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June 9, 2025
Certificate Accounts: A Safe and Steady Way to Grow Your Savings
Deciding what to do with extra money doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether you’re building an emergency fund, planning ahead for a big purchase or just looking to make your money work harder, Certificate Accounts can be a smart part of your savings strategy. They offer stability and predictability to help you reach your financial goals with confidence.
What is a Certificate Account?
Certificate Accounts, also known as Share Certificates at some credit unions and Certificates of Deposit at banks, are a savings option that provides a guaranteed return in exchange for keeping your money deposited for a set amount of time. At Grow Financial, we offer flexible terms ranging from six to 60 months, with competitive rates that reward your commitment. With a minimum deposit of $500 to start, you can begin building a more secure future today.
Curious about how much you could earn? Try our new Certificate Account Calculator — just enter your deposit amount and choose a term to instantly see your estimated returns.
Benefits of Certificate Accounts
Higher earnings
Certificate Accounts offer higher annual percentage yields (APY) than traditional savings accounts or money markets. The APY reflects how often we compound your dividends, giving you an apples-to-apples comparison of returns.Flexible terms
Choose a term that fits your timeline. Whether you’re saving for something in six months or stashing funds for the next five years, you have options. You can also open multiple Certificate Accounts with different maturity dates as part of the popular certificate laddering strategy. Learn how.Security you can count on
Your money is safe. Certificate Accounts at Grow are insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), and your return is guaranteed if you hold the certificate until it matures. Enjoy peace of mind and no investment risk, making Certificate Accounts a perfect option as part of a well-rounded financial plan.What’s the catch?
There is a tradeoff between immediate access to your funds and a higher rate of return. With a Certificate Account, you agree to keep your money in the account for a set period, and in exchange, we lock in (guarantee) a competitive rate of return for the term. Withdrawing money early typically results in a penalty. That’s why it’s important to pick a term that works for your needs. (Some members even see this structure as a built-in motivator to stay committed to their savings goals!)
Looking for retirement options? Try an IRA Certificate.
If you’re planning for retirement, consider an IRA Certificate Account. It combines the stability of a certificate with potential tax advantages* of an individual retirement account.
Get started today!
Ready to start doing more with your money? Use our calculator to explore your earning potential, then open a Certificate Account that fits your goals. Visit growfinancial.org to learn more and apply.
Accounts are subject to approval.
*Certain restrictions apply. Not all taxpayers are eligible. Consult your tax advisor.
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How to Find Your Routing & Account Numbers
When you make a payment online, by phone or on a mobile device, you may be asked for our routing number and your checking account number. Credit unions and banks use these numbers to identify accounts and make sure money gets where it’s supposed to be. You’ll also need to provide your routing and checking account numbers for:
- Direct deposits
- Electronic checks
- Military allotments
- Wire transfers
Where to Find Your Routing & Checking Account Numbers
Your personal checks include both our routing number and your account number, as shown on the Grow check example below.
Don’t have a Grow check? No worries.
Visit any Grow store and ask for a Direct Deposit Form. It lists both your routing number and checking account number.
Making a Loan Payment
Incorrect Phone Number Alert
We’ve identified an incorrect phone number listed in a letter sent to a select group of new members with auto loans. The incorrect number is NOT affiliated with Grow. Please be sure to use our official phone number, 800.839.6328, which you can verify on our Contact Information page. For your security, keep your personal information safe and avoid sharing it over the phone, email or text message. We will never ask you for your credit or debit card security code, expiration date or PIN, login security codes, or your online banking password.
When it comes to making payments, we try to make it as painless as possible to pay your loan every month. We have several different ways to pay, including convenient online options.
Pay Online
You have two ways to pay online by transferring funds from another bank or credit union.
- Grow Online Banking (Preferred payment method for any loan)
This is the simplest way to pay your loan. You can make one-time payments or set up automatic recurring payments in Grow Online Banking. Once you log in, select “Transfer/Payments” from the menu. If you’re not enrolled in Grow Online Banking yet, you can set up your account in just a few minutes.
Log In
- Debit Card or ACH (Available for auto, personal loans and HELOCs)
Note: ACH and debit card payments are not available for credit cards or most mortgages, except HELOCs.
We accept ACH payments with no additional fees, consumer Mastercard® and Visa® debit cards with a convenience fee of $4.95, or commercial Mastercard® and Visa® debit cards with a convenience fee of 2.95% of the payment amount. To get started with an online ACH or debit card payment, select Pay Now below.
Pay Now
Pay by Mail
You can also pay any Grow loan by check through the mail. Please remember to include your account number and Grow loan number on the check. (For credit card payments, please do not write your 16-digit credit card number on the check, which can cause a delay in processing the payment.)
Address for auto, credit card, personal loan and HELOC payments:
Grow Financial Federal Credit Union
P.O. Box 75466
Chicago, IL 60675-5466Address for personal first or second mortgages and home equity payments:
Grow Financial Federal Credit Union
P.O. Box 11733
Newark, NJ 07101-4733You Are About To Leave GrowFinancial.org
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