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Mountain America

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Author: Kaitlyn Short

LAST UPDATED: July 31st, 2021

Mountain America Credit Union was originally sanctioned as the Salt Lake Telephone Employees Credit Union in 1934. It wasn’t until 1984 when Mountain America Merged with Postal Workers Credit Union and acquired Entra Credit Union that they officially changed their name to Mountain America Credit Union. The new name would allow a better reflection of the diversity and range of their membership. Later, in 1988 Mountain America merged with Utah State Credit Union and became the second largest full-service credit union in Utah.

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The Good

  • Checking accounts
  • Savings accounts
  • Term deposits
  • Credit cards
Mountain America Credit Union has expanded and continues to grow. It is quite easy to become a member of Mountain America Credit Union. Many employers throughout their service areas have aligned with Mountain America to offer their employees the opportunity to join Mountain America Credit Union and share in the benefits of being part of a credit union. A few of the companies they include are L-3 Communications, Questar Gas, Novell, State of Utah, Smiths grocery stores, and over 3,000 others.

Checking Accounts

Mountain America is a full-service credit union and offers services from basic checking accounts to home, car, and personal loans. Being a credit union, they are able to keep loan rates at a minimum and allow for better rates on savings in comparison to bigger banks. Mountain America offers a variety of checking accounts for their members to choose from. Aside from their totally free checking, they have a MyStyle checking account that receives a dividend APY of .10% and includes features such as Visa Debit Cards, online banking, bill pay, and e-statements. There is also no minimum balance required to maintain your account or for opening your account. Aside, from already earning a dividend, you can earn more rewards on top when you customize your MyStyle Checking account with:
  • Online Shopping Credits
  • Cash gifts
  • Loan discounts
  • Credit monitoring
  • D. protection
  • Dividends-earning options

Savings Accounts

With a Mountain America traditional savings account, your money can grow safely, building dividends until you need it. Mountain America offers their members' access to their savings accounts at ATMs, unlike many online savings accounts. As a member, you can make deposits at any branch. Their rates are compounded and paid monthly with a .10% APY for a basic savings account.

Term Deposits

Mountain America Credit Union also offers Term Deposits from anywhere between six months and five years. When a member sets up a Term Deposit they will get good dividend rates. Some of the benefits they offer their members who open a Term Deposit is higher earnings than a regular savings account, you can choose your length of term, and only a $500 minimum, they also offer CDs for younger kids to start to learn to save.

Credit Cards

Mountain America Credit Union offers two kinds of credit card options for their members to choose from each with its own benefits. They offer a Visa Platinum and a Visa Platinum Rewards. Both cards have comparable starting interest rates, there a no hidden fees or annual fees, and access to ATMs worldwide.
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The Bad

  • Requirements for checking accounts
  • Uncompetitive rates
Mountain America Credit Union has a lot of stipulations that customers might not be aware of. They lack in several areas but here are the ones we think are some of the most important.

Requirements for Checking Accounts

Mountain America Credit Union offers two different checking accounts, a free checking account and a MyStyle checking account. The benefits of both accounts are both pretty basic, however the free checking account doesn't include a debit card, and they say that the MyStyle checking doesn't require a minimum opening or daily balance, but when looking at the rate schedule it says there must be a $1000 minimum earning balance required for the account. The rate for the MyStyle checking account is .10% which is pretty standard for most dividend checking accounts so that is okay. There are fees attached to the MyStyle checking account. It is a $4 monthly fee. The fee can be waived when a member chooses and uses a minimum of four eligible products or services. Each product or service is assigned a point value such as one point and can be used to go toward the "purchase" of certain rewards that are offered to those who have a MyStyle checking account. Members can also purchase additional point for $1 per point per month. To qualify to purchase additional points, members must have a minimum of four qualifying MyStyle products and services. This just seems like an awful lot of requirements to meet just to save $4 and only get .10% APY.

Uncompetitive Rates

Their savings account rates aren't that great either and they could probably do a little better on the rates that they offer for their Term Deposits. Their rates are a little on the low end compared to other credit unions who are generally at least .20%. The really great credit unions tend to start at .20% for savings accounts and at least .50% for a 12 month Term Deposit. They only offer two kinds of credit cards, that is okay, but sometimes people like a little more diversity in their choices.
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The Bottom Line

There seems to be an awful lot of stipulations on their dividend checking accounts, and their free checking accounts don't seem to have all the benefits of other credit union checking accounts such as a debit card. Their rates are pretty low and the rewards that offered through the points you earn are actually things that many checking accounts already come with or can be obtained by asking customer service to help you out and waive a fee one time. It seems like while their mission is to help people reach their financial goals, there seems to be a lot in it for them with all the product and services they push and require their members to use. Mountain America Credit Union is not the best credit union option available for those living in Utah and surrounding areas.
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3.9

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37 Reviews

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57%

4 grade

16%

3 grade

3%

2 grade

5%

1 grade

19%

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Nichole Hiatt Eagle Mountain, UT

We've been members for 15 years, and have had nothing but great experiences with MACU. We had a large bounced check hit our account once that they gave us a temporary loan for to repay back the funds that were taken and not repayed.

5 years ago

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Eddie Rios Ogden, UT

Mountain America has earned our business for life. They have many branches, almost zero in fees, and helpful tellers. They make my daily transactions easy to track online and have several helpful mobile alerts to identify issues. Mountain America exceeds expectations in a credit union.

5 years ago

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Mark Frogley Phoenix, AZ

My husband and I have been banking with MACU for years. We love that they have no fees, an excellent website, and user friendly App. I also love their free Money Manager App which is fantastic for budgeting.

7 years ago Edited September 14, 2021

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Natasha Salt Lake City, UT

It has been awesome bank Mountain america, protected me from potential fraud when i was ordering items online due to my wedding. the rewards program has been awesome in helping me and my husband out when we need it, as well as help in vacation items. Helping me out when another company took to much money than wanted.

7 years ago

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Michelle Rios Ogden, UT

22 years! We have been well served by Mountain America Credit Union. They have provided us with great customer service and are there for all of our banking needs. Thank you for the years, looking forward to many more!

5 years ago

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Thomas Hullinger Pleasant Grove, UT

I just used Mountain America for a car loan. I also opened a checking account and the rates were great and it was an easy process. They are also able to do all of the things big banks do, but at much better prices.

6 years ago

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Tiffany Phoenix, AZ

I've been with Mountain America since the beginning. My first bank account was set up through them. I have never seen a need to look elsewhere. My favorite part about MACU is that their loans are easy to pay off ahead of time if so desired. Quick and easy.

7 years ago Edited September 14, 2021

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TJ

mountain America is a great place to bank with. they don't have all the fees and everything that the bigger banks do. My wife and I have really liked banking with MACU and their customer service is great!

7 years ago

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Lindsey American Fork, UT

I've used Mountain America Credit Union since I was 15 years old. I will never go to another credit union because of the employees who are always so helpful and timely, the loans and credit cards are great, etc.

7 years ago

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Doom Truong Lehi, UT

I do not use Mountain America as my primary account however they have never done me wrong. They have free checking accounts that I have rarely used. Was impressed by the credit union because they actually gave me a cheaper interest rate than my own credit union that i've been using since 16.

6 years ago

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Amanda Sherwood, OR

I love mountain america! We got an account there in addition to our wellsfargo account. I love how you can create customized debit card and see the separate account on the website. It is such a great tool to replace an envelop with cash option for budgeting! LOVE their apps too! They have ea fantastic budgeting app!!

7 years ago

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Britni Laidler Lindon, UT

I have really enjoyed banking here. They are super nice and always willing to help and answer questions I have about my accounts. Their rates were one of the best around me for what I was looking for.

3 years ago

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Mazi Marcel Womack Cedar City, UT

I have banked with Mountain America for 8 years and I have never had any issues. I am always so impressed with their services.

5 years ago

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Michelle Bray Pleasant Grove, UT

Low fees, higher interest earning accounts, lower interest rates on loans. Easy to do business. Convenient branches all over the valley. The personnel are very friendly.

3 years ago

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Suzanna Wootton Springville, UT

I have been a customer of Mountain America for awhile and i've always been pleased with their service.

7 years ago Edited September 14, 2021

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Sadie Scoville Pleasant Grove, UT

Nicest tellers ever – they always are smiling and happy to help, not like other grumpy tellers I’ve encountered at other banks

6 years ago

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Bella Houtz South Jordan, UT

I’ve banked with Mountain America for many years. They are awesome. They are friendly and helpful. Their websites and apps are very user-friendly

6 years ago

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Bella Houtz South Jordan, UT

Mountain America is a great credit union. Mountain America is very reliable.

6 years ago

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CAROLE SCOVILLE Pleasant Grove, UT

These guys have the nicest tellers I've ever encountered.

6 years ago

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H Moore Lehi, UT

Mountain America is a family friendly credit union!

6 years ago

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Michael Ogden, UT

They have been a great credit union to work with

7 years ago