Safe Harbor Credit Union (MI) Offers Kasasa Products Statewide
The Kasasa brand products offered by Safe Harbor Credit Union (Safe Harbor CU) were added to the product line two years ago this month. The Kasasa Cash account’s initial 3.00% APY on qualifying balances up to $15k is still in effect. Qualifying balances of $15k+ earn 0.40% APY (an unusually high second-tier APY), with non-qualifying balances earning 0.05% APY.
APY | MIN | MAX | INSTITUTION | PRODUCT | DETAILS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
5.00*% | $0 | $15k | Safe Harbor Credit Union | Kasasa Cash Checking | |
OTHER TIERS: 0.40% → $15k+ |
The monthly qualifying requirements are easily met and do not include a direct deposit or ACH transaction.
- Have at least 12 debit card purchases
- Enroll in and agree to receive eStatements
- Enroll in and log into online banking
The Kasasa Cash account has no monthly service fee or minimum balance requirement, but has a $25 minimum opening deposit requirement. Unlimited check writing is available and a free Mastercard 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.
Kasasa Saver
The Kasasa Saver account links to the Kasasa Cash account, with automatic transfer of Kasasa Cash/Kasasa Cash Back earned rewards on a monthly basis. Qualifying balances earn 1.25% APY up to $75k, with qualifying balances over $75k earning 0.40% APY (an unusually high second-tier APY); non-qualifying balances earn 0.05% APY.
APY | MIN | MAX | INSTITUTION | PRODUCT | DETAILS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2.00*% | $0 | $100k | Safe Harbor Credit Union | Kasasa Saver | |
OTHER TIERS: 0.40% → $100k+ |
Like the Kasasa Cash, the Kasasa Saver has no monthly service, no minimum balance requirement, and requires a $25 minimum opening deposit.
Annual Earnings of Combined Kasasa Cash/Kasasa Saver Accounts
The potential combined annual earnings of the Kasasa Cash (3.00% APY/$15k) and the Kasasa Saver (1.25% APY/$75k) is approximately $1,387 (1.54% APY/$90k). If a $50k balance is maintained in the Kasasa Saver, the combined annual earnings is approximately $1,075 (1.65% APY/$65k).
Kasasa Cash Back
Safe Harbor CU offers a Kasasa Cash Back account that earns 4.00% cash back on the first $250 in monthly debit card purchases. If you are planning on maintaining a balance of less than $4,000, 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 Ludington, Michigan, Safe Harbor Credit Union has joined the growing number of Michigan credit unions that have expanded their field of membership (FOM) to include US citizens/resident aliens who live, work, or worship anywhere in the state.
Immediate family members of individuals who are membership-eligible also qualify for membership. Complete membership details are available on the first page of the online application.
Joining Safe Harbor CU and/or opening a Kasasa brand account can be done online, or in person at the sole Michigan branch located on E. Tinkman Avenue in Ludington.
An initial $5 deposit into a Regular Share Account grants full member/owner status at Safe Harbor Credit Union.
In addition to participating in the CO-OP Shared Branch and ATM networks, Safe Harbor CU is a member of the Xtend Shared Branch network.
Credit Union Overview
Safe Harbor Credit Union has an overall health grade of "B+" at DepositAccounts.com, with a Texas Ratio of 9.24% (excellent), based on December 31, 2020 data. In the past year, Safe Harbor CU has increased its total non-brokered deposits by $21.14 million, an excellent annual growth rate of 35.35%. Please refer to our financial overview of Safe Harbor Credit Union (NCUA Charter # 61988) for more details.
Safe Harbor Credit Union was founded in 1952 as the Dow Ludington Employee’s Credit Union, with an FOM exclusive of the Dow Chemical Ludington Plant employees. The Safe Harbor rebrand occurred in 2000, a result of an expanded FOM. While Safe Harbor CU is currently a small credit union (6,400 members and $90+ million in assets), the recent statewide FOM expansion may pave the way to significant growth.
How the Kasasa Cash Compares
When compared to High Yield Reward Checking Accounts tracked by DepositAccounts.com, which are available to all Michigan residents and have maximum qualifying balances of at least $15k, Safe Harbor Credit Union’s Kasasa Cash APY currently ranks fifth.
The above information and rates are accurate as of 4/30/2021.
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.