Park Side Credit Union Offers Kasasa Brand Products In NW Montana
Park Side Credit Union (Park Side CU) added the Kasasa brand to its product line about nine months ago. The Kasasa Cash account’s initial 2.50% APY on qualifying balances up to $15k is still in effect. Qualifying balances of $15k+ earn 0.25% APY, with non-qualifying balances earning 0.05% APY.
The monthly qualifying requirements include,
- At least 12 debit card purchases
- At least one direct deposit or ACH credit transaction
- Enroll in and agree to receive eStatements
- Enrollment in online banking
The Kasasa Cash account has no monthly service fee, minimum balance requirement, or minimum opening deposit requirement. Unlimited check writing is available and a free debit card will be issued following account opening. Nationwide ATM fees will be reimbursed up to $25 per month, if the qualifying requirements are met. There is a limit of one account per Social Security number. A Kasasa Cash or Kasasa Cash Bank account is required to have a companion Kasasa Saver account.
Kasasa Saver
The Kasasa Saver account links to the Kasasa Cash account, with automatic transfer of Kasasa Cash/Kasasa Cash Back earned rewards and ATM reimbursements each month. Qualifying balances earn 1.00% APY up to $100k, with qualifying balances over $100k earning 0.25%; non-qualifying balances earn 0.05% APY.
Like the Kasasa Cash, the Kasasa Saver has no monthly service, no minimum balance requirement, and no minimum opening deposit.
Annual Earnings of Combined Kasasa Cash/Kasasa Saver Accounts
The potential combined annual earnings of the Kasasa Cash (2.50% APY/$15k) and the Kasasa Saver (1.00% APY/$100k) is approximately $1,375 (1.20% APY/$115k), an usually high rate on a large balance offered by a rewards checking/savings combo. If a $50k balance is maintained in the Kasasa Saver, the combined annual earnings is approximately $875 (1.35% APY/$65k).
Kasasa Cash Back
Park Side CU offers a Kasasa Cash Back account that earns 5.00% cash back on the first $200 in monthly debit card purchases. If you are planning on maintaining a balance of less than $4,800, the Kasasa Cash Back account would probably be a better deal than the Kasasa Cash account, as the maximum annual earnings for the Kasasa Cash Back account is $120 ($10 per month).
The Kasasa Brand
For those not familiar with the Kasasa brand, Kasasa Cash is a type of Reward Checking Account (RCA) developed by the Texas company, Kasasa, Ltd. According to the Kasasa website,
Kasasa: the free checking account that rewards each month for doing things you already do.
By performing certain actions valuable to your bank or credit union, like using your debit card or online banking, your institution makes more money, which they share with you in the form of rewards.
In case you were wondering, “Kasasa” is just a made-up word.
In a world where real-life people are too often taken for granted as account numbers,
we didn’t want to be the next [INSERT GENERIC NAME] checking account.
Availability
Headquartered in Whitefish, Montana, Park Side Credit Union’s field of membership (FOM) is residency based, with individuals, 18 years or older, who live, work, worship, or attend school in the Montana counties of Beaverhead, Flathead, Glacier, Lake, Liberty, Lincoln, Mineral, Missoula, Ravalli, Sanders, or Toole eligible to join.
Relatives (no definition provided on the website) of current Park Side CU members also qualify for membership.
Joining Park Side CU and/or opening a Kasasa brand account can be done online, or in person at any of the eight Montana branches located in Bigfork, Columbia Falls, Kalispell (2), Missoula (3), and Whitefish.
Minimum of $5 to open and maintain your membership
at Park Side Credit Union. This is a required account.
Credit Union Overview
Park Side Credit Union has an overall health grade of "A" at DepositAccounts.com, with a Texas Ratio of 1.20% (excellent), based on December 31, 2020 data. In the past year, Park Side CU has increased its total non-brokered deposits by $56.31 million, an excellent annual growth rate of 25.15%. Please refer to our financial overview of Park Side Credit Union (NCUA Charter # 68647) for more details.
Park Side Credit Union was founded in 1965 as the Whitefish Great Northern Federal Credit Union, with an FOM exclusive to Great Northern Railroad employees and their family members. Between 1973 and 2014, the credit union experienced five rebrands, four mergers, and two charter changes. Currently the fifth largest credit union headquartered in Montana, Park Side Credit union has more than 28,000 members and assets in excess of $316 million.
How the Kasasa Cash Compares
When compared to High Yield Reward Checking Accounts tracked by DepositAccounts.com, which are available within the FOM and have maximum qualifying balances of at least $15k, Park Side Credit Union’s Kasasa Cash APY currently ranks fifth.
The above information and rates are accurate as of 5/8/2021.
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.