Western Vista Federal Credit Union Brings Back 29-Month CD Special

Wyoming-based Western Vista Federal Credit Union (Western Vista) has brought back its 29-month CD Special after a two-year hiatus. While the current rate isn’t as “wow-worthy” as the 3.00% APY offered in 2019, the 1.20% APY is now the highest rate offered on a nationally available 2-year CD. The minimum opening deposit is $500, with no stated balance cap.

The 29-month CD Special is also available as an IRA CD Special (Traditional, Roth), earning the same APY with the same deposit requirements.

According to CSR, the Early Withdrawal Penalty for the 29-month CD Special is 180 days interest. CSR also stated that partial withdrawals are not allowed: CDs can only be closed early.

Funding a CD can be done by ACH, wire, or by check. Western Vista participates in the CO-OP Shared Branch network, facilitating the transfer of funds. Maturing funds will distributed either by check or transferred into a Western Vista checking or savings account. There is a 10-day grace period before the 29-month CD Special renews as a 24-month CD.

Availability

Headquartered in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Western Vista Federal Credit Union’s field of membership (FOM) includes those who live, work, or worship in cities of Casper and Cheyenne, and Natrona County, Wyoming.

Western Vista’s Membership page indicates there is an easy membership requirement. CSR confirmed any U.S. citizen or resident alien, regardless of residency status, is eligible to join by making a $5 contribution to the Community Foundation.

Even if you live outside our general service area, you can make a small contribution to
our charitable foundation, which then allows you to become a credit union member.

Immediate family members of current Western Vista members are also welcome to apply.

While Western Vista has online applications for personal loans, vehicle loans, and credit cards, there is no membership application. If you don’t live near any of the four Wyoming branches (Cheyenne and Casper), you can request a membership application be sent via email. According to CSR, all out-of-area transactions (including opening a CD) can be done by email, but all official documents must be notarized.

Two out-of-area DA readers, gmohan123 and Jason, successfully joined Western Vista and opened CDs in 2019.

Just an update for anyone still thinking or for future reference. They requested original papers signed and notarized to be mailed and once they received they opened the account immediately and I was able to fund using a shared branch and said good bye to money for 29 months!! [gmohan123]

I opened CD account, application you get via "secure email" easy to do, easy to open, you can always ask questions... they were very nice to me... [Jason]

The first step in establishing a membership is to open a Primary Savings account.

Make a small deposit ($25) in a primary savings account,
which represents your purchase of a share in the credit union.

Western Vista participates in the CO-OP Shared Branch and ATM Networks, giving members will access to more than 5,000 share branches and nearly 30,000 fee-free ATMs throughout the country.

You can complete most transactions at a shared branching
location just as if you were visiting Western Vista.Try it!.

Credit Union Overview

Western Vista Federal Credit Union has an overall health grade of "A" at DepositAccounts.com, with a Texas Ratio of 5.56% (excellent) based on September 30, 2021 data. In the past year, Western Vista has increased its total non-brokered deposits by $24.25 million, an excellent annual growth rate of 15.09%. Please refer to our financial overview of Western Vista Federal Credit Union (NCUA Charter # 3972) for more details.

Chartered in 1940 as Wytel Federal Credit Union, the original FOM included the employees of Mountain Bell Telephone. Like so many fledging credit unions, Wytel FCU started out small.

When the late Thomas Kenehan of Mountain Bell carried Wytel Federal Credit Union in a small briefcase in the early 1940s, he didn’t realize the impressive proportions the finance venture would reach. Warren Hicks, a charter member, once said, “There wasn’t anything when we started. I don’t think Kenehan even had a desk. Finally we bought one, and it just kept going from there.”

Between 1986 and 1991, four Wyoming credit unions merged with Wytel FCU, leading to the Western Vista rebrand in 1995. In 2002, the FOM was expanded to include the underserved areas in most of Natrona County and the cities of Casper and Cheyenne. Western Vista is currently the sixth largest credit union in Wyoming, with more than 13,000 members and assets in excess of $212 million.

How the CD Special Compares

When compared to the similar length-of-term CDs tracked by DepositAccounts.com that require a similar minimum deposit and are available nationwide, Western Vista Federal Credit Union's 29-month CD Special APY currently ranks first.

The above information and rates are accurate as of 12/9/2021.

To look for the best CD rates, both nationwide and state specific, please refer to our CD Rates Table.