Heartland Credit Union 30-Month Add-On CD Comes With Unlimited Deposits

Kansas-based Heartland Credit Union (Heartland CU) recently raised the rates on its 30-month Add-On CD by a uniform 20 bps. The new tiered APYs are 0.90% ($100k min), 0.85% ($25k min), and 0.80% ($500 min). The minimum opening deposit is $500 or a $50 deposit per month through payroll direct deposit or automatic transfer; there is no stated balance cap.

As stated in the Truth-in-Savings disclosure, unlimited additional deposits can be made at any time throughout the term.

The minimum amount you can deposit at a time is $500 ($100 for youth accounts). This minimum is waived if the transaction is performed through online banking, payroll direct deposit or automatic transfer from existing accounts. There are no limitations on the frequency or timing of additions.

Five years ago, DA reader and guest blogger, Charles Rechlin, wrote a very informative blog post, “Searching for the Elusive Add-On CD.” Charles stated that,

To my mind, an ideal add-on CD possesses the following features:

• a multi-year term (three or more years)
• a fixed or minimum rate that is reasonably competitive with rates offered on CDs of identical maturity that don’t carry add-on rights
• a low opening balance requirement
• an unlimited right to make additional deposits from time to time, with no maximum balance

It’s extremely difficult, if not impossible, to locate a CD combining all of these features. You’re fortunate if you can find one with a couple of them.

Heartland CU’s 30-month Add-On CD is definitely in the “fortunate” category, meeting almost all of the features mentioned above. If you have a CD that’s maturing in the next few months, opening an Add-On CD with a $500 deposit now can provide a safe haven for those maturing funds in the near future.

Caveat emptor – there’s always a possibility that a credit union might change the add-on terms on existing CDs. DA readers may remember that in the fall of 2019, GTE Financial made changes to the terms of existing promotional share certificates opened in 2018 and 2019. While GTE Financial quickly reversed its decision after a general outcry by its members, there’s no guarantee that another credit union won't be more intractable.

As stated in the Truth-in-Savings disclosure, the Early Withdrawal Penalty reads as follows:

The penalty we may impose will equal twelve months
dividends on the amount withdrawn subject to penalty.

Funding and making additional deposits to an Add-On CD can be done by ACH, wire transfer, check, or by establishing an automatic recurring direct deposit. Heartland CU participates in the CO-OP Shared Branch network, making the transfer of funds relatively easy.

Maturing funds will be sent by cashier’s check to the address on file, by wire, or transferred to a Heartland CU savings or checking account. The Add-On CD does not automatically renew.

Availability

Headquartered in Hutchinson, Kansas, Heartland Credit Union’s field of membership (FOM) provides a way to join for virtually any U.S. citizen/resident alien who has a valid Social Security number. The Membership Eligibility page lists four paths to membership.

Question #4: “Are you (OR a family member) working in or are you/they retired from one of the following occupations?” The 23 listed occupations are so general in nature (Sales, Office, Management, Business, etc.) that virtually anyone can qualify.

The three other ways to qualify are,

Question #1: “Are you (OR a family member) live, work in, worship in, or get paid from one of these counties in Kansas?” Those counties include Barton, Butler, Dickson, Ellsworth, Franklin, Geary, Harvey, Kingman, Lincoln, Lyon, Marion, McPherson, Miami, Mitchell, Osage, Ottawa, Pottawatomie, Pratt, Reno, Rice, Riley, Saline, Sedgewick, Stafford, and Wabaunsee.

Question #2: “Do you have a family member who is a member with us?” Family members related by blood, marriage, or adoption qualify.

Question #3: “Are you (OR a family member) an employee of, patron of, or retiree of any of the following entities?” Thirty-five local SEGs are listed.

Joining Heartland CU can be done online, or at any of seven full-service branch locations located in Haven, Hutchinson (3), Newton, and Wichita (2). There’s also a branch located in Hutchinson High School, with access limited to the school’s students and staff.

Opening a CD can be done at any of the above-mentioned branch locations or by calling the eBranch (800.428.8472).

It’s easy to become an HCU member, all you do is open the
Prime Share Savings Account with a $25 minimum deposit.

Heartland CU participates in the CO-OP Shared Branch and ATM networks, giving its members access to more than 5,000 shared branches and nearly 30,000 ATMs throughout the country.

Credit Union Overview

Heartland Credit Union has an overall health grade of "A" at DepositAccounts.com, with a Texas Ratio of 7.57% (excellent) based on March 31, 2021 data. In the past year, Heartland CU has increased its total non-brokered deposits by $75.57 million, an excellent annual growth rate of 25.14%. Please refer to our financial overview of Heartland Credit Union (NCUA Charter # 62031) for more details.

Founded in 1948, Heartland Credit Union was originally known as Hutchinson Teachers Credit Union. With 14 founding members and $315 in assets, the newly-formed credit union was housed in the home of two its founding members. As the FOM expanded and mergers occurred, the “Teachers” was dropped from the credit union’s name, with the Heartland rebrand occurring more than six years ago. Heartland Credit Union is currently the ninth largest credit union headquartered in Kansas, with more than 30,000 members and assets in excess of $443 million.

How the Add-On CD Compares

Add-On CDs are rare – only four nationally available Add-On CDs are offered at this time. Of those four, only two have terms of 30 months. Heartland Credit Union’s 30-month Add-On CD top APY currently ranks first, regardless of balance requirements.

The above information and rates are accurate as of 8/16/2021.

To look for the best CD rates, either nationwide or state-specific, please refer to our CD Rates Table page.