Accounts — Arkansas Best FCU (2025)

Table of Contents

Menu Open an Account Account Access Checking Our Free Checking Account Specialty Savings Accounts Christmas Savings Vacation Savings Share Certificates Share Certificates IRAs Traditional Roth Coverdell Education Savings Account FAQs References

Every valued member of Arkansas Best Federal Credit Union has a share savings account. As an owner, savings in your credit union are called shares. You don’t have to open your account with a big pile of money. Although you can deposit as much as you like, you can open an account with as little as $5.00. Your ABFCU Savings Account is insured up to $250,000 by NCUA, an agency of the federal government.And, our savings account usually pays higher dividends than most other financial institutions.

Open an Account

Once you’ve checked out our great rates, just fill out the membership application below.

Check out our Share RatesMembership Application

Account Access

Deposits can be made:	Withdrawals can be completed:
Via Payroll Deduction	At the Fort Smith Location
Through Direct Deposit	By calling 479-649-2060
At the Fort Smith Location	Through Online Banking
By Mail	At one of over 5,000 Shared Branch Locations
In the night drop or ATM at the Fort Smith Location	Via CO-OP or MoneyPass Surcharge-free ATMs
At one of over 5,000 Shared Branch Locations
Mobile Deposit via Mobile App
Via SmartPay

Checking

Our Free Checking Account

Best of all, an Arkansas Best Federal Credit Union Checking Account pays dividends… just like our savings accounts. Plus, our checking account carries no monthly fee, no minimum balance, and no per-check charge. We really are here to help you keep more of your hard-earned money!

Our checking account features a free ABFCU VISA Debit Card.This will allow you the ability to pay for your purchases without writing a check. It will also reduce your need to carry cash because of its easy ATM access. You can monitor and control your debit card using alerts, transaction controls, and spending limits with the CardValet app.

For those times you still do need a paper check, simply click here to order checks or contact our checking department.
Through our Online Banking, you are able to view and/or print an image of checks you select as well as make transfers, check your balances, and much more.
You can also deposit your checks remotely through your mobile phone by using Mobile Deposit found within our ABFCU Mobile App.
Deposits and withdrawals can be made at over 5,000 Shared Branching locations.
ABFCU also offers you over 55,000 surcharge-free ATMs with CO-OP and Money Pass ATM networks located across the country.
Other services, direct deposit, e-statements, and free Bill Pay are available to you when you have an Arkansas Best FCU Checking Account.
To open a checking account, please log in to Online Banking and choose “Apply for Checking Account” from the menu.
If you have not yet registered for Online Banking, you can register now. It’s quick and easy!
If this is your first account at ABFCU, you’ll first need to apply for membership. Welcome!

View Our Fee Schedule

Specialty Savings Accounts

Christmas Savings

This account offers you a savings option for the Holiday season as well as paying you dividends. Withdrawals are available from November 1 through December 31, as you request.You can make deposits to your ChristmasClubin any way you choose throughout the year.

Vacation Savings

Use this account to save for a special trip or event or just to have a way to separate your savings for any reason.This account also earns dividends, and withdrawals are available upon your request.

Check out our great share rates

Share Certificates

A Share Certificate Account is traditionally considered one of the safest ways to save for diverse purposes, such as a dream vacation, down payment, or a secure and comfortable retirement. Share Certificate Accounts always hold their original value, unlike the stock market, plus they earn interest at a rate typically higher than those of a regular savings account.

Arkansas Best Federal Credit Union offers Share Certificates in terms of 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, 4 years, and 5 years. A minimum deposit of $500 is required on all share certificates. Dividends are paid monthly. There is a substantial penalty for early withdrawal.

Check out our Share Certificate Rates

IRAs

Arkansas Best Federal Credit Union offers several options for your retirement and education savings needs. An IRA with ABFCU starts with a simple application, and we’ll take it from there. The different savings plans that we offer are as follows:

Traditional

A Traditional IRA is a tax-deferred retirement savings account. This means you don’t pay taxes on the funds until you withdraw your money in retirement. We offer Traditional IRAs in both savings and share certificate accounts.

Roth

A Roth IRA is funded with money that has already been taxed. Since you have already paid taxes on these funds, there are no taxes upon a qualified withdrawal. Roth IRAs are available in both savings and share certificate accounts.

Coverdell Education Savings Account

A Coverdell ESA is a savings account set up to pay the qualified education expenses of a designated beneficiary. This means you can invest money to grow tax-deferred for education purposes. We offer Coverdell ESAs in savings accounts.

FAQs

Can anyone join the Arkansas Federal Credit Union? ›

No military, state or government affiliation required to join. Prefer to join us as an employee or member of one of our more than 700 employers and organizations? If you live outside of Arkansas and are part of one of these groups, you may be eligible too!

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Are credit unions better than banks for checking accounts? ›

Banks: An Overview. However, you will find differences in fees, interest rates, product offerings, convenience, and customer service, although each financial intuition is different. Credit unions tend to offer lower rates and fees as well as more personalized customer service.

Can a non US citizen join a credit union? ›

Non-U.S. citizens can open bank accounts in the U.S., but they may need to go through extra steps, especially if they're nonresidents. Some banks and credit unions accept alternative forms of identification, such as an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), for non-U.S. citizens to open accounts.

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What is the largest credit union in Arkansas? ›

Arkansas Federal Credit Union

AFCU is the largest credit union in Arkansas and serves over 155,000 members at 22 locations. All Arkansas residents are eligible for membership.

Which is safer to put your money in a bank or credit union? ›

Generally, credit unions are viewed as safer than banks, although deposits at both types of financial institutions are usually insured at the same dollar amounts.

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Why do banks not like credit unions? ›

For decades, bankers have objected to the tax breaks and sponsor subsidies enjoyed by credit unions and not available to banks. Because such challenges haven't slowed down the growth of credit unions, banks continue to look for other reasons to allege unfair competition.

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What are disadvantages of banking with credit unions? ›

Limited accessibility. Credit unions tend to have fewer branches than traditional banks. A credit union may not be close to where you live or work, which could be a problem unless your credit union is part of a shared branch network and/or a large ATM network such as Allpoint or MoneyPass.

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What is the hardest credit union to get? ›

Progressive Credit Union - You must be recommended by another member. This might be the most unique credit union requirement, and it also seems to be the toughest.

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What is a good credit score for a credit union? ›

A good FICO Score falls between 670 and 739, while an exceptional score measures 800 and above. A good VantageScore ranges from 700 to 749, while an excellent score is 750 and above. The higher the number, the lower the perceived credit risk.

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Can a credit union fail like a bank? ›

It's uncommon for credit unions to fail, but it does happen. In 2023, there were more than 4,600 federally insured credit unions in the U.S. and three of them failed: Yonkers Postal Employees Credit Union, Inter-American Federal Credit Union, and Valwood Park Federal Credit Union.

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How safe is your money in a credit union? ›

Just like banks, credit unions are federally insured; however, credit unions are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Instead, the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) is the federal insurer of credit unions, making them just as safe as traditional banks.

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Can anyone join a local credit union? ›

Credit unions require membership to open a bank account or utilize services. Usually, you'll have to work for a select employer or live in a specific city or county. However, some credit unions have pretty easy membership requirements that you let join from anywhere in the U.S.

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Who can join local government federal credit union? ›

You can join Local Government Federal Credit Union

We are the only statewide Credit Union exclusively serving municipal and county employees, elected/appointed officials, volunteers and their families.