You need your money to be safe and secure – and available when you need it. Look for a bank or credit union that offers you the best deal.

Tips

  • Check out national and community banks, credit unions, military banks and credit unions, and online-only banks. Ask if you qualify for military savings programs. As a servicemember, you may have special opportunities to boost your savings. 
  • Compare the offers from a few credit unions and banks to choose the best deal for you.
    • What are the fees and interest rates?
    • Are they convenient to you?
    • Are there lots of ATMs you can use? Are there fees to use other ATMs?
    • Do they offer mobile banking features?
    • What are the minimum balance requirements?
    • Does the bank or credit union offer early direct deposit of active duty pay? This allows you to access your pay a bit sooner than the regular military paydays on the 1st and 15th of the month.
  • You can set up auto-payments to the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) to help you save for retirement. The government will match your contributions to TSP up to a certain percentage. That’s like free money.
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Tools for Personal Financial Managers