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Best Banks and Credit Unions of 2022
Check out our quick lists of the best banks, credit unions and neobanks that can help you manage and grow your money.
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. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.
The best bank, credit union or neobanks for you depends on what you’re in the market for: a savings account, a checking account, or both.
NerdWallet spent more than 200 hours comparing and rating over 80 financial institutions, including banks, neobanks and credit unions, to identify those with the best deposit accounts. (Neobanks provide many of the same services that traditional institutions offer, but are not technically banks themselves. Learn more about neobanks and what they offer.)
Top Overall: Seven financial service providers earned excellent marks in both our checking and savings categories. If you want to keep your checking and savings accounts at the same institution, go with one of these options. Or if you want specific recommendations, take our quiz.
Our list includes a few credit unions. Generally speaking, credit unions emphasize customer service more than banks do and pay higher interest rates — although online accounts, like the ones on this list, tend to pay great rates, too. Read our article for more on credit unions vs. banks.
Top Savings Accounts: If you’d like to split your accounts between different providers, consider one of these savings accounts. They have annual percentage yields that are much higher than the national average of 0.06%. This is important because people typically use savings accounts to set money aside for goals, such as a trip or a down payment on a house. Your savings will grow faster with one of these accounts. Read more in our article about savings accounts.
Top Checking Accounts: If you’re more interested in checking accounts, these providers offer perks, such as interest or ATM fee reimbursements. And, crucially, they have large ATM networks and don’t charge monthly fees. Since checking accounts hold most people’s daily spending money, they should be easy to access and cheap to maintain. Read more in our article about checking accounts.
Best banks, credit unions and neobanks:
Best overall, best for customer service: U.S. Bank
Best overall, best for cash-back rewards: Upgrade
Best overall, best for ATM availability: Charles Schwab
Best overall, best for overdraft options: Ally Bank
Best overall, best for rates: Alliant Credit Union
Best overall, best for tools: Capital One
Best overall, best for interest checking: Lake Michigan Credit Union
Best for savings, 0.50% APY (annual percentage yield) as of 11/17/2020 APY: Marcus by Goldman Sachs
Best for savings, 0.50% APY: Chime
Best for savings under $5,000, 1.00% APY: One
Best for savings over $5,000, 0.60% APY: Monifi
Best for checking, no monthly fees: Ally Bank
Best for checking, 1.00% cash back: Discover Bank
Best for checking, up to 1.00% APY: Axos Bank
Some of our top overall institutions
U.S. Bank
3.5
NerdWallet ratingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formulas take into account multiple data points for each financial product and service.
Over 37,000 free ATMs; strong customer service.
Premium bank accounts, student checking available.
NerdWallet ratingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formulas take into account multiple data points for each financial product and service.
2% cash back on common daily expenses; 1% cash back on everything else.
Qualifying account holders get up to five ATM fee rebates monthly.
NerdWallet ratingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formulas take into account multiple data points for each financial product and service.
NerdWallet ratingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formulas take into account multiple data points for each financial product and service.
NerdWallet ratingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formulas take into account multiple data points for each financial product and service.
Over 80,000 free ATMs, interest checking available.
NerdWallet ratingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formulas take into account multiple data points for each financial product and service.
Over 70,000 free ATMs; offers tools such as virtual assistance and virtual card numbers.
NerdWallet ratingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formulas take into account multiple data points for each financial product and service.
NerdWallet ratingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formulas take into account multiple data points for each financial product and service.
0.50% APY (annual percentage yield) as of 11/17/2020.
NerdWallet ratingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formulas take into account multiple data points for each financial product and service.
The Annual Percentage Yield (“APY”) for the Chime Savings Account is variable and may change at any time. The disclosed APY is effective as of November 1, 2021. No minimum balance required. Must have $0.01 in savings to earn interest.
One
5.0
NerdWallet ratingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formulas take into account multiple data points for each financial product and service.
NerdWallet ratingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formulas take into account multiple data points for each financial product and service.
0.50%APYs are subject to change at any time without notice including after an account is opened. Offers apply to personal accounts only. Fees may reduce earnings. Member FDIC.
0.50%Advertised Online Savings Account APY is accurate as of 01/21/2022
Min. balance for APY
$0
These cash accounts combine services and features similar to checking, savings and/or investment accounts in one product. Cash management accounts are typically offered by non-bank financial institutions.
These cash accounts combine services and features similar to checking, savings and/or investment accounts in one product. Cash management accounts are typically offered by non-bank financial institutions.
CDs (certificates of deposit) are a type of savings account with a fixed rate and term, and usually have higher interest rates than regular savings accounts.
CDs (certificates of deposit) are a type of savings account with a fixed rate and term, and usually have higher interest rates than regular savings accounts.
0.70%APYs are subject to change at any time without notice. Offers apply to personal accounts only. A penalty may be imposed for early withdrawals from a CD. After maturity, if you choose to roll over your CD, you will earn the base rate of interest in effect at that time. Fees may reduce earnings. Member FDIC.
0.55%APYs are subject to change at any time without notice. Offers apply to personal accounts only. A penalty may be imposed for early withdrawals from a CD. After maturity, if you choose to roll over your CD, you will earn the base rate of interest in effect at that time. Fees may reduce earnings. Member FDIC.
Term
1 year
Checking accounts are used for day-to-day cash deposits and withdrawals.
Checking accounts are used for day-to-day cash deposits and withdrawals.
0.25%You’ll qualify for an annual percentage yield of 0.25% if you opt out of paper statements and have at least one electronic deposit made to your account each month, such as a direct, ATM or mobile deposit or a transfer from another financial institution.
NerdWallet ratingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formulas take into account multiple data points for each financial product and service.
NerdWallet ratingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formulas take into account multiple data points for each financial product and service.
NerdWallet ratingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formulas take into account multiple data points for each financial product and service.
NerdWallet ratingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formulas take into account multiple data points for each financial product and service.
Chime says: “Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by, and debit card issued by, The Bancorp Bank or Stride Bank, N.A.; Members FDIC.”
We took a close look at over 80 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.
