5 Best National Banks
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The best national banks are available across the country and offer extensive ATM networks as well as features like sign-up bonuses and strong interest rates. One offers brick-and-mortar locations and the others are available only online.
Why you can trust NerdWallet: Our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines to make sure our coverage is fair and accurate, so you can choose the financial accounts that work best for you. See our criteria for evaluating banks and credit unions.
The best national banks are available across the country and offer extensive ATM networks as well as features like sign-up bonuses and strong interest rates. One offers brick-and-mortar locations and the others are available only online.
Why you can trust NerdWallet: Our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines to make sure our coverage is fair and accurate, so you can choose the financial accounts that work best for you. See our criteria for evaluating banks and credit unions.
Best National Banks
Bank/institution | NerdWallet rating | Learn more |
---|---|---|
![]() Chase Learn more at Chase, Member FDIC | Best for Sign-up bonus and branch access | Learn more at Chase, Member FDIC |
![]() Discover Bank | Best for High-yield savings | Read review |
![]() Alliant Credit Union | Best for ATMs | Read review |
![]() Ally Bank | Best for Customer service | Read review |
![]() Wells Fargo | Best for Branch access | Read review |
Our pick for
Sign-up bonus and branch access
Why We Like It
Chase's checking sign-up bonus sets it apart from other large banks, and it has locations and ATMs across the U.S. Accounts come with monthly fees that are fairly easy to avoid.
Bonus offers: The bank regularly holds promotions for new customers. Right now, a new checking account can fetch you an additional $200 (expires 04/19/2023).
Fees are avoidable: Sidestep monthly charges on checking by using direct deposits, maintaining minimum daily account balances or keeping a certain amount deposited across linked Chase accounts.
Many branches and ATMs: Chase has more than 4,700 branches across 45+ states, and 16,000 ATMs.
Important to consider: As is typical with traditional banks, interest rates are low at Chase. APYs are minimal for savings products.
Our pick for
High-yield savings
Why We Like It
Discover is an online bank with a rewards checking account and competitive yields on savings and certificates of deposit.
High rates: APYs on Discover's savings, money market account and certificates of deposit are highly competitive.
Checking comes with rewards: Earn 1% cash back for up to $3,000 in qualifying debit card purchases per month. Note that Discover's Cashback Debit account is not currently available to new customers.
24/7 customer service: Support is available by phone 24/7 and you can reach the bank through mail and social media. Live chat is also available, but only for Cashback Debit customers.
Strong ATM network: Access to more than 60,000 free U.S. ATMs.
Fee-free: No monthly fees or minimum deposit requirements on checking and savings accounts.
Important to consider: This online-only bank doesn’t accept cash deposits.
Our pick for
ATMs
Why We Like It
Alliant, an online credit union, offers nationwide accessibility, highly competitive interest rates, a massive ATM network and no monthly fees across deposit accounts.
Large ATM network: Alliant boasts a network of over 80,000 fee-free ATMs.
24/7 customer service: You can get support by phone at any time.
High rates: APYs on deposit accounts are competitive with other online institutions.
Easy-to-avoid fees and no minimum balances: Monthly fees can be easily dodged, and there is no minimum balance requirement on checking accounts.
Important to consider: Anyone can apply for membership after making a one-time $5 donation to a nonprofit that supports foster children. If you want, Alliant will pay the donation on your behalf. You must open a savings account to become a member at Alliant.
Our pick for
Customer service
Why We Like It
Ally, an online bank, has no physical branches, but has 24/7 customer support by phone and by chat, as well as low fees and high interest rates.
Large ATM network: Ally is an online-only bank, but you can access your money with a robust nationwide ATM network of over 43,000 locations.
24/7 customer service: You can reach live help 24/7 by phone or by chat. The website also gives a helpful estimate of the wait time when calling a representative. The bank has a dedicated Twitter account to respond to customers as well.
No monthly fees: There are no monthly fees on checking and savings accounts.
Competitive rates: Interest rates are high across savings and certificates of deposit.
Important to consider: This online-only bank doesn’t accept cash deposits.
Our pick for
Branch access
Why We Like It
Wells Fargo offers thousands of branches across the U.S.: About 4,700 locations across 36 states and Washington, D.C. Its savings account offers a higher APY than you’d find for similar accounts at other big banks.
Large ATM network: The Wells Fargo network offers 12,000 ATMs.
24/7 customer service: Account holders can get help from a human over the phone any time of day or night.
Fees are avoidable: You can avoid monthly fees on checking by having direct deposit set up or by maintaining minimum daily account balances.
Important to consider: Though its savings rate is higher than what you’ll find at some other large banks, it’s still lower than the national average of 0.33% APY and well below what you’ll find at online banks.
Best national banks
Financial Institution | Savings APY | Minimum deposit to open savings |
---|---|---|
3.30% | $0 | |
3.30% | $0 | |
0.01% effective as of 07/02/2022. Interest rates are variable and subject to change. | $0 | |
2.70% | $5 (deposit made by Alliant) | |
0.15% | $25 |
» Wondering if better options are available? See NerdWallet’s list of best banks and credit unions overall.
Keep in mind that having branch access usually means paying more in fees and earning less interest. If you're curious what you'd be giving up in returns by storing your money in a brick-and-mortar bank, run your balance through our savings calculator.
National banks FAQs
What does it mean to be a national bank?
For the purposes of this roundup, national banks are financial institutions with a presence in at least 15 states. This includes banks with physical branches as well as those that are online-only. Accounts at the online banks are available to people living in almost every state. For banks with branches, we considered only those that had at least 1,000 locations.
What makes big banks different from smaller banks?
Big, national banks serve more of the country than regional or community banks do. A regional bank might serve only a few neighboring states; a community bank might serve only one city within a state.
National banks tend to have more technological resources and a wider variety of products than a smaller bank; on the other hand, smaller banks can offer more personalized service.
How much interest do the best big banks pay?
The best national brick-and-mortar banks don't always pay the highest interest rates on savings products. Like other brick-and-mortar banks, they might pay around the national average for savings — 0.33% — or less.
And like other online banks, the best national online banks often have higher APYs than their brick-and-mortar counterparts. It's not hard to find rates of 2.70% or above.
» Find the best rates on savings with NerdWallet’s best high-yield online savings accounts
Are national banks better than other kinds of banks?
That depends on what you're looking for. If your biggest priority is in-person accessibility, a national, brick-and-mortar bank might be a good fit. You're more likely to find a branch no matter where you live. If you're interested in the best rates and large ATM networks, one of the best national online banks might be a good fit.
If having access to a branch when you're far from home isn't a priority and you really value in-person, personalized service, a regional or community bank might be better for you.
Are the best national banks brick-and-mortar banks?
Not necessarily. Many of NerdWallet's picks for best national bank are online, because they often offer better interest rates on deposits than brick-and-mortar banks do. But some brick-and-mortar banks stand out for other reasons, such as solid sign-up bonuses or customer service.
» Find out what sign-up bonuses banks are offering this month
Many online banks allow people to sign up from almost anywhere in the U.S., while most brick-and-mortar banks have some states they don't serve. For example, Chase has branches across the country but doesn’t serve all 50 states.
What makes the best national brick-and-mortar banks different from the best national online banks?
The best national brick-and-mortar banks and the best national online banks have different pros and cons. Brick-and-mortar banks are more likely to offer promotions or welcome bonuses for new accounts, while online banks are more likely to pay higher rates on deposits, often above 2.70% APY for savings.
While both are available to many people in the U.S., brick-and-mortar banks offer more in-person accessibility, and online banks tend to offer longer customer service hours via phone. Online banks can also offer large ATM networks.
Is my money safer in a national bank vs. a regional bank (or a national credit union vs. a regional credit union)?
Your money is equally safe in any bank that's insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. As long as your bank has this protection — and most banks do — you're insured for up to $250,000 per person, per ownership category, per bank.
Similarly, your money is equally safe in any credit union that’s insured by the National Credit Union Administration. Credit unions that have this protection insure your money for up to $250,000 per person, per account, per credit union.
» Read up on FDIC insurance
What is the No. 1 bank in America?
Currently, the largest bank in America by deposits is Chase Bank. It has branches in nearly all states (there are no branches in Alaska) and about 16,000 ATMs, as well as extended hours for customer service via phone.
That doesn't necessarily mean Chase is the bank you should choose, though. Weigh its interest rates, fees and additional factors against other options in your area before making a choice.
» Learn more: How to choose a bank
Which bank is the best rated in America?
There are many ways of rating a bank, but customer satisfaction is an important one. According to the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Retail Banking Satisfaction Study℠, Chase is one of just two of the country’s top five largest banks to win any region.
Chase is the best-rated bank for customer satisfaction in the Upper Midwest, and U.S. Bank is the best-rated bank for customer satisfaction in California.
What are the top 10 banks in the United States?
According to the most recent Federal Reserve data, the top 10 retail banks in the U.S. by assets are:
Chase Bank
Bank of America
Citibank
Wells Fargo
U.S. Bank
PNC Bank
Truist Bank
Goldman Sachs
TD Bank
Capital One
These banks typically have large branch and ATM networks and offer many different products, as well as long customer service hours. But before signing up with one, you should consider your priorities, including interest rates and accessibility.
Which is better: Chase vs. Wells Fargo? Wells Fargo vs. Bank of America?
The best bank for you depends on which services you use the most and which bank has the most branches and ATMs nearby, so it’s worth digging into the details. For example, Bank of America makes it slightly easier than Chase or Wells Fargo to waive fees on basic checking. Bank of America and Chase don't charge fees for overdraft protection transfers. Wells Fargo will charge the fee only if you don’t make a covering deposit or transfer by the next business day. (Read more about Wells Fargo overdraft fees and policies.)
You can read more in NerdWallet’s head-to-head comparisons of the country’s biggest banks:
Which national banks will pay me a bonus?
Many national banks consistently offer sign-up bonuses for new customers who open accounts. These days, it’s not unusual to find bonuses of around $150.
You can learn more about bonuses in NerdWallet’s list of the best bank promotions.
Last updated on September 21, 2022
Methodology
To determine the best accounts, we took a close look at more than 80 financial institutions, including the largest U.S. banks based on assets, debit card volume, internet search traffic and other factors; the nation's largest credit unions, based on deposits as well as broad-based membership requirements; and other notable and/or emerging players in the industry. For this roundup, we considered only those brick-and-mortar banks with at least 1,000 branches in at least 15 states and broadly available online banks.
Financial institutions and providers surveyed are: Affirm, Alaska USA Federal Credit Union, Alliant Credit Union, Ally Bank, Amalgamated Bank, America First Credit Union, American Express National Bank, Axos Bank, Bank of America, Bank of the West, Bank5 Connect, Bank7, Barclays, Bask Bank, BMO Harris, Boeing Employees Credit Union, Bread Savings, BrioDirect, Capital One, Charles Schwab Bank, Chase, Chime, CIBC U.S., CIT Bank, Citibank, Citizens, Citizens Bank, City First Bank, ConnectOne Bank, Connexus Credit Union, Consumers Credit Union, Current, Discover Bank, E-Trade, Fifth Third Bank, First Foundation, First Republic Bank, First Tech Federal Credit Union, FNBO Direct, GO2bank, Golden 1 Credit Union, Hope Credit Union, Huntington Bank, Industrial Bank, KeyBank, Lake Michigan Credit Union, LendingClub Bank, Live Oak Bank, M&T Bank, Marcus by Goldman Sachs, Nationwide (by Axos), Navy Federal Credit Union, NBKC, One, OneUnited Bank, Pentagon Federal Credit Union, PNC, Popular Direct, PurePoint Financial, Quontic Bank, Redneck Bank, Regions Bank, Revolut, Salem Five Direct, Sallie Mae Bank, Santander Bank, Scarlet, SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, Security Service Federal Credit Union, Service Credit Union, SoFi, State Employees’ Credit Union of North Carolina, Suncoast Credit Union, Synchrony Bank, TAB Bank, TD Bank, TIAA Bank, Truist Bank, U.S. Bank, UFB Direct, Union Bank, Upgrade, USAA Bank, Varo, Vio Bank, Wells Fargo and Zynlo Bank.
To recap our selections...
NerdWallet's Best National Banks
- Chase: Best for Sign-up bonus and branch access
- Discover Bank: Best for High-yield savings
- Alliant Credit Union: Best for ATMs
- Ally Bank: Best for Customer service
- Wells Fargo: Best for Branch access