Western Vista Federal Credit Union Adds 21-Month CD, 2.53% APY
Western Vista Federal Credit Union (Western Vista) recently added two new CD Specials – a 21-month (2.53% APY) and a 13-month (1.85% APY). Obviously, the 21-month offers a very competitive rate, with the 13-month having a mediocre rate. The minimum opening deposit for either is $500, with no stated balance cap.
In September, Western Vista had three CD Specials, including a 29-month that earned 3.00% APY. Those CD Specials were removed from the product line at the end of November, as the new 21- and 13-month CD Specials were added.
CSR stated that partial withdrawals are not allowed, only early closures. An Early Withdrawal Penalty of 180 days' interest will be assessed, regardless of term length.
Funding a CD can be done by ACH, wire, or by check. Western Vista participates in the CO-OP Shared Branch network, making transferring funds relatively simple. 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 21-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 Western Vista 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.
Two out-of-area DA readers, gmohan123 and Jason, had success joining and opening a CD this past fall.
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]
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 three 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.
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 2.03% (excellent) based on June 30, 2019 data. In the past year, Western Vista has decreased its total non-brokered deposits by $7.6 million, an excellent annual growth rate of 6.55%. 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, exclusively. 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 nearly 11,000 members and assets in excess of $164 million.
How the CD Special Compares
When compared to 210 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 21-month CD Special APY currently ranks second.
The above rates are accurate as of 12/5/2019.
To look for the best CD rates, both nationwide and state specific, please refer to our CD Rates Table.
