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Salem Five Direct Review 2024

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You might like Salem Five Direct if you're searching for an online institution with a high-yield savings account and cash-back checking account. Its savings rate is on par with some of the best high-yield savings accounts right now. Its CDs have high minimum opening deposits, though.

Salem Five Direct: Overall Bank Rating

FeatureInsider rating (out of 5)
Savings4.5
Checking4
CD3
Trustworthiness5
Total4

Salem Five Direct: Pros and Cons

ProsCons
  • High-yield savings account and high-yield CDs

  • Cash-back debit card

  • No monthly service fees

  • No out-of-network ATM fees

  • Refunds up to $15 in fees charged by out-of-network ATMs each month

  • High minimum opening deposit on CDs
  • Limited CD terms
  • No money market account

Salem Five Direct eOne Savings Review

Salem Five Direct eOne Savings
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Salem Five Direct, Member FDIC
Insider’s Rating
A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star
4.5/5
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Perks

Earn 4.50% Annual Percentage Yield (APY). $10 minimum deposit. FDIC Insured.

Fees

no monthly service fee

Annual Percentage Yield (APY)

4.50%

Minimum Opening Deposit

$10

Pros
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. High APY on balances under $1 million
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. $10 minimum opening deposit
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No monthly service fees
Cons
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Can't open if you have a savings or checking account opened at a Salem 5 branch
Insider’s Take

You might like Salem Five Direct if you're searching for an online institution with a high-yield savings account and cash-back checking account. It has one of the best high-yield savings accounts right now.

Salem Five Direct eOne Savings review External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user."
Product Details
  • Earn 4.50% APY on daily account balances under $1 million
  • If you have a daily balance over $1 million your money may be transferred to a Salem Statement Savings Account, which pays 0.01% APY
  • Can't open if you have a savings or checking account opened at a Salem 5 branch
  • Interest compounded and deposited monthly
  • FDIC insured

Salem Five Direct eOne Savings is a strong high-yield savings account that pays a much higher interest rate than the average savings account right now. It doesn't charge monthly services and has a low minimum opening deposit.

You might want to take note of how much you keep in the account. Salem Five Direct may transfer money to a Statement Savings Account if you have more than $1 million in your account. This account only offers 0.01% APY (Annual Percentage Yield).

Salem Five Direct Salem Five Direct eOne CheckingReview

Salem Five Direct eOne Checking
Start banking
Salem Five Direct, FDIC Insured.
Insider’s Rating
A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star
4/5
Fees

no monthly service fee

Annual Percentage Yield (APY)

0.01%

Minimum Opening Deposit

$10

Pros
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. $10 opening deposit
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No monthly service fees
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No out-of-network ATM fees
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Earn cash back on your debit card purchases
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Get up to $15 in out-of-network ATM reimbursements each month
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Overdraft protection available
Cons
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. $25 overdraft fee
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. $3 overdraft transfer fee
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Can't open if you have a savings or checking account opened at a Salem 5 branch
Product Details
  • Access to over 55,000 fee-free ATMs through the Allpoint Network
  • Earn 0.01% APY on daily account balances under $1 million
  • If you have a daily balance over $1 million, your money may be transferred to another bank account, which pays 0.10% APY
  • Get $0.05 for each debit card purchase; Cash back rewards will be deposited into your account at the end of each month
  • Can't open if you have a savings or checking account opened at a Salem 5 branch
  • Overdraft protection that links your checking account to a savings account or apply for a line of credit
  • Interest compounded and deposited monthly
  • FDIC insured

Salem Five Direct eOne Checking might be appealing if you frequently use your debit card. You'll get $0.05 for every debit card purchase, which will be deposited into your bank account at the end of each month. 

You may also like this account if you want easy access to ATMs. The institution has an extensive ATM network and you'll get up to $15 in out-of-network ATM reimbursements each month.

Salem Five Direct Special CDs Review

Salem Five Direct Special CDs
Start saving
Salem Five Direct, FDIC Insured.
Insider’s Rating
A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star
3/5
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)

2.00% to 4.50%

Minimum Opening Deposit

$10,000

Pros
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Solid interest rates
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Standard early withdrawal penalties
Cons
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. $10,000 minimum opening deposit
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Limited CD terms
Product Details
  • Terms range from 6 months to 2 years
  • Interest compounded and deposited monthly
  • FDIC insured

Salem Five Direct pays competitive interest rates on short-term CDs of 1 year or less. You'll need a minimum of $10,000 to open an account, which is a pretty substantial amount compared to initial deposits of other online banks. You'll also find other online banks with more CD terms.

How Salem Five Direct Works

Salem Five Direct is the online operation of the Massachusetts-based bank Salem Five.

It has online-only savings accounts, checking accounts, and CDs. You're only eligible to open an online Salem Five Direct savings or checking account if you do not have a bank account at a local Massachusetts branch. 

Customers have access to over 55,000 fee-free ATMs through the Allpoint network. 

Call the Contact Center anytime from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET on weekdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET on Saturdays, or 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET on Sundays. Representatives are also available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. via live chat. 

The bank's mobile app has 3.2 out of 5 stars in the Google Play Store and 4.7 out of 5 stars in the Apple store.

Salem Five Direct online bank accounts are FDIC insured and DIF insured. If your bank account is FDIC insured up to $250,000 is safe in your bank account. Banks with DIF insurance allow you to exceed the $250,000 limit and protect any additional money deposited through private insurance.

Salem Five Direct Trustworthiness and BBB Score

Salem Five Direct hasn't been involved in any recent public scandals.

We also include ratings from the Better Business Bureau.

The BBB rates businesses by how they deal with customer issues. Salem Five has an A- rating. The highest possible rating is A+ but Salem Five hasn't responded to a couple of complaints on the BBB website.

Salem Five Direct vs. MySavingsDirect

Similar to Salem Five Direct, MySavings Direct is an online-only institution. MySavingsDirect is a part of Emigrant Bank, and offers specifically online savings accounts and CDs.

The MySavingsDirect Savings Account pays 4.35% APY, which is lower than Salem Five Direct eOne Savings

It's more of a toss-up between CDs, though. Salem Five Direct offers CD specials under a year with more competitive rates than MySavingsDirect MyTerm CDs, but you'll need a minimum of $10,000. MySavingsDirect MyTerm CDs have more lenient opening requirements, though. You'll only need $1,000 to open a CD with MySavingsDirect. 

Also think about whether you want to open online checking accounts. MySavingsDirect doesn't have any, but Salem Five Direct does offer one. 

MySavingsDirect Review

Salem Five Direct vs. Bank 5 Connect

Bank5Connect is the online division of the Massachusetts-based bank Bank5.

Salem Five Direct has a comparable rate to Bank5 Connect. However, keep in mind that both banks also have balance requirements to earn interest. 

Salem Five Direct lets you earn 4.50% APY on account balances under $1 million. Meanwhile, Bank5 Connect has two account options. The rate for Bank5 Connect Jumbo Savings Account is a lot more competitve than the Bank5 Connect Savings Account, but it has higher minimum opening and interest requirements. 

Depending on your preferences, you might find it easier to earn interest at one bank over the other. 

If you're planning to open a CD, Bank5 offers more CD terms. You'll also need a minimum opening deposit of $500. 

Bank5 Connect Review

Salem Five Direct FAQs

How do you open a Salem Five Direct bank account? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

You may open a Salem Five Direct bank account online from anywhere in the US. However, you're only eligible to open online savings or checking account if you do not have a bank account at a Salem Five branch in Massachusetts. This does not apply to CDs.

Is Salem Five Direct FDIC insured? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

Salem Five Direct is insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Massachusetts Depositors Insurance Fund (DIF). When a bank is FDIC insured, up to $250,000 is secure in a bank account. If a bank has DIF insurance, any money deposited into your account that exceeds the $250,000 limit is protected through private insurance.

Is Salem Five Direct a good bank? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

Salem Five Direct might be a good choice if you are comfortable with online banking. The bank has a fee-free high-yield savings account and a cashback checking account. 

If you are planning open a CD, you may want to consider additional options. Salem Five Direct has limited terms and requires a minimum of at least $10,000 for an initial deposit. 

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