Flexible Terms to Support ANY Savings Goal!
To achieve a goal, always make a plan. For most savings goals, that plan could include share certificates. Providing exceptional convenience and flexibility, we offer share certificates with a variety of terms ranging from 3 months to 60 months. Choose the terms that suit your goals.
About Share Certificates:
Save and earn with peace of mind.
By offering a higher dividend rate than your standard savings, share certificates are great for making your money work harder for you. The certificate's dividend rate or annual percentage yield (APY) is determined by the term, which is the number of months you agree to save the funds before withdrawing your principal.
As an added protection at Visions, if you withdraw the funds early, you will not lose your principal. That's because we designed our certificates to honor your initial investment and reduce risk. It's just a simple, safe, and sound way for you to earn more dividends with your savings.
SCENARIO 1
Let’s say you’re planning to spend $4,000 of your savings as a down payment on a new car about five months from now.
Even if you already have $4,000 in your primary savings, consider opening a 3-5-Month Share Certificate with a 5-month term. By moving those funds into that certificate, currently at 3.55% APY*, you could enjoy $59 in dividends at the end of the term. Compare that to the $2 it could earn in primary savings.
Plus, you could make additional deposits to the 3-5-Month Share Certificate, which could help to increase your down payment, boost your dividends, or even pay for your first road trip in your new ride!
SCENARIO 2
Let’s say you’ve saved about half of your goal for a 2027 family vacation.
Your savings could have a two-part solution. Set aside what you’ve already saved in a 24-29-Month Share Certificate. That way, while it’s on course to earn our current rate of 3.60% APY* for the next 24+ months, you won’t be as tempted to withdraw it. Compared to 2-year certificate products at other US financial institutions, that rate is at the top of the market!
Meanwhile, open a Lucky Savers 12-Month Share Certificate**. Not only does it earn the same rate as our 12-17-Month Certificate, currently at 3.75% APY*, but it also allows you to make additional deposits with chances to win cash prizes. Each deposit of $25 – up to $250 per month – earns an entry into drawings for cash prizes of up to $5,000. After renewing the certificate for a second year of savings, you could be on your way to a good dose of dividends, hundreds of chances to win per year, and the vacation of your dreams.
SCENARIO 3
Let’s say you’re saving to stabilize your income for retirement in 7-10 years.
Looking ahead, perhaps you expect some income from a 401(k) plan, Social Security, and marketplace investments. You could choose to open a 60-Month Share Certificate as a fixed-rate investment you can trust. With an opening deposit of $20,000 and at our current rate of 3.50% APY*, your dividends could total $700 at the end of the first year or more than $3,700 at the end of the 60-month term.
Why mention the $700? Because you can withdraw it! When you open a share certificate at Visions, you’re locking in the principal, but you don’t have to leave the dividends. You can request to withdraw your dividends whenever you’d like! You’d pay no penalties or fees, as long as you’re leaving the principal in the certificate. You could even set up an automated transfer to tap into those dividends regularly.
What do you want from your savings? We can help.
For ideas to support your own goals or to open a share certificate, you can speak with a representative at your local branch or give us a call at 800.242.2120. To open a share certificate online, simply log into digital banking and click Add Share/Certificate.
*APY = annual percentage yield. Rates accurate as of publication on 08/13/2025. Rates are subject to change; actual earnings and rates may vary. For current certificate rates and details, visit visionsfcu.org/rates/certificates.
**Lucky Savers details at visionsfcu.org/luckysavers.
This article first appeared in MoneyMatters Magazine. Click here to continue reading our current publication.
