Credit union · NCUA insured
Signal Financial Carrot Score
A $369.1M credit union headquartered in Kensington, MD, with 18,277 members and 4 branches in 3 states.
Signal Financial Carrot Score
79
Carrot Score
Higher than 49% of U.S. banks and credit unions
- CDs95
- Savings66
- Auto loans69
- Credit cards63
Each bar is every U.S. bank and credit union, lowest score to highest. Choose a product to see its rates.
Where Signal Financial ranks
By Carrot score, in each area where it has branches
Scores run from 60 to 99; 90 and up means rates near the best in the country. Top Carrot marks a score of 87 or more, the top quarter of U.S. banks and credit unions. It’s about rates only, not safety, service or who can join.
By product
How each product scores
How its rates compare with every U.S. bank and credit union. Open a product to see them.
CDs
95top 2% nationally
| Term | Its rate | Beats | U.S. median | Top 25% atTop 25% | Top 10% at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3-8 months | 3.82% | 75% | 3.50% | 3.82% | 4.05% |
| 9-15 months | 4.25% | 91% | 3.70% | 4.00% | 4.25% |
| 16-30 months | 4.35% | 96% | 3.35% | 3.85% | 4.20% |
| 31-60 months | 4.50% | 98% | 3.05% | 3.65% | 4.07% |
| Qualified | 4.50% | 95% | 3.85% | 4.15% | 4.35% |
Best rates 96.9 · all terms 91.4 → 94.7 → 95
Savings
66beats 15% nationally
| Balance | Its rate | Beats | U.S. median | Top 25% atTop 25% | Top 10% at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | 1.01% | 86% | 0.20% | 0.50% | 1.51% |
| $10,000 | 0.03% | 2% | 0.50% | 1.15% | 2.20% |
| $100,000 | 0.50% | 35% | 1.00% | 2.01% | 2.93% |
| Qualified | 0.13% | 16% | 0.60% | 1.31% | 2.43% |
Best rates 9.1 · all balances 28.2 → 16.7 → 66
Auto loans
69beats 23% nationally
| Vehicle | Its rate | Beats | U.S. median | Top 25% atTop 25% | Top 10% at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New vehicle | 5.24%counts as 5.49% | 31% | 5.00% | 4.74% | 4.25% |
| Used vehicle | 5.99%counts as 6.24% | 18% | 5.39% | 4.99% | 4.49% |
Best rates 31.3 · all vehicles 24.6 → 28.6 → 69
Credit cards
63beats 8% nationally
| Card | Its rate | Beats | U.S. median | Top 25% atTop 25% | Top 10% at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purchase APR | 14.00%counts as 14.50% | 8% | 10.90% | 9.90% | 8.90% |
Best rates 7.8 · all rates 7.8 → 7.8 → 63
Where the score could improve
- Auto loans, Used vehicle4.99%5.99% today, lower than 18% of U.S. institutions. 4.99% would reach the top quarter; 4.49% the top 10%.
- Auto loans, New vehicle4.74%5.24% today, lower than 31% of U.S. institutions. 4.74% would reach the top quarter; 4.25% the top 10%.
- CDs, 3-8 months3.82%3.82% today, higher than 75% of U.S. institutions. 3.82% would reach the top quarter; 4.05% the top 10%.
Scores update as rates change. Institutions can correct a rate we show; payment never changes a score.
Method
How the score works
- Each product gets a standingWe compare its CD, savings, auto loan and credit card rates with every bank and credit union in the U.S. and give each product a standing out of 100. Its best rates count the most. For loans and cards, lower rates rank higher.
- Its two best products set the scoreWe average its two strongest products. Each extra product it publishes adds 1.5 points, so sharing more rates can only help.
- Its rank puts it on the 60–99 scaleWe rank that number against every scored bank and credit union in the country to get a score from 60 to 99. The top quarter earn Top Carrot.
How Signal Financial got its score
Its products stand at 94.7 for CDs, 28.6 for auto loans, 16.7 for savings and 7.8 for credit cards, out of 100. Its best two, CDs and auto loans, average 61.7. Publishing four products adds 3.0, for 64.7. That puts it ahead of 49% of U.S. banks and credit unions: a Carrot Score of 79.
The fine print: inside each product, its best rates make up 60% of its standing and all its rates the rest. Its best rates are its two best CD terms, its $10,000 and Qualified savings or money market rates, the better of its new and used auto loan rates, and its credit card purchase rate. The Qualified rate is the best $10,000 rate you can get by opening another account or meeting monthly requirements (or the standard rate, if that’s higher). Rates that need monthly activity get half credit for the extra they pay, and rates that need a combined balance count only from that balance. We subtract monthly fees and count an intro rate at what it earns over a full year. Accounts for kids, students, seniors, businesses, IRAs and health savings aren’t scored.