Find a checking option that meets your unique needs.

Our Checking Accounts were all designed with simple terms and minimal requirements to waive the monthly account fee. Based on your unique financial relationship, we will match you with an account that is easy to understand so that you can access all the valuable features at no cost.

Explore your checking options below and get started with an exclusive Harvard FCU debit card!

Smart Rewards Checking

With Smart Rewards Checking, there are no maintenance fees of any kind, just rewards you can count on. There are 2 options to choose from, Cash-Back or Premium Interest.

  • No monthly fee ever, no minimum balance, and no direct deposit required
  • Earn your rewards by meeting 3 basic qualifications each month: 12 Debit Card Purchases, 1 Online/Mobile Login, and get statements electronically, that’s it!12
  • Earn 3% cash-back10 on your debit card purchases, up to $10 per month.
  • Discounted rates on auto or personal loans with auto-pay
  • Up to $25 in ATM fees9 refunded each month
  • Free ATMs unlimited at Harvard FCU locations
  • 1,500 bonus points on a new Platinum Rewards or Platinum Rewards+
    MasterCard®
  • Free first order of checks
  • Any member with a Smart Rewards Checking Account is eligible to open a Smart Rewards Savings account. With a Smart Rewards Savings account from Harvard FCU, members can earn 4.00 % APY on balances up to $25,00013.
  • No monthly fee ever, no minimum balance, and no direct deposit required
  • Earn your rewards by meeting 3 basic qualifications each month: 12 Debit Card Purchases, 1 Online/Mobile Login, and get statements electronically, that’s it!12
  • Earn a 3.00% APY on balances up-to $10,00011
  • Discounted rates on auto or personal loans with auto-pay
  • Up to $25 in ATM fees9 refunded each month
  • Free ATMs unlimited at Harvard FCU locations
  • 1,500 bonus points on a new Platinum Rewards or Platinum Rewards+
    MasterCard®
  • Free first order of checks
  • Any member with a Smart Rewards Checking Account is eligible to open a Smart Rewards Savings account. With a Smart Rewards Savings account from Harvard FCU, members can earn 4.00 % APY on balances up to $25,00013.

Crimson Checking

Crimson checking is Harvard FCU’s more traditional line of checking options, where you can waive the monthly maintenance fees1 with either a minimum balance3, direct deposit2, or a combination of both. There are three Crimson checking account options:

  • $20 monthly fee1 is waived with a minimum balance3 of $5,000 in checking or $10,000 in total deposits
  • Up to $50 in ATM surcharges9 refunded each month
  • Account holders get an extra .10% APY rate bump on any CDs6 they open
  • Free ATMs
    • Unlimited Harvard FCU per month
    • Unlimited Non-Harvard FCU per month
  • Earns interest
  • E-Statements available
  • $300 Mortgage Closing Credit
  • 2,500 bonus points on a new Harvard FCU MasterCard®
  • Discounted rates on auto or personal loans with auto-pay
  • One-time add-on to CDs6
  • Unlimited free checks
  • $10 monthly fee1 is waived with a single direct deposit of $2002 and with a minimum balance3 of $1,500 in checking or $10,000 in combined loans and deposits
  • Up to $20 in ATM surcharges9 refunded each month
  • Free ATMs
    • Unlimited Harvard FCU per month
    • 10 Non-Harvard FCU per month
  • Non-interest bearing
  • E-Statements required
  • $100 Mortgage Closing Credit
  • 1,500 bonus points on a new Harvard FCU MasterCard®
  • Discounted rates on auto or personal loans with auto-pay
  • Free first order of checks
  • $5 monthly fee1 is waived with a single direct deposit of $2002 or 10 debit card purchases
  • Up to $10 in ATM surcharges9 refunded each month when 10 debit card purchases are made
  • Free ATMs
    • Unlimited Harvard FCU per month
    • 5 Non-Harvard FCU per month
  • Non-interest bearing
  • E-Statements required
  • 1,500 bonus points on a new Harvard FCU MasterCard®
  • Discounted rates on auto or personal loans with auto-pay
  • Free first order of checks

Other Checking Options

Haven’t found what you’re looking for? Harvard FCU also offers these other accounts to meet your unique needs.

Looking for a bare-bones checking option? Basic checking is your classic no frills, no fees account.8 Not a lot of added value here, just a simple account for simple needs.

Attention Harvard Undergrads: If you’re looking for the best student banking experience, the Harvard FCU College Life Account is the best choice for your undergraduate education and beyond.

The Varsity Life Account is a free checking account designed specifically for members ages 13-17. Teach your teen valuable financial skills and help them build a strong foundation for the future.

Why Choose Harvard FCU?

Checking icon

Wave Goodbye to ATM Fees

With a Harvard FCU Checking Account, you will have the freedom to use any ATM in the United States. Depending on which account you choose, you’ll get anywhere from $10 to $50 in ATM surcharges automatically refunded each month.9

Account Discounts & Perks large icon

Amazing Perks & Discounts

Checking is all about giving back to members who support the Credit Union. That’s why we’ve included exceptional benefits such as Free Checks7, discounted rates on Auto Loans5, plus special bonuses toward Credit Cards, Mortgages4, CDs6 and more!

Related Topics

Debit Cards

Every checking account comes with a debit card.

Overdraft Protection

Explore overdraft coverage options.

Reorder Checks

Order new checks online!

Ready to get started?

1. Fees will be waived until the end of the first full calendar month after account opening.
2. Direct Deposit determined by a single $200 incoming ACH within the month. 
3. Minimum Balance calculated as daily average.
4. Closing Credit cannot be combined with any other offer including First-Time Home Buyer Credit or any other closing cost program offer.
5. Loan rate discount only available at time of application and will be .25% off of the qualified Annual Percentage Rate.
6. One-time add-on cannot exceed original purchase amount.
7. Free checks include standard check designs. Other designs available at additional cost.
8. Basic account is not a Crimson Checking and does not qualify for ATM benefits.
9. ATM surcharge refunds only apply to ATM’s located in the United States. The 10 debit card purchases must take place within the statement cycle period.
10. Smart Rewards Checking with Cash Back Rewards: When Smart Rewards qualifications are met during a Monthly Qualification Cycle, you will receive 3% cash back on debit card purchases that post and settle to the account during that cycle. A maximum of $10 cash back may be earned per Monthly Qualification Cycle. When your Smart Rewards account qualifications are not met, no cash back payments are made and ATM withdrawal fees are not refunded. Cash back payments and nationwide ATM withdrawal fee reimbursements will be credited to your account on the last day of the current statement cycle.
11. Smart Rewards Checking with Premium Interest Rewards: When your Smart Rewards Checking with Premium Interest account qualifications are met during a Monthly Qualification Cycle, daily balances up to and including $10,000 in the account earn an APY of 3.00 % and daily balances over $10,000 earn a dividend rate of .10% on the portion of the daily balance over $10,000, resulting in a range from 3.00 % to 0.36% APY depending on the account’s daily balance. When your Smart Rewards Checking with Premium Interest account qualifications are not met, the entire daily balance in the account earns a dividend rate of .05% resulting in an annual percentage yield of .05% APY, and ATM withdrawal fees are not refunded. Dividends and ATM withdrawal fee reimbursements will be credited to your Smart Rewards Checking with Premium Interest account on the last day of the current statement cycle. APY = Annual Percentage Yield. APYs accurate as of 03/01/2023.
12. Qualifications: Transactions and activities must post and settle during the Monthly Qualification Cycle in order to qualify, which may take one or more days from the transaction. “Monthly Qualification Cycle” begins on the final day of the prior statement cycle and runs through the day prior to the last day of the current statement cycle. Visit harvardfcu.org for specific Monthly Qualification Cycle dates. 

13. Daily balances up to and including $25,000 in your Smart Rewards Savings account earn a dividend rate of 3.93 % resulting in an APY of 4.00 % and daily balances over $25,000 earn a dividend rate of .10% on the portion of the daily balance over $25,000, resulting in a range from 4.00% to .88 APY depending on the daily balance in the Smart Rewards Savings account. When your Smart Rewards Checking account qualifications are not met, the entire daily balance in the account earns a dividend rate of .05% resulting in an annual percentage yield of .05% APY. APY = Annual Percentage Yield. APYs accurate as of 04/01/2023.