Are you looking for a high yield savings account? If so, chances are you've seen Vio Bank on the lists of top savings accounts. They are consistently listed near the top of the rate tables because of their rates - but are they worth it?
We break down Vio Bank in our Vio Bank review below. See how they compare and look at our list of the best high yield savings accounts here.
Quick Summary
- Competitive savings account APY
- Few fees that are easy to avoid
- Just $100 to open and doesn't require a minimum daily balance
Vio Bank Details | |
|---|---|
Product Name | Vio High Yield Savings |
Min Deposit | $100 |
APY | 0.50% APY |
Account Type | Savings |
Promotions | None |
What Is Vio Bank?
Vio Bank is a division of MidFirst Bank. Basically, it is the online version of MidFirst Bank. MidFirst Bank is one of the largest private financial institutions in the U.S. with $20 billion in assets and over 600,000 customers. They are based in Oklahoma City, OK, and serve customers in Arizona, California, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Vio Bank was formed in 2018 and allows MidFirst Bank to service a national customer base.
What Do They Offer?
Vio Bank is an online-only bank. It does not have any branches or ATMs. They offer a high-interest savings account and CDs with few fees.
Vio Bank’s current savings rate is 0.50% APY, which is much higher than traditional brick-and-mortar banks. Their rates are competitive with other high-yield savings accounts and rates are regularly monitored to ensure they remain competitive.
There is a $100 minimum to open an account but a minimum does not need to be maintained. There is no monthly maintenance fee.
Because Vio Bank has no ATMs, cash cannot be deposited into a savings account. To transfer money into a savings account, link it with your current (external) bank checking account. Direct deposits can be made into your savings account. If you need recurring deposits to occur from your checking account, that feature is also available.
Vio Bank offers personal banking services only, which means it doesn’t have business products.
Customer service is handled by phone, mail, or email. Customer service is not available 24/7. There are no chat options available. Vio Bank customer service can be contacted at 888-999-9170 during these times:
- Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (CT)
- Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (CT)
- Sunday, 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (CT)
Vio Bank does have a mobile app. It is available for both iPhone and Android users. On the Apple App Store, the app has a 4.4/5.0 rating from 801 people. But on the Google Play Store, the app has only a 3/5 rating from 140 people. Checks can be deposited into your savings account by using the mobile app. You can also view your account balances, view transaction history, and transfer funds.
One drawback of using Vio Bank is that you can’t access your funds immediately. This is because there is no ATM card or checking account available.
See how they compare to the other top savings accounts here:
Header | |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
Rating | |||
APY | 0.50% | 0.50% | 0.70% |
Monthly Fees | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Min Deposit | $100 | $0 | $100 |
FDIC Insured | |||
Cell |
Are There Any Fees?
Yes. If your account is dormant for one year, you will incur a fee. Savings accounts are limited to six transactions per month, which includes but is not limited to the following:
- “Checks”
- “Debit card purchase transactions”
- “Preauthorized payments to any third party (including ACH withdrawals and Bill Payments)”
- “Online wires or funds transfers”
- “Overdraft Protect transfers”
- “Online or Mobile payments”
- “Telephone transfers”
Every transaction above six will incur a $10 fee. Continued transactions over six may result in your account being closed. Transactions made by mail, in person, or at a bank ATM, as those services may be available, are not limited.
There is a $5/month fee for paper statements. There are other fees that are standard across banks and not anything that most customers will come across. You can read about them in Vio Bank’s fee schedule.
How Do I Open an Account?
Visit https://www.viobank.com to open an account. The application is done completely online and takes only a few minutes.
Once your account is open, link your external bank checking account to get money in (or out) of your savings account. If you have paper checks, you can mail them, wire them, or use the mobile app to deposit them.
Is My Money Safe?
Yes. Vio Bank uses bank-grade encryption and is FDIC-insured. Your savings account is government-insured for up to $250,000. Note that because Vio Bank is part of MidFirst Bank, the FDIC insurance limit of $250,000 is the combined total of deposits at both banks.
Is It Worth It?
Vio Bank is a no-frills, online-only bank with few products. Their savings account APY is competitive, and it is easy to avoid their fees. Customer service is available by phone, mail, and email. Overall, Vio Bank is a worthy savings account option.
Vio Bank Review
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Robert Farrington is America’s Millennial Money Expert® and America’s Student Loan Debt Expert™, and the founder of The College Investor, a personal finance site dedicated to helping millennials escape student loan debt to start investing and building wealth for the future. You can learn more about him on the About Page, or on his personal site RobertFarrington.com.
He regularly writes about investing, student loan debt, and general personal finance topics geared towards anyone wanting to earn more, get out of debt, and start building wealth for the future.
He has been quoted in major publications including the New York Times, Washington Post, Fox, ABC, NBC, and more. He is also a regular contributor to Forbes.
