Images by GettyImages; Illustration by Hunter Newton/Bankrate

The best bank and credit union for you will depend on your banking needs, but in general, the best banks offer accounts with low or no minimum balance requirements and don’t charge monthly fees — or at least allow you to waive them.

They also tend to have helpful technology and offer their customers high-yield savings accounts and certificates of deposits (CDs) with competitive yields.

    • Ally Bank: Best bank overall
    • Quorum Federal Credit Union: Best credit union
    • Chase: Best for branch access
    • Capital One: Best for ATM access
    • Bank of America: Best mobile banking app
    • Jenius Bank: Best new bank account
    • Forbright Bank: Best eco-friendly bank
    • Texas Capital Bank: Best regional bank

Best banks and credit unions

Bankrate’s take

Bankrate’s take

Bankrate’s take

Bankrate’s take

Bankrate’s take

Bankrate’s take

Bankrate’s take

Bankrate’s take

Compare the best banks for your needs

Credit unions vs. banks

Both credit unions and banks offer a variety of financial products, including  checking, savings, money market accounts and certificates of deposit (CD), though credit unions typically refer to CDs as “share certificates.”

Credit unions are not-for-profit organizations owned by their members. This means they typically return profits to their members in the form of higher APYs and lower loan rates. Because of their community-driven approach, credit unions tend to serve a specific region, employer or group, and membership often requires meeting certain eligibility criteria.

In contrast, banks are for-profit financial institutions. Opening an account at a bank is generally straightforward, though some banks, regional banks in particular, might only offer their accounts and services to those living in certain states. Traditional banks — especially large national ones — often have more branch locations and advanced technology, including mobile banking apps with features like automated savings tools.

Both banks and credit unions are federally insured — banks by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and credit unions by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). Both forms of insurance provide the same amount of deposit protection: up to $250,000 per depositor, per institution, per ownership category.

When deciding where to bank, consider factors like interest rates, fees, convenience and digital access. Some consumers prefer credit unions for their member-focused benefits, while others opt for banks due to their wider accessibility and technological advancements. If you’re looking for the best of both worlds, online banks and credit unions with robust digital services tend to offer competitive rates with the convenience of traditional banks in the form of wide fee-free ATM access. 

I joined my credit union during my time as a student at the University of Texas at Austin. By 2024, I was frustrated with the credit union’s bare-bones technology options and diminishing customer service. The mobile app was very buggy and slow, and the transaction history was a day or two delayed compared to the website.

All of this said, I believe strongly in the mission of credit unions, and although I am no longer using an FCU for my everyday needs, I intend to maintain my relationship with them. I appreciate the sense of community and member-owned nature of credit unions. And although they often don’t have the highest yields available on savings accounts, their loan rates can’t be beat!

Bottom line

Over time, banking options evolve, enhancing the products, services and overall experience for the banking customer. So, it’s worth taking time to re-evaluate your bank to ensure it’s providing you with products that offer a competitive yield, a highly-rated app or customer service that meets your personal finance needs.  

Research methodology

Bankrate researches over 100 banks and credit unions, including some of the largest financial institutions, online-only banks, regional banks and credit unions with both open and restrictive membership policies. 

We score these institutions based on their product offerings (savings, checking accounts, CDs and money market accounts), APYs, fees, minimum deposit requirements, funds access, digital features and more. 

The highest-rated banks and credit unions overall, as well as within certain categories, made this list. Learn more about our methodology for reviewing banks. 

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