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Our experts put popular financial institutions under the microscope to find 2024’s best banking experiences, rates and offers. While some winners may be partners, this didn’t influence our selection process.

At Bankrate we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. While we adhere to strict , this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation of . Read more about how we scored the 2024 Bankrate Awards winners in .

See our top picks

Awards

Best bank overall

Ally Bank

Ally Bank

Learn more in our Bankrate review
Highlights High APYs No fees 24/7 customer service

Why they won

Ally Bank offers many best-in-class products, all paying competitive yields. Ally doesn’t charge any fees (it even eliminated overdraft fees in 2021), and there are no minimum deposit or balance requirements on its accounts. The bank’s 24/7 phone customer service and call center wait-time updates on its website exemplify its commitment to customer service.

Top features

  • Ally offers competitive yields on its products, so customers can keep all of their accounts at the same bank without compromising returns.
  • Ally doesn’t charge any account fees, including overdraft fees.
  • There’s no minimum deposit required to open any of the accounts.
Awards

Best big bank

Capital One

Capital One

Learn more in our Bankrate review
Highlights High APYs No fees No balance requirements

Why they won

Capital One operates around 300 branches and cafés and also provides online banking services. This full-service bank’s savings accounts and CDs earn competitive yields for a big bank. Customers can access more than 70,000 fee-free ATMs from the Capital One, Allpoint and MoneyPass networks. The bank eliminated fees for overdrafts and nonsufficent funds in 2022.

Top features

  • The Capital One 360 Performance Savings account and 360 CDs provide competitive APYs compared with other big banks.
  • Capital One’s deposit products don’t charge monthly or overdraft fees, or require minimum balances.
  • The bank offers a full range of online banking services and also operates around 300 branches, including café locations.
Awards

Best online bank

Ally Bank

Ally Bank

Learn more in our Bankrate review
Highlights High APYs No fees No balance requirements

Why they won

Ally Bank has become the gold standard of online banks. Ally offers savers nationwide consistent, competitive rates and supports a mobile banking app with useful features, such as the ability to set up savings buckets. Ally neither requires minimum balances to open accounts nor does it charge overdraft fees, and its partnership with Allpoint provides customers with access to more than 43,000 fee-free ATMs nationwide. Customers who use an out-of-network ATM are reimbursed up to $10 at the end of each statement cycle.

Top features

  • Ally is consistently competitive with deposit rates.
  • Savers won’t lose money on paying monthly fees because there are none.
  • Ally offers a variety of CD terms and, more impressively, requires no minimum deposit to open any of them.

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Awards
Awards

Best regional bank

Texas Capital Bank logo

Texas Capital Bank

Learn more in our Bankrate review
Highlights High APY ATM Fee Refunds Free Checking

Why they won

Texas Capital Bank’s main deposit accounts – checking, savings, money market and CDs – helped it earn the best regional bank title. The bank has 10 locations in Texas, according to the FDIC. It has locations in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio, according to the bank’s website.

Its Star Plus Checking account doesn’t have a minimum balance requirement, and it offers four out-of-network ATM rebates and more than 55,000 fee-free ATMs. You get free checks with the account, and you’ll also earn some interest. The account also offers Zelle to send money. 

But those looking for above-average yields will want to consider the bank’s Star Money Market and High-Yield Savings accounts. Some of Texas Capital Bank’s CDs also earn a very competitive yield. 

It didn’t factor into this scoring, but Texas Capital Bank also has an online bank called Bask Bank for customers outside of Texas.

Top features

  • Texas Capital offers competitive APYs on its Star Money Market, its High-Yield Savings account and some of its CD terms. 
  • Texas Capital Bank is an option that Texas residents near one of its branches should consider. 
  • At least one of Texas Capital Bank’s CDs had a very competitive yield during Bankrate’s review.
Awards

Best credit union

Alliant Credit Union

Alliant Credit Union

Learn more in our Bankrate review
Highlights Digital leader Free checking High APYs

Why they won

Alliant Credit Union offers competitive CDs with terms ranging from three months to five years. It also offers a slightly higher APY on some of its CDs if you deposit more than $100,000. The Alliant High-Rate Savings account offers a yield that’s above the national average. Alliant offers access to thousands of ATMs that won’t charge you a fee. 

The credit union’s High-Rate Checking is an interest-bearing account that doesn’t charge overdraft fees, and you get a free box of checks when you open the account. 

Alliant Credit Union operates entirely online, and is the country’s 13th largest credit union, with more than 809,000 members as of June 30, 2023. 

One way to qualify for Alliant Credit Union membership is by living or being employed in a listed community near the credit union’s Chicago headquarters. Those who don’t meet Alliant’s traditional membership requirements can make a one-time $5 payment and Alliant Credit Union will donate that money to Foster Care to Success.

Top features

  • Alliant Credit Union makes it easy to become a member.
  • It offers above-average yields on its savings accounts and CDs.
  • Members have access to more than 80,000 fee-free ATMs.
Awards

Best savings account

EverBank Logo

EverBank

Learn more in our Bankrate review
Highlights High APYs No monthly fees Low minimum deposit to open

Why they won

EverBank, formerly TIAA Bank, offers its Online Savings account, which earns a highly competitive yield. The account also doesn’t require a minimum opening deposit or charge a monthly service fee.

The savings account also offers a one-year introductory APY for new customers. That could come in handy if the Federal Reserve lowers rates drastically in the next year, which may influence some banks to lower their yields, in turn. (Though the Fed isn’t expected to lower rates, no one 100 percent knows the future of rates.) 

In August 2023, TIAA Bank started doing business as EverBank following the sale of TIAA bank to private investors.

Top features

  • The account doesn’t have an opening deposit requirement. 
  • No monthly service fee is charged.
  • Members can deposit checks via a mobile device with this account.
Awards

Best money market account

Quontic Bank

Quontic Bank

Learn more in our Bankrate review
Highlights High APYs No fees No balance requirements

Why they won

Quontic Bank’s money market account offers a competitive yield and only requires a minimum opening deposit of $100. The account comes with a debit card, and it doesn’t charge a monthly service fee. It also comes with check-writing privileges.

Top features

  • Quontic’s money market account pays a highly competitive yield.
  • The account has a debit card and check-writing privileges.
  • The account doesn’t have a monthly service fee.
Awards

Best CD

Ally Bank

Ally Bank

Learn more in our Bankrate review
Highlights High APYs No minimum deposit Range of terms

Why they won

Ally Bank offers seven standard CDs in a variety of term options, all of which earn yields that are well above national averages. Ally also offers a no-penalty CD and two raise-your-rate CDs. None of the CDs have a minimum deposit requirement, making them accessible to nearly anyone.

Top features

  • Ally Bank offers a wide range of standard CD terms as well as specialty CDs.
  • Its standard CDs earn competitive yields.
  • None of Ally’s CDs have a minimum deposit requirement.
Awards

Best checking account

Ally Bank

Ally Bank

Learn more in our Bankrate review
Highlights No monthly service fees Offers 43,000 fee-free ATMs Early direct deposit

Why they won

Ally Bank’s Spending Account is an interest-bearing checking account that requires no minimum balance, and you’ll earn a tiered yield based on your balance. There are no monthly service fees or overdraft fees, and you can get paid up to two days sooner with early direct deposit. Customers can access 43,000 in-network ATMs, and Ally doesn’t charge customers for using out-of-network ATMs. Moreover, it reimburses up to $10 each month in ATM surcharges imposed by other banks.

Top features

  • Ally’s checking account requires no minimum balance, charges no maintenance or overdraft fees, and offers early direct deposit of your paycheck.
  • Ally provides a large network of free ATMs as well as up to $10 per month in reimbursement for ATM surcharges from other banks.
  • The account offers a two-tiered yield structure, and all balances earn some interest.
Awards

Best bank for sign-up bonuses

Chase Bank Logo

Chase Bank

Learn more in our Bankrate review
Highlights Consistent offers Sign-up bonuses Referral bonuses

Why they won

Chase Bank offers plentiful access to branches and ATMs, along with a robust mobile app and a website that allow for convenient digital banking. But the bank is also known for its sign-up bonuses when you open certain checking accounts or refer a friend who opens a qualifying account.

When we conducted our research, Chase offered cash bonuses between $100 and $300 for opening one of several personal or business checking accounts and meeting requirements (which can include making deposits, debit card purchases or online bill payments). Currently, Chase customers can also earn $50 for each friend who opens a qualifying bank account (up to $500 per calendar year).

Top features

  • Chase Bank offers a cash bonus when you open one of various checking accounts and meet specified requirements.
  • Chase customers can currently receive a $50 bonus for referring a friend who opens a qualifying bank account, for up to 10 friend referrals per year.
  • It’s relatively easy to qualify for Chase bonuses.
Awards

Best bank for branch access

Chase Bank Logo

Chase Bank

Learn more in our Bankrate review
Highlights Most U.S. branches In all the lower 48 states Extensive ATM access

Why they won

Chase offers more branches than any other bank in the U.S., with locations in all 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia. In total, Chase maintains more than 4,900 branches, plus around 16,000 ATMs.

Top features

  • Thousands of branches from coast to coast
  • Banking presence in nearly every state
  • High branch density in the most populated states
Awards

Best cash management account

Wealthfront logo

Wealthfront

Learn more in our Bankrate review
Highlights High APYs No monthly fees Early direct deposit

Why they won

Wealthfront is an automated investment firm that also offers a compelling cash management account. The account earns a highly competitive APY on all balances, requires a minimum of just $1 to open, and charges no monthly fees. It also allows for unlimited withdrawals and transfers, and customers who set up direct deposit into the account can access their paychecks up to two days early. Your funds are protected up to $8 million by FDIC insurance because Wealthfront spreads deposits across multiple partner banks.

Top features

  • The account pays a highly competitive yield that’s comparable to APYs offered by top online banks.
  • Wealthfront offers fee-free access to 19,000 ATMs.
  • The account requires just $1 to open and charges no monthly fee.
Awards

Best bank for atm access

Capital One

Capital One

Learn more in our Bankrate review
Highlights Large ATM network Doesn’t charge out-of-network fees

Why they won

Capital One offers its 360 Checking account customers fee-free access to more than 70,000 Allpoint, MoneyPass and Capital One ATMs, including those located in some CVS, Target and Walgreens stores. What’s more, Capital One doesn’t charge these account holders fees for using ATMs that aren’t in its network (although the bank that owns the ATM may impose a surcharge).

Top features

  • Capital One 360 Checking account users have no-fee access to tens of thousands of ATMs.
  • Capital One doesn’t charge 360 Checking account holders fees for using ATMs outside its network (although the ATM operator may impose a surcharge).
  • Some in-network ATMs are located inside various Target, Walgreens and CVS locations.
Awards

Best mobile banking app

Citibank

Citibank

Learn more in our Bankrate review
Highlights High Google and iOS rating Robust list of features Useful spending insights

Why they won

Citibank’s mobile banking app is highly rated on the Apple App and Google Play stores, where more than 4 million users have reviewed the app, collectively. The app makes it easy to perform all your basic banking tasks in one place, including sending money with Zelle, locking or unlocking a lost or stolen card, setting travel notices, opening new accounts and finding ATMs near you. It also provides useful spending insights and bill management features.

Top features

  • Citibank’s app comes highly rated on the Apple App and Google Play stores.
  • The app provides a wide range of banking services.
  • It offers tools and insights on spending, budgeting and investing.

Explore the best of the best

Check out the 2024 Bankrate Awards winners across our top categories.