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Based in Utah, online-only Merrick Bank was founded in 1997 as a subsidiary of the New York–based financial services firm CardWorks. Merrick Bank is not a traditional banking institution and offers no checking, savings, or 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:money market accounts. Instead, the institution focuses on credit cards, loans, and 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:certificates of deposit (CDs) and is geared toward customers with lower 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:credit scores. This in-depth review can help y🐻ou deteꦡrmine if Merrick Bank’s products will work for you.
High CD yields
Specializes in boat and RV financing
Focuses on helping customers with lower credit sc🌱ores
$25,000 minimum CD deposit
Loan rates not listed online
No typical deposit accounts
- Year Founded 1997
- Official Website www.merrickbank.com
- Banking Products Offered CDs, credit cards, loans
- Customer Support Phone line: 1-800-204-5936
Pros Explained
- High CD yields – Merrick Bank offers CDs in terms ranging from three months to five years, with 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:annual percentage yields (APYs) that range from 4.00% to 4.40%. These rates outpace the national average, which range from 1.58% for a six-month term to 1.48% for a two-year term.
- Specializes in boat and RV financing – While Merrick Bank also offers personal loans, the institution is known for its boat, RV, and horse trailer loans. This makes it an attractive choice for borrowers who might otherwise have trouble finding a lender, either because of the specificity of their purchase or their 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:credit history. Merrick Bank works with thousands of approved dealers across the United States.
- Focuses on helping customers with lower credit scores – Though Merrick Bank does not accept all comers regardless of credit history, it is very open to helping those with either no credit record o📖r a poor credit record build their credit history.
Cons Explained
- $25,000 minimum CD deposit – The impressive yields for Merrick Bank CDs come with a cost—you can only open one with a $25,000 minimum deposit, placing it out of reach for the average customer.
- Loan rates not listed online – Neither the recreational vehicle loans nor the personal loans have their rates listed on the Merrick Bank website, making it more difficult to do an apples-to-apples comparison with other lenders.
- No typical deposit accounts – Merrick Bank is not a traditional bank, and you cannot open a checking account, savings account, or money market account with it. This makes Merrick Bank a poor choice for any customer looking for a one-stop shop.
Who Is Merrick Bank Best For?
Merrick Bank is going to w♋ork best for cust🍌omers who are looking to get a credit card or loan despite a lackluster credit history. It will especially appeal to customers who:
- Want to build their credit history
- Do not need to pair their general banking needs with their lender or credit card issuer
- 🎃Are comfortable with an online-on🦹ly banking experience
What Does Merrick Bank Offer?
This institution only offers a few of the products and services you m﷽ighꦦt expect from a bank. These include:
- CDs
- Credit cards
- Online banking experience
CDs
Merrick Bank’s CDs offer a higher-than-usual rate compared with the nati💯onal average for CDs. However, the minimum deposit to open a CD is a steep $25,000🤡, which may put this product out of reach for many potential customers.
You can purchase a CD in any one of the following terms:
Merrick Bank CD Rates | |
---|---|
Term | APY |
3 Months | 4.40% |
6 Months | 4.35% |
9 Months | 4.30% |
12 Months | 4.25% |
18 Months | 4.20% |
24 Months | 4.15% |
36 Months | 4.05% |
48 Months | 4.00% |
60 Months | 4.00% |
Merrick Bank also levies a fairly stiff penalty for early withdrawal. CDs with a term of 364 days or less will pay 90 days of interest. CDs with a term of 365 days to 1,459 days have an early withdrawal penalty of 180 days' interest. And CDs with a term of 1,460 days or more have a penalty of 270 days' interest.
Credit Cards
Customers have access to two credit cards through Merrick Bank: the Merrick Bank Credit Card and the Classic Secured Card.
- The Merrick Bank Credit Card– The Merrick Bank Credit Card was created to help you establish or rebuild your credit. This card’s big claim to fame is the fact that Merrick Bank will regularly review your account to increase your credit line.
- The Classic Secured Card – The Classic Secured Card only has a $200 minimum deposit, which is similar to other secured cards on the market. You also have the option to add to your deposit over time, up to $3,000, thereby giving you more purchasing power.
Merrick Bank Customer Service
Merrick Bank boasts only one physical location in the country, its corporate headquarters in South Jordan, Utah. However, you can reach a customer service agent by phone at 1-800-204-5936, although it’s unclear as to what hℱours the phone𒅌s are staffed.
Merrick Bank also has a mobile app on which you can make payments, contact customer service, check your balance, manage account notifications, access your 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:FICO score once per month, and even freeze your card in case of loss or theft. The app is highly rated on app stores.
How to Bank With Merrick Bank
Potential credit card customers can see if they are prequalified for the Merrick Bank Credit Card onlin𝄹e. If you are not,ꦍ you can apply for the Secured Visa online.
Borrowers can apply for a loan online, and customers who wish to purchase a CD can do so online as well. Customers looking for a boat, an RV, or a horse trailer loan may s🎃ee if they qualify and apply at one of the thous𒉰ands of participating dealers across the country.
Once you have set up your credit card, loan, or CD, you can access information about your account either online or through the smartphone 👍app.
Verdict
Customers with less-than-perfect credit may find that Merrick Bank’s offerings fit their needs quite well. The bank’s cred🌄it cards and loans are created with credit-building in mind, and these products are available even to many customers who might otherwise be shut out of borrowing. In addition, the impressive yields on CDs may tempt well-heeled customers to grow their money with Merrick Bank. However, the costs of Merrick Bank’s offerings are both unclear and potentially higher than you might find elsewhere, even for those with a spotty credit history. Add in that Merrick offers no other deposit accounts and has a high minimum deposit requirement for CDs, and this bank may not be a good fit, even for the demographic that Merrick specifically courts. You may be able to find less expensive and more convenient credit cards and loans elsewhere, even if you don’t have great credit.
Methodology
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 con♛tent helps users make the right decision for their savings and banking needs.