Ascend Checking: Free Checking That Earns Up to 3.50% APY

Start earning dividends in your checking account with our Ascend Checking by completing these qualifying activities1 each month:

To earn dividends each monthly statement cycle:

  • Enroll in eStatements
  • Make at least 20 debit card purchases
  • Receive at least one monthly direct deposit greater than $250  

If you do not meet the dividend qualifications during a statement cycle, you will not earn dividends for that cycle. There is no additional monthly fee for not meeting the qualifications.

p1fcu member working outdoors

Dividends for the Doers

Whether you're getting up early or working late, get rewarded for the work you're already doing with an Ascend Checking account. 

How to Earn 3.50% APY1 With Ascend Checking

  1. Choose eStatements
     Stay enrolled in eStatements with a valid email address.

  2. Use your debit card
     Complete at least 20 qualifying debit card purchases that post and settle during the month.

  3. Set up direct deposit
     Receive one monthly direct deposit greater than $250.

Review full dividend qualifications

Benefits of a P1FCU Ascend Checking Account

Not only does Ascend Checking come with no monthly fee, it comes with all these free benefits:

Earn and save

  • Up to 3.50% APY on qualifying balances

  • Ascend Money Market rate bump

  • Save Your Change

  • No minimum balance required

  • No monthly account fee

Manage your money digitally

  • Digital Banking

  • Mobile Deposit

  • Zelle

  • Mobile Wallet

  • Contactless Payments

  • Card Updater

Debit card and account protection

  • Free Debit Mastercard

  • Cell Phone Protection

  • Identity Theft Protection from Mastercard

  • Free Credit Score Monitoring

Flexible access

  • Shared Branching

  • No check writing fees

  • Digital and mobile account access

Free Checking With Local and Digital Access 

Access your Ascend Checking account through P1FCU Digital Banking, Mobile Deposit, Zelle, mobile wallets, and participating shared branches. Use the P1FCU Branch Locator to find a branch or account-access option near you.

Not sure where your nearest P1FCU Branch is? Click below to find yours.

P1FCU Locations

Want to take a look at our Digital Banking before opening your Ascend Checking Account? Check out our video tour, tutorials and more by clicking below. 

P1FCU Digital Banking

 

Ascend Checking Rates1

When all monthly qualifications are met, 3.50% APY is paid on the portion of the average daily balance up to $15,000. The blended APY for balances above $15,000 will range from 0.21% to 3.50%, depending on the account’s average daily balance. 

Deposit Amount Dividend Rate APY1
$0.00 - 15,000 3.445% 3.50%
$15,000.01+ 0.00% 0.21-3.50%


Earn More With an Money Market Account

When your Ascend Checking account meets all three monthly dividend qualifications, an eligible linked Ascend Money Market account can also receive a qualifying rate bump.²
 

Explore Ascend Money Market

How To Open an Ascend Checking Account

Membership Requirements
Idaho
All employees, employers, students, and retirees in Adams, Ada, Benewah, Boise, Bonner, Boundary, Canyon, Clearwater, Gem, Idaho, Kootenai, Latah, Lewis, Nez Perce, Owyhee, Payette, Shoshone, Washington, and Valley Counties and Organizations of such persons. P1FCU membership is also open to any immediate family member of a person who is eligible for membership in the credit union.

Oregon
Persons who live or work in - or organizations located in - the Oregon counties of Baker, Grant, Harney, Malheur, Morrow, Umatilla, Union and Wallowa. P1FCU membership is also open to any immediate family member of a person who is eligible for membership in the credit union.

Washington
Natural persons who live, work, worship or go to school in the State of Washington. Enterprises and organizations that have offices within the State of Washington. P1FCU membership is also open to any immediate family member of a person who is eligible for membership in the credit union.

What you'll need to apply
To open an account, please bring a Government Issued ID, current proof of address, and the $35 minimum to open a P1FCU Savings Account, if you do not already have one.

 

Overdraft Protection

It's good to have someone looking out for you. That’s why we offer overdraft protection options to cover a transaction if money comes up short in your account. An overdraft happens when you do not have enough money in your account to cover a transaction, but we pay it anyway. We offer two options for Overdraft Protection. 

Standard Overdraft

We can link other accounts to your checking account in the instance that funds aren’t available to cover a transaction. This service incurs a $2 transfer fee.

Line of Credit

Use a personal line of credit to have funds available when you need them.

Debit Card Overdraft Protection

Debit Card Overdraft Protection covers your accidental overdrafts so that merchants and credit bureaus will not be notified of overdrafts. For every transaction that we cover, there is a $25 overdraft fee.
 
To see the overdraft fees and the time period by which you must repay any overdraft, see the Account Agreement


Ascend Checking has no monthly account fee and no minimum opening deposit. Other service or transaction fees may apply depending on how the account is used.


During each monthly statement cycle, you must be enrolled in eStatements, complete at least 20 qualifying debit card purchases, and receive one direct deposit greater than $250.


You will not earn dividends for that statement cycle. There is no additional monthly fee simply for not meeting the dividend qualifications.


No minimum balance is required to maintain the account. Dividend earnings depend on meeting the monthly qualifications.




Yes. Ascend Checking includes a Debit Mastercard with contactless-payment and mobile-wallet functionality.


An eligible linked Money Market account may receive a qualifying rate bump during months when all Ascend Checking dividend qualifications are met.


P1FCU members can access services through P1FCU branches, Digital Banking and participating shared branches. To see our locations please click below. 
 



















1 APY is Annual Percentage Yield. Rates may change after the account is opened. Qualifiers to earn dividends with an Ascend Checking Account, you must be enrolled in eStatements with a valid email address, have a minimum of 20 debit card transactions post and settle (excluding ATM transactions), and one monthly direct deposit of more than $250. When the qualifications are met during a monthly statement cycle, 3.50% APY is paid on the entire portion of the average daily balances up to $15,000, and 0.21-3.50% APY is paid on that portion of the average daily balances over $15,000, depending on the account's average daily balance. No dividends are earned if the qualifications are not met during the statement cycle. Fees may reduce earnings. APY is accurate as of the last dividend declaration date. Insured by NCUA. 

2 To qualify for the Money Market Account Qualifying Bump Rate, you must have an Ascend Checking account linked to the Money Market account, and you must meet the Ascend Checking account dividend qualifications each month. For each month you meet the Ascend Checking account dividend qualifications, you will qualify for the Money Market Account Qualifying Bump Rate. The three monthly dividend qualifications for the Ascend Checking account are: 1) Enrollment in eStatements 2) A minimum of 20 posted debit card transactions per month (ATM transactions excluded) and 3) A monthly direct deposit of over $250.  If the Ascend Checking dividend qualifications are not met, the Money Market will default to the standard Money Market Account Non-Qualifying Rate. Only one Money Market account may be linked to an Ascend Checking account at any time. The Money Market Account Qualifying Bump Rate will be applied to the Money Market account with the earliest opening date. If there are multiple Money Market accounts, you may select which Money Market account to apply the Qualifying Bump Rate at account opening or by reaching out to us at 800.843.7128.  Future changes of your selection can be made in branch or by reaching out to us at 800.843.7128. The dividend rate and annual percentage yield may change at any time. We may change the dividend rate for your account as determined by the credit union.