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Popular Direct is an online-only bank. It is a subsidiary of Popular Bank, a full-service financial services provider that was founded more nearly 130 years ago. Popular Direct was launched in 2016 and offers high yield online savings accounts and certificates of deposit (CDs). This in-depth review can help you decide if its deposit accounts are right for your banking needs.
Popular Direct is best for customers who want an online bank account to complement their existing banking relationship. It may be a good fit if you:
As an online-only bank, Popular Direct has a limited selection of deposit products. Its accounts are not meant to replace your existing bank for daily transactions but can supplement your primary account with high-yield deposit products. It only offers:
The Popular Direct Select Savings account offers a high annual percentage yield (APY) with no monthly fees. To open an account, the minimum deposit is $100. There is no minimum balance required to earn interest. Once your account is opened, it must remain open for at least 180 days or you may incur a $25 fee.
Savings accounts are entitled to a combination of six transfers or withdrawals per month. Each additional withdrawal will cost $5.
| POPULAR DIRECT SAVINGS ACCOUNTS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ACCOUNT NAME | MIN OPENING DEPOSIT | MONTHLY FEE | APY |
| Select Savings | $100 | $0 | 5.01% |
The standard statement period is quarterly. However, if there is account activity, you will receive a statement for that month.
CDs from Popular Bank have terms ranging from three months to five years. There is a minimum deposit of $10,000 required for all CDs. The bank does not offer higher rates for larger balances.
| POPULAR DIRECT CD RATES | |
|---|---|
| TERM | APY |
| 3 months | 5.05% |
| 6 months | 4.90% |
| 12 months | 4.80% |
| 18 months | 4.30% |
| 24 months | 4.20% |
| 36 months | 4.05% |
| 48 months | 4.00% |
| 60 months | 3.95% |
CDs automatically renew at maturity at the prevailing rate. However, customers have a 10-day grace period after maturity where they can withdraw money without being charged a penalty.
If you need to terminate your CD before maturity, you will pay a penalty depending on the term length of the CD.
| POPULAR BANK CD EARLY WITHDRAWAL PENALTIES | |
|---|---|
| TERM | PENALTY |
| Less than 91 days | 89 days simple interest |
| From 91 days to less than 12 months | 120 days simple interest |
| From 12 months to less than 36 months | 270 days simple interest |
| From 36 months to less than 60 months | 365 days simple interest |
| Equal to or greater than 60 months | 730 days simple interest |
Popular Direct customer service by phone is available Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 12 a.m. (EST), and Saturday-Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. (EST) by calling 800-274-5696. Live customer service is not available on Federal Reserve Bank holidays. It is also possible to mail a letter to Popular Direct at its Florida address.
Customers can also access their account through the Popular Bank mobile app. It is available for both Apple and Android devices. Through the mobile app, you can see an overview of your accounts, review your account history, make mobile deposits, and transfer between eligible accounts.
Because Popular Direct does not have any physical branches, the best way to open an account is through its website.
Once your account is open, you can access your accounts by telephone, online, or mobile banking. Popular Direct does not issue ATM cards, so you'll need to request a transfer to your deposit account at another bank to withdraw money. To deposit money, you can initiate a transfer from your existing bank account or perform a mobile deposit through its app.
Popular Direct offers competitive rates for its savings accounts and CDs if you can meet its minimum deposit requirements. These accounts should be used to complement your existing banking relationship in order to earn higher rates of interest than your current bank offers.
Be careful if you need to close your savings account or withdraw from your CD early. Popular Direct charges an early closure fee on savings accounts if closed within 180 days. CD early withdrawal penalties apply when making a withdrawal before the CD matures.
Investopedia is dedicated to providing consumers with unbiased, comprehensive reviews of banks. We collected over 20 data points across more than 80 banks including products available, interest rates, fees, and accessibility to ensure that our content helps users make the right decision for their savings and banking needs.
