IRA Savings Account

What is a bank savings account?

A bank (or credit union) savings account is one of the most basic financial products available. Bank accounts provide a safe place to deposit your money and earn interest at a modest rate. In the U.S., bank and credit union savings accounts are federally insured for up to $250,000 per account.

What is the difference between interest rate and APY (Annual Percentage Yield)?

APR, which stands for Annual Percentage Rate, is the interest rate on an account plus any fees you'll have to pay. It's calculated on a yearly basis and shown as a percentage. APY, which stands for Annual Percentage Yield, is the rate you can earn on an account over a year, and it includes compound interest.

What are dividends?

Credit unions are member-owned and not-for-profit, so any extra funds are returned to members in the form of dividends, reduced loan interest and products and services designed to enhance your financial wellbeing. At Affinity, certain accounts like MoreSavings earn dividends as a reward for keeping your money in the account.

Can you lose money in an IRA account?

If your money is in an IRA savings account, the answer is no – there’s essentially no risk of losing your money. Bank and credit union savings accounts are federally insured for up to $250,000 per account, and if you have more than that amount you can open more than one account. However, if your money is in an IRA investment account, it’s typically invested in the stock or bond market. Those assets can go down value, causing you to lose money.

Is it better to have a 401K or IRA?

You don’t have to choose one or the other: even if you have a 401(k) plan through work, you may be able to put extra money aside in an IRA. However, with an IRA all the funds invested in the account come out of your pocket. 401(k) plans are sponsored by employers, and many companies try to encourage employee participation with “matching contributions”: they put in a dollar for every dollar the employee puts in up to a certain threshold (e.g., up to 3% of the employee’s salary). If your company offers matching contributions, you should take maximum advantage of that before putting your money into an IRA – otherwise, you’re leaving money on the table.

Is an IRA the same as a 401K?

No. An IRA stands for Individual Retirement Account because it’s something you set up and contribute to as an individual. 401(k) retirement accounts are “sponsored” or set up by employers as a benefit plan for their employees. They are responsible for keep records and administering the plan, and they give employees a set of options for investing contributions. Many employers also offer matching contributions to encourage workers to contribute to their 401(k) plan. Another difference: contributions to employer-sponsored plans are tax-deductible, but contributions to some IRAs -- specifically Roth IRAs -- are not tax deductible.

Are IRAs a good investment?

If you earn money, pay taxes, and want to save money to live on in retirement, individual retirement accounts can help you do so by providing valuable tax benefits. With a Traditional IRA you save income taxes up front because funds you contribute are pre-tax: when you put $6,500 in an IRA, your taxable income by $6,500. If you’re in a 30% tax bracket, that lowers your tax bill by $1,800. Money grows in the account tax-deferred, and you only pay income taxes as you take distributions in retirement. At that point, you’re likely to be in a lower income tax bracket. If you think you’ll be in a higher tax bracket, you can put money into a Roth IRA: the money is taxed up front, but you get tax free withdrawals.

Does Affinity charge monthly account fees for IRAs?

Like most of our savings options, IRA accounts have $0 monthly maintenance fees if enrolled in eStatements. If not, there is a monthly fee of $2 for paper statements.⁴

Are there minimum account requirements for Affinity IRA savings accounts?

There’s no minimum opening deposit and no minimum monthly balance. our IRA Accumulator Savings and IRA Money Manager accounts have no minimum deposit or balance requirements. Our high-yield IRA Certificate accounts require a minimum $500 balance.

How do I join Affinity?

Almost anyone can be eligible for membership! We have relationships with over 2,000 businesses, associations and clubs, and you can join Affinity through your association with one of them.

If you are not eligible through one of these paths, you have the option to join by making a one-time $5 donation to the Affinity Foundation whose vision is to end the cycle of poverty for those we serve.

What is the fee to join?

With Affinity you are more than a member, you are part owner. Affinity is owned and controlled by members who use its services.

This ownership happens when you establish your $5 membership account, which gives you one par value share in Affinity. This is not a transactional account, and these funds will not earn dividends. The account must remain open and funded with the $5 during your membership with Affinity.

Where is the closest branch location?

Our digital tools, such as the Affinity Mobile Banking App and Online Banking, make it easy to manage your account and deposit checks right from your phone. You can also view our branches, shared branching locations and ATMs by visiting Affinity locations.

What is the difference between a credit union and a bank?

Credit unions, unlike banks, are based on a cooperative or "co-op" model in which the members are also the owners. This is the biggest difference between credit unions and banks. While a bank is a for-profit company that distributes profits among shareholders or individual owners, a credit union is a not-for-profit institution "owned" by its members. Therefore, you can think of credit union membership as buying a stake in an organization rather than paying somebody else in exchange for services. Learn more.