The best banks in the US for your money (2024)

Personal Finance

Written by Tanza Loudenback

2017-05-25T20:02:03Z

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The best banks in the US for your money (1)

Personal finance forecaster Kiplinger has released its first-ever ranking of the best banks in the US, because where you store your money matters, especially if you're aiming to build wealth.

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Kiplinger enlisted the help of Moebs Services, an Illinois-based economic research firm, to filter the 11,831 banks and credit unions in the US by asset size, excess fees, high expenses, and sufficient capital.

Kiplinger then evaluated the "soundest financial institutions" on customer service, fees, perks, and digital offerings.

Their final list includes No. 1 picks for the best national bank, best credit union, best internet bank, and best regional banks, plus the best banks for millennials, retirees, students, high-net-worth families, travelers, and military service members.

Read on to find out the best banks, and runners-up, across 11 categories.

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Check out Kiplinger's full ranking for more information about each category and bank.

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Best national bank (tie): TD Bank

The best banks in the US for your money (2)

Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Perks of banking with Canadian-owned TD Bank include "a basic checking account that requires a minimum of just $100 to avoid a monthly fee, a basic savings account with a $300 minimum, and certificates of deposit with a minimum of $250," according to Kiplinger.

Customers with a net worth of at least $3 million or $750,000 in investable assets have access to personalized wealth management and financial planning.

Best national bank (tie): U.S. Bank

The best banks in the US for your money (3)

Nati Harnik/AP

U.S. Bank's Silver packageallows you to open a checking account and money market account.With both, "you'll avoid a monthly fee if you have a monthly direct deposit of $1,000 or a $1,500 combined account balance,"according to Kiplinger. You'll also qualify for ayear's membership in the Start Smart program, where you can "set up automatic transfers from checking to savings and earn bonuses."

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Best credit union: Langley Federal Credit Union

The best banks in the US for your money (4)

Langley Federal Credit Union/Facebook

Three of Langley'sfour checking accountscharge no monthly fee. "Langley also offers a free money market deposit account that yields up to 0.5%, certificates of deposit that yield from 1% on a one-year term to 2.02% on a five-year term ($1,000 minimum deposit), and a variety of no-fee savings accounts, including one that pays interest of 1.61% on balances of up to $1,000," according to Kiplinger.

Runner-up: Connexus Credit Union

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Best internet bank and best bank for millennials: Ally Bank

The best banks in the US for your money (5)

Ally Bank/Facebook

Ally Bank offers one checking account, one savings account, and one money market account, none of which charge a fee or require a minimum deposit amount.

"There are no hidden fees, and the savings account yields 1.05% no matter what your balance. The money market deposit account yields 0.85% on all balances and comes with a debit card and free checks. Even the checking account pays 0.1% on balances under $15,000 (and 0.6% on deposits above that)," according to Kiplinger.

Best internet bank runner-up: Bank of Internet

Best bank for millennials runner-up: Langley Federal Credit Union

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Best bank for retirees: U.S. Bank

The best banks in the US for your money (6)

REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov

There's no monthlymain­tenancefee on U.S. Bank's premium checking account for those 65 and older. "Standard checks, paper statements, money orders, cashier's checks, and copies of checks and statements are all free, and a safe-deposit box is half-price," according to Kiplinger. Plus,customers with investable assets of $100,000 to $3 millioncan join the Private Client Group to get"a dedicated relationship manager and access to services such as trust administration."

Runner-up: Fidelity Cash Management

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Best bank for students: Bank of Internet USA

"Free, no-frills Essential Checking is a good choice for students and parents who want to bank together. There is no fee to open the account, no monthly maintenance fees, and no fee for withdrawals at any ATM in the U.S. or to transfer funds from a linked account or line of credit to cover overdrafts,"according to Kiplinger. Plus, the high-yield savings account "charges no monthly fees and yields a generous 0.61%."

Runner-up: Alliant Credit Union

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Best bank for high-net-worth families: Citibank

The best banks in the US for your money (8)

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The bank'sCitigold package"rolls out the red carpet for those who keep a combined $200,000 or more in deposit, in­vestment, and retirement accounts with the bank," according to Kiplinger, offering them a banking relationship manager and financial adviser, more rewards points, andaccess to wealth-management seminars, private dining, and sporting events and concerts, among other things.

Runner-up: Bank of America

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Best bank for frequent travelers: Charles Schwab Bank

The best banks in the US for your money (9)

REUTERS/Joshua Lot

If you open Charles Schwab's High Yield Investor Checking account alongside aSchwab One brokerage account — both free to open and maintain — "you'll get refunds of all ATM fees worldwide, including fees levied by the ATM owner, and you won't pay foreign-transaction fees when you use the debit card," according to Kiplinger.

Plus, the bank'sextensive mobile app helps travelers stay on top of bill pay, transactions, and mobile check deposit.

Runner-up: Capital One 360

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Best bank for military personnel: Navy Federal Credit Union

The best banks in the US for your money (10)

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Open to current and former members of all military branches,all Navy Federal Credit Union's "no-fee basic savings account yields 0.25%, and a free money market deposit account pays a rate of up to 0.55% (depending on the balance)," according to Kiplinger. There nearly 300 branches of Navy Federal worldwide, including 30 in the US.

Runner-up: Andrews Federal Credit Union

Best regional bank (East): People's United Bank

The best banks in the US for your money (11)

Mike Mozart/Flickr

People's Unitedoffers three checking accounts with varying requirements and perks, including reimbursed out-of-network ATM fees.The bank operates nearly400 brick-and-mortars in six Northeastern states and notably has "some handy features on its mobile app"including the ability to"switch your debit card on and off," and it's compatible with Apple Pay and Samsung Pay, according to Kiplinger.

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Best regional bank (Midwest): Flagstar Bank

The best banks in the US for your money (12)

Flagstar Bank/Facebook

This Michigan-based bank offers special perks to local customers, including"preferred rates on CDs ($500 to open)... when you hold more than $5,000 in checking, savings and money market accounts, you receive a rate of 0.95% on a 12-month CD — a 0.65 point bonus. Customers also get a 0.25-percentage-point rate reduction on personal and home-equity loans or lines of credit," according to Kiplinger.

Best regional bank (South): Trustmark National Bank

The best banks in the US for your money (13)

Trustmark National Bank/Facebook

Trustmark counts 200 branches in Alabama, Florida, Mis­sissippi, Tennessee, and Texas and "offers six checking accounts that cater to a wide spectrum of customers, from students to the 50-plus set," according to Kiplinger. The bank also "compsfees for overdraft transfers and out-of-network ATM withdrawals."

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Best regional bank (West): Bank of the West

The best banks in the US for your money (14)

Bank of the West/Facebook

Bank of the West has ties to Silicon Valleyand invests greatly in tech."The bank's credit and debit cards work with several mobile wallets, including Apple Pay and Samsung Pay. Javelin Strategy & Research recognized Bank of the West in 2016 as an online banking leader for innovation and personalization," according to Kiplinger.

Some perks of thePremier Checkingaccount includea free retirement-planning checkup and15 commission-free online stock trades per month.

Tanza Loudenback

Tanza is a CFP® professional and former correspondent for Personal Finance Insider. She broke down personal finance news and wrote about taxes, investing, retirement, wealth building, and debt management. She helmed a biweekly newsletter and a column answering reader questions about money.Tanza is the author of two ebooks, A Guide to Financial Planners and "The One-Month Plan to Master your Money."In 2020, Tanza was the editorial lead on Master Your Money, a yearlong original series providing financial tools, advice, and inspiration to millennials.Tanza joined Business Insider in June 2015 and is an alumna of Elon University, where she studied journalism and Italian. She is based in Los Angeles.

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The best banks in the US for your money (2024)

FAQs

Which is the best bank to put your money in? ›

Best Banks of May 2024
  • Capital One 360 Checking: Best online checking account.
  • Chase Total Checking®: Best for a large branch network.
  • Axos Bank Rewards Checking: Best for online account options.
  • Discover® Bank: Best for doing all of your banking at one place.
  • Synchrony Bank: Best high-yield savings account.
Apr 29, 2024

What is the safest bank to put your money in USA? ›

JPMorgan Chase, the financial institution that owns Chase Bank, topped our experts' list because it's designated as the world's most systemically important bank on the 2023 G-SIB list. This designation means it has the highest loss absorbency requirements of any bank, providing more protection against financial crisis.

What is the #1 bank in America? ›

Summary of the Largest Banks in the U.S.
RankingBankHeadquarters
1JPMorgan ChaseNew York, NY
2Bank of AmericaCharlotte, North Carolina
3Wells FargoSan Francisco, California
4CitibankNew York, New York
6 more rows
Mar 27, 2024

What is America's most trusted bank? ›

Following one of the most successful years in United's long history, United Bank has been named the Most Trustworthy Bank in America by Newsweek for 2023. Across 23 industries evaluated, United joined the list of the “Most Trustworthy Companies in America,” earning the No.

What bank do most millionaires use? ›

The Most Popular Banks for Millionaires
  1. JP Morgan Private Bank. “J.P. Morgan Private Bank is known for its investment services, which makes them a great option for those with millionaire status,” Kullberg said. ...
  2. Bank of America Private Bank. ...
  3. Citi Private Bank. ...
  4. Chase Private Client.
Jan 29, 2024

Which bank is giving 7% interest in savings accounts? ›

Which Bank Gives 7% Interest Rate? Currently, no banks are offering 7% interest on savings accounts, but some do offer a 7% APY on other products. For example, OnPath Federal Credit Union currently offers a 7% APY on average daily checking account balances up to and under $10,000.

Which banks are most at risk? ›

11 banks with negative outlooks
  • PNC Financial Services Group.
  • Capital One Financial Corporation.
  • Citizens Financial Group.
  • Fifth Third Bancorp.
  • Huntington Bancshares.
  • Regions Financial Corporation.
  • Cadence Bank.
  • F.N.B. Corporation.
Aug 9, 2023

What are AAA rated banks? ›

Highest credit quality

'AAA' ratings denote the lowest expectation of default risk. They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.

How much cash can you keep at home legally in the US? ›

The government has no regulations on the amount of money you can legally keep in your house or even the amount of money you can legally own overall. Just, the problem with keeping so much money in one place (likely in the form of cash) — it's very vulnerable to being lost.

What are the top 3 banks in America? ›

List of largest banks in the United States
RankBank nameHeadquarters location
1JPMorgan ChaseNew York City
2Bank of AmericaCharlotte, North Carolina
3CitigroupNew York City
4Wells FargoSan Francisco, California
82 more rows

What is the most powerful bank in America? ›

JPMorgan Chase is the top largest bank in the US, with a balance sheet total of $3.31 trillion.

How many bank accounts should I have? ›

Money coach and certified financial planner Ohan Kayikchyan says it can make sense for a household to maintain four accounts: one checking account for monthly recurring bills and another for variable expenses, plus one savings account for emergency funds and a second for other savings goals.

Which bank is best to open an account? ›

Summary of Best Checking Accounts of 2024
Bank/Credit UnionForbes Advisor RatingLearn More CTA text
PenFed Credit Union Access America Checking4.7Learn More
Discover® Cashback Debit Checking4.5Learn More
EverBank Yield Pledge Checking4.5Learn More
NBKC Bank Everything Account4.5Learn More
6 more rows

Which bank is better, Chase or Bank of America? ›

Bank of America pays slightly higher interest on your account balance. It also has a lower monthly fee and more options to have it waived. While the comparison between the two banks' checking accounts stacks up as a draw, the clear winner among savings accounts is Bank of America Advantage Savings.

How to pick a new bank? ›

How to choose a bank: 8 steps to take
  1. Identify the right account.
  2. Look for banks that charge low or no fees.
  3. Consider the convenience of a local branch.
  4. Take a look at credit unions.
  5. Find a bank that supports your lifestyle.
  6. Examine digital features.
  7. Understand the terms and conditions.
Jun 7, 2023

Where is the most secure place to put your money? ›

Here are some low-risk options.
  • Checking accounts. If you put your savings in a checking account, you'll be able to get to it easily. ...
  • Savings accounts. ...
  • Money market accounts. ...
  • Certificates of deposit. ...
  • Fixed rate annuities. ...
  • Series I and EE savings bonds. ...
  • Treasury securities. ...
  • Municipal bonds.
Oct 18, 2023

Which bank is best for saving account in USA? ›

Summary of Best High-Yield Savings Accounts of 2024
AccountForbes Advisor RatingAnnual Percentage Yield
UFB Secure Savings4.7Up to 5.25% APY
Bask Interest Savings Account4.65.10% APY
Quontic Bank High Yield Savings4.64.50% APY
LendingClub High-Yield Savings Account4.65.00% APY
6 more rows

Where is the safest place to put money in the bank? ›

Savings accounts are a safe place to keep your money because all deposits made by consumers are guaranteed by the FDIC for bank accounts or the NCUA for credit union accounts. Certificates of deposit (CDs) issued by banks and credit unions also carry deposit insurance.

Which bank has the least security? ›

The worst banks are Wells Fargo and Citibank. Wells Fargo is the worst bank overall, with a high percentage of unresolved complaints and loss of Better Business Bureau accreditation. Citibank has a string of high-profile cases involving operational chaos and regulatory fines.

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