Finding the best bank for you starts with knowing what’s out there. Checking and savings accounts can vary wildly in features and perks depending on where you bank.
Take our quiz below to find the best banking institution for you. You can focus on just a new checking or savings account, or a combination at the same bank.
Here are some quick notes:
- Use the quiz as a starting point. Feel free to change up your answers to see different recommendations. This quiz is free and requires no sign-up.
- Not every institution shown is a traditional bank. In fact, our recommendations include brick-and-mortar and online-only banks as well as credit unions, the not-for-profit equivalent to banks. We also include neobanks, which are financial tech firms that offer banking accounts with FDIC insurance generally through bank partnerships. Learn more in our guide to how to choose a bank.
How NerdWallet chose these recommendations: We analyze dozens of data points for each financial institution and calculate star ratings to determine the best offering for a given category. (For more details about ratings, see our methodology.)
» Want to see a full list? Check out our awards for the best bank accounts of 2026
Other things to consider
- Not sure what a term means? See our glossary below.
- You can have multiple checking and savings accounts. Some people use savings accounts like a modern-day envelope system: one for emergencies, another for vacation, etc. Having multiple checking accounts is not as common, but you may decide to open a new one where you have a mortgage or other loan to make payments easy. Learn more about how to set up your bank accounts.
- Many institutions with highly rated checking and savings accounts don’t have a branch network. Often you’ll find online-only banks and credit unions with high savings rates, which is in part due to having lower overhead costs than brick-and-mortar banks.
Types of bank accounts in this quiz
- Checking accounts: For your everyday spending needs. (See the best checking accounts.)
- Savings accounts: For your basic savings needs. (See the best savings accounts.)
- Certificates of deposit: For a portion of your savings at a fixed rate. (See the best CD rates.)
Types of financial institutions in this quiz
- National brick-and-mortar banks: These banks typically have large nationwide ATM and branch networks. (See the largest banks in the U.S.)
- Online banks and credit unions: These internet-only institutions often have no monthly fees on checking accounts and high rates on savings accounts. (See the best online banks and the best credit unions.)
- Neobanks: These financial tech platforms can have comparable checking or savings accounts with online banks. (See a list of neobanks.)
Banking terms to know
Here are some terms you may see in the quiz, along with their definitions in case you’re not familiar with them:
APY: Annual percentage yield, or the amount of interest a bank account can earn in a year, including compounded interest.
Brick-and-mortar bank: A bank that has branches. In-person interactions may still be necessary for some transactions, though most everyday banking can be done online. (See reasons to keep a bank with branches.)
CD: Certificate of deposit. This type of savings account has a fixed rate and an upfront deposit which you keep untouched for an agreed-upon period of months to years.
Checking account: A common type of bank account that has multiple ways to deposit and withdraw money, such as through debit cards, online transfers and transactions at ATMs and branches.
Credit union: A not-for-profit, member-owned financial institution that offers similar accounts and services as a bank.
Early withdrawal penalty: The main type of fee that CDs have. If you take money from a CD before its term expires, you may pay an amount equal to several months or even a year’s worth of interest earned on that CD.
Money market account: A type of savings account that often includes some checking account-like features, such as check-writing or debit cards. MMAs traditionally had higher rates than regular savings accounts but now their rates tend to be comparable. Both regular savings and money market accounts can have a limit on the number of monthly withdrawals, depending on a bank’s policy.
Monthly fees: Banks can charge this maintenance fee on a monthly cadence if you don’t maintain a certain checking or savings account balance, among other requirements. Many online banks and credit unions offer free checking accounts, meaning they have no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements associated with a fee.
Overdraft fee: This fee gets charged if a transaction pushes your checking account balance negative. Banks choose how many fees can be charged per day.
Shared branch network: A solution for credit unions to offer nationwide access to services at branches beyond an individual credit union’s locations. The Co-op network, in particular, is a way for credit unions to compete with banks that offer big individual branch networks.
Savings account: A common type of bank account that earns interest and lets you store cash for future use.
See more information from Chime
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.”
"SpotMe® on Debit is an optional, no fee overdraft service attached to your Chime Checking Account. To qualify for the SpotMe on Debit service, you must receive $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits to your Chime Checking Account each month and have activated your physical Chime Visa® Debit Card or secured Chime Visa® Credit Card.
Qualifying members will be allowed to overdraw their Chime Checking Account for up to $20 on debit card purchases and cash withdrawals initially but may later be eligible for a higher limit of up to $200 or more based on Chime Account history, direct deposit frequency and amount, spending activity and other risk-based factors. The SpotMe on Debit limit will be displayed within the Chime mobile app and is subject to change at any time, at Chime's sole discretion. Although Chime does not charge any overdraft fees for SpotMe on Debit, there may be out-of-network or third-party fees associated with ATM transactions. SpotMe on Debit will not cover any non-debit card transactions, including ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, or Chime Checkbook transactions. SpotMe on Debit Terms and Conditions."
Qualifying members will be allowed to overdraw their Chime Checking Account for up to $20 on debit card purchases and cash withdrawals initially but may later be eligible for a higher limit of up to $200 or more based on Chime Account history, direct deposit frequency and amount, spending activity and other risk-based factors. The SpotMe on Debit limit will be displayed within the Chime mobile app and is subject to change at any time, at Chime's sole discretion. Although Chime does not charge any overdraft fees for SpotMe on Debit, there may be out-of-network or third-party fees associated with ATM transactions. SpotMe on Debit will not cover any non-debit card transactions, including ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, or Chime Checkbook transactions. SpotMe on Debit Terms and Conditions."
See more information from SoFi
SoFi says: "We do not charge any account, service or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. We do charge a transaction fee to process each outgoing wire transfer. SoFi does not charge a fee for incoming wire transfers, however the sending bank may charge a fee. Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Bank Fee Sheet for details at sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/."
See more information from Bread Savings
Bread Savings adds: "All Bread Savings APYs are accurate as of 01/15/2026. APYs are subject to change at any time without notice. Offers apply to personal accounts only. Fees may reduce earnings. For high-yield savings accounts, a minimum of $100 is required and must be deposited in a single transaction. For high-yield savings accounts, the rate may change after the account is opened. Rates are compared against competitor rates published by NerdWallet.com and the institutions themselves as of 01/15/2026. NerdWallet.com obtains the data from the various banks that it tracks and its accuracy cannot be guaranteed. "
