Best Banks and Credit Unions of 2025
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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.
NerdWallet writers and editors 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.
Here is an overview of the best overall institutions and accounts of 2025.
+ See a summary of NerdWallet's best banks and credit unions of 2025
Best-of 2025 Banking Winners:
Alliant Credit Union: Best credit union.
Ally Bank: Best bank; best for CDs.
Chase: Best for branch access.
Discover® Bank: Best checking account; best online banking experience.
UFB Direct: Best savings account.
Vio Bank: Best money market account.
Best Banks and Credit Unions
| Bank/institution | NerdWallet rating | Minimum balance | APY | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Alliant Credit Union High-Rate Checking Learn moreon partner's site at Alliant Credit Union, Federally insured by NCUA | 4.8/5 | $0 Federally insured by NCUA | 0.25% With $0 min. balance for APY | Learn moreon partner's site at Alliant Credit Union, Federally insured by NCUA |
4.5/5 | $0 Member FDIC | 3.76% With $0 min. balance for APY | Learn moreon partner's site at UFB Direct, Member FDIC | |
5.0/5 | $0 Member FDIC | 1-year APY 3.85% 3-year APY 3.50% 5-year APY 3.50% | ||
3.6/5 | $0 Member FDIC | N/A | ||
5.0/5 | $0 Member FDIC | N/A | ||
5.0/5 | $0 Member FDIC | 4.10% With $0.01 min. balance for APY |
Our pick for
Best credit union
- Learn moreon partner's siteat Alliant Credit Union, Federally insured by NCUANerdWallet rating4.8/5Learn moreon partner's siteat Alliant Credit Union, Federally insured by NCUA
APY
0.25%
With $0 min. balance for APY
Bonus
N/A
Monthly fee
$0
Overdraft star rating
5.0/5
Our Take
Why We Like ItA checking account can be a good entry point to a credit union, and Alliant's is especially appealing because it pays interest. Its savings account features a competitive APY of 3.10%. The credit union offers more than 80,000 free ATMs.
Read more in our Alliant Credit Union review.
Our pick for
Best savings account
Learn moreon partner's siteat UFB Direct, Member FDICNerdWallet rating4.5/5Learn moreon partner's siteat UFB Direct, Member FDICAPY
3.76%
With $0 min. balance for APY
Bonus
N/A
Our Take
Why We Like ItUFB Direct offers a 3.76% APY on all savings balances. There's no minimum deposit requirement and no monthly fee.
Read more in our UFB Direct review.
Our pick for
Best bank and best for CDs
- NerdWallet rating5.0/5
Minimum deposit
$0
Member FDIC
APY
1-year APY 3.85%
3-year APY 3.50%
5-year APY 3.50%
Our Take
Why We Like ItAlly Bank doesn't charge any overdraft fees, and it offers more than 75,000 ATMs. The bank features a 3.40% APY on savings and 3.85% APY on 1-year CDs. It also offers flexible and no-penalty CDs with competitive rates.
Read more in our Ally Bank review.
Our pick for
Best for branch access
- NerdWallet rating3.6/5
APY
N/A
Bonus
$300
Requirements to qualify
Monthly fee
$15.00
Overdraft star rating
4.0/5
Our Take
Why We Like ItChase has more than 5,000 locations across 48 states. The bank also offers a cash bonus for new checking account (with $500 minimum direct deposit requirement; learn about it in our bank bonuses roundup).
Read more in our Chase review.
Our pick for
Best checking account and best online banking experience
- NerdWallet rating5.0/5
APY
N/A
Bonus
$360
Up to $360 per year. See website for details.
Monthly fee
$0
Overdraft star rating
4.8/5
Our Take
Why We Like ItDiscover's cash-back checking account has no monthly fees and no minimum deposit requirements. Customers get 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.)
Our pick for
Best money market account
- NerdWallet rating5.0/5
APY
4.10%
With $0.01 min. balance for APY
Bonus
N/A
Our Take
Why We Like ItVio Bank's money market account pays 4.10% APY on all balances, and there are 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
The best banks and credit unions of 2025
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» Looking for the biggest banks in the country? See the list of largest banks in the U.S.
Last updated on January 2, 2025
Methodology
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.
NerdWallet's Best Banks and Credit Unions of 2025
- Alliant Credit Union High-Rate Checking: Best for Best credit union
- Ally Bank High Yield CD: Best for Best bank and best for CDs
- Chase Total Checking®: Best for Best for branch access
- Discover® Cashback Debit: Best for Best checking account and best online banking experience
- UFB Portfolio Savings: Best for Best savings account
- Vio Bank Cornerstone Money Market Savings Account: Best for Best money market account