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Make your money work with Westerra Smart Money Checking
Meet the checking account designed to help you earn interest on smaller balances.
CHECKING // Smart Money Checking
Rethink what a checking account can be. Even small deposits can pack a powerful savings punch with unheard-of APY and other great perks.
Earn interest on daily balances
Maintain an average daily balance of at least $2,000 per month/each month and earn 6.00% APY. That’s $120 a year.*
Earn rewards on purchases
Earn 1 reward point for every $3 of purchases. Rewards include travel, gift cards, fuel, cool stuff, and cash back.
Get paid early
Why wait until payday to get paid? Get your paycheck up to two days early with direct deposit.
Westerra Smart Money Checking earns you big interest on even small balances. Try our calculator.
Enter your deposit amount to see how much you could earn in one year.
Earn interest with cascading tiers.
Westerra Smart Money Checking rewards you with a 6.00% APY on your first $2,000 each month. As your balance grows, so does your potential to unlock additional great rates for higher balances. This is our way of keeping the returns rolling.
BALANCE | ANNUAL PERCENTAGE YIELD (APY%) |
---|---|
$0 - $2,000.00 | 6.00% see current rates |
$2,000.01 - $4,000.00 | 3.00% see current rates |
$4,000.01 - $6,000.00 | 1.00% see current rates |
$6,000.01 - $8,000.00 | 0.50% see current rates |
$8,000.01 - $10,000.00 | 0.25% see current rates |
$10,000+ | 0.05% see current rates |
If requirements are not met** | 0.01% see current rates |
Westerra Smart Money Checking at a glance
Monthly Requirements to Earn Highest Possible % APY Rate | Minimum Number of Debit/Credit Card Purchases (Per month) | 16 |
---|---|---|
Monthly Requirements to Earn Highest Possible % APY Rate | Minimum Recurring Direct Deposit or ACH Payment (Per month) | $500 |
Monthly Requirements to Earn Highest Possible % APY Rate | E-Statements Enrollment | ✔ |
Benefits and Perks | Debit Rewards — Earn 1 Point for Every $3 Spent* | ✔ |
Benefits and Perks | Early Paycheck: Get paid up to 2 days early with direct deposit** | ✔ |
Benefits and Perks | Apple Pay® / Google Pay™ / Samsung Pay™ | ✔ |
Benefits and Perks | Overdraft Protection Services or Courtesy Pay*** | ✔ |
Benefits and Perks | Monthly Maintenance Fee | None |
Benefits and Perks | Minimum Balance Requirement | None |
Benefits and Perks | Access to over 30,000 surcharge-free CO-OP ATMs | ✔ |
Benefits and Perks | Debit Card Foreign Transactions | ✔ |
Benefits and Perks | Insured by NCUA | ✔ |
Benefits and Perks | Free Digital Banking Mobile Deposit | ✔ |
Benefits and Perks | Mobile Deposit | ✔ |
Benefits and Perks | Online Downloads into Quicken® | ✔ |
Benefits and Perks | Send money to friends and family | ✔ |
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Pay on the Go with Digital Wallet.
Add your Westerra card to Apple®, Google™ or Samsung Pay™ Digital Wallet to always have a convenient, secure way to pay in-store, online and in-app.
Restrictions apply. Apple, Google and Samsung are registered trademarks.
Debit Card Assistance
Westerra Rewards
Browse cash back, travel, gift cards and merchandise rewards, or go here for more information on how to redeem Westerra Rewards points.
Pay on the Go
Set up your Apple®, Google™ or Samsung Pay™ on your device to pay with your Westerra card on the go. Learn more about how to set up digital wallets here.
Card assistance
To report a lost or stolen Visa credit, debit or ATM card, call 303-321-4209 or 1-800-858-7212 during business hours, or 1-888-241-2510 at any time.
To activate a card, call 1-800-466-0040.
PIN Changes & Activation
A PIN Mailer is no longer required to activate your Westerra debit or credit card! NOTE: The new phone number to activate a card is 1-866-762-0558 (this has been updated on the sticker of the card). If you would like to change your existing PIN number (and know what your current PIN number is!) please visit any Westerra ATM. If you need to create a new PIN issued on your consumer debit card, visit any branch during regular business hours and receive it the same day.
Travel alerts
Send us a message through Digital Banking or notify us at 303-321-4209 with your travel dates and destination to head off any potential fraud alert service interruption.
CardNav security
Download this free app for iOS (Apple App Store) or Android (Google Play) to add an extra layer of protection to your debit or credit cards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unlike traditional checking accounts where higher balances earn higher interest rates, reverse-tier checking accounts operate inversely. They offer higher interest rates for lower balances and decrease as the account balance increases. See Smart Money Checking rates here.
Smart Money Checking has multiple tiers based on account balances in increments of $2,000. Each tier earns a different interest rate, with the highest rates applied to lower balances and decreasing as the balance increases. Members can earn interest at each tier depending on their Average Daily Balance calculated at the end of the month. Example: If their average daily balance was $4,500 in this account, they'll earn 6.00% APY on the first $2000, 3.00% APY of the second $2,000, and 1.00% APY on the remaining $500. See how much you may earn over the course of a year with our Smart Money Checking Reverse Tier Calculator.
You will receive a 6.00% APY on your balance that is below $2,000 if all requirements for the higher rate are met. See how much you may earn over the course of a year with our Smart Money Checking Reverse Tier Calculator.
16 combined debit/credit card purchase transactions that post and clear in the statement months on the same membership account. ATM and cash advance transactions do not count toward the debit card transaction requirement.
You are automatically enrolled in eStatements when you enroll in Digital Banking.
Members must have at least one (1) direct deposit of at least $500 deposited into their Smart Money Checking a month to qualify for premium dividend rates. An ACH is any deposit made to your checking account using your account and routing number, this could be any deposit that was automatically completed, such as your payroll deposited by your employer or your pension.
The dividend rate paid is based on the Average Daily Balance in the Smart Money Checking for the month. If the requirements are not met, the dividend rate of 0.01% APY is applied for the statement month. See how much you may earn over the course of a year with our Smart Money Checking Reverse Tier Calculator.
You can order free temporary checks upon request. Contact us.
Members are automatically opted in for Courtesy Pay on Draft/ACH transactions if member is in good standing. However, members are automatically opted-out of debit card Courtesy Pay, but may opt in at any time. You can also set up Overdraft Protection by applying for a personal line of credit or linking a savings or credit card to automatically transfer.
If this is your first time using Digital Banking:
Click "Login" on the top right corner of WesterraCU.com, then "Personal Banking."
Then, click on the "Enroll in Digital Banking" link.
Enter your account (member) number, the primary account holder's Social Security Number and date of birth and click "Continue."
Create your username and password.
Read and "Accept" the Digital Banking disclosures.
Then, click "Create."
Once you are logged in, you will be prompted to receive a one-time security code, verify your email address, and then you can access your accounts.
WeGotYa is a Courtesy Pay service that adds a measure of protection to your spending/checking account.
WeGotYa (Courtesy Pay) may cover your transactions when you do not have sufficient funds in your spending/checking account. You will be charged a $20 WeGotYa (Courtesy Pay) fee each time we pay a transaction that overdraws your account. A maximum of three fees per day, per checking. You will only incur WeGotYa (Courtesy Pay) fees for covered transactions if your account is overdrawn. That means, instead of declining an automated (ACH) payment, check, one-time or recurring debit card transaction because of insufficient funds, Westerra Credit Union may pay your item, which may save you additional charges from the company you intended to pay.
If you’re set up for automated (ACH) payments or checks, good news: You’re automatically enrolled in WeGotYa (Courtesy Pay). If you’re not, members must Opt-IN to WeGotYa (Courtesy Pay) for one-time and recurring debit card transactions.
To qualify for WeGotYa (Courtesy Pay), you must be at least 18 years old, have your spending/checking account opened for more than 30 days, and be in good standing with the credit union. These criteria may be changed at any time without notice. WeGotYa (Courtesy Pay) does not cover transactions through ATMs, tellers, phone banking, Digital Banking transfers or Money Market Account checks.
Overdraft Protection is an optional level of protection you can elect to add to any checking account to help manage your finances and avoid over-drafting your account. Overdraft Protection can save you from incurring fees when you don’t have sufficient funds in your checking account. It is also useful for covering unexpected costs in an emergency. Please view our additional FAQs for more information.
On your mobile device, open the App Store (Apple) or Google Play (Android) and download the app.
Launch the app and enter your Westerra Digital Banking username and password.
Similar to Zelle, Pay People is a free person-to-person (P2P) payment service in Digital Banking and our mobile app that makes sending and receiving money as easy as emailing and texting.
In notifications, you may also see it referred to as PayItNow.
Debit card purchases – Earn 1 point for every $3.00 you spend when you sign for your purchase.
Bonus points – Earn bonus points when you use the ShoppingFLING feature on Westerra Rewards.
If you already have a Westerra debit card, you are already part of the rewards program. Reward points will automatically be combined in your rewards account for your Westerra cards based on your primary account information. Personal and business reward points will not be combined.
Access and redeem your rewards points through Westerra Digital Banking:
For personal accounts: Log in to Digital Banking on your browser, look for "Card Rewards" in the "Quick Actions" menu on the right.
If you prefer, you can access your rewards account online at Westerra Rewards and register using your name exactly as it appears on your Westerra account and the last six digits of your Westerra Signature debit card.
Points can be redeemed at any time through Westerra Rewards.
Cash Back – You have the option to redeem rewards points for cash to be applied directly to your account.
Gift Cards – Redeem for gift cards to your favorite places to shop and dine. There are even electronic gift cards you can use instantly online or at the store.
Travel – Westerra Rewards offers the largest selection of travel rewards in the market today. Choose from flights, cars, hotels, cruises, vacations and experiences.
Experiences – Redeem your points for experiences, theme parks and events, concerts, sports and event tickets.
Merchandise – Redeem points for home appliances, sports items, computers, electronics, gourmet foods and more.
Charitable Donations – You also have the option to donate your points.
*Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is accurate as of 5/1/2024. The interest rate and APY may change without notice after the account is opened. Fees may reduce earnings on the account. $5 prime share deposit required for membership. A $25 opening deposit is required for a Smart Money Checking account. 6.00% APY applies to average daily balances up to and including $2,000. For average daily balances greater than $2,000, the APY may range from 0.05% to 3.00%. If requirements** are not met, all balances will earn .01% APY. In order to get the higher rates, you must meet certain requirements each month. If you don’t meet the requirements, an APY of 0.01% APY applies to all balances. Limit one Smart Money Checking Share per account. Membership eligibility required. Federally Insured by NCUA.
**The requirements needed to receive the dividend rate are (i) minimum average daily balance that corresponds to the desired rate, (ii) 16 combined debit/credit card purchase transactions that post and clear in the statement months as (i), on the same membership account, (iii) a minimum of one (1) direct-deposit or Automatic Clearing House (ACH) of at least $500 per month, (iv) enrollment in online statements. ATM and cash advance transactions do not count toward the debit card transaction requirement. Requirements are waived the first statement cycle the new share is opened and will earn the dividend rate that corresponds to each minimum balance tier. IRA, Roth IRA, and Business accounts are not eligible for this product. Rates subject to change without notice. See Membership and Account Agreement for Nature of Dividends under our resource tab.