SkyOne Federal Credit Union Review 2024

When you think about credit unions, a few things probably come to mind, like low fees, above-average savings rates, and collective ownership.

SkyOne Federal Credit Union, also known as SkyOne FCU comes with all of that, plus a ton of other financial services.

If you’re looking to switch over, or you just want to learn more about what SkyOne has to offer, you’re in the right place. In this post, you’ll get all the details on SkyOne, including its membership requirements, account options, APY rates, and more. You’ll also see how it compares to similar financial institutions.

But first, let’s briefly cover some background on what SkyOne Federal Credit Union is and what it brings to the table.

About SkyOne Federal Credit Union

SkyOne is an NCUA-backed credit union based in Hawthorne, California. It’s been around since 1949 when it was founded as the CAA Region 6 Federal Credit Union. Originally, the credit union served Civil Aeronautics Administration employees and their families in the western United States.

In 2010, SkyOne adopted its current name and now serves all types of air transportation industry employees throughout the U.S. This includes employees of the FAA, TSA, airlines, air cargo transport companies, and more.

Most recently, SkyOne expanded even further and began to include members outside of the air travel industry. If you live or work in the area of its main office, or you make a donation to one of its partner organizations, you can now qualify for membership.

SkyOne offers a wide variety of deposit accounts, plus credit cards, loans, small business banking, wealth management services, and more.

To give you a better idea of SkyOne as a whole, let’s jump right into its top banking features.

SkyOne Federal Credit Union Features

4,000+ Shared Branches

SkyOne only has two of its own branches, with its headquarters in Hawthorne and a smaller branch in El Segundo. But don’t worry. SkyOne is part of the nationwide credit union Co-Op, which offers members access to over 4,000 shared branches. This means that customers nationwide can still have access to an in-network location.

66,000+ ATMs

On top of its shared branches, SkyOne comes with a network of more than 66,000 fee-free ATMs. These include Co-Op ATMs, Allpoint ATMs, plus MoneyCenter express machines found at Walmart (including those in the UK and Puerto Rico).

Online Banking

With SkyOne’s iSky online banking, you can handle bill pay, transfers, and monitor all of your transactions. You can also set up custom alerts, manage any SkyOne loans, and securely communicate with customer service. Online banking is included with all SkyOne accounts and services, so you can easily manage your finances wherever you are.

Mobile App

SkyOne offers a mobile app, but the jury is still out on its functionality. On limited reviews, the app currently has a 3.3-star rating (out of 5) in the Google Play Store and just 2.7 stars (out of 5) in the App Store.

SkyOne Federal Credit Union Checking Accounts

Skyone currently has one checking account option on offer:

SkyOne Advantage Checking

SkyOne keeps it simple with a lone checking account: SkyOne Advantage Checking. Fortunately, it has some nice perks, so you won’t be left wishing you had other account options.

SkyOne Advantage Checking is interest-bearing, with an annual percentage yield (APY) of 0.05%. To earn that rate, you need to maintain a minimum balance of $2,500, which will also help you avoid the $5 monthly maintenance fee.

Otherwise, SkyOne Advantage is a pretty standard checking account. You’ll have a debit card, access to early direct deposit, online and mobile banking, and free eStatements.

SkyOne Federal Credit Union Savings Accounts

SkyOne has several ways to save available, including online savings, high-yield savings, certificates of deposit, and money market accounts.

SkyOne Savings

SkyOne Savings is an entry-level savings account, and you can open one with as little as $5. It comes with all the basics, including early direct deposit, online and mobile banking, and no monthly service fee.

However, you need a balance of at least $500 to earn interest, and even then, you’ll only get a disappointing 0.05% APY. With this in mind, SkyOne Savings is really only a good fit for those who are just starting to build up their savings.

Sky-High Savings

Sky-High Savings is SkyOne’s high-yield savings account. The account comes with a 1.00% APY, but just like SkyOne Savings, you have to earn it. In order to qualify for interest, you must receive deposits of at least $1,000 per month across accounts. This shouldn’t be difficult if you set up direct deposit, and you can enjoy the benefits of a truly high-yield rate.

Otherwise, it’s a pretty straightforward account, and you only need a $1 initial deposit to get started.

Certificate Account

If you’re looking for SkyOne’s highest overall APY, check out its Share Certificates. Much like a certificate of deposit account you’d find with a bank, share certificates offer a fixed APY for an agreed-upon term.

During that time, you won’t have access to the funds without penalty, so you just sit back and watch it grow. SkyOne Certificates require at least $1,000 to open, and the term lengths range from 6 months to 5 years.

Here’s the full breakdown of the current rates for each term:

• 6-Month Certificate: 3.00% APY
• 11-Month Certificate: 3.00% APY
• 1-Year Certificate: 3.00% APY
• 2-Year Certificate: 3.20% APY
• 3-Year Certificate: 3.30% APY
• 4-Year Certificate: 3.40% APY
• 5-Year Certificate: 3.60% APY

Money Market Account

Another option for savings is SkyOne’s Money Market account, which comes with withdrawal flexibility and a solid savings rate. While the APY doesn’t match the heights of Sky-High Savings, it easily outpaces SkyOne Savings.

Overall, this is a great option if you’re looking for a slightly more flexible savings account.

The APY for this account is tiered, so the more money in your account, the higher your rate will be.

Here’s a look at the current tiers:

• $2,500 – $24,999.99 balance: 0.10% APY
• $25,000 – $49,999.99 balance: 0.20% APY
• $50,000 – $99,999.99 balance: 0.30% APY
• $100,000 – $249,999.99 balance: 0.40%
• $250,000+ balance: 0.40% APY

Pricing and Fees

SkyOne isn’t the type of credit union with fees around every corner, which I’m sure you’ll be happy to hear. However, that doesn’t mean it’s completely fee-free.

The good news is that the fees it charges are either fairly low or completely avoidable. While you can mostly enjoy charge-free banking with SkyOne, here are a few things to be aware of upfront.

• Monthly Maintenance Fees: Two of SkyOne’s accounts come with a monthly fee: SkyOne Advantage Checking, and SkyOne Money Market. The fees are $5 and $10 each, respectively, but both are also avoidable by maintaining a certain account balance.
• Overdraft Fees: SkyOne provides overdraft protection by allowing you to draw funds from a linked account if you go in the red. Each overdraft transfer comes with a $2 fee. On top of that charge, there’s an additional $10 fee for a protected overdraft. In the event that you aren’t able to cover the overdraft with your linked account, the fee goes up to $30. So, just keep that in mind if you see your balance getting low.

Getting Started

To get started with SkyOne, you first need to determine your eligibility for membership. If you work in the air travel industry or live near its main office outside of Los Angeles, chances are your application will be approved.

That said, even if you don’t meet those requirements, you can still join by making a small donation to one of SkyOne’s partner organizations.

Once your membership application is approved, you can get started with your various accounts and online banking. The easiest way to open an account is online, but you can also get in touch over the phone or at one of its branches.

To get an account set up with an online application, be sure to come prepared with your driver’s license or other ID, and bank account info for initial funding.

Promotions

SkyOne doesn’t currently offer a sign-up bonus for any of its accounts. But it does come with a pretty solid referral bonus if you bring others into the fold.

Each time you refer someone and they open a SkyOne account, you’ll both get a $50 Amazon gift card. You can make up to 10 referrals, bringing the total earning potential to $500.

Security

SkyOne takes online and financial security seriously and provides helpful online info to help you identify and avoid potential scams such as phishing, identity theft, and more.

SkyOne also employs plenty of online protections, including bank-level encryption and multi-factor authentication for account access.

Customer Support

SkyOne’s Contact Center is open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm Pacific Time, and from 9 am to 2 pm on Saturdays. The phone number is 800-421-7111, and you can schedule a call online if you don’t want to wait on hold.

Additionally, you can use SkyOne’s online chatbot feature, or send an email to memberservices@SkyOne.org. SkyOne’s main office can be found at the following address: 14600 Aviation Blvd, Hawthorne, CA 90250.

Customer Reviews

SkyOne Federal Credit Union doesn’t have a ton of online customer reviews, but its Yelp profile boasts 3 out of 5 stars based on 52 reviews.

About half the reviews are 5 stars, which says a lot!  Let’s look at what a few real-life customers have to say about their experience with SkyOne.

5-star review:

SkyOne made my account opening process a great experience. I appreciated the time they took to answer my questions and how professional their member service and loan staff are. Whenever I have had a question or issue, they spring into action, which can't always be said for other institutions. Thank you SkyOne for going above and beyond in my account and loan opening process!

5-star review:

I have been a member for more than 10 years, and this credit union has helped me all the time. They provide great customer service, and they go above and beyond. I really recommend this branch thanks to each and every employee for the awesome customer service.

4-star review:

I've been a member here since AMFCU closed. It's very hard to get a loan with them or refinance your house or car. They were asking us for a $10,000 down payment to refinance our car, so we couldn't refinance with them. But they do have some great people there.

Pros & Cons

Alternatives to SkyOne Federal Credit Union

Alliant Credit Union

Alliant is one of the most popular credit unions in the U.S., and it has earned that distinction. Like SkyOne, it’s open to anyone assuming some simple qualifications, and it offers high-performing bank accounts with well above-average savings rates.

Consumers Credit Union

With nothing more than a $5 one-time fee, you can become a member of Consumers Credit Union, and you’ll likely be glad you did. Consumers offer some of the best savings rates around and have a wide variety of deposit accounts to choose from.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can join SkyOne Federal?

In short, anyone! While SkyOne used to limit its membership to air travel employees only, it’s now open to anyone, with some minimal requirements for those outside the industry.

Does SkyOne Federal Credit Union have Zelle?

At the moment, no, but it sounds like it’s on the way. Recently, SkyOne announced that Zelle would be available in its new online banking platform, with no specific timeline cited. So, it sounds like this feature should be available to new members.

How do I find my SkyOne account number?

You can find your account number in your iSky mobile banking login, or at the bottom of your checks if you have them. It should be pretty straightforward, but if you have trouble finding it, you can always give them a call.

Is SkyOne Federal Credit Union a Good Option for You?

SkyOne is best for air travel employees and their families. It’s also a solid credit union choice for the general public, small businesses, and non-profit institutions.

The downsides are minimal and mostly come down to personal preference. For example, SkyOne’s tech (website and mobile app) can’t compete with modern fintech. But if all you need is an app that lets you check your balance and transfer money, it’ll get the job done.

Now that you know what SkyOne has to offer, it’s your call on whether or not to board the flight.