UFB Direct Review (2026)
UFB Direct is an online brand of Axos Bank, and its savings account, now called Portfolio Savings, pays the same rate on every balance and comes with a free ATM card. It suits savers who want ATM access to savings and around-the-clock phone support. It paid 3.26% APY on October 19, 2026 (variable), and new customers who open by October 31, 2026 with code UFB75 get 4.01% APY for six statement cycles.
By Wealthy Pot Editorial · Facts checked October 19, 2026
Facts checked October 19, 2026 against UFB Direct's own rate page, account disclosures and fee schedule (3 sources, listed below). We re-check prices about once a month. We do not earn a commission from UFB Direct or Axos Bank.
UFB Direct at a glance
| APY | 3.26% (3.21% interest rate) on all balances, as of October 19, 2026; variable [1] |
|---|---|
| New-customer offer | 4.01% APY for the first six statement cycles with code UFB75, for accounts opened October 1 to 31, 2026 [1] |
| Balance tiers | Five tiers from $0 to $100,000 and up, all paying 3.26% APY today [2] |
| Minimum | None to open; no balance needed for the APY [2] |
| Monthly fee | None [2] |
| Withdrawal limit | Six transfers or withdrawals per month or statement cycle; $10 for each one over the limit [2] |
| Outgoing wires | $35 domestic, $45 international; incoming wires free [2] |
| Paper statements | $5 each; online statements free [2] |
| Interest | Compounded daily on a 365/366-day basis; credited monthly [2] |
| ATM card | Complimentary ATM card [1] |
| Mobile check deposit | Yes, in the app [1] |
| Insured bank | Axos Bank (FDIC Certificate 35546) [1] |
UFB Direct in official federal data
Rate compared with the national average
UFB Direct's savings APY of 3.26% (as of October 19, 2026) is about 8.6 times the FDIC's national average for savings accounts, 0.38% (as of October 19, 2026). On $10,000 kept for a year, that is about $326 in interest against $38 at the national average, before tax and assuming the rate stays the same (variable savings rates rarely do).
Who holds your money
- Deposits are held by Axos Bank, FDIC certificate #35546, based in San Diego, CA, established July 4, 2000 according to the FDIC. UFB Direct is a division of Axos Bank.
- FDIC insurance covers up to $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, for each account ownership category. Money held at the same bank under another brand name counts toward the same limit.
- Size: $24.8 billion in deposits and $28.9 billion in total assets (June 30, 2026 call report). Primary federal regulator: Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.
Customer complaints filed with the CFPB
From October 2025 through September 2026, consumers sent the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau 204 complaints about checking or savings accounts at AXOS FINANCIAL, INC., about 8.22 per $1 billion of deposits; the company responded on time to 100%. Complaint counts grow with the number of customers and cover the whole company, including checking accounts, and the CFPB does not verify each complaint, so treat them as a rough signal. Read the complaints.
Sources: FDIC BankFind (certificate, deposits and assets), FDIC national deposit rates (October 19, 2026), CFPB Consumer Complaint Database (product "Checking or savings account"). Updated monthly.
How UFB Direct works
Portfolio Savings is written as a tiered account, with five balance tiers from under $10,000 to $100,000 and up, but on October 19, 2026 every tier paid the same 3.26% APY. Interest compounds daily and is credited monthly. There is no minimum to open and no monthly fee, and the account comes with a free ATM card and mobile check deposit.
New customers who open between October 1 and October 31, 2026 and enter promo code UFB75 earn 4.01% APY for the first six statement cycles. Anyone who has ever held an account with Axos Bank or UFB Direct is excluded. A hypothetical first year, assuming the standard rate stays at 3.26% and using simple interest: $10,000 for six months at 4.01% earns about $10,000 x 4.01% x 0.5 = $200.50, and the next six months at 3.26% about $10,000 x 3.26% x 0.5 = $163.00. That is about $363.50, a blended yield near 3.64%, compared with $326 at 3.26% all year.
The catch is in the fee schedule. UFB counts a combined six preauthorized, phone, online and mobile transfers or withdrawals per month or statement cycle, and charges $10 for each one over that limit; ATM, mail and in-person withdrawals do not count toward the six. Outgoing wires cost $35 within the U.S. The federal data section on this page shows Axos Bank's deposits, how the rate compares with the FDIC national average and its CFPB complaint record.
Pros
- Free ATM card on a savings account
- No minimum to open and no monthly fee
- The same APY on every balance
- Phone support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Cons
- 3.26% standard APY trails several online banks in our comparison
- $10 fee for each transfer or withdrawal over six a cycle
- $35 domestic and $45 international outgoing wire fees
- $5 fee for a paper statement
Who UFB Direct fits, and who should skip it
A good fit if
- You want an ATM card on your savings account.
- You are a new customer, can open by October 31, 2026, and want six cycles at 4.01%.
- You want phone support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Look elsewhere if
- You want a higher standard rate: Openbank paid 4.00% on October 19, 2026.
- You move money in and out often: UFB charges $10 per transfer over six a cycle, so Wealthfront Cash, with no transfer fees, may fit better.
- You want an ATM card and a higher rate when you deposit monthly: Happen Bank paid 4.20% with $250 in deposits per cycle.
Limitations to know
- You can make no more than a combined six preauthorized, telephone and online or mobile transfers or withdrawals per month or statement cycle; ATM, mail and branch withdrawals are not counted. [2]
- Each withdrawal over the limit costs $10. [2]
- The UFB75 offer excludes anyone who has previously held any account with Axos Bank or UFB Direct. [1]
- The UFB75 offer ends October 31, 2026. [1]
- Outgoing domestic wires cost $35 each and international wires $45. [2]
UFB Direct compared with alternatives
| Account | APY | Monthly fee | To open | For the APY | Insurance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UFB Direct | 3.26% APY on all balances (new customers: 4.01% for 6 statement cycles with code UFB75, opened by Oct 31, 2026) | $0 | $0 | $0 | FDIC-insured (Axos Bank) |
| Happen Bank (LendingClub) | 4.20% APY "LevelUp" rate (needs $250+ in deposits per period; otherwise 3.00%), Oct 16, 2026 | $0 | $0 | $250 in deposits per period | FDIC-insured (Happen Bank, N.A.) |
| Synchrony Bank | 3.55% APY (Oct 2026) | $0 | $0 | $0 | FDIC-insured |
| Openbank | 4.00% APY standard (4.35% for 6 months for new customers), Oct 19, 2026 | $0 | $500 | $0 | FDIC-insured (Santander Bank, N.A.) |
| Bread Savings | 4.05% APY (Oct 2026) | $0 | $100 | $100 | FDIC-insured (Comenity Capital Bank) |
- Pick Happen Bank (LendingClub) if you want an ATM card on savings and can deposit $250 a month for a higher rate.
- Pick Synchrony Bank if you want a savings ATM card with no minimum from another online bank.
- Pick Openbank if you want a 4.00% standard rate and do not need ATM access.
- Pick Bread Savings if you want a higher single rate and only $100 to open.
Security and privacy
- UFB Direct is a brand of Axos Bank. All deposits of the same ownership at Axos Bank, across its brands, are combined and insured under FDIC Certificate 35546. [1]
- FDIC insurance covers up to $250,000 per depositor, per bank, per ownership category, so UFB and Axos balances count against the same limit. [1]
- For larger balances, UFB sells a separate InsureGuard+ Savings account that uses the IntraFi network for coverage up to $265 million; it needs $245,000 to open. [1]
- Customer support is available by phone at 1-877-472-9200, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or by secure message after logging in. [3]
Recent changes
| Date | What changed |
|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Account now called Portfolio Savings; new UFB75 offer pays 4.01% APY for six statement cycles on accounts opened October 1 to 31, 2026. [1] |
UFB Direct FAQ
Is UFB Direct FDIC insured?
Yes, through Axos Bank (FDIC Certificate 35546). Deposits are insured up to $250,000 per depositor, per bank, per ownership category, and balances at UFB Direct and other Axos brands are combined toward that limit.
What is the UFB Direct savings rate today?
Portfolio Savings paid 3.26% APY on all balances on October 19, 2026. The rate is variable. New customers who open by October 31, 2026 with code UFB75 earn 4.01% APY for the first six statement cycles.
Does UFB Direct have a minimum?
No. There is no minimum to open and no minimum balance to earn the APY.
Does UFB Direct limit withdrawals?
Yes. You can make a combined six preauthorized, phone, online or mobile transfers or withdrawals per month or statement cycle, and each one over that costs $10. ATM withdrawals do not count toward the six.
Is UFB Direct the same as Axos Bank?
UFB Direct is a brand of Axos Bank. Your deposits are held at Axos Bank and insured under its FDIC certificate.
How we researched this review
We did not get paid for this page. On October 19, 2026 we read UFB Direct's own rate page, account disclosures, fee schedule and help pages, quoted each fact and link every one below. FDIC and CFPB figures come straight from the agencies' public data. We did not open an account to test it, and we do not rate banks with stars. Savings rates are variable; we re-check them about once a month.
Sources
- UFB Direct, Portfolio Savings page, checked October 19, 2026.
- Axos Bank, Personal deposit account agreement and schedule of fees, UFB Direct (effective July 1, 2025), checked October 19, 2026.
- UFB Direct, Contact us, checked October 19, 2026.
This review is for general information, not financial advice. Savings rates are variable and can change at any time; confirm the current APY with the bank before opening an account.