A High Yield Savings account can help your money grow faster—especially if you know how to use it well. Here are five simple ways to make the most of every dollar and every percentage point!

Max that cash: How to the get the most from your High Yield Savings

High Yield Savings Tips: You’ve made a smart move—now let’s make it even smarter.

 is a great way to grow your money faster with minimal risk. But just opening the account isn’t enough. To really maximize those returns, a few smart habits can go a long way.

Here’s how to make your HYSA work harder—for today, tomorrow, and your big dreams down the road.

Set it and forget it! Automating a regular deposit into your High Yield Savings—whether it’s $10 or $100 a week—helps build your balance consistently without having to 

. Even small, steady contributions can add up fast thanks to compound interest.

To see how easy it can be, try taking our 

. By starting out small and building from there, it’s designed to automatically save you $1,378 over the course of the challenge without breaking a sweat!

spare change from every debit card purchase

 directly into your High Yield Savings. It may not seem like much, but every penny you rescue from the couch cushions—and stash safely in your High Yield Savings account—adds up.

Beyond just a savings account, think of High Yield Savings as a springboard to even more.

 is special. It gives you a consistent 10% APY on your first $1,000. Plus, it offers a higher rate beyond your first thousand AND two ways to earn through both interest and a membership dividend.

That means it’s good for building cash fast and setting you on track for a nest egg that can generate even more earnings with higher-wealth accounts, like a Money Market or a CD.

How’s that math work? Generally, our High Yield is best to get you to about $8,000. At that point, transfer it to a 

 for even better returns and more flexibility.

4. Watch for fees that cancel out your gains

Not all savings accounts are created equal. Some accounts with “high” rates sneak in 

we believe your savings should actually save you money

Rates are great—but your goals matter more. If you’re a member, talk to one of our free financial advisors to align your savings strategy with what you want most. Whether that’s financial freedom, a new home, or just more peace of mind, we’re here to help you map it out.

Not a member yet? Open a High Yield Savings to 

You’ve got dreams. We’ve got the tools—and the 

 to match. Ready to make your money work harder? Let’s grow!

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Max that cash: How to get the most from your High Yield Savings

Big change ahead: The federal government is phasing out paper checks for both Social Security and IRS tax returns. Here’s how to set up direct deposit before the deadline!

Paper Government Checks Are Going Away—Here’s How to Be Ready

Paper checks are officially on the way out.

Starting September 30, 2025, the federal government will no longer send paper checks for benefits such as Social Security payments, tax refunds, or other government payments.

Instead, everything will move to direct deposit or a prepaid card.

For some, this change feels overdue—direct deposit is faster, safer, and more reliable. But if you’re still using paper checks, don’t worry. We’re here to help you keep your wild dreams on track!

Here’s how to make the transition simple:

 account with us, you’re good to go to the next step!

If you don’t already have a checking or savings account with us, now’s the perfect time. New accounts are quick to open, taking only five minutes and five dollars to get started. And you’ll have peace of mind knowing your money goes straight into a trusted, accessible, and local account.

Don’t already have a membership or account?

Easy Direct Deposit is only the beginning. Explore all the ways we’re helping your social security and IRS checks go further with 


Our routing number is: 272483743. When you need it in the future, it’s always easy to find in your CFCU app or at the bottom of our website.


In digital banking, tap the account you want to use, then tap the eye icon under MICR Number to see the account number you’ll use for all direct deposits.


This is what Social Security or the IRS will use to send your deposits directly.

 for tax refunds and enter your CFCU account details from step 2. If you’d like, stop by a 

—we’ll be happy to walk you through it.

With our digital banking, you can set up instant alerts to let you know when your deposit hits. No more waiting by the mailbox or wondering when the check will clear.

We know change can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do this alone. Our team is here to make sure you’re set up and confident before paper checks disappear for good. 

Switching to direct deposit isn’t just about compliance. It’s about speed, security, and convenience. Your money gets to you faster, without the risk of losing a check in the mail. And with our digital tools, you’re in control every step of the way.

Why trust us with your federal direct deposit

Boost your social security check by up to $1,000 


Get paid just for getting direct deposit! Earn up to $1,000 for opening a new CloseEnuff™ checking with direct deposit. 

Learn More

Save more, faster with 10% APY* High Yield Savings 


Build savings quickly with 10% APY* on your first $1,000, plus a boosted rate beyond that. 


We're a for-impact community credit union dedicated to the success of our local communities and neighbors... not global balance sheets. That means we do what's right for members and Michiganders every chance we get. 

Paper checks may be going away, but your money isn’t. We’ll make sure it always lands safely where it belongs—right in your account.



! Or, if you prefer a helping hand, stop by your local branch or call our Michigan-based Care Center today at 

Member Checklist:
Be ready for the end of federal paper checks

Open a checking or savings account with us—if you don’t have one yet.

Log in to your CFCU app and confirm everything is correct.

Set Up Direct Deposit with the U.S. Treasury

Social Security Administration: Get Your Payments Electronically

IRS: Direct Deposit Information for Tax Refunds

Paper Government Checks Are Going Away Blog Content

Paper checks are going away. Here’s what you need to know.

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Federal Paper Check Change

CloseEnuff™ Promotion Details

Earn up to $1000 with direct deposit!

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Accounts must be opened by November 30, 2025. Direct deposits must be active within 6 weeks of account opening. Direct deposit must continue for 90 days. Monthly direct deposit amounts must meet a tier’s minimum amount each month to qualify for the bonus. One bonus per member.

Promotion based on SSN number. Members who also qualify for referral bonus will receive both promotional bonuses. An account is considered new if another was not opened within 6 months. Federally insured by NCUA. Member eligibility required. Payout will be mid-April 2026.

CloseEnuff Tiered Promo Disclosure

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Michigan is known for hockey. But here’s something you might not know—none of our universities have a Division 1 women’s hockey program. We think it’s time that changed. 

Leveling the Ice: Official Sponsors of UMich Women’s Ice Hockey!

That’s why we’re proud to announce that we are now the official sponsors of the University of Michigan Women’s Ice Hockey team!

Right now, women athletes in our state face a tough choice: fund their own club ice hockey experience or leave Michigan to play Division 1 somewhere else. In a state that lives and breathes hockey, that just doesn’t add up.

By standing with U-M Women’s Hockey, we’re helping create a future where Michigan’s women athletes don’t have to choose between chasing their sport and staying in the state they love. Our support is about more than ice time—it’s about leveling the playing field, investing in women, and sparking the momentum that could make U-M the first Division 1 women’s hockey program in Michigan.

Because the wildest dreams—like breaking barriers and rewriting history—deserve every chance to shine. And we’re honored to play a part in that journey.

University of Michigan Women’s Ice Hockey

Learn more about how our community impact is helping all Michiganders Dream Wild™ 

UM Women's Ice Hockey Sponsorship Announcement Blog Content

UM Women's Ice Hockey Announcement Video

University of Michigan Women’s Ice Hockey Upcoming Schedule

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Our Student Run Credit Union members saved $47,782 in 2024! All while learning how to save, plan, and manage their money for an impossibly bright future. And that’s only the beginning...

The Power of Student Run Credit Unions

Student Run Credit Union

Saved by the Student Run Credit Union members in 2024!

Molding a money savvy tomorrow for Michigan

We believe that setting kids up with financial skills from a young age is one of the strongest ways to build economic prosperity in our communities. We’re working to help students in 50+ schools across the state learn by doing through our Student Run Credit Union program. From marketing to operations, the kids run it all. Giving them hands-on experience and financial knowledge that’ll help them thrive into the future.

Celebrating a 30-year partnership with Northville schools

In celebration of over 30 years of growing financial wellness in Northville Schools, we partnered with the district and the Northville Education Foundation to launch a $20 Student Savings Starter program. For any kindergartener and fifth grader in the district who opened a CFCU account we’d deposit the first $20 on us! The extra boost for kids helped drive an overall 30% jump in SRCU membership across the state in 2024.

Beyond the experience gained, the impacts of the student credit unions truly add up with $47,782.39 saved among all students for an average account balance of $359.27 per student in 2024. At well over $300 bucks, that’s more than the median checking account balance in the lowest percentile of US households in 2022!* And a great start for the kids powering Michigan’s future.

Want to put your kid on the right track OR create a Student Run Credit Union at your school? 

Earning while learning at school

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Ignite their Impossible Dreams

Retirement might feel far away—but for Gen X, it’s closer than you think

, president & ceo, Tansley Stearns, is sharing insights on how Gen X can take charge of their financial future and realize their wild dreams.

70% of Gen Xers say they can't afford to retire—They're right if they don't do these 8 things - MSN

Retiring in 2026? 6 financial traps to avoid at all costs - Yahoo Finance

Why retirement planning feels tough for Gen X

Between raising kids, helping aging parents, and building careers, it’s easy to push retirement to the back burner. But planning for your future isn’t selfish—it’s essential. As Tansley shared, the right steps now can give you the freedom and flexibility you’ve always dreamed about later.

Here are a few takeaways from Tansley’s tips that can help get you get started today:

Automating savings means you won’t miss what you don’t see. A 

 savings tool or an automatic savings challenge, like our 

 can take the sting out of building savings by making it feel easy and routine.

Freeing up high-interest payments gives you more to save. If you're a member, you can take advantage of 

 to help boost your financial fitness and tackle debt that may be holding you back.

While banks are profit driven, local credit unions are not-for-profit financial institutions. That means that they put the needs and goals of their members first, which can lead to lower fees, higher rates, and friendly services better crafted to help you hit your personal 

Retirement isn’t just bills and budgets—it’s about creating the freedom to live the life you want. That's why we've partnered with 

 to help you dream even bigger and guide your growth with retirement planning, investment services, 401k rollover services, and more.

 can feel intimidating, but you don’t have to figure it out alone. As your Michigan-based, for-impact community credit union, we’re here to walk with you—helping you build a future where your 

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Gen X & Retirement: Keeping Your Wild Dreams Alive

With over $71k raised, it’s safe to say that the Relentless Care Foundation’s second annual Pickleball for Good Fundraiser has been a huge success! Thanks to our sponsors, donors, and pickle-ballers, bringing the community together means bringing housing within reach for more Michiganders!

Community Financial | $71k Raised at the 2025 Pickleball for Good Fundraiser!

 hosted our second annual Pickleball for Good Fundraiser—and we were blown away by the energy our community brought to the event! We’re thrilled that so many of you showed up, had a great time, and helped us raise over $71k for attainable housing in our communities—almost $11k more than last year!

The money that we’ve raised together will go directly to funding what the RCF set out to do from the start: to bring housing within reach for more Michiganders.

Every penny raised is another step toward overcoming one of our state’s most pressing economic issues, and another Michigander who has the chance to break out of a hard financial cycle.

Step by step, you’re helping to build a better Michigan! More accessible housing leads to a stronger workforce, more mobile communities, and positive impact that spreads across the state!

While there’s still a lot of work to do, you’ve helped to prove that change is possible when a community shows just how much they care.

We’d like to thank all of our sponsors, donors, and attendees for making the Pickleball for Good Fundraiser a massive success! You should be proud of what you’ve done, and we hope you had a wonderful time!

If you have pictures from the event, tag @communityfinancial on social media!

If you missed it, we hope to see you at our next event. You can stay up to date with the 

 by following us on social media, and you can donate at any time 

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$71k Raised at the 2025 Pickleball for Good Fundraiser!

Tansley Stearns, president & ceo of Community Financial Credit Union, shares how and why the Backbone coalition is uniting credit unions to share their stories and create a better future for us all.

, a national coalition aimed at elevating the credit union story. What follows is an article from our president & ceo, Tansley Stearns, that originally appeared on 

Backbone Story Intro

From shared values to shared outcomes: Make 2025 the year of the credit union

I picked up my nearly 15-year-old daughter, MacKenzie, from her last camp of the summer on Sunday. 

In total, she was away for almost a month, attending three different camps. As we drove the three hours to pick her up, I thought about the experiences she had this summer. She attended Avid4Adventure in Colorado, where she spent ten days hiking, camping, rock climbing, and enjoying the beauty of the outdoors while facing physical challenges. She spent a week at Spire Track Camp in Ohio, where she trained with Olympic Athletes and learned how to focus on sharpening her athletic and running endeavors. Finally, she spent ten days at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan, where she majored in theater and minored in writing, honing her creative artistry.

I marvel at the diversity of these experiences and the passion she brings to all of them. After each camp, when I asked her which one was her favorite, she would rave about the most recent one and then reflect on how much she had enjoyed the other camps as well. She’s an outdoors enthusiast, a budding track athlete, and an actress who enjoys writing. The passion she has for one does not dim the enthusiasm she has for the others. As she grows into a young woman, having these multifaceted and unique passions makes her life fuller.

This range in my daughter’s life reminded me of the power of credit union collaboration. When we launched 

, our CUSO and coalition aimed at elevating the story of our movement through earned media; it was imperative that organizations, as varied as our communities and passions, were engaged. As we shape our stories and create a vastly more consistent drumbeat through storytelling, we know that different people will see themselves reflected across the spectrum of credit unions, which truly represent the fabric of our country.

Across the Backbone coalition, stories include:

 branch location in Skagway to ensure the Alaskan community has more financial choices.

Vantage West Credit Union protecting airmen from predatory lenders and ensuring trusted alternatives.

WEOKIE Federal Credit Union and nine other Oklahoma credit unions coming together to elevate joy and community connection, showcasing the power of collaboration in action.

Westerra Credit Union, Tarrant County’s Credit Union, and SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union illuminating the challenges of money dysmorphia and its implications for people who experience a distorted view of their financial situation.

Through ice storms, hurricanes, and wildfires, Community Financial Credit Union, FourLeaf Federal Credit Union, Redwood Credit Union, and SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union standing shoulder-to-shoulder with communities during natural disasters, from crisis response to rebuilding to shaping the future.

Ent Credit Union funding Colorado’s first ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) report, leading to investments in childcare, youth programs, and affordable housing.

Credit unions playing a role in elevating financial health and overall wellbeing to minimize the impacts of financial stress and loneliness.

Parents standing as a financial partner to their growing teens with credit unions as a resource.

With 23 organizations sharing their unique stories, what shines brightly is the unified purpose and values credit unions bring to life for Americans from New York to California, from Arizona to Alaska, and from Maine to Michigan. Credit unions with millions of members, those with hundreds, and credit unions with broad opportunities to serve people across the country, as well as those with closely knit fields of membership, all remain grounded in a shared commitment to wellbeing, enabled by the financial cooperative model. Like MacKenzie’s divergent passions, across credit unions, our products may differ, our strategies may vary, and yet a thread of connection remains, and we must strengthen that thread. And as financial cooperatives, collaboration is a gift that can ensure we thrive for years to come. That happens when we see the common bonds that unite us.

As credit unions continue to evolve and share our story, people may have more questions about our differences. That creates an opportunity to unite, stand as a movement, and collaborate. To activate our unity, below are six steps we might take to strengthen our cooperation amongst cooperatives:

As quickly as the world moves today, it can be easy to forget how much collaboration and cooperation have fundamentally shaped the success of credit unions. Organizations like 

 began as credit unions collaborating to address common challenges. Over time, these two organizations represent our movement leading in payments and lending. These examples illuminate how solving problems together can accelerate progress, provide solutions for scaling, and enhance the service delivery credit unions bring to life. Consider recommitting to strengthening a legacy collaboration you are already part of and pilot a new one in the month ahead.

Creating robust collaboration is complicated. It requires identifying problems to solve, codifying the kinds of organizations that would be the best partners, and committing time and resources to co-create. If collaboration is not documented and expected within a credit union’s strategy, it is unlikely to be prioritized. Additionally, as collaboration is prioritized, it may still take time to identify the best opportunity, find the right partners, and then act. Integrating cooperation into strategy will position it well to be part of the organization’s future for the long term. It will also help people across the organization to identify possibilities.

As your team develops a set of standards around ideal collaboration partners, creating time and space to grow relationships and explore possibilities is key. Annually, our Community Financial Credit Union team hosts or visits at least two credit unions nationwide. This allows us to learn, uncover potential opportunities, and build trust. The first visit may not immediately result in a significant project. However, over time, teams and individuals continue to connect, elevate endeavors for the organizations to undertake together, and assess how those endeavors might grow and expand over time.

One way to enhance our organizational performance through collaboration is to identify our top five areas where we would like to see improvement and consider how working with other credit unions might fill these gaps or support improvement. While we often consider support service options as top choices for collaboration, which can be powerful, different areas can create improved outcomes. It could be becoming a stronger marketer and storyteller. It could be enhancing human potential strategies. It might be generating more thought power and elevating resources around artificial intelligence. Imagine if, each year, your organization enhanced one area in need of higher performance by fostering greater collaboration. This could multiply your impact and accelerate the credit union’s performance.

While all our organizations have areas where we can improve, we also possess unique strengths. These can also be a powerful source for collaboration. Consider the things that your credit union does regularly and well and invite another credit union to join you to multiply the impacts. This creates an opportunity to support and strengthen other credit unions and our industry more broadly. It may also provide additional resources to amplify that strength even further and make it more impactful.

Collaboration can reveal the full potential of what we can accomplish. With history as a guide and the constraints of a highly regulated environment, we may unintentionally limit our thinking about strategy, vision, and potential. Working with others can build resources, grow opportunities, and reduce constraints. Picture a future where credit unions are the leading AI strategists, the most relevant option for the next generation, and improve the overall wellbeing of Americans, starting with financial wellbeing. We can change the world, and doing so will happen faster, more powerfully, and with greater impact if we do it together. Our time is now.

Across our country, credit unions are the backbone that helps Americans stand tall and have the strength they need to weather the dark times and the partner that supports and elevates the joyful seasons. These credit unions are different. Some are small. Some are large. Some stay focused on serving a unified group in a region. Some serve millions across the country. Some strategize with scale as a priority. Some believe staying closely connected to their roots and history is their strength.

Like my daughter MacKenzie, who loves the wilderness, track, and theater, her kindness, generosity, and sense of humor shine just as brightly on a trail, during sprinting drills, or while running theater lines. As credit unions, each of us has differences in strategy or style. Those differences should never define us because our values and cooperative structure unite us. We all believe that this collaborative approach to finance is the best choice for people. If we unite, come closer, and align cooperatively, we can be the answer to financial pain and ensure Americans have the financial partner they deserve.

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