Share Certificates

The ideal investment offers a high return, safety and flexibility.

• Savings certificate or IRA certificate accounts can be opened with as little as $1,000.
• Savings certificate accounts are insured for up to $250,000 by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), a federal government agency. IRA certificates are insured separately for up to an additional $250,000.
• Flexible terms range from 3 months to ten years
• Account holders may borrow against saving certificate accounts for only 3.00% more than the rate being earned on the account.

Getting started: Existing Sonoma Federal Credit Union members can mail an initial opening deposit of $1,000 or more to the credit union. Be sure to include a note stating that the money is for a new certificate account and specify the term you desired.

Build Your Future Certificate

This is a unique certificate designed to help boost your savings goals. You decide how much money you want to save in what time frame. As you grow the Certificate, we will pay you the monthly dividend at the money-making compounding rate as if you had deposited the funds up front.

For example: You have decided to save for a down payment on a home. You would like to save this money in 5 years and you want to save $25,000. We will calculate your monthly deposit into the Certificate so you will have this amount saved in your time frame. At our current rates, it would be $87.94 a week. In 60 months, your certificate's estimated future value would be approximately $25,000.00

Ladder Certificate Program

• A certificate ladder is a savings strategy where you spread a lump sum of money across multiple Share Certificates with different maturity dates.
• It’s a more strategic and practical way to save money.
• The goal of certificate laddering is to lock in high APYs (Annual Percentage Yields) across multiple certificates, instead of lumping all of your funds into one certificate. Those multiple certificates of deposit will mature (in other words, the certificate term has ended) at different points in time. As each certificate matures, your cash will free up to either use or rollover into new certificates.
• When you put all of your money into a single certificate, your money is tied up until your certificate matures (unless you’re willing to potentially pay an early withdrawal penalty).
• By spreading your pot of money across multiple certificates, a certificate ladder offers you flexibility. Part of your money becomes accessible each time one of your certificates mature.
• It’s also worth noting that while fixed-rate certificates provided a guaranteed rate of return, certificate rates available in the market may fluctuate depending on a number of factors. Since you can’t really predict whether certificate rates will go up or down, laddering your certificate lets you hedge against the unknown of how rates will shift.
• Another perk of certificate ladders? You’re able to take advantage of rates on longer-term certificate, which are typically higher, without committing all of your money to that certificate.

Bonus Certificate Program

This certificate gives you the best of both worlds! A long-term investment and cash to use up front for whatever you would like, such as home improvements or that dream vacation. This certificate gives you a percentage of the future dividends earned immediately. This percentage of dividends is based on the term of the certificate.

• Receive 5.00% of your deposit amount in your new certificate back as a bonus with a certificate term of 5 years.
• Receive 7.00% of your deposit amount in your new certificate back as a bonus with a certificate term of 7 years.
• Receive 10.00% of your deposit amount in your new certificate back as a bonus with a certificate term of 10 years.

You can take this bonus check with you once the deposit source has cleared. You can also deposit the bonus check back into the certificate. A bonus can be paid on both regular and IRA certificates, IRA withdrawals require standard IRS reporting.