UFB Direct Bank Review: Excellent Rates for Your Savings Goals

This article may contain references to some of our advertising partners. Should you click on these links, we may be compensated. For more about our advertising policies, read our full disclosure statement here.

Earn Up to 5.06% APY – With the UFB Direct high-yield savings account, you’ll earn up to 5.06% APY on your savings. Learn more here.

UFB Direct Bank is an online-only, FDIC-insured division of Axos Bank offering high-yield savings accounts, money market accounts, and mortgage loans. With little overhead, UFB Direct offers exceptionally competitive rates – especially to customers who keep larger balances.

Currently, UFB Direct offers just two types of bank accounts — a high-yield savings account and a money market account. Both accounts offer extremely competitive interest rates but have different balance requirements.

Although UFB Direct can be a great option for your savings, it is not a full-service bank. It has no checking account or CD options, so customers can only open savings accounts. Mortgage lending is available through a partnership with its parent company, Axos Bank.

Here’s a more detailed look at their offerings so you can see if it’s a good banking fit for your needs.

UFB Direct Bank at a Glance

• A Division of Axos Bank, formerly known as Bank of Internet USA
• Online banking available throughout the U.S.
• UFB High Yield Savings — Up to 5.06% APY
• UFB Premium Money Market — Up to 5.06% APY
• Home loans available through parent company, Axos Bank

UFB Direct Bank Pros & Cons

UFB Direct: Things We Like	UFB Direct: Things We Don’t Like
Competitive interest rates on savings and money market accounts	$50K minimum balance required to earn top rate
No monthly fees for high-yield savings account	Money market account requires $5,000 balance to waive monthly fees
Free debit cards with savings and money market accounts	No CD or checking account options
Money market account has check-writing privileges	No physical branch locations

What is UFB Direct Bank?

As a division of Axos Bank, UFB Direct Bank has the backing of an established, publicly traded digital bank (“AX” on the New York Stock Exchange). The operate online banking services throughout the United States, and are FDIC insured under the umbrella of Axos Bank (FDIC #35546).

Note that because Axos Bank uses one FDIC certificate for all of its divisions’ deposit accounts, they are insured by the FDIC up to $250,000 total, not per separate account.

This UFB Direct Bank review focuses primarily on the company’s online personal banking options, including its two savings accounts and home loan options. The bank is also known for its customer service and digital tools for account access on the go.

UFB Direct Bank Review: Personal Banking Products

Could UFB Direct be the bank for you? Here’s a closer look at its two personal banking products — their high-yield savings account and their money market account.

High Yield Savings Account

The UFB Best Savings account delivers one of the highest rates on the market.

This high-yields savings account now offers 5.06% APY on all balances. It boasts no maintenance or service fees, and it also comes with a complimentary ATM card. You also get online account access, free transfers between direct deposit accounts, a host of remote banking tools, and more.

A high-yield savings account is an excellent place to set aside money for all types of short-term savings goals, such as a vacation fund, emergency fund, vacation, or a new car. Having a separate savings account from your other money keeps you from accidentally using it on something else.

Plus, the excellent interest rate helps build up savings quickly.

>> Earn 5.06% APY with a UFB Direct Bank High-Yield Savings Account

Premium Money Market

UFB Direct Bank has one of the most competitive money market accounts you will find anywhere. The UFB Best Money Market account earns a rate of 5.06% APY, regardless of your balance, making it one of the best MMA accounts on the market.

We like that this money market account comes with check-writing privileges and a complimentary ATM card. With that said, a minimum opening deposit of $5,000 is required. Average daily balances that fall below that amount are subject to a $10 monthly maintenance fee.

Like all money market accounts, this isn’t the kind of account you want for everyday banking. However, it works great for a short-term savings vehicle. So, if you have $5,000 that you’re saving for a specific purpose — and you want to earn interest while you’re saving — a UFB Direct money market account is a great option.

>> Earn 5.06% APY with a UFB Direct Bank Money Market Account

Mortgages

Through Axos Bank, UFB Direct offers a variety of home loans to fit customer needs. Home loan options include:

• Conforming loans
• Non-conforming loans
• FHA loans
• Portfolio loans
• VA loans
• Jumbo and super jumbo loans
• Home-ready loans
• Interest-only mortgages
• Home equity loans
• Home equity lines of credit (HELOCs)
• Investment property loans
• Mortgage refinance

UFB Direct and Axos Bank make it easy to check rates and quickly prequalify for a loan. Loan applications are all online, eliminating trips to the bank.

If you’re in the market for a new home loan or want to refinance, take time to check the rates available through UFB Direct. In many cases, home loans are eligible for $0 lender fees — which can save you up to $2,500 or more.

How to Use a UFB Direct Savings Account or MMA

Wondering why you might want to open a savings or money market account through UFB Direct Bank? Here are a few ideas on how to use these accounts:

Short-Term Savings Goals: Hitting your savings goals is much easier when you keep your savings separate from your everyday spending account. Whether you’re saving for a new car, a home renovation, or a summer vacation, a high-yield savings account or money market account can accelerate your savings.

Emergency Fund: We always seem to be talking about emergency funds, and for good reason. Emergency funds are one of the main pillars of financial health. Having three to six months’ worth of expenses protects you when a financial crisis strikes. Keeping your emergency fund separate from the rest of your money keeps it safe for when you need it.

Savings Protection: Even if you use another bank for most of your money, having another option can protect your money even further, especially if you have more than $250,000 in savings. More of your money is insured by the FDIC in the event that one or more of the banks closes its doors.

Earn More on Your Savings — Save for that vacation or home improvement project and earn a super competitive interest rate with a money market account from UFB Direct Bank. Learn more here.

Benefits of Using UFB Direct Bank

• Competitive Rates: The main draw with UFB Direct is the high interest rate on its savings products. Both the high yield savings and money market accounts deliver the goods in terms of earnings.
• Customer Service: You also can’t overlook UFB Direct’s excellent customer service. Customers can reach them by phone for personal banking needs and send secure messages through online account access.
• Digital Tools: Customers can also access their bank accounts through a mobile app, available on iOS and Android. There’s even an option to access some account features through SMS text messaging.
• ATM Card: Both the high-yield savings account and the money market account come with free ATM cards. Not many savings accounts and only some money market accounts allow ATM access, which gives customers an additional way to make deposits and withdrawals.
• FDIC Insured: Deposit accounts are FDIC insured up to $250,000.

Where They Fall Short

While UFB Direct Bank offers high-yield interest on its savings and money market accounts, it’s not a full-service bank. With no options for checking accounts or CDs, customers looking for an all-in-one banking solution need to keep searching.

Plus, it’s a good idea to avoid monthly maintenance fees whenever possible. Unfortunately, the money market account requires a balance of $5,000 to waive the $10 monthly fee. If you don’t plan to keep that much in the account, there’s no sense in going with a MMA from UFB Direct.

We love the great rates offered by UFB Direct, however UFB Direct isn’t the only online bank with great rates (CIT Bank we’re looking at you). It’s possible to find a similar rates that require less of a financial commitment.

Is UFB Direct Bank Right for You?

UFB Direct is perfect for people who are looking for an online bank with high-interest savings accounts who do not need access to a checking account. If you plan to keep some cash in the bank to meet your short-term and medium-term savings goals, their high interest rates can help you build up your savings rapidly.

However, if you prefer access to a checking account or don’t want to deal with the $5,000 minimum balance on the MMA, other online high yield savings accounts and MMAs might be a better fit. As a completely online bank, they are not a good fit for anyone looking for access to in-person banking services found at traditional brick and mortar banks.

How to Open a UFB Direct Bank Account

You can open a UFB Direct savings or money market account online. You’ll want to have your photo ID, social security number, and personal information such as your address and phone number.

To open an account, you’ll need to be at least 18 years or older and a U.S. citizen or resident alien.

One thing to note is that this bank also performs a credit check before approving account applications, which could negatively affect your credit score. However, almost every bank does this, so you’d go through this step no matter who you decide to bank with.

UFB Direct FAQs

UFB Direct Bank: The Bottom Line

Overall, UFB Direct Bank is a solid online bank that offers a high-yield savings account and money market account which are worth checking out.

Their high-yield savings account is perfect for people trying to meet short and medium-term savings goals. You’ll also enjoy this account’s ATM access and no monthly fees.

The UFB Direct Money Market Account is also a solid choice, but only for people planning to keep a balance of at least $5,000. It’s also a good choice for those looking for check-writing privileges from a money market account.

In the end, UFB Direct Bank is a solid option for most people, and their competitive rates are definitely worth a look.

Earn More on Your Savings – Get up to 5.06% APY when you open a new High-Yield Savings account at UFB Direct Bank. That’s higher than you’ll find at many competitors. Follow the link to get started!