Checking Accounts

Checking that works as hard as you do
It’s your Advantage

Manage Your Money With Confidence & Ease

Open a checking account that supports your lifestyle and aligns with your vision for the future. We offer four checking account options that both provide convenience and access anytime.

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Convenient

View your account, deposit checks, and perform almost any transaction you could at a branch using our free Digital Banking.

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Accessible

Find us anywhere when you search for a location or ATM near you.  Use your debit card at over 65,000 ATMs nationwide to withdraw cash or get cash back in-store.

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Secure

Monitor and manage your transactions by setting up debit card alerts so you can stay in the loop and keep your finances on track.

Which Checking Account is Right for You?

At 1st Advantage, our members don’t just get the best products and services — they get options too. Compare four great checking account options so you can choose the account that helps you achieve your goals.

  • Best For

    Best For

  • Monthly Fee

    Monthly Fee

  • Pays Dividends

    Pays Dividends

  • Minimum Opening Deposit

    Minimum Opening Deposit

Free Advantage Checking

  • Best For

    Someone who wants a totally free checking account.

  • Monthly Fee

    None

  • Pays Dividends

    No

  • Minimum Opening Deposit

    $0

Preferred Checking

  • Best For

    Someone who wants the option to earn dividends and have added perks. 

  • Monthly Fee

    None – with a $250 Average Daily Balance

    $7.00 monthly fee applies otherwise

  • Pays Dividends

    Yes – $100 Average Daily Balance required to earn dividends.

  • Minimum Opening Deposit

    $0

Premier Checking

  • Best For

    Someone who wants an account that pays dividends and has premier perks.

  • Monthly Fee

    $5

  • Pays Dividends

    Yes

  • Minimum Opening Deposit

    $0

Youth Spend

  • Best For

    Your child must be younger than 18, but there is no minimum age.

  • Monthly Fee

    None

  • Pays Dividends

    No

  • Minimum Opening Deposit

    $0

High-Yield Checking

  • Best For

    Someone who wants a checking account and wants to earn substantial interest rates.

  • Monthly Fee

    None

  • Pays Dividends

    Yes! Qualified Accounts earn 4.00% APY^

  • Minimum Opening Deposit

    $0

Empower Your Spending with Incredible Rates

It’s easy to open a new Checking Account. You can experience all the benefits of day-to-day spending and easy banking.

Checking Accounts

Account

Dividend

APY*

Opening Balance

Compounded/Credited

Average Daily Balance

*APY = Annual Percentage Yield
**Average Daily Balance required to earn Dividends
Rates are subject to change at any time and are not guaranteed. Rate may change after the account is open. Fees may reduce the earnings on the account. For additional information on your account please see your Membership & Account Agreement. If you have any questions or require current rate information please call the credit union at 757-877-2444.

^APY = Annual Percentage Yield. Qualified accounts earn up to 4.00% APY on balances up to $7,500 and 0.05% APY on balances over $7,500. Non-Qualified account balances earn 0.05% APY. Qualified accounts must have  10 or more posted Debit Card transactions (excluding ATM transactions) per month and eStatements. Failure to meet any one of these requirements during a calendar month will cause the account to default to the Non-Qualified account rate of 0.05% APY. APY as of 9/18/2023 and is subject to change. Dividends compounded monthly. No minimum balance to open. Fees may reduce earnings. This offer can be withdrawn at any time.

Account

Free Advantage Checking

Dividend

N/A

APY*

N/A

Opening Balance

N/A

Compounded/Credited

N/A

Average Daily Balance

N/A

Account

Premier Checking

Dividend

0.05%

APY*

0.05%

Opening Balance

None

Compounded/Credited

Quarterly

Average Daily Balance

$100

Account

Preferred Checking

Dividend

0.05%

APY*

0.05%

Opening Balance

None

Compounded/Credited

Quarterly

Average Daily Balance

$250

Account

Youth Spend

Dividend

N/A

APY*

N/A

Opening Balance

N/A

Compounded/Credited

N/A

Average Daily Balance

N/A

Account

High-Yield Checking

Dividend

up to 3.928%^

APY*

up to 4.00%^

Opening Balance

None

Compounded/Credited

Monthly

Average Daily Balance

N/A

Direct Deposit with Early Pay

Get immediate access to your paycheck when you sign up for Direct Deposit. As a 1st Advantage member, you get access to…

  • Automatic payroll transfers to your checking account
  • A safe and secure alternative to handling paper checks
  • The Early Pay perk which allows you to receive your paycheck up to two days early
  • View our Direct Deposit form here

Overdraft Protection

Everyone makes mistakes sometimes. When you overdraft on your account, Overdraft Services covers that gap. An overdraft occurs when you do not have enough money in your account to cover a transaction, but we pay it anyway.

Learn more about overdraft protection

Get Answers to Your Questions

The routing number for 1st Advantage members is 251480563.

You can order checks within Online Banking, in branch, or by calling our eBranch Call Center at 800-359-7650 or 757-877-2444.

To order via Online Banking, follow the below steps:
1. Login to your Online Banking account
2. Select which account you would like to order checks for (Checking, Money Market, etc.) by clicking on the name of the account
3. Click on the More Actions icon in the Account Details menu
4. Select Order checks

If you are ordering checks from another company, please use the information below:
Address:

1st Advantage Federal Credit Union
P.O. Box 2116
Newport News, Virginia 23609
www.1stAdvantage.org
Routing Number: 251480563

Account Number – your checking account number is different from your member number. Do not use your member number. You can view your checking account number by logging into Online Banking, clicking on your checking account, and then clicking Account Information from the Account Details menu.

Not finding what you’re looking for? See all our FAQs or Contact Us.

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