Orion Federal Credit Union Drops Premium Checking Rate

About a year ago, Orion Federal Credit Union (Orion FCU) raised the rate and qualifying balance cap on its Premier Checking account (4.00% APY, up to $30k), making it one of the top-rated nationally available rewards checking account. As of yesterday, the Premier Checking account has a totally new rate structure, which has lowered both the APY and the qualifying balance cap. The following chart was sent out by Orion Member Services last week and describes the new rate structure.

DA reader, pgroove_fan, made an astute observation about this rate change.

Certainly sad to see the top rate and applicable cap both lowered.

But nice to see the introduction of decent rates on larger balances. That 2.05% up to $100K is competitive with most savings accounts.

Based on the above chart, the blended APY for a qualifying balance of $100k is actually 2.20% APY, which puts it in the top five APYs for nationally available savings accounts.

While the APY may have changed, the monthly qualification requirements have remained the same.

• Minimum of $500 in monthly electronic deposits (includes direct deposit, ATM deposit, mobile deposit, and electronic transfers from another financial institution).
• Minimum of eight signature-based debit card transactions.

Thanks to DA reader, midas89, for the initial Forum post about the Premier Checking’s rate change.

The Premier Checking account has no minimum balance requirement or opening balance requirement, but there is a $5 monthly service fee if the monthly qualification requirements are not met. Up to $10 in ATM fees will be reimbursed per month, if the qualification requirements at met.

In the past, Orion FCU did not limit the number of Premier Checking accounts allowed per member, but as of early October that is no longer the case. DA reader, elarh, posted the news in the Forum.

As of 10/7, Orion will no longer allow multiple accounts for one customer. All but first Premium Checking account will be converted to an Orion Checking account (no monthly fee, 0.05% APY dividend).

Availability

Headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, Orion Federal Credit Union has a way for almost any US citizen or resident to join.

Easy membership requirement: The complete list of eligibility options is only listed on the online application. You must enter your name, address, birthdate, SS number, and driver’s license number before the eligibility details are revealed. The last option listed is “Other,” which reads:

Volunteers for Orion Gives Back organizations are eligible for membership in Orion. You can qualify as a volunteer fundraiser simply by choosing an organization and asking us to make a $10 donation.

There are five organizations to choose from: Habitat for Humanity Greater Memphis, Hope House, Porter-Leath, Ronald McDonald House, and Wolf River Conservancy.

Residency: Individuals who live, work, or worship in any of seven “Mid South” counties eligible to join. Those counties include,

Fayette, Shelby, and Tipton, Tennessee

Desoto and Marshall, Mississippi

Crittendon and Mississippi, Arkansas

Relationship: Family members of eligible or current Orion FCU members also qualify for membership.

Employment: Employees and members of more than 45 SEGs are also eligible to join.

Joining Orion FCU and/or opening a Premier Checking account can be done online, or at any of eleven Tennessee branches located in Collierville, Cordova, and Memphis (9).

Establishing membership with Orion takes just a minimum deposit of $25 into a share savings account.

Credit Union Overview

Orion Federal Credit Union has an overall health grade of "A" at DepositAccounts.com, with a Texas Ratio of 2.98% (excellent) based on June 30, 2019 data. In the past year, Orion FCU increased its total non-brokered deposits by $122.76 million, an excellent annual growth rate of 18.55%. Please refer to our financial overview of Orion Federal Credit Union (NCUA Charter # 18297) for more details.

Orion Federal Credit Union is currently Tennessee’s seventh largest credit union, with more than 73,500 members and assets in excess of $928 million. Established in 1957 as the Memphis Area Teachers Credit Union, the Credit Union had one of the more unique “vaults” for deposits: a piano bench in the basement of a Memphis city school. The Orion re-brand occurred in 2011, following an FOM expansion. According to the Daily Memphian, Orion is in the process of another expansion.

The Memphis-based bank plans to grow its presence in the Little Rock, Arkansas, market and along the Interstate 40 corridor that links the two cities. Orion acquired Arkansas Employees Federal Credit Union in January 2018, which allowed Orion to do business in Little Rock and the surrounding area within that institution’s field of membership.

How the Premium Checking Compares

When compared to the High Yield Reward Checking Accounts tracked by DepositAccounts.com, which are nationally available and have maximum qualifying balances of at least $15k, Orion Federal Credit Union’s Premium Checking APY currently ranks sixth.

The above rates are accurate as of 12/2/2019.

To look for the best Reward Checking Account rates, both nationwide and state specific, please refer to our High Yield Reward Checking Account Rates Table page.