Bank and Credit Union Reviews from NerdWallet’s Experts
Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This may influence which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own.
NerdWallet’s experts have reviewed and rated dozens of banks and credit unions to help you find those with the best accounts, branch and ATM availability, customer service and more.
Below is an overview of the financial institutions that we’ve analyzed. If you'd like more help picking the right one for you, check out NerdWallet's best banks and credit unions.
Know when to save (and spend)
NerdWallet tracks your spending and makes it easy to see when to cut back and when you can spend.
Online banks
What online banks lack in branches, they make up for with low fees, high annual percentage yields (APYs) and helpful budgeting tools. These banks are typically FDIC insured and invest heavily in online security. Your money is just as safe at an online bank as it is at a traditional financial institution.
For more information, check out the following bank reviews.
Bank or Credit Union (click for review) | Details |
|---|---|
4.5 NerdWallet rating | Ally is a popular destination for people seeking strong rates, top-notch customer service and helpful tools. |
4.0 NerdWallet rating | American Express National Bank offers competitive interest rates on its savings account and certificates of deposit, but doesn’t offer a checking option. |
4.0 NerdWallet rating | Aspiration offers an interest-bearing cash management account with a good annual percentage yield and a large ATM network. |
4.0 NerdWallet rating | Unlike many of its competitors, Axos Bank offers a range of checking accounts that come with a variety of perks. |
4.0 NerdWallet rating | Bank5 Connect offers access to thousands of free ATMs and generous fee reimbursements. |
4.0 NerdWallet rating | What Barclays lacks in checking account products it makes up for with its impressive selection of savings accounts and CDs. |
4.0 NerdWallet rating | Capital One’s tools are some of the best in the business. The bank also offers a full-service online experience and a great mobile app. |
4.5 NerdWallet rating | Chime is a mobile-only app that offers a checking, or “spending,” account and automatic savings. |
4.0 NerdWallet rating | CIT Bank has an account that rewards you with higher rates for saving regularly, as well as checking and CDs. It’s a good place to park your money and earn interest. |
3.5 NerdWallet rating | Citizens Access, the online offshoot of parent bank Citizens Bank, offers a savings account and CDs with solid rates. |
4.5 NerdWallet rating | Discover Bank’s free ATMs, free checks and fee-free services mean you keep more money in your pocket. |
4.0 NerdWallet rating | FNBO has excellent checking and savings accounts, with no monthly fees, and a large ATM network. |
4.0 NerdWallet rating | GoBank is ideal for those who are comfortable doing their banking online. |
4.5 NerdWallet rating | Marcus by Goldman Sachs won’t fulfill all of your banking needs, but it offers top-of-the-line savings rates. |
3.5 NerdWallet rating | Popular Direct’s savings and CD rates are hard to top, but you’ll have to look elsewhere for a checking account. |
3.5 NerdWallet rating | Redneck Bank has ATM fee reimbursements and competitive rates (some of which come with requirements), but watch out for odd fees, including those for excess transactions. |
4.0 NerdWallet rating | Sallie Mae has excellent savings options and CDs, but doesn’t offer checking accounts. |
4.0 NerdWallet rating | Simple’s standard checking account, goal-oriented high-yield account, tools and fee structure are as user-friendly as the company’s name suggests. |
3.5 NerdWallet rating | State Farm Bank, part of the insurance giant, is an online institution with an array of banking products. |
4.5 NerdWallet rating | Synchrony offers relatively high rates on its savings account, certificates of deposit and money market account. |
4.0 NerdWallet rating | TAB's online accounts pay high rates and cash back, in some cases, as well as ATM fee reimbursements -- which helps, because TAB lacks its own free ATM network. |
4.0 NerdWallet rating | UFB Direct offers several savings options, including a money market account. |
4.5 NerdWallet rating | Varo Bank is a mobile-only banking app with a hard-to-beat combo: no monthly fees and high-yield savings. |
4.0 NerdWallet rating | Vio pays a high rate on its savings account, but customer service channels are limited and it charges some fees other banks don't. |
» Want your cash to grow faster? Check out NerdWallet’s best high-yield online savings accounts
Financial institutions with branches
These banks and credit unions are ideal for people seeking in-person help. But keep in mind that banks with thousands of branches typically charge steep monthly fees, and APYs are often low. Credit unions tend to offer better interest rates but might not have as many branches as regional and national banks.
But there are always exceptions. Take a look at the following reviews for more information on rates, ATM and branch availability, and other services.
Bank or Credit Union (click for review) | Details |
|---|---|
4.0 NerdWallet rating | Shared branching and low fees make Alaska USA a convenient banking experience. |
4.5 NerdWallet rating | Alliant is unusually easy to join for a credit union. It also offers great tech tools and exceptional APYs. |
4.0 NerdWallet rating | America First’s checking and savings accounts are fee-free, but the share certificates are what really shine. |
3.5 NerdWallet rating | Associated’s checking accounts are solid, but it’s otherwise a fairly unremarkable regional bank. |
3.5 NerdWallet rating | You'll earn a high savings APY at Bank7, but you'll need five figures to open a CD. |
3.0 NerdWallet rating | Bank of America boasts award-winning online and mobile products, as well as the branches and ATMs you’d expect from a national bank. |
3.5 NerdWallet rating | Bank of the West has a solid branch network, and its online and mobile services make banking convenient wherever you are. |
4.0 NerdWallet rating | BBVA’s branches are concentrated in a handful of states, but its accounts are solid. |
4.0 NerdWallet rating | BMO Harris pays solid rates on its money market in some areas, but rates overall are low and overdraft fees are steep. |
4.0 NerdWallet rating | Boeing Employees Credit Union is a nice alternative to banks if you meet its eligibility requirements. |
4.0 NerdWallet rating | With no monthly fees or minimum balances, checking and savings accounts offer stress-free banking. ATM coverage is superior. |
3.5 NerdWallet rating | Chase delivers a stellar online experience and works well for people who want all their financial needs met by one provider. |
3.5 NerdWallet rating | CIBC U.S. has an online savings account with a high rate, but CDs perform less well. |
3.5 NerdWallet rating | Citibank’s budgeting tools are helpful, but customers will find lower fees and higher interest rates elsewhere. |
3.5 NerdWallet rating | It’s easy to avoid monthly fees on Citizens’ basic checking and savings accounts, but its savings rates aren’t competitive. |
3.0 NerdWallet rating | Commerce Bank is a reasonable pick if you live in its service area. |
3.5 NerdWallet rating | Community First Credit Union offers accounts without monthly fees. |
4.5 NerdWallet rating | The interest-bearing checking accounts at Connexus are hard to top. |
4.0 NerdWallet rating | Consumers Credit Union isn’t a big institution, but its free rewards checking account lets members earn big yields. |
4.0 NerdWallet rating | Delta offers good deposit accounts, even though some of its fees are high. |
4.0 NerdWallet rating | Fidelity’s Cash Management account is an excellent place to keep your spending money, but you’ll have to look elsewhere for a savings account. |
3.5 NerdWallet rating | Fifth Third has a strong branch network, but its deposit accounts leave a lot to be desired. |
3.5 NerdWallet rating | First Foundation offers high rates (with high opening deposit requirements) on its accounts. |
3.5 NerdWallet rating | Little distinguishes First National Bank from other banks, and that’s both good and bad. |
4.0 NerdWallet rating | First Tech has inclusive membership criteria and pays a high APY on checking, provided you can meet a few requirements. |
3.5 NerdWallet rating | Flagstar Bank offers low- or no-fee checking and savings in the upper midwest and mortgages nationwide. |
4.0 NerdWallet rating | Golden 1 Credit Union is easy to join if you’re a Californian and offers great access to branches and ATMs, especially around the Bay Area. |
3.0 NerdWallet rating | HSBC offers convenient online account options, along with checking bonuses. |
3.5 NerdWallet rating | Fees on Huntington’s basic products are easy to avoid, and the overdraft policy is more lenient than most. |
4.0 NerdWallet rating | KeyBank’s approach to banking includes no-frills checking accounts and good access to branches. |
4.0 NerdWallet rating | Live Oak offers personal accounts with competitive rates, as well as business banking. |
3.0 NerdWallet rating | Much like the biggest national banks, M&T provides a full array of products and services along with steep fees. |
4.0 NerdWallet rating | Nationwide's checking accounts come with perks, and its savings APY is high, but its CD rates are less competitive. |
4.5 NerdWallet rating | Navy Federal is the largest credit union in the U.S. and offers solid checking and savings options. |
4.0 NerdWallet rating | PenFed offers a user-friendly mobile app and an engaging website, unlike many other credit unions. |
3.5 NerdWallet rating | With PNC Bank, you can choose traditional banking, or you can go modern and virtual. |
3.0 NerdWallet rating | PurePoint Financial offers good savings and CD options and doesn’t offer checking accounts. |
4.0 NerdWallet rating | Radius Bank offers cash back on checking and has a consumer-friendly ATM fee policy. |
3.5 NerdWallet rating | Regions has an impressive number of branches and ATMs, but its deposit accounts aren’t particularly noteworthy. |
3.5 NerdWallet rating | Santander has good savings options and cheap checking accounts, along with plenty of branches. |
4.0 NerdWallet rating | SchoolsFirst welcomes California's school employees and their families, and offers checking and savings without monthly fees (but with low rates). |
4.0 NerdWallet rating | Security Service Federal Credit Unions has good checking and savings options, but its interest rates on savings are mostly low. |
4.5 NerdWallet rating | Service Credit Union has multiple checking options and strong rates on certificates. |
3.5 NerdWallet rating | State Employees’ Credit Union of North Carolina has low fees and a solid ATM network. |
4.5 NerdWallet rating | Good rates, low fees and a dedication to community accessibility make Suncoast exceptional in western Florida. |
3.5 NerdWallet rating | TCF Bank has a lot of options, but plenty of steep fees, too. |
3.5 NerdWallet rating | At TD Bank, you’ll find straightforward checking and savings accounts, along with plenty of branches. |
4.0 NerdWallet rating | TIAA, formerly known as EverBank, offers solid CD rates, and its ATM fee policy is generous if you keep your checking account full. |
3.5 NerdWallet rating | Union Bank offers a full lineup of services, but its deposit accounts come with steep fees. |
3.5 NerdWallet rating | U.S. Bank offers several types of checking and savings accounts, and a wide range of CDs. |
3.5 NerdWallet rating | USAA serves military members and their families, offering solid checking and savings accounts. |
3.0 NerdWallet rating | Wells Fargo has a full range of solid financial products, but APYs are generally low. |
» For more insight, check out NerdWallet’s best banks and credit unions of 2019
RATING METHODOLOGY
NerdWallet’s overall ratings for banks and credit unions are weighted averages of several categories: checking, savings, certificates of deposit or credit union share certificates, bank experience and overdraft fees.
Factors we consider, depending on the category, include rates and fees, ATM and branch access, account features and limits, user-facing technology, customer service and innovation.
The stars represent ratings from poor (one star) to excellent (five stars). Ratings are rounded to the nearest half-star.