Have you ever stopped to think about how our lives are entirely dependent upon having a bank account? We need a bank account to get paid on time through direct deposit, to pay our bills, and to keep our money safe and secure. It’s pretty much impossible for us to get by in life without a bank account.
Since having a bank account is integral to our lives, it’s important to choose one of the best national banks when opening a new bank account. With all of the banks out there, how do you know which one will work best for your needs? Thankfully, we’ve compiled this list of all of the best banks in the country.
Read on to learn about what they have to offer!
Bank of America
Since this is a list of the best banks in America, it makes sense that we kick off the list with Bank of America.
Bank of America is easily one of the biggest banks in the country, with over 4,200 branches scattered throughout 37 states. Most of its branches are concentrated in the coastal states of California and Florida. On top of that, this bank has massive representation in the ATM sphere with over 16,000 ATMs across the country.
Bank of America is a particularly good bank for students living within reach of a branch or ATM. They offer a Core Checking Account free of charge to students under the age of 23. This means students are able to withdraw more cash per day than they would with a student checking account.
Wells Fargo
If you’re looking for a bank that you can find in virtually every state in the country, then Wells Fargo is a great choice.
Wells Fargo has over 4,900 branch locations and a whopping 12,000 ATMs throughout the country. These stats are pretty hard to beat, in terms of representation.
Keeping in the spirit of plenty, Wells Fargo also offers a ton of different accounts. You can have anything from a simple checking account, credit cards, personal loans, or even a retirement account. With their plentiful branch locations, their customer service team can help you determine which account works best for your financial needs.
Citibank
Citibank is one of the Big Four banks in the country, a term used for financial giants Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Chase Bank, and Citibank.
Most people know Citibank for its credit card offerings. Popular choices include the Citi Custom Cash Card and the Citi Premier Card. Most Citibank credit cards offer great rewards to their cardholders and reasonable annual fees if they have one at all.
If you live in one of the nation’s major cities, then you have the option of opening a checking or savings account at one of their 785 branch locations. Currently, Citibank only has branches in ten US states, but they have ATMs in most Walgreens and 7-Eleven stores.
Chase Bank
If you’re looking for the best banks for checking accounts, then Chase Bank is here to answer your prayers.
Chase has a wide variety of checking accounts, some of which offer significant signing bonuses. The only thing you have to watch out for is the monthly fees, but many can be waived if you maintain a minimum balance or sign up for direct deposits.
Chase Bank is well-represented throughout the country, with 4,700 branches in 33 US states. They also have about 16,000 ATMs, so accessing your money will never be a problem. On top of all of that, Chase has a high customer satisfaction rating, which is pretty hard to beat!
PNC Bank
Looking for a bank to host your small business’s checking account? PNC Bank is an excellent choice, especially for small business owners along the east coast, and parts of the midwest.
PNC Bank is well known for allowing business checking customers to rack up their monthly transaction count without taking a chunk out of their earnings. In fact, customers who hold a PNC Business Checking Preferred Account are allowed 1,500 transactions for free, with additional transactions costing a mere $0.25.
Comparatively, most national banks limit their customers to 500 free transactions and then charge $0.50 for additional transactions.
Ally Bank
There was a time in the history of the financial world when people could open a checking account at any old bank and get a decent return on their savings. Those days are long gone, and checking accounts at most traditional banks are scraping the bottom of the barrel when it comes to APY.
The exception to this rule is the introduction of the web-based bank account. In the world of online banks, Ally Bank is the king. Thanks to lower overhead costs, banks like Ally offer great APYs on online savings accounts.
For example, Ally’s high yield savings account has a 0.60% APY. It is also free from things like maintenance fees and minimum balance requirements. If you’re looking for a great place for your savings, then you can’t do better than Ally.
US Bank
US Bank might have one of the most iconic buildings in the Los Angeles skyline, but fabulous architecture doesn’t get you into the Big Four category for banks. US Bank comes pretty darn close, though. It’s the fifth-largest bank in the country.
It’s a great option for people living in the West and Midwest.
Like its Big Four counterparts, it offers a variety of financial products to its customers. It’s well-known for its excellent Step Up CD products, but it also offers things like mortgages. It has decent rates on mortgages, too, but the benefits of a private lender might outweigh US Bank’s offerings in that arena.
Capital One
If you’ve watched any amount of television in the past few years, you’ve undoubtedly stumbled across at least one of Capital One’s catchy advertisements.
Capital One is a hybrid bank, blending the best aspects of online banks and brick-and-mortar banks together. They have low fees on their accounts, high APYs on their savings products, and a plethora of credit card offerings for people with all sorts of credit ratings.
Also notable with Capital One is their fantastic mobile app. Customers who use the app are able to flip between accounts seamlessly, and they can make payments or deposit money in their accounts without a lot of fuss.
The only downside that comes with a Capital One account is its lack of physical branches. If you live in the South or Northeast, though, then you’ll have no issues accessing a branch.
CIT Bank
CIT Bank might have a similar name to Citibank, but make no mistake, these banks are not related. CIT Bank is owned by CIT Group, and it is headquartered in Southern California.
Like Ally, CIT Bank is an online-only bank that offers products like checking and savings accounts. These are great products, but CIT Bank is most popular for its money market accounts and CDs. Both have great interest rates, and even their checking account offers 0.25% APY.
As an added bonus, CIT doesn’t charge ATM fees, and they’ll reimburse $30 per month in out-of-network ATM fees.
TD Bank
You have a lot of options when it comes to banks, whether they’re a national chain or a regional one. That means that banks really need to work to set themselves apart, especially when it comes to customer service.
That’s where TD Bank comes in. TD Bank’s tagline is that it is “America’s Most Convenient Bank,” and the advertisers are not wrong there. Of all of the banks studied in the J.D. Power study of banking experiences, TD Bank came in first place.
TD Bank’s branch locations are open seven days a week, and they have hours that allow customers easier access to their branch services. The only catch, of course, is that they are primarily located on the East Coast.
Regions Bank
If you live in the Southeast, then you’re probably no stranger to Regions bank.
Regions Bank has branch locations in 15 US states, primarily in the Southeast. Within those states, there are 1,500 branches and 2,200 ATMs. It is noticeably absent in some southern states, however, including Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington DC.
This bank is a great option for southerners who are looking to open a savings account at a brick-and-mortar bank. Their LifeGreen Savings pays out a cash bonus on an annual basis, and you won’t have to worry about monthly fees.
Are You a Member of One of The Best National Banks?
As you can tell, there are a lot of fantastic banks out there to whom you can safely entrust your money. If you’re already a member of one of the best national banks, you might feel reassured by your choice. On the other hand, if you think that another one of these banks suits your needs better, then it’s definitely time to make the swap!
Like it or not, personal finance is an integral part of everyone’s life. Whether you’re dealing with building a savings account or choosing a retirement plan, it all has to be handled at some point in life. Check out the rest of our blog for tips that’ll help you sort through all of life’s most difficult financial decisions!
