Popular Direct Exclusive Savings Account Review

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(Update 5/18/18: Looks like the available rate to new applicants is now down to 1.85% APY. This is why I don’t like switching savings accounts nearly as much as locking in a good CD rate.)

popdirectThe Popular Direct Exclusive Savings account, offered under the FDIC certificate of Banco Popular North America (BPNA), is the first liquid savings account to reach 2% APY in several years. This is a big psychological threshold, so let’s take a look to see if it’s worth the hype.

Note for existing customers. This account appears to be a “new” flavor of savings account, so if you are an existing Popular Direct customer, you may need to open up a new “Exclusive Savings” account to get the higher interest rate. You might also want to leave $500 in that old account if it’s new to avoid the early closure fee… but also close that account to avoid inactivity (see fees below). Banks always be trying to take advantage of your inaction…

Piggyback-style account. This accounts follows the many other barebones online savings accounts with a higher interest rate but limited features. Deposits are only permitted through a single designated “External Account” which can’t be changed within the first 60 days, internal transfers from other Popular Direct accounts, ACH, or via Mobile Check Deposit through the Popular Direct mobile app. This is why it is good to have a “hub” bank with fast transfers and multiple linked banks allowed in order to move funds around. I use Ally Bank as my hub since it has 1-day transfers available and allows you to link up to 20 different banks.

Notable fees. This account has a few annoying “nickel-and-dime” fees that you don’t always find elsewhere, so please take a look at their fee list:

  • Minimum to open: $5,000
  • Minimum daily balance: $500, otherwise $4 monthly service fee applies.
  • Early closure fee: $25 if account closed within 180 days.
  • Inactivity fee: $5 per month if no activity for 12 months.

Many other online savings accounts have no minimum opening balance, no minimum balance requirement, no early closure fee, and/or no inactivity fee.

Smartphone app. It’s amazing how much I bank from my phone these days, from checking balances to mobile check deposit. Based on the app store screenshots, it looks like Popular Direct also outsourced their back-end software to Fidelity National Information Services (subdomain ibanking-services.com). In my experience, the app is basic but functional. Mobile check deposit and Touch ID are supported.

popdirect2

Bottom line. Popular Direct Exclusive Savings Account is notable as the first liquid savings account (back) at 2% APY. For the most part, it is like many other copycat online savings accounts, but they did add some minor niggles including a $500 minimum balance and an inactivity fee. Check out my Ultimate Rate-Chaser Calculator to estimate how much additional interest you’d earn if you switched over and make an informed decision. I believe that other banks will soon follow at 2% APY, so it may not be worth the effort for a non-guaranteed rate.

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Comments

  1. Are you going to park some of your cash here?

    • No, I’m not. I’m a bit tired of opening accounts just for a non-guaranteed savings account rate. Nobody ever seems to be the top for a long time, they just want to attract money and then hope it stays there as the rate languishes. Ally is doing something a bit similar but at least they have had some good CDs likes and fast interbank transfers. The recent accounts I have opened are for guaranteed rates of a least 11 months: CIT Bank 1.85% No Penalty CD, Ally Bank 2% APY CD, Andrews FCU 3% APY CD, and Sharonview FCU 4% APY CD.

      • The CIT 1.85% No Penalty is about the best since rate can’t go down but you can easily abandon if rates go up, a win-win. The CIT savings accounts are also rate competitive. If you got in on the Ally 1.75% No Penalty a few months that was probably even better because of the very high service level from Ally. I’m more hesitate on the longer term CDs from various other banks even with the slightly higher rates, I think liquidity may be important sometime soon for a potential heavy deflation and/or inflation scenario.

      • Theo Tang says

        Does the Exclusive Savings account stay at 2%?

        They changed the savings account to a Plus Savings account now for the 1.85%

        Thanks

      • Helga Hans says

        I just called the bank to close our account. I was informed that if I closed the account before the month was over we would loose the WHOLE month’s interest. Never did I read that in any of the fine print. So consumer be aware of this in the event the agent does not tell you.
        Also, their online transfer function has not worked for 1 1/2 weeks. When I asked about that I got some nothing babble about security issue. All of it a nothing burger. Get your money out while you still can!

    • Now 1.85% :o(

  2. I would think that is account would serve a good purpose for those with already a hefty emergency savings so they are not tempted to withdraw before 180 days. After that, if the rate drops lower than one of your ‘old faithful’ accounts then close the account and call it a day. No harm to chase the higher interest as long as you are over comfortable meeting the min requirements to avoid fees. I think its a win…. Still doing some research but may consider it.

  3. Jennifer says

    Is there any concern at all that this is a Puerto Rico based bank? With their economic instability, it seems risky even though they are FDIC insured. Also as a general question, how difficult is it to close any of these online savings accounts? I haven’t been able to find this information on their websites.

  4. This 2% account is no longer available. It was available when I submitted an application. It seems like a bait and switch tactic.

  5. Theo Tang says

    For those who opened an account for the Exclusive Savings, 2% account. Does that stay at 2%? or will that drop to 1.85% also? Thanks in advance.

    • It looks like Exclusive Savings is no longer advertised nor open to new applicants, so if you are an existing account holder I would ask Popular Direct well, directly, for the current rate. I don’t have an account so I’m afraid I don’t know.

    • Doug Fix says

      I opened the Exclusive Savings account a couple months ago. The rate is still listed at 2% today. Though I’m still nervous, I figure it’s a low risk gamble to be able to pull out after another 4 months if the rate should drop by 0.15%. That would be only about $5 on $10,000 account. Of course 1.85% was about the best offer at the time I opened this account, so probably no harm.

  6. Alex Garcia says

    Read the reviews online, this bank uses scams and fraudulent behavior to freeze and keep your funds, there is a hidden 60-days lock on your funds that appears as a notice after the account is opened, no way to get those funds even if closing the account and forfeiting the earned interest. People are sending reports to the FDIC, do not promote this horrible entity. Customer service is nothing but liars. I have regretted every minute I trusted these people.

  7. Helga Hans says

    I have filed a complaint with the Feds. Suggest everyone do the same which may shut these fraudsters down for good!

  8. Jonathan, PopularDirect has a 5 yr CD for 3.55% (went down by 0.05%). It seems to attractive and savings rates have not been that high in decades (I think). If you have cash that needs to be in a no risk vehicle (the stick market is crazy over valued), would you recommend locking one of these 5 yr CD rates from PopularDirect?

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