Top 5-Year CD Rate at Pinnacle Federal Credit Union in NJ - Easy Membership

POSTED ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2012 BY Ken Tumin

APY	MIN	MAX	INSTITUTION	PRODUCT
1.26%	$500	-	Pinnacle Federal Credit Union	24 Month CD
1.26%	$500	-	Pinnacle Federal Credit Union	24 Month Youth CD
1.26^†%	$500	-	Pinnacle Federal Credit Union	24 Month IRA (Traditional, Roth, CESA)
1.26%	$500	-	Pinnacle Federal Credit Union	24 Month Youth IRA (Traditional, Roth, CESA)
0.75%	$500	-	Pinnacle Federal Credit Union	60 Month CD
0.75%	$500	-	Pinnacle Federal Credit Union	60 Month IRA (Traditional, Roth, CESA)
0.75%	$500	-	Pinnacle Federal Credit Union	36 Month CD
0.75%	$500	-	Pinnacle Federal Credit Union	36 Month IRA (Traditional, Roth, CESA)

Accounts mentioned in this post. Rates as of September 25, 2016.

There's another easy-to-join credit union that is offering a 2% CD. It's Pinnacle Federal Credit Union, and the CD has a 2.00% APY and a 5-year term. It's also available as an IRA. Minimum deposit is $500. There are also some shorter-term CDs with decent rates. These include a 1.25% APY 2-year CD and a 1.35% APY 3-year CD. There's also a Youth Share Certificate with a 1.50% APY 2-year CD. These rates are listed in the credit union's rates page as of 10/16/2012.

The credit union's CDs have a smaller-than-average early withdrawal penalty. It's only 90 days of dividends for terms of 18 months and greater and only 30 days of dividends for terms of 12 months or less. The full details are described in the credit union's Truth in Savings Share Certificate document. This is available from the credit union's disclosure page.

The credit union used to offer a reward checking account. I had first reported on it in 2008, but the credit union stopped listing it on its website in 2010, and it appears it's no longer available to new members.

Membership

According to the credit union's membership page:

You can also join Pinnacle FCU by becoming a member of the American Consumer Council in which we will pay your membership fee of $5.00.

When I last checked with the credit union, I was told they can mail you the application for both the credit union and the ACC.

Credit Union Overview

The credit union is located in Edison, New Jersey.

It's a small credit union with 39 employees and $152 million in assets. The credit union has an overall health score at DepositAccounts.com of 3 stars (out of 5) with a Texas ratio of 15.02% (average) based on June 2012 data. Please refer to our financial overview of Pinnacle FCU for more details. The credit union is federally insured by the NCUA (Charter # 15095).

How This CD Rate Compares

Pinnacle joins 4 other all-access credit unions with a 2.00% APY 5-year CD. You can see these credit unions at the top of the 5-year CD rates table (Use "filter accounts" button to select "nationwide"). We recently lost one. It appears Eli Lilly FCU has ended its special 2% 5-year CD.

Yesterday I reviewed a small bank that's offering a Jumbo 5-year CD with a 2.00% APY. It can be opened online from any state.

The highest 5-year CD rate from an internet bank is 1.85% APY at CIT Bank and at Nationwide Bank.

BBVA Compass continues to offer its 2.00% APY 5-year CD. These Compass CDs aren't nationally available, but they are available to many people in market areas where Compass has branches (AZ, CA, CO, NM, AL, FL and TX).

The above rates are accurate as of 10/16/2012.

Searching for Top CD Rates

To search for nationwide CD rates and CD rates in your state, please refer to the best CD rates section of DepositAccounts.com.

Comments

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3 Comments.

Anonymous | Oct 16, 2012 | Comment #1

Content is really well written and appreciated the effort you have putten in your post..

Anonymous | Oct 16, 2012 | Comment #2

I second #1

Anonymous | Nov 10, 2012 | Comment #3

Opening an account at Pinnacle FCU is not worth the time spent and the frustration caused by this CU. You cannot open an account online. You have to call them to get an application. The problem with that is that they do not answer their phones and you have to leave a message. It has taken at least a day each time to get a call back. I sent in an application with a money order, 2 1/2 weeks later and the account was still not opened. Now the rates have dropped. I have opened accounts at 25 or more credit unions and banks and have never experienced this type of customer service.