Limited Time Only! 9-Month Certificate Special
Lock in 4.00% APY* for 9 Months
Your savings deserve to work harder. With Essential's 9-Month Share Certificate Special, you can earn a guaranteed 4.00% APY* while enjoying the flexibility of a shorter term.
- High Rate, Short Commitment - Take advantage of a competitive return without locking up your money for years.
- Guaranteed Growth - Enjoy the confidence of a fixed rate with predictable earnings.
- Easy to Get Started - Open your certificate with as little as $500 and start growing your savings today.
Short Term. Strong Returns.
*APY = Annual Percentage Yield. APY is accurate as of 7/6/26. $500 minimum opening deposit required. Special rate available with funds new to Essential. The certificate term is 9 months. Rates are fixed for the term of the certificate. Penalties may be imposed for early withdrawal and could reduce earnings. Rates, terms and conditions are subject to change without notice. Member eligibility required. Federally Insured by NCUA.
Certificate Calculator
Open a share certificate account with
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The account will have earned
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9-month Certificate Special
Open a CERTIFICATE SPECIAL account with
and it will grow to
in months.
The account will have earned
in interest.
This limited-time 9-month Certificate Transfer Special offers our best rate of 4.00% exclusively to those who add/open the account online and transfer funds from another financial institution.
Share Certificates
Share Certificates are high-earning accounts that can help you earn a significant rate of return on your hard-earned money1.
- Only $500 minimum balance required
- Choose 3 months to 5 year terms
- Enjoy automatic renewal at current rates
- Fixed rate for the term of the certificate
- Early withdrawals are subject to penalty
1Dividends are paid out either monthly or quarterly. Early withdrawals are subject to penalty. Upon maturity, certificate will renew at the current rate at the time of renewal. APY = Annual Percentage Yield. Federally Insured by NCUA.
Visit any of our Baton Rouge, Houston, Plaquemine, Walker, or Gonzales locations to get started or contact us today!
Featured
Certificate Rates
3.50%
ANNUAL PERCENTAGE YIELD
3.50%
ANNUAL PERCENTIAGE YIELD
3.50%
ANNUAL PERCENTAGE YIELD
How to open or add a Share Certificate
Non-Members
If you're new to Essential and have not yet established a membership, you will need to do that first. Becoming a member requires a share account and there is a $5 minimum to open a share account (In the credit union world a share account is similar to a savings account -- click here to see the difference between a CD and Share Certificate).
Once you have established membership, you can then open additional accounts under your membership, such as term share certificates and even checking accounts.
Members
Thanks for already being a member! The easiest and fastest way to add a share certificate account to your membership is to:
- Login to Online or Mobile Banking
- Hover over Apply Now
- Select Add a New Account
From here, you can open one or multiple share certificate accounts and even transfer the funds instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What term lengths are available for Share Certificates?
You can choose terms from 3 months up to 5 years (for example: 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 60 months) depending on current offerings.
Can I withdraw my funds early? What’s the penalty?
Early withdrawals are subject to penalties that may reduce your earnings. It’s important to understand the early withdrawal terms before opening a certificate.
Are Share certificates insured?
Yes. Essential Credit Union is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), so your deposits in Share Certificates are insured within applicable limits
How can I estimate how much my certificate will grow over time?
Essential Credit Union offers a Certificate Calculator tool (included above) where you can enter your initial deposit and term in months to estimate your future account balance and interest earned.