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Checking that Cares about your financial wellness!

The National Institutes of Health Federal Credit Union’s two checking accounts are suited for any lifestyle and need. Both accounts are digitally enabled and accessible 24/7, so you can bank around your schedule…at any time and any place. See how CareFree and TotalCare checking can help provide the financial wellness you deserve.

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OPEN AN ACCOUNT
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Checking options with a ton of benefits

CAREFREE CHECKING – A great standard account with no monthly fees.

  • No minimum balance requirements

  • No-fee NIHFCU ATM and Video Teller transactions

  • Surcharge-free withdrawals at over 30,000 network ATMs nationwide

  • Visa®Debit Rewards – earn points and redeem for cash, gift cards, merchandise, and more

  • 0.25% off for automatic debit of loan payment from NIHFCU savings or checking account1

  • Free App with mobile deposit, account alerts, and more

  • Send money in the moment with Zelle®

  • One no-fee cashier’s check per month

  • Overdraft protection options

Open an account today or call 800-877-6440 to speak with a representative.

>>> Easy account switching is here with ClickSWITCH  – move your direct deposits and automatic payments in just minutes.

 
TOTALCARE CHECKING – Our premium account loaded with exceptional benefits.

Enjoy all the standard benefits of CareFree checking,

  • No minimum balance requirements

  • No-fee NIHFCU ATM and Video Teller transactions

  • Surcharge-free withdrawals at over 30,000 network ATMs nationwide

  • Visa®Debit Rewards – earn points and redeem for cash, gift cards, merchandise, and more

  • 0.25% off for automatic debit of loan payment from NIHFCU savings or checking account1

  • Free App with mobile deposit, account alerts, and more

  • Send money in the moment with Zelle®

  • One no-fee cashier’s check per month

  • Overdraft protection options

PLUS these additional benefits just for TotalCare checking members:

    • ID theft monitoring & resolution, with up to $10,000 identity theft reimbursement and more 2,3 for you and eligible family

    • Up to $300 of cellular telephone coverage for 3 phones to help cover the cost of repair or replacement

  • No NIHFCU fee for non-network ATM Transactions (3 per month)5

  • No NIHFCU fee on all incoming wires

  • No NIHFCU fee on outgoing domestic wires (2 per month)

  • Earn dividends on balances – currently 0.010% APY*

  • Free box of Standard checks every 12 months6

  • A monthly fee is your choice!

    • $0 with monthly direct deposit of $500+ into this account AND have an NIHFCU credit card loan or line 7

    • Or, $4.95/month if the above requirements are not met.

Try TotalCare Checking with our 2-month “First Look” period – switch at any time 7!

Open an account today or call 800-877-6440 to speak with a representative.

>>> Easy account switching is here with ClickSWITCH  – move your direct deposits and automatic payments in just minutes.

 
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Visa® Platinum Debit Rewards

Shop with your NIHFCU Visa Platinum Debit Rewards card for two easy ways to great rewards!

  • Earn points on all your everyday purchases 8

  • Earn more points when you select CURewards® offers from popular retailers and online merchants

Get more rewards! Visit CURewards to register your card, view special offers, and redeem points for merchandise, travel, gift cards, cash, or to donate to NIH charities.

Speak to a specialist
REGISTER YOUR CARD
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Overdraft Coverage

NIHFCU offers a variety of options that can provide assistance when a transaction exceeds your available balance.

Overdraft Protection– a fee-free option that automatically transfers funds from your NIHFCU savings account (up to 6 per month).

Personal Line of Credit– this line-of-credit9 is a great way to cover overdrafts and provide access to cash for other urgent needs.

Courtesy Pay– if your account is eligible10, we’ll extend up to $700 in additional coverage (including fees) when your other sources are insufficient to cover an overdraft. To extend coverage to also include ATM or everyday debit transactions, you can opt-in to Courtesy Pay Plus. (There is a $30 fee for each overdraft covered by Courtesy Pay or Courtesy Pay Plus.)

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LEARN MORE
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Important Forms and Documents

ATM Fee Rebate – for Money Manager or Money Manager Plus accounts11
Direct Deposit Authorization

To order checks, log in to online banking or call 1-800-877-6440.

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Already have an NIHFCU Checking Account?

If you have an NIHFCU checking account no longer offered, you can stay with it. Or, you can switch to CareFree or TotalCare checking. Just submit an account change eform, stop by any branch or call.

Unsure about switching accounts? Our representatives can help you compare account features to select the account that’s right for you.

Speak to a specialist

Rates, fees and terms as of January 14, 2025 and subject to change without notice

Financial wellness begins and ends with the facts. Here’s what you need to know.
Checking account programs and terms are subject to change or cancellation at any time. Certain restrictions apply. Fees may reduce earnings.
*  APY = Annual Percentage Yield.
1. Get 0.25% discount off approved signature and auto loan rate with automatic debit of loan payment from NIHFCU savings or checking account. Cannot be combined with any other offer and the total discount cannot fall below the lowest rate available at the time of the loan’s origination
2. IDProtect service is a personal identity theft protection service available to personal checking ac-count owners, their joint account owners and their eligible family members. The service is available to non-publicly traded businesses and their business owner(s) listed on the account and their eligible family members (service not available to employees or authorized signers who are not owners). Service is not available to a “signer” on the account who is not an account owner. Service is not available to clubs, organizations and/or churches and their members, schools and their employees/students. For revocable grantor trusts, the service is available only when a grantor is serving as a trustee and covers the grantor trustee(s) and their eligible family members. For all other fiduciary accounts, the service covers the beneficiary, who must be the primary member, and their eligible family members (Fiduciary is not covered). Family includes: Spouse, persons qualifying as domestic partner, and children under 25 years of age and parent(s) of the account holder who are residents of the same household.
3. Credit file monitoring may take several days to begin following activation.
4. Insurance products are not insured by NCUA or any Federal Government Agency; not a deposit of or guaranteed by the credit union or any credit union affiliate. The descriptions herein are summaries only and do not include all terms, conditions and exclusions of the Benefits described. Please refer to the actual Guide to Benefit and/or insurance documents for complete details of coverage and exclusions. Coverage is provided through the company named in the Guide to Benefit or on the certificate of insurance. Cellular telephone bill must be paid through your TotalCare Checking account.
5. NIHFCU will waive its $1.50 foreign ATM fee on the first 3 non-network ATM transactions per month (i.e., withdrawals, balance inquiries). Unused monthly allotment will not transfer to subsequent months. ATM fees and surcharges from the ATM owner apply and will not be waived.
6. Additional cost for premium/custom checks as well as for additional orders outside the complimentary allotment applies.
7. After the two month no fee period is over, TotalCare Checking’s monthly $4.95 fee will be waived if member has a monthly direct deposit of at least $500 into the TotalCare Checking account and has an NIHFCU credit card, loan or line (excluding mortgages sold with servicing released).
8. Earn 1 reward point for every $5 spent (net after returns) using your NIHFCU debit card for qualifying signature and PIN-based purchases.
9. Subject to credit approval, interest charges apply. Personal Line of Credit not available on business accounts.
10. Minor, trust, club & organizational and deceased member accounts are not eligible for Courtesy Pay. Members with the following conditions on their account(s) are temporarily ineligible for courtesy pay but may become eligible once the condition(s) are removed: Past due NIHFCU loan; charged-off NIHFCU loan; accounts with a negative balance for more than 31 days; consumer checking account open less than 31 days; business checking open less than 61 days, accounts with levies, garnishments or bankruptcies, regular share account with balance under $1. Features and benefits as of May 7, 2018 and subject to change without notice.
11. ATM Fee Rebate Form must be submitted within 60 days of the date of your last statement. Reimbursements are for ATM surcharges from other financial institutions only. Foreign exchange fees are not rebated. Subject to change without notice. Certain restrictions apply.