Advertiser disclosure
TIAA Bank Review 2022
Member FDIC
Savings account
Member FDIC
Savings account
Member FDIC
Savings account
Member FDIC
Savings account
Member FDIC
Savings account
Overall
4.8
Bankrate Score
TIAA Bank is an online institution offering deposit accounts with competitive rates and low minimum balances, and customers have access to thousands of fee-free ATMs. While the bank maintains branches, only a limited number are available and just in Florida.
What we like
-
TIAA Bank offers competitive yields on CDs.
-
The bank provides access to thousands of surcharge-free ATMs.
-
It offers a variety of services and products.
What we don't
-
The bank has a limited network of full-service branches.
-
While TIAA Bank offers a full line of deposit products, 24/7 customer service is not available by phone.
Savings accounts
5.0
Bankrate Score
Member FDIC
Savings account
TIAA Bank’s Basic Savings account earns more than the national average APY. Its low $25 minimum to open also means it’s accessible to most savers. The account no longer charges a $5 fee on balances of less than $25. The fee was eliminated in December 2021, a TIAA Bank representative said in a May 2022 email.
What we like
-
All balances earn more than the national average APY.
-
The Basic Savings account charges no monthly account fee.
What we don't
-
Other banks offer savings accounts with higher APYs.
Money market accounts
4.9
Bankrate Score
The Yield Pledge Money Market offers a competitive variable rate, along with a “yield pledge” that adjusts the rate so it remains within the top 5 percent of accounts.
A $500 minimum is required to open this account but there is no monthly fee.
What we like
-
TIAA Bank offers a competitive APY on its Yield Pledge Money Market account.
-
There is no monthly account fee for this account.
What we don't
-
Other banks offer higher APYs.
-
Similar accounts from other banks require lower minimum opening deposits.
CD rates
4.8
Bankrate Score
Member FDIC
CD
TIAA Bank offers CDs with terms ranging from three months to five years. Several types of CDs are available, including a Basic CD, a bump-up CD and a CD with expanded Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) coverage.
Early withdrawal penalties vary depending on the type of CD and its term.
At $1,000, the minimum deposit to open a CD is on par with other banks’ requirements.
What we like
-
A variety of CD terms are offered.
-
The Bump Rate CD allows you to lock in a one-time rate bump throughout its 3.5-year term.
What we don't
-
Though yields are competitive, higher APYs can be found.
Checking accounts
4.8
Bankrate Score
Member FDIC
Checking account
TIAA Bank’s Basic Checking is a non-interest bearing account that requires a $25 deposit to open. The bank also offers a Yield Pledge Checking account, for which it adjusts the rate of return, as needed, to stay within the top 5 percent of accounts.
There is no charge to use ATMs owned by TIAA Bank or other financial institutions, and the bank reimburses some fees charged by out-of-network ATMs.
What we like
-
TIAA Bank does not charge a fee to use ATMs in or outside of the TIAA Bank network.
-
Neither of the checking accounts charges a monthly account fee
What we don't
-
Information about the Basic Checking account can only be found by clicking on the “Open an account” button on the TIAA Bank website.
Bank experience
TIAA Bank serves customers in all 50 states. Its mobile app is highly rated by both iOS and Android users.
TIAA Bank provides access to thousands of surcharge-free ATMs. The bank also automatically reimburse customers up to $15 a month for any fees that ATMs in the U.S. charge for access. For accounts with balances of $5,000 or more, the bank reimburses an unlimited amount of ATM fees.
Customers can send and receive funds using Zelle through TIAA Bank online banking or the TIAA mobile app.
Customer service is available by phone weekdays 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
About TIAA Bank
TIAA Bank, which is a division of TIAA, is a full-service online bank available to customers in all 50 states. It offers checking, savings and money market accounts as well as certificates of deposit. The deposit accounts earn competitive rates.
Conveniences TIAA Bank offers include a user-friendly mobile app, access to thousands of no-fee ATMs nationwide, low minimum balance requirements and peer-to-peer payment capability through Zelle.
Karen Bennett is a consumer banking reporter at Bankrate. She uses her finance writing background to help readers learn more about savings and checking accounts, CDs, and other financial matters. Karen brings decades of writing and reporting experience to the table, including the roles of credit cards writer for travel website Million Mile Secrets and money and career writer for The Cheat Sheet. Her work has also appeared in USA Today, Illinois Legal Times, and several Chicago, Milwaukee, and Washington, D.C. newspapers. In addition, she’s worked in the areas of marketing and business development, and she was product manager for a consumer money-saving website. When she’s not writing Bankrate articles, she can often be found cheering her kids on at soccer games, cooking and reading up on saving for retirement and other personal finance topics.
Other offers you may like