Member FDIC.
Vio Bank
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Bottom Line
You may not be familiar with Vio Bank, the online division of MidFirst Bank, but it offers a lot to get your attention -- competitive APYs, no monthly fees, and low minimum deposits. It's also a great option for longer CD terms up to 10 years.
Pros
- Competitive rates
- Low minimum on savings account
- No monthly fees
- CD terms up to 10 years
Cons
- No local branches
- No ATM network
- No checking accounts
Our Vio Bank ratings
We gave Vio Bank a 4.00 out of 5 stars after evaluating annual percentage yield (APY), brand reputation, fees and minimum requirements, and additional perks.
| Vio Bank accounts | The Ascent's star rating (out of 5) |
|---|---|
| Vio Bank | 4.00 |
| Vio Bank High Yield Online Savings Account | 3.00 |
| Vio Bank Cornerstone Money Market Savings | 4.50 |
Our bank and credit union methodology
Our methodology for scoring banks and credit unions revolves around evaluating key aspects such as annual percentage yield (APY), brand reputation, fees and minimum requirements, and additional perks.
These criteria are weighted differently across various account types, ensuring a comprehensive assessment that reflects the competitive landscape and economic conditions.
We strictly feature products that offer federal insurance and high customer satisfaction, keeping our recommendations unbiased by advertiser influence. This robust evaluation process helps us generate balanced, reliable best-of lists that guide consumers to top financial products.
Learn more about how The Motley Fool Ascent rates bank accounts.
Savings accounts
The Vio Bank High Yield Online Savings Account checks enough boxes to make it a top choice for online savings. The account features a competitive APY on all balances. It has a $100 minimum deposit to open an account. This is relatively low, although some online savings accounts have no minimums. You'll never pay monthly fees on Vio Bank's savings account. Vio Bank High Yield Online Savings Accounts are FDIC insured up to $250,000, the standard limit for FDIC-insured bank accounts.
One downside is that its high-yield savings account is anything but high yield. The rate is very low compared with other online banks, and your money could grow more when deposited in top-paying accounts. Be sure to compare Vio Bank's savings account with those offered by other banks and credit unions before making your decision.
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- 1.10% APY:Vio Bank High Yield Online Savings Account(Member FDIC.)
- 5.30% APY:Vio Bank Cornerstone Money Market Savings(Member FDIC.)
Ratings Methodology
Rates asof Jul 02, 2024
Vio Bank High Yield Online Savings Account
Read Review
Member FDIC.
Rating image, 3.00 out of 5 stars.
3.00/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Rating image, 3.00 out of 5 stars.
3.00/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Read Review
APY
1.10%
Min. To Earn APY
$1
- No maintenance fees
- FDIC insured
- No ATM card
- Limited customer service hours
- Minimum deposit required to open
The Vio Bank High Yield Online Savings Account is a solid pick for those who are comfortable banking online and don't plan to withdraw cash directly from the account. It's one of the few online savings accounts to have a minimum opening deposit requirement, but it's pretty reasonable, so it shouldn't deter most people from giving the account a closer look.
Compare savings rates
Make sure you're getting the best account for you by comparing savings rates and promotions. Here are some of our favorite high-yield savings accounts to consider.
| Account | APY | Promotion | Next Steps |
|---|---|---|---|
Open Account for SoFi Checking and Savings Member FDIC. Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars. 4.50/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. | up to 4.60% Rate infoYou can earn the maximum APY by having Direct Deposit (no minimum amount required) or by making $5,000 or more in Qualifying Deposits every 30 days. See SoFi Checking and Savings rate sheet at: https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.Min. to earn: $0 | New customers can earn up to a $300 bonus with qualifying direct deposits! | Open Account for SoFi Checking and Savings |
Open Account for Capital One 360 Performance Savings Member FDIC. Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars. 4.00/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. | 4.25% Rate infoSee Capital One website for most up-to-date rates. Advertised Annual Percentage Yield (APY)is variable and accurate as of April 11, 2024. Rates are subject to change at any time before or after account opening.Min. to earn: $0 | N/A | Open Account for Capital One 360 Performance Savings |
Open Account for American Express® High Yield Savings Member FDIC. Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars. 4.00/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. | 4.25% Rate info4.25% annual percentage yield as of July 2, 2024Min. to earn: $1 | N/A | Open Account for American Express® High Yield Savings |
Certificates of deposit
Vio Bank High-Yield CDs come in nine term lengths ranging from six months to 10 years. Like most banks, Vio Bank has no monthly fees attached to its CDs. Opening a CD account through Vio Bank requires a $500 minimum deposit, which is low compared with other CD providers but may not be ideal for everyone, especially if you're building a CD ladder. Vio Bank CDs are FDIC insured up to $250,000.
Pulling funds out of your Vio Bank CD before it matures will result in an early-withdrawal penalty, which is determined by your CD terms. For reference, here's how much penalty you might pay:
| CD term | Penalty amount | Additional fee |
|---|---|---|
| 7 to 31 days | All of the interest earned on your withdrawal. | None |
| 32 days to 12 months | 1% of the amount withdrawn | $25 |
| 12 months or more | 3% of the amount withdrawn | $25 |
Data source: Vio Bank.
Rates as of June 7, 2024
APY = Annual Percentage Yield
Vio Bank High-Yield CD
Bottom Line
Want a competitive APY on a shorter-term CD? Look no further than Vio Bank -- and you can bring just $500 to open a CD there. Longer-term CD rates aren't so competitive, though.
MINIMUM DEPOSIT $500
| 6 Mo. APY | 1 Yr. APY | 1.5 Yr. APY | 2 Yr. APY | 3 Yr. APY | 4 Yr. APY | 5 Yr. APY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.25% | 5.00% | 4.50% | 4.25% | 3.50% | 2.75% | 2.75% |
Compare CD rates
Vio Bank offers competitive rates, but you might find the best CDs at other online banks. Check out our comparison below to see how Vio Bank compares to other top picks.
Rates as of June 7, 2024
| Bank & CD Offer | APY | Term | Min. Deposit | Next Steps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Discover® Bank CD Member FDIC. | APY:4.70% | Term:1 Year | Min. Deposit:$2,500 | Open Account for Discover® Bank CD |
Western Alliance Bank CD | APY:5.25% | Term:1 Year | Min. Deposit:$1 | Open Account for |
Western Alliance Bank CD | APY:5.10% | Term:9 Months | Min. Deposit:$1 | Open Account for |
Money market accounts
The Vio Bank Cornerstone Money Market Savings account offers a competitive interest rate and no monthly fees as long as you agree to receive electronic statements. With a minimum deposit of $100, this account is a great option for those looking to grow their savings without having to constantly worry about fees eating up their earnings. And with FDIC insurance, you can rest assured that your money is safe and secure in this account.
Ratings Methodology
Rates asof Jul 02, 2024
Vio Bank Cornerstone Money Market Savings
Read Review
Member FDIC.
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Read Review
Monthly Fee
$0
Min. Balance
$100
APY
5.30%
Min. To Earn APY
$0
- Competitive interest rates
- No monthly fee with electronic statements
- Low minimum
- No debit card or check-writing privileges
- No physical branches
- No ATM network
Vio Bank is the online bank division of MidFirst Bank, the largest privately held bank in the United States and an FDIC member. It offers a competitive rate for its Money Market Savings Account and no monthly fees as long as you agree to electronic statements. There is a $100 minimum deposit with this account and it is FDIC insured.
The online bank has no physical branches and no ATM network. This makes accessing cash on the go a little more difficult. The online bank does not offer a checking account so you are limited to only a few products in its lineup.
Is Vio Bank FDIC insured?
Yes, Vio Bank is FDIC insured. That means your money is protected for up to $250,000 per depositor, per ownership category if something happens to Vio Bank.
Customer experience
See how Vio Bank compares to competitors on customer experience.
Customer reviews
Customer reviews are mixed. Reviews are lower than typical on the BBB website and higher than typical on Trustpilot, but there are caveats. The bank is not very well known, so there are few reviewers at time of writing. The BBB gives Vio Bank an A+ rating, which means it responds to customer complaints.
- Better Business Bureau rating: 1 / 5
- Trustpilot rating: 3.1 / 5
Customer service
Customer service reviews are mixed. Recent complaints indicate frustration with resolving issues over the phone and failing to receive mailed notices.
You can contact Vio Bank for personal banking needs at viobank.com/contact-us or call the bank's phone number, 888-999-9170.
Mobile app
Mobile app reviews trend toward poor. Recent reviews indicate customers like the Vio Bank rates but the app lacks features and makes logging in a hassle. The Google Play Store rating is especially troubling. For an online bank, it's very low.
- App Store rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars
- Google Play rating: 2.8 out of 5 stars
Relationship benefits
Some banks use relationship benefits to draw in new customers. Often found at brick-and-mortar banks, relationship benefits can include perks like waived fees and access to higher APY tiers. Vio Bank, as an online bank, doesn't currently offer any relationship benefits. With competitive APYs and no fees on its deposit accounts, Vio Bank customers already get the best deal without extra relationship perks.
Alternatives to Vio Bank
Vio Bank is worth a look, but it may not be the best fit for everyone. Here are two other online banks to consider. Always shop around when choosing a new bank.
Ally
Ally Bank is one of the most popular online banks, and for good reason. It offers a wide range of banking products, perfect for someone looking for a full-service experience. Ally is known for competitive APYs and no monthly fees. It also offers an interest-bearing checking account.
Discover® Bank
Another online bank with no fees and more account options is Discover® Bank. Discover is known for having almost no fees on its deposit accounts. It's also another option for people looking for longer CD terms of up to 10 years.
Is Vio Bank right for you?
Vio Bank is a great banking choice if:
- You want high-yield interest without paying monthly fees
- You're not looking for a checking account, or you don't mind having your checking account at a separate bank
- You aren't looking for a full-service bank
- You're OK doing all of your banking online
Review sources
FAQs
Yes, Vio Bank is safe. The bank is a division of MidFirst Bank, which manages more than $37 billion worth of assets. Deposits made within Vio Bank are FDIC insured for up to $250,000 per depositor.
Vio Bank has a mobile app available on the App Store and Google Play.
Yes, transfers made through the Vio Bank External Transfer Service are limited to $25,000 per day and $100,000 per month. Since Vio Bank doesn't offer a checking account, you'll want to keep these limits in mind, as you might need to transfer money from your savings account to an external account in order to access it.
