Everyday accounts, honest fees, real bankers.
Whether you're opening your first checking account, saving for a house, or planning retirement — Neighbors First has an account built for it, and a Chicagoland banker to help you choose.
Checking accounts
Neighbors First offers three checking accounts designed for different stages of life. All include free online and mobile banking, a Visa® debit card, and access to more than 55,000 surcharge-free ATMs nationwide.
Neighbors Free Checking
$25 to open · $0 monthly fee
- No minimum balance requirement
- Free Visa® debit card
- Free online and mobile banking with bill pay
- Free e-statements (paper statements $3/month)
- Overdraft protection available on request
Best for: everyday spending, no minimum balance.
Neighbors Interest Checking
$100 to open · $10 monthly fee (waived with $2,500 average daily balance)
- Earns 0.10% APY on all balances
- Unlimited check writing
- Free cashier's checks and money orders (5 per month)
- Free Visa® debit card and online banking
- ATM fee refunds up to $15/month at non-network ATMs
Best for: households that maintain a steady balance.
Neighbors Student Checking
$0 to open · $0 monthly fee
- Ages 16–24 with valid student ID
- Free Visa® debit card with custom design
- Free online and mobile banking
- Fee-free access at any Neighbors First ATM
- $25 sign-up bonus with first direct deposit
Best for: high school and college students building credit.
Savings, money market, and CDs
Save with confidence. All Neighbors First deposit accounts are insured by the FDIC up to $250,000 per depositor, per ownership category.
Neighbors Savings
$25 to open · $3 monthly fee (waived with $300 balance)
A simple, no-frills savings account for building an emergency fund or short-term goals. Earns 0.15% APY on all balances, compounded daily.
- Automatic transfers from your Neighbors First checking
- Free online and mobile access
- Up to 6 external transfers per statement cycle
Neighbors Money Market
$1,000 to open · $0 monthly fee with $2,500 minimum balance
Higher yields for larger balances, with check-writing privileges (up to 6 per statement cycle) and a debit card for account access.
Current APY tiers:
- $2,500 – $24,999: 2.10% APY
- $25,000 – $99,999: 3.05% APY
- $100,000+: 3.65% APY
APYs current as of the last rate change. See Rates for details.
Certificates of Deposit (CDs)
Lock in a guaranteed rate with a Neighbors First CD. Minimum $1,000 to open. Interest compounded daily and credited monthly. Early withdrawal penalties apply. Current CD rates on the Rates page.
- Terms available: 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, and 60 months
- Special-rate CDs periodically offered — ask a banker or check the Rates page
- Automatic renewal at maturity unless you tell us otherwise
- 10-day grace period after maturity to make changes without penalty
IRAs
Neighbors First offers Traditional and Roth IRAs as CDs and savings accounts. Talk to a banker about which type fits your tax situation and retirement timeline. Contact Lisa Bennett at our Lincoln Park branch — our New Accounts and IRA Specialist.
Debit and credit cards
Neighbors First Visa® Debit Card
Included free with every Neighbors First checking account. Contactless tap-to-pay, mobile wallet support (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay), and 24/7 fraud monitoring. If your card is lost or stolen, freeze it instantly from the Neighbors First mobile app or call our 24-hour card services line at (312) 555-4160.
Credit cards
Neighbors First offers two credit cards, both with no annual fee, zero foreign transaction fees, and issued by our own bank — not resold from a third party.
Neighbors Cash Rewards Visa®
- 3% cash back on groceries and gas
- 2% cash back on dining
- 1% cash back on everything else
- $150 cash back after $1,000 spent in the first 3 months
- Variable APR: 18.24% – 26.24% based on creditworthiness
Neighbors Low-Rate Visa®
- Variable APR: 12.99% – 18.99% based on creditworthiness
- 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months
- No balance transfer fee for Neighbors First checking customers
- No cash advance fee at Neighbors First ATMs
Not sure which account is right?
Talk to a Neighbors First banker — no pressure, no sales pitch. Just an honest recommendation.