LendingClub Bank Review 2022: Checking and Savings Accounts
LendingClub is one of the more interesting online banks we’ve reviewed lately. First up — it is an online bank, which means no physical branches, though that’s not necessarily unusual anymore. What makes LendingClub Bank unique is that it’s the first proper mix of fintech and online banking.
LendingClub Bank actually started life as Radius Bank in 1987 and transitioned to online-only banking in 2012, closing its brick-and-mortar locations. LendingClub is also a fintech — financial technology — company that offers personal loans online. In 2020, LendingClub acquired Radius and renamed it LendingClub Bank. This acquisition marked the first time a fintech company had purchased a U.S. bank, and the promise was that LendingClub Bank would be able to offer the best of both worlds.
Today, LendingClub Bank offers an array of competitive online banking accounts and services, including a very compelling checking account option.
Is LendingClub Bank right for you? Read on to find out.
LendingClub Bank Checking Accounts
LendingClub offers one of our favorite checking accounts right now: Rewards Checking. Unfortunately, if you don’t qualify for it, you don’t have many other options.
LendingClub Rewards Checking
- No monthly fees or ATM fees
- Ability to earn interest on checking account
- 1.00% cash back on debit card purchases
More Information About LendingClub Checking
The LendingClub Bank Rewards Checking account offers account holders a fee-free checking experience with a $100 minimum starting balance and no monthly minimum balance requirement. The account earns a reasonable interest rate of between 0.10% and 0.15% (depending on balance), which is a nice bonus that many checking accounts don’t offer.
Even more interesting is the cash back available on this account — as long as you maintain an average balance of $2,500 or more each month, or receive at least that much in direct deposits each month, you can earn 1.00% cash back on your debit card purchases. While maintaining a $2,500 average balance may be a stretch for some, the direct deposit criteria is much more achievable and makes this a compelling checking account option.
If you don’t qualify for the Rewards Checking because of a low credit score, you can also check out the Essential Checking account. This option is available to select customers and is billed by LendingClub as a way to rebuild your credit score and improve your personal finance situation.
The Essential Checking account differs from Rewards Checking in a couple key areas. First, there’s a $9 monthly service fee. Second, there are daily limits of $500 on debit card transactions and $1,000 on check deposits. The upshot is that after 12 months of establishing a positive banking history, you may be eligible to upgrade to a Rewards Checking account.
LendingClub Bank Savings Accounts
LendingClub Bank’s single savings account option offers a very competitive interest rate, provided you meet the minimum balance requirement of $2,500. Below that, it’s less interesting.
LendingClub High-Yield Savings
- Up to 0.60% APY
- No-fee ATM access
- Low-starting balance
More Information About LendingClub Savings
The LendingClub High-Yield Savings account is frankly fantastic. As long as your balance is over $2,500, you earn an excellent 0.60% APY, and you only need a minimum deposit of $100 to get started. On top of that, you get a free ATM card with no fees, so your funds are easily accessible.
The only real issue we can pick out is that accounts with balances below $2,500 earn a much lower 0.05% APY. That said, some smart savings strategies should help you get that balance up in no time.
Other LendingClub Bank Offerings
LendingClub’s other offerings are fairly standard. There’s a CD option with a wide range of term lengths, as well as the expected array of personal loans. Most interesting are the personal finance options available through partnerships with other institutions.
Certificates of Deposit (CDs)
LendingClub Bank offers an array of CDs for longer-term investments. Terms run the gamut from 3 months to five years and offer interest rates of 0.10% APY across the board.
LendingClub CD Account
- Reasonable minimum balance
- Solid interest rate
- Choice of term lengths
More Information About LendingClub CDs
CDs differ from standard savings accounts in a couple of ways:
- A CD locks your funds into the account for the length of the term.
- There is almost always a penalty for withdrawing funds early.
- The interest rate on a CD account is fixed for the length of the term.
For these reasons, they don’t necessarily make the best general-purpose savings accounts. They’re better-suited to situations where you know your money will have time to mature and earn.
The LendingClub CD options are decent, though we think they’d be best as an additional savings account if you’re already using LendingClub Bank, rather than as a standalone product.
Personal Loans
LendingClub also offers personal loans — in fact, that’s how the company got its name. LendingClub offers loans up to $40,000 for credit card consolidation, balance transfers, debt consolidation, and more. The rates are fixed, and funding can be available in just a few days. Unfortunately, there are no small business loans available.
If you’re already using LendingClub Bank and need to take out a personal loan, it may make sense to keep things under one roof. At any rate, it certainly doesn’t hurt to have the option.
Mobile Banking
The mobile experience is important with any bank, but for online banks it can make or break the experience. We’re happy to report that LendingClub Bank’s suite of apps is outstanding.
The standard mobile app is easy to use and offers all the features you’d expect, including:
- Check deposits.
- Available balances.
- Transaction history and search.
- Fund transfers.
There are also features available to help you better manage your finances, set a budget, and keep track of trends in your income or spending. Finally, the LendingClub Marketplace is a tool built into the app that helps customers find financial products from LendingClub partners, including life insurance, student loan refinancing, and health savings accounts.
LendingClub Bank Review: The Pros and Cons
Wondering if LendingClub Bank is right for you? Our list of pros and cons could help you decide.
Pros
- Earn cash back with the Rewards Checking account — 1.00% on all debit card purchases, provided you meet the minimum balance requirement.
- Highly competitive interest rate on the High-Yield Savings account (with a reasonable minimum balance).
- No monthly fees on any accounts.
- No ATM fees at in-network ATMs, and ATM fee rebates for any out-of-network fees incurred, which helps offset the lack of branches.
- Excellent mobile app and 24/7 online access.
Cons
- No physical branch locations, like most online banks.
- CDs have mediocre interest rates (0.10% across the board).
- No IRAs or other savings options beyond the High-Yield Savings and CD accounts.
- The High-Yield Savings account is less attractive if your minimum balance dips below $2,500.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About LendingClub Bank
Have questions about LendingClub Bank? We have answers.
Penny Hoarder contributor Dave Schafer has been writing professionally for nearly a decade, covering topics ranging from personal finance to software and consumer tech.
This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.
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