrace.

Current GTE Financial members can open a Jumbo Share Certificate through the GTE online banking platform.

All it takes is a $5 deposit to become a member! When you have $100 or more in your savings account, the money will earn dividends.

Funding and Other Details

The following information is from a Live Chat with CSR.

  • Funding – ACH, wire ($10 fee), credit card (up to $5k), internal transfer, or shared branch transaction.
  • Ownership – Individual, joint, and trust.
  • CO-OP Shared Branch Participant – Yes.
  • Maturing Funds – Transferred to a GTE Financial Savings Account.
  • Dividends – Compounded/credited monthly and can be transfer to a GTE Financial Savings Account without penalty.
  • Grace Period – 7 calendar days before automatic renewal.
  • Beneficiaries – Unlimited, percentages can be assigned, Social Security numbers required.
  • Credit Check – Hard pull.

Credit Union Overview

GTE Financial has an overall health grade of "B" at DepositAccounts.com, with a Texas Ratio of 6.59% (excellent), based on March 1, 2023 data. In the past year, GTE Financial 's total non-brokered deposits decreased by -$27.54 million, an average annual growth rate of -1.06 Please refer to our financial overview of GTE Financial (NCUA Charter # 196) for more details.

GTE Financial’s predecessor, Peninsula Telephone Employees Federal Credit Union (PTEFCU) was established in 1901. While GT&E purchased Peninsula Telephone Company in 1935, the PTEFCU name remained in place until 1958, when it was changed to GTE Federal Credit Union. In the 1990s, GTE Financial was the first Florida credit union (and the second in the country) to implement a successful debit card program. The Credit Union rebranded in 2012 and is currently Florida’s ninth largest credit union, with nearly 232,000 members and deposits in excess of $2.4 billion.

As stated in GTE Financial’s “Check Out Our Timeline section,

2021 – GTE Financial opens a Community Financial Center in Lakewood Ranch and is named Corporate Philanthropist of the Year. GTE achieves $1 Billion in Total Loan Originations, providing affordable financing as the community recovers from COVID-19.

How the 48-Month Jumbo Share Certificate Compares

When compared to similar length-of-term CDs tracked by DepositAccounts.com that are available nationally, no banks or credit unions have higher rates than currently offered on the GTE Financial 48-month Jumbo Share Certificate, regardless of minimum deposit requirements. The following tables compares the 48-month Jumbo Share Certificates to the two highest-rate CDs from other credit unions and the two highest-rate CDs from banks.

The above information and rates are accurate as of 6/1/2023.

To look for the best CD rates, both nationwide and state specific, please refer to our CD Rates Table page.

Related Pages: Orlando CD rates, Tampa CD rates, 5-year CD rates, IRA CD rates, nationwide deals

Comments
thumbsup
  |     |   Comment #1
Anyone know if they pay interest monthly or quarterly? Did not feel like waiting on hold yesterday. Thanks
EdwardD
  |     |   Comment #3
Back in early April, I opened the GTE jumbo 48 month CD when the APY was 4.70%. Thinking of whether it will be worth it to break the CD and reopen under the higher 5.12% APY. Does any one know if GTE allows us to convert to a new higher rate CD without EWP? I appreciate if anyone who has experience breaking their CD share their experience here.

CD Disclosure term: "Withdrawals before the maturity date are subject to an early withdrawal penalty. The credit union may require up to 60 days written notice prior to any intended withdrawal in accordance with federal credit union bylaws. The penalty is calculated as a forfeiture of part or all of the dividends. Withdrawals within six days of opening a certificate will be assessed a penalty of seven days dividends which may invade principal. The penalty applies to the amount withdrawn each time a withdrawal is made, and is based on the dividend rate in effect at the time of the withdrawal. The penalty will equal 90 days of dividends for accounts with terms of 12 months or less, and 180 days of dividends for account with terms greater than 12 months. If dividends are insufficient to cover any applicable penalties, there is the possibility of a principal reduction."
decades
  |     |   Comment #4
I think they changed the rules so you can't get out of it without a EWP. Southern girl is an expert on this.
SouthernGirl
  |     |   Comment #5
EdwardD,
I sent you a private message.
PradG
  |     |   Comment #7
I am in a simlar predicament with a 5 year CD at 3% maturing in May next year. Appreciate your advice and guidance.
pritojgill
  |     |   Comment #11
i am in similar situation with Penfed.
EdwardD
  |     |   Comment #12
SouthernGirl,
I sent you a private message.
hiyield
  |     |   Comment #13
The same task at GTE to convert from 4.70 to 5.12 Any helpful information would be appreciated!
me1004
  |     |   Comment #6
The 5.12% for 48 months is sure a good APY. But GTE stirkes me as fairly hostile to depositors, the fees are like landmines.

They tout how you can access more than 30,000 FREE coop ATMs, but you have to go to the Fee Schedule to see that GTE will charge you $3.00 for any withdrawal you make at any ATM but a GTE one.

They are in the shared branch system, so you can go to a shared branch and use that for free, make the deposit for the CD there -- except GTE adds a fee of $3.00 a day for any use of a coop branch -- I have not come across any other CU that charges such a fee. So, I have to pay a fee to give them money (as well as withdraw it)!

I dare not try to pull money in via the ACH, it says there is a fee of $2 for any "online" (meaning initiated from a GTE account) external transfer (it says "transfer," not withdrawal, so I have to take that to mean both deposit and withdrawal).

I don't see any reasonable way to fund the CD without having to pay a fee! Mailing a check takes too long, and I can see issues about a hold after they get it.

All of its checking accounts come with a fee, and the two with a way to have it waived require either 15 debit/credit card transactions per month or $500 in deposits to it each month -- you really have to work it. (And both additionally require that you take e-statements to have the fee waived.) Of course, you will find you have to buy your checks too, no first order free. Even a temporary check order (and list "check" singular) is $5.00.

I could just bite the bulet, pay the fees to get this opened and funded, and thena gain when it matures and I might move it elsewhere, and figure I get enough more in APY to justify it. But the whole operation feels too hostile, it pushes me away from GTE, it really raises my eyebrow about them. I really don't want to have to fear I am walking through landmines when I try to conduct business with my CU.
uhwtm2
  |     |   Comment #8
Everything you said is correct, but if one is careful, GTE can still be worth it (not the best for someone casual who won't take time to avoid the fees). "Be vewwy vewwy careful, hah hah hah" as Elmer Fudd would say. When I was done with their nice Add-On offer from some time back I considered closing my account. But GTE still often offers good rates and a mild EWP (180 even for longer terms -- better than many places now) -- and if you know and are aware of their fee traps, I think it's still worth it, so I stuck with them and opened another CD. Worse comes to worst, paying a $3 fee once or twice (only when absolutely necessary) is worth it if you made much more interest and had a mild EWP. But yes, as you said, there are fee traps everywhere... and their choice of wording isn't exactly honest. But just know how to avoid them and you're fine.
me1004
  |     |   Comment #10
uhwtm2, you are definitely correct about it taking time! It is all but impossible to get a phone call through to someone - I know some tricks to fool the phone system to go to a default of putting me in the que, and that is the only way I got through. But it was not the people who handle new members, and they had to transfer. More time. And time on hold waiting is very long, but you can leave your number for a call back. They did not bother to call back yesterday.

To cut to the quick, I spoke with two people, they were useless, terrible, gave me all the wrong information, just more landmines. And one also accidentally cut me off (typical accident if you get put on hold, a ittle slip in them picking up again, and you are cut off).

Took me awhile to get someone again. This time third one, I got someone very good, named Jose. At that point I was callilng as final effort, I was pretty much already decided just to drop this place as a horror, really. There is no excuse for what I had to go through.

But Jose was really on the ball, and things can be as easy as they should be, the other people just did not/would not make it so.

Jose even gave me his direct number, so now I would not have to try to rely on the regular phone number to get this done. I want the CD opened and will fund it on June 19 (waiting on some money to come in to add to it). I have an appointment for June 14 to call Jose, and we will open the membership and savings accounts, and CD that day, docusign it all. Adn once the CD is open, I have 7 days to fund it, and I can fund it direct using a shared branch - or so Jose says. If it doesn't work, I can call him, and he will transfer it over with the hold still on it.

I will have to pay the $3 to GTE to use the shared branch system (I'm surprised the shared branch system allows that!). He says the $5 fee for "assisted funds transfer" does not apply to this kind of transfer. So, I gues the only fees I willhit are $6 to jion, and $3 to used the shared branch sstem, total of $9. OK I thont I as going to have to pay $10 alone for joining. And with the CD, I dont have to even ahve anying in my working savingds account to avoid the fee onthat, the CD money gets that wived. But when I close gthe CD, I woud have toleave $500 in the svaings accountto aovid the fee, or close thememebship (who wnats to gothrough al this again!?)

I will see about the details of a checking account, but I think I would have to deposit $500 into it every month or to avoid a fee, and that's too much working it.

Th previous people did not offer any of that. I even asked if I could open the CD and fund it direct, they said no. As for the them transferring the money in the savings I put in to open the CD, they said they can't do that until the hold expires in a week. I went round and round with them, they finally said to open everything, and once the money is in the savings, I can call in (sure, but they might not answer or call back), and I can ask if someone can transfer it, see what they say. Oh, come on, if that is the way they operate, I'm not dealing with a place like that. See what they say! I need to know what procedures can be done and what can't before I open anything. Especially since they do a hard credit pull as part of the opening of the membership. Ask after I'm committed?! No, I need to know beforehand, or I will not join in the first place! They don't understand that. Jose was as if from a different world, he was sharp and good, on the ball. He saved them, now they can have my money. Saved by the bell. That was the last contact I was making, I had had it with GTE.

Also, you couldj oin the CU by joining its CU Savers group. It is normally $10 to join, but sometime back they were waiving that. It still is listed as $10 to join, but Jose says they are now charging only $6.
Kaight
  |     |   Comment #14
I'm already a GTE Financial member and I have a couple of small CDs with them. I want to open the four year jumbo, using the online application. Will have to give them my external account information. They will debit the (external) account using, I assume, ACH.

Question:

Do you have any thoughts as to the best day of the week to execute the above?
blazer9
  |     |   Comment #15
Punch the clock Monday, starting tomorrow makes the next days zombie
if i starts out in limbo?
IT appears opening procedures cant afford a wknd off.
GTE Financial Long-Term Jumbo CD APYs Remain Near The Top
Deal Summary: Jumbo Share Certificates – 48-month (4.70% APY) and 60-month (4.80% APY), $100k minimum deposit.

Availability: Easy membership requirement; residents of select Tampa Zip Codes; SEGs.

While top long-term CD rates at other credit unions have been short-lived, the GTE Financial long-term Jumbo Share Certificates continue to offer near rate-leading APYs. The most competitive are the 48-month (4.70% APY) and 60-month (4.80% APY), with the 36-month trailing with a 4.59% APY. The Jumbo Share Certificates can be opened with a $100k minimum deposit, with no stated balance...

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GTE Financial Ups 12-Month CD To Near-Rate Leading Status
Deal Summary: 12-month Share Certificate, 4.13% APY, $500 minimum deposit.

Availability: Easy membership by joining CU Savers ($10 one-time membership fee); residents of certain Tampa Zip Codes; SEGs.

As DA reader, calwatch, noted in a recent Forum post, Florida-based GTE Financial is currently offering 4.13% APY on its 12-, 24-, and 36-month Share Certificates, following rate increases of 237 bps, 160 bps, 109 bps, respectively. The minimum opening deposit is $500, with no stated balance cap.

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Deal Summary: 12-month Add-On IRA Special, 3.30% APY, $500 minimum deposit, additional deposits limited by personal tax contribution limits.

Availability: Easy membership by joining CU Savers ($10 one-time membership fee); residents of certain Tampa Zip Codes; SEGs.

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Deal Summary: 60-month Jumbo Promotional Share Certificate (3.30% APY, $100k), 60-month Promotional Share Certificate (3.04% APY, $500), new money, unlimited additional deposits.

Availability: Easy membership by joining CU Savers ($10 one-time membership fee); residents of certain Tampa Zip Codes; SEGs.

For a limited-time, Florida-based GTE Financial is offering Promotional Share Certificates with increased rates and an unlimited add-on feature, “which means you can add money at any time during your term, in as little as $20 increments.” In the past, GTE Financial capped the add-ons at $6k, but...

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Deal Summary: Promotional Share Certificate – 60-month (3.04% APY), 48-month (2.94% APY), 36-month (2.84% APY), 30-month (2.68% APY), and 24-month (2.53% APY), $500 minimum, new money required. APYs 25 bps higher with $100k minimum.

Availability: Easy membership requirement by joining CU Savers ($10 one-time membership fee); residents of certain Tampa Zip Codes; SEGs.

For a limited-time, Florida-based GTE Financial has raised the rates on its Share Certificates and included an add-on feature, “which means you can add money at any time during your term, in as little as $20...

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