Certificates

Dividends will be posted to your account each calendar quarter. We use the daily balance method to calculate the dividends on your account. This method applies a daily periodic rate to the principal in the account each day.

Throughout the term of the Certificate, dividends will be posted on the last day of March, June, September, and December. Dividends will be automatically reinvested into the Certificate; however, you can request to have the dividends automatically posted to another Connexus account quarterly.

A penalty may apply if you withdraw funds before the Certificate maturity date.

• If your account has an original maturity date of one year or less, the penalty will equal 90 days of dividends on the amount withdrawn subject to penalty.
• If your account has an original maturity date of more than one year but less than five years, the penalty will equal 180 days of dividends on the amount withdrawn subject to penalty.
• If your account has an original maturity date of five years or greater, the penalty will equal 365 days of dividends on the amount withdrawn subject to penalty.

Not exactly. Although the two products are similar in structure, the key difference is where they are offered. CDs are available through for-profit banks, while Certificates (sometimes called “Share Certificates”) are offered through not-for-profit, member-owned credit unions like Connexus.

There are also differences in insurance. Although the federal government backs both CD and Certificate investments, the FDIC insures banks and the NCUA insures credit unions.

Yes. The NCUA’s Share Insurance Fund insures individual accounts at federally insured credit unions to at least $250,000. The fund is administered by the NCUA and is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States.

Like CDs, regular Certificates typically have fixed terms ranging from one to five years.

Yes. Certificates offer competitive yields via a low-risk investment, and the returns are guaranteed. Use our Certificate Earnings Calculator to estimate your returns. Then, see our current Certificate rates to find the term right for you.

Yes!  We do require you to become a member, but you can join Connexus by opening an account with us. Apply for membership at the same time you apply for your Certificate account.

To apply for a Certificate online, you will need the following:

• Valid, government-issued photo ID (Acceptable options: Driver’s License, U.S. Military ID, U.S. Passport, U.S. State or Tribal ID, Permanent Resident Card, or a foreign government-issued document evidencing nationality or residence and bearing a photograph).
• Applicants without credit history: In addition to a valid, government-issued photo ID, a copy of your signed Social Security Card or ITIN.
• Minor Applicants: Valid, government-issued photo ID, if available, and Social Security Card or ITIN (signature on card is not required).

It may take one to three business days for your application to be processed. You will be notified via email whether your account has been approved. Don’t want to wait? Check your application status now.

If you have a standard or Jumbo Certificate, it will automatically renew on the maturity date to the then-current yield.

If you have a Bump-Up Certificate, at maturity it will automatically renew to a new 24-month Bump-Up Certificate at the then-current yield. Your renewed certificate will allow you to bump the yield once during the new term.

Note about our special term Certificates: If you have a “special” Certificate, meaning a Certificate with a term other than 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 36, 48, or 60 months, the related renewal will be disclosed to you before account opening.

We will send you a Certificate Maturity Notice via mail or, if you are subscribed, via an eNotice in your Digital Banking account’s “Statements and eDocs” section. This notice will contain the official Certificate maturity date.

Your Certificate has a grace period of ten (10) calendar days after maturity during which you can make changes or withdraw funds without penalty. During this 10-day window, please call 800.845.5025 to receive assistance or make an appointment at a branch. You can also send a message through Digital Banking.

Jumbo Certificates differ from our standard Certificates in that they have a minimum balance requirement of $100,000 (versus $5,000 for our standard Certificates) and generally offer a higher yield. To take advantage of our Jumbo Certificate rates, apply online.

A Bump-Up Certificate is a Certificate that offers the account holder a one-time annual percentage yield increase (or “bump”) during the term to the current Bump-Up Certificate yield. This option allows the account holder to take advantage of rising yields, should they increase during the term.

You can request that your Certificate be “bumped” to the current 24-month yield by calling our Member Contact Center at 800.845.5025 or stopping in your local branch and returning the necessary form(s). Your bump-up rate increase request will be processed within two (2) business days of making the request and returning the completed form(s). The bump-up interest rate will be effective upon the receipt of the necessary form(s) during business hours.

When your Bump-Up Certificate reaches maturity, it will automatically renew into a 24-month Bump-Up Certificate at the then-current yield. Your renewed certificate will allow you to bump the yield once during the new term.

Yes, we offer both Traditional and Roth IRAs. Learn more about our IRA options. To get started with an IRA, please call us today.

Your IRA Certificate will automatically renew on the maturity date. After maturity, you have a grace period of ten (10) calendar days to make changes, including changing to a different term, adding funds, closing the Certificate, or moving to a new product. For assistance with your IRA Certificate, please call 800.845.5025 or send a message through Digital Banking.

We will send you a Certificate Maturity Notice via mail or, if you are subscribed, via an eNotice in your Digital Banking account’s “Statements and eDocs” section. This notice will contain the official Certificate maturity date.