The best bank or credit union for you depends on what you’re looking for: a checking account, a savings account, or both.
NerdWallet spent more than 200 hours comparing and rating dozens of financial institutions to identify those with the best deposit accounts. Find our top picks in the table below.
Top Overall Banks: Four financial institutions earned spots in both our best checking and best savings accounts lists. If you want to keep your checking and savings accounts at the same bank, go with one of these options.
Top Savings Accounts: If you’d like to split your accounts between different banks, consider one of these savings accounts. They have annual percentage yields above 1.50% — much higher than the national average of 0.08%. Your savings will grow faster with one of these accounts.
Top Checking Accounts: If you want only a checking account, consider one with a perk or two, such as cash-back rewards or helpful budgeting tools.
Best banks and credit unions:
- Best overall, best for customer service: Ally Bank
- Best overall, best for cash-back rewards: Discover Bank
- Best overall, best for sign-up bonus: Chase Bank
- Best overall, best for interest checking: Alliant Credit Union
- Best for savings, 1.85% APY: Synchrony Bank
- Best for savings, 1.85% APY: Marcus by Goldman Sachs
- Best for savings, 1.75% APY: American Express National Bank
- Best for checking, cash rewards, early direct deposit: Chime
- Best for checking, budgeting tool: Simple
- Best for checking, worldwide ATM reimbursements: Charles Schwab Bank
| Top Overall Banks |
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Ally Bank NerdWallet has rated this bank:
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| Discover Bank NerdWallet has rated this bank:
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| Chase Bank NerdWallet has rated this bank:
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Alliant Credit Union NerdWallet has rated this bank:
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| Top Savings Accounts |
| Synchrony Bank NerdWallet has rated this savings account:
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| Marcus by Goldman Sachs NerdWallet has rated this savings account:
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| American Express National Bank NerdWallet has rated this savings account:
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» Looking for more excellent savings options? Browse our best savings accounts
| Top Checking Accounts |
| Chime NerdWallet has rated this savings account:
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| Simple NerdWallet has rated this savings account:
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Charles Schwab Bank NerdWallet has rated this checking account:
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» For more checking options, take a look at our best checking accounts
Did you have something more specific in mind? If so, check out these articles:
Banks and Credit Unions
Checking Accounts
Savings and Money Market Accounts
Best Banks and Credit Unions 2018
| Financial institution | Best for ... |
|---|---|
| Ally Bank | Overall, customer service |
| Discover Bank | Overall, cash-back rewards |
| Chase Bank | Overall, sign-up bonus |
| Alliant Credit Union | Overall, interest checking |
| Synchrony Bank | Savings, 1.85% APY |
| Marcus by Goldman Sachs | Savings, 1.85% APY |
| American Express National Bank | Savings, 1.75% APY |
| Chime | Checking, cash rewards, early direct deposit |
| Simple | Checking, budgeting tool |
| Charles Schwab Bank | Checking, worldwide ATM reimbursements |
