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Best Banks and Credit Unions of 2025

See our list of the best banks and credit unions that can help you manage and grow your funds more optimally.

Updated: Jan 2, 2025
Ruth Sarreal
Written by 
Ruth SarrealRuth Sarreal
Editor & Content Strategist
Tony Armstrong
Edited by 
Tony ArmstrongTony Armstrong
Head of Content, Banking
Fact Checked
Ruth Sarreal
Written by 
Ruth SarrealRuth Sarreal
Editor & Content Strategist
+ 1 more
Tony Armstrong
Edited by 
Tony ArmstrongTony Armstrong
Head of Content, Banking
Fact Checked

Many or all of the products on this page are from partners who compensate us when you click to or take an action on their website, but this does not influence our evaluations or ratings. Our opinions are our own.

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/institutionNerdWallet rating Minimum balanceAPYLearn more
Alliant Credit Union High-Rate Checking

Alliant Credit Union High-Rate Checking

Learn moreon partner's site
at Alliant Credit Union, Federally insured by NCUA
4.8/5
Best for Best credit union
$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
Chase Total Checking®

Chase Total Checking®

Learn moreon partner's site
at Chase, Member FDIC
4.6/5
Best for Best for branch access 
$0
Member FDIC
N/A
Learn moreon partner's site
at Chase, Member FDIC
UFB Portfolio Savings

UFB Portfolio Savings

Learn moreon partner's site
at UFB Direct, Member FDIC
5.0/5
Best for Best savings account
$0
Member FDIC
3.76%
With $0 min. balance for APY
Learn moreon partner's site
at UFB Direct, Member FDIC
Ally Bank High Yield CD

Ally Bank High Yield CD

5.0/5
Best for Best bank and best for CDs
$0
Member FDIC

1-year APY 3.85%

 

3-year APY 3.50%

 

5-year APY 3.50%

 
Discover® Cashback Debit

Discover® Cashback Debit

5.0/5
Best for Best checking account and best online banking experience
$0
Member FDIC
N/A
Vio Bank Cornerstone Money Market Savings Account

Vio Bank Cornerstone Money Market Savings Account

5.0/5
Best for Best money market account
$0
Member FDIC
4.15%
With $0.01 min. balance for APY
  • Our pick for

    Best credit union

  • Our pick for

    Best for branch access 

  • Our pick for

    Best savings account

  • Our pick for

    Best bank and best for CDs

    • NerdWallet rating
      5.0/5

      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 It

      Ally 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 checking account and best online banking experience

    • NerdWallet rating
      5.0/5

      APY

      N/A

      Bonus

      $360

      Up to $360 per year. See website for details.

      Monthly fee

      $0

      Overdraft star rating

      5.0/5

      Our Take
      Why We Like It

      Discover'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

Video preview image

» 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

  • Best credit union.

  • Best bank.

  • Best for CDs.

  • Best for branch access.

  • Best checking account.

  • Best online banking experience.

  • Best savings account.

  • Best money market account.

» 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.

To recap our selections...

NerdWallet's Best Banks and Credit Unions of 2025