Best Banks and Credit Unions of 2025

The best bank or credit union for you depends on what you’re in the market for: a savings account, a checking account or some other service. Whatever you're looking for, NerdWallet has you covered.

Here is an overview of the best overall institutions and accounts of 2025.

Best banks and credit unions

NerdWallet compared and rated over 100 financial institutions, including banks, neobanks and credit unions, to pick winners across eight categories. Read on for more information about the institutions and accounts that took top honors this year.

Alliant Credit Union: Best credit union

• More than 80,000 free ATMs; interest checking available.

• 3.10% APY on savings.

• Read more in our Alliant Credit Union review.

Ally Bank, Member FDIC: Best bank and best for CDs

• No overdraft fees and more than 75,000 ATMs.

• 3.60% APY on savings and 3.85% APY on 1-year CD; flexible and no-penalty CDs with competitive rates.

• Read more in our Ally Bank review.

Chase: Best for branch access 

• Cash bonus for new checking account (with $500 minimum direct deposit requirement).

• More than 4,700 branches in 48 states.

• Read more in our Chase review.

Discover® Bank: Best checking account and best online banking experience

• No monthly fees and no minimum deposit requirements.

• Early direct deposit with Early Pay, free overdraft coverage and fee-free access to more than 60,000 ATMs.

• Read more in our Discover Bank review. (Discover Bank is FDIC Insured.)

UFB Direct: Best savings account

• 4.01% APY on all savings balances.

• No minimum deposit requirement and no monthly fees.

• Read more in our UFB Direct review.

Vio Bank: Best money market account

• 4.31% APY on all money market balances.

• No monthly fees.

• Read more in our Vio Bank review.

» Looking for other excellent options? Browse our picks for best savings accounts and best checking accounts

Did you have something more specific in mind? If so, check out these articles:

Compare the best savings and money market accounts

Compare the best CD accounts

Compare the best checking accounts

Compare the best banks, credit unions and cash management accounts

Compare the best bank accounts for students and kids

Summary of the best banks and credit unions of 2025

» Looking for the biggest banks in the country? See the list of largest banks in the U.S.

We took a close look at over 100 financial institutions and financial service providers, including the largest U.S. banks based on assets, internet search traffic and other factors; the nation’s largest credit unions, based on assets and membership; and other notable and/or emerging players in the industry. We rated them on criteria including annual percentage yields, minimum balances, fees, digital experience and more.

Financial institutions and providers surveyed are: Affirm, All America Bank, Alliant Credit Union, Ally Bank, Amalgamated Bank, America First Credit Union, American Express National Bank, Andrews Federal Credit Union, Associated Bank, Axos Bank, Bank of America, Bank5 Connect, Barclays, Bask Bank, Bethpage Federal Credit Union, BMO, BMO Alto, Boeing Employees Credit Union, Bread Savings®, BrioDirect, Capital One, Carver Federal Savings Bank, CFG Bank, Charles Schwab Bank, Chase, Chime, CIBC U.S., CIT Bank, Citibank, Citizens, Citizens Bank, City First Bank, Climate First Bank, Commerce Bank, Community First Credit Union of Florida, ConnectOne Bank, Connexus Credit Union, Consumers Credit Union, Current, Customers Bank, Delta Community Credit Union, Discover® Bank, E*TRADE, EverBank, Fifth Third Bank, First Foundation, First Internet Bank, First National Bank, First Tech Federal Credit Union, Flagstar Bank, FNBO Direct, Forbright Bank, Global Credit Union, GO2bank, Golden 1 Credit Union, Greenwood, Hope Credit Union, Huntington Bank, Industrial Bank, Ivy Bank, Jenius Bank, KeyBank, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Laurel Road Bank, LendingClub Bank, Liberty Bank, Live Oak Bank, M&T Bank, Marcus by Goldman Sachs, My Banking Direct, NASA Federal Credit Union, Navy Federal Credit Union, NBKC, Newtek Bank, One, OneUnited Bank, Pentagon Federal Credit Union, PNC, Poppy Bank, Popular Direct, Quontic Bank, Regions Bank, Revolut, Salem Five Direct, Sallie Mae Bank, Santander Bank, SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, Security Service Federal Credit Union, Securityplus Federal Credit Union, Self-Help Credit Union, Service Credit Union, SoFi, State Employees’ Credit Union of North Carolina, Suncoast Credit Union, Synchrony Bank, TAB Bank, TD Bank, Truist Bank, U.S. Bank, UFB Direct, Upgrade, USAA Bank, Varo, Vio Bank, Wells Fargo, Western Alliance Bank and Zynlo Bank.