Grow Your Savings With a Guaranteed Rate.
Make your savings work harder with a Circle Federal Credit Union Term Share Certificate.
A Term Share Certificate allows you to deposit your money for a set period of time while earning a guaranteed dividend rate for the full term of the certificate. It's a simple option for members who want predictable returns and don't need immediate access to the funds they're saving.
Whether you're saving for a future purchase, building your financial reserves, or simply looking for an alternative to a traditional savings account, a Term Share Certificate can help your money grow while providing the predictability of a fixed rate.
Why Choose a Term Share Certificate?
A Term Share Certificate is designed for members who are comfortable setting aside their savings for a specific period in exchange for a guaranteed rate.
Guaranteed Rate
Once your certificate is opened, your dividend rate is guaranteed for the selected term. You don't have to worry about your rate changing during the certificate period.
Low Minimum Deposit
You can open a Term Share Certificate with a minimum deposit of just $100.
Flexible Terms
Choose a term that matches your savings goals, with options ranging from 6 months to 60 months.
Monthly Dividends
Dividends are calculated using your daily balance and credited to your account monthly.
Reinvest or Access Your Dividends
You can choose to have your dividends reinvested into the certificate or deposited into a share account, giving you flexibility in how you manage your earnings.
Federally Insured Savings
Your eligible savings are federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) up to $250,000, providing an additional level of confidence as you save.
Choose The Term That Fits Your Goals
Different savings goals call for different timelines. Circle FCU offers certificate terms from six months through five years, allowing you to choose how long you're comfortable setting aside your money.
Short-Term Savings
A 6-month certificate can be an option when you want to earn a guaranteed rate without committing your funds for several years.
One-Year Goals
A 12-month certificate may work well for savings goals that are approximately a year away, while still providing a fixed rate for the entire term.
Longer-Term Savings
For members who don't expect to need their funds in the near future, terms of 18, 24, 36, 48, or 60 months provide additional options for longer-term savings.
Consider your financial goals and when you expect to need access to your funds before selecting a certificate term.
How It Works
1. Choose Your Term
Decide how long you're comfortable leaving your money in the certificate, from 6 months to 60 months.
2. Make Your Deposit
Open your certificate with a minimum deposit of $100.
3. Earn a Guaranteed Rate
Your certificate earns the dividend rate established when you open the account. That rate remains guaranteed for the duration of the certificate term.
4. Receive Your Dividends
Dividends are compounded based on the daily balance and credited monthly. You can choose to reinvest your dividends into the certificate or have them deposited into a share account.
5. Reach Maturity
At the end of your certificate term, your certificate reaches maturity. If your certificate is set to automatically renew, it will renew at the current rate and term unless you provide different instructions.
What Happens When a Certificate Matures?
Certificates that are set to automatically renew will renew at the current rate and term unless you instruct Circle FCU otherwise.
You'll also have a 7-day grace period following the maturity date on certificates that are set to auto-renew.
This gives you an opportunity to review your savings strategy and decide whether you want to:
- Renew your certificate
- Move your funds to another Circle FCU savings product
- Withdraw your funds
- Make another change permitted under the certificate's terms
Review your maturity date and current rates before deciding what to do with your funds.
Early Withdrawal Information
A Term Share Certificate is designed for funds you don't expect to need before maturity.
If you withdraw funds before the certificate reaches maturity, an early withdrawal penalty may apply.
Certificates With Original Terms of 12 Months or Less
The early withdrawal penalty may equal 90 days of dividends.
Certificates With Original Terms Longer Than 12 Months
The early withdrawal penalty may equal 180 days of dividends.
Because of the potential penalty, consider keeping emergency funds and other money you may need immediately in an accessible savings or checking account rather than placing those funds into a certificate.
IRA Term Share Certificates
Looking for a way to save for retirement?
Circle Federal Credit Union also offers IRA Term Share Certificates for eligible members.
IRA Term Share Certificates are available in 12-, 24-, and 36-month terms, with a minimum deposit of $100. These certificates are subject to early withdrawal penalties and applicable IRA rules.
If you're interested in using a certificate as part of your retirement strategy, speak with Circle FCU about available Traditional and Roth IRA options.
Use Your Certificate as Loan Security
A Circle FCU Term Share Certificate may also be used as security for a share certificate-secured loan.
This can provide an alternative way to access financing while using your certificate as collateral.
Circle FCU's current share certificate-secured loan rate is listed as the certificate rate plus 3%, with a minimum loan term of 12 months. Loans secured by certificates cannot have a contract term longer than the certificate term.
Contact Circle FCU for complete eligibility requirements and loan terms.
