The Best Banks of 2025
See top banking accounts for 2025, backed with Bankrate's expertise. Low fees, online banks, savings accounts and more—find the best with The Bankrate Awards.
Karen Bennett is a senior consumer banking reporter at Bankrate. Her expertise lies in finding the best savings accounts, checking accounts and CDs, as well as all things personal finance. She’s been a reporter at Bankrate since 2021, and she holds a master’s degree in Journalism and a bachelor’s degree in English.
Karen’s writing experience spans topics including bank accounts, saving money, budgeting, and credit cards, as well as lifestyle and health. She also spent time as a writer of product reviews and a reporter for local newspapers in Chicago, Milwaukee and Washington, D.C. In addition, she worked for over a decade as a writer and product manager for CoolSavings, a website devoted to saving money on groceries, travel and other products.
Karen stays on top of the latest in banking and personal finance. Topics she writes about for Bankrate include how to choose the best high-yield savings account, the latest statistics on checking account fees and ways to protect yourself from bank fraud.
On the personal finance front, Karen has covered topics such as progress for women in banking and the pitfalls of spaving deals (spaving is the act of spending more money to qualify for money-saving promotions).
When she’s not working, Karen enjoys working on her novel, as well as reading, cooking, traveling and spending time with her family.
The pillars of smart money management include having an emergency fund in a high-yield savings account, paying down debt, following a budget and living within your means.
— Karen Bennett
See top banking accounts for 2025, backed with Bankrate's expertise. Low fees, online banks, savings accounts and more—find the best with The Bankrate Awards.
Find the best 5-year CD rates for your savings goals.
Comparing savings rates can ensure you get the best return on your savings.
Find the best 1-year CD rates if you have a short-term savings goal in mind.
Here’s why you should avoid being underbanked and how to ensure that you aren’t.
Discover a wide range of competitive money market rates and other savings options from Bankrate. Compare and open one today to maximize your savings potential.
Citibank’s new account bonuses are very competitive. Just be sure you won’t need those funds any time soon – dropping your account balances early can not only disqualify you from the promotion, but it may also cost you money in the form of additional account service fees.
Read our experts' review on BMO Bank's features and product offerings. Bankrate reviews and compares hundreds of banks to help find the right fit for you.
We appreciate your feedback
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience.