The 10 Best Banks of 2017
Here are the 10 best national banks in the country, offering some of the best bank interest rates and accounts available:
- TD Bank
- Citibank
- Wells Fargo
- Bank of America
- Chase Bank
- U.S. Bank
- PNC Bank
- HSBC Bank USA
- Branch Banking and Trust Company
- Regions Bank
Best: TD Bank
Why: TD Bank offers 24/7 customer service, and you can bank online or on the go with your mobile device. At TD Bank, you can find the most common types of bank accounts and more: checking, savings, money market accounts, credit cards, home equity loans and lines of credit, prepaid cards, mortgages, and personal loans. All these offerings are part of what make TD Bank the best bank in America.
Review: TD Bank is serious about customer service. It offers extended branch hours during the week, is open on weekends, and is even open on some holidays, such as Columbus Day, Veterans Day and Presidents’ Day. Its competitive APYs, mobile app, and comprehensive products and services make it a best bank to bank with in general. It also has one of the lowest checking account fees at $5.99. Together, these factors put it above its competition in the study.
How to join: You can open an account online or at a branch.
Banks That Rounded Out the Top 10
The finalists for the Best National Bank award include some 2016 finalists in the same category. Learn what makes these banks outstanding year after year.
Citibank
Why: Citibank offers a range of products, 24/7 customer service, a mobile app, some of the best bank rates, and remote check deposit. Citibank also has 5,000 branch locations.
Review: An array of banking products along with competitive rates and a selection of financial tools puts Citibank in the top 10. You can bank online or via your mobile device, including by text. Freebies like online bank statements, account linking, debit card and account alerts come with a Citibank account. One of the most appealing features of Citibank is its accessibility: It has about 5,000 branch locations and more than 65,000 ATMs. It was edged out by TD Bank because Citibank’s checking account fee is double TD’s fee.
How to join: You can open an account online or at any branch location.
Wells Fargo
Why: Wells Fargo Bank charges a $10 monthly checking fee, but it offers many products, including auto loans and insurance, and it provides customers with many branch locations and 24/7 customer service.
Review: You can work around that $10 monthly checking account fee — one way to do that is to set up direct deposit or make 10 posted debit card purchases or payments per fee period. Wells Fargo offers checking accounts with interest and even premium checking accounts that earn you rewards. With approximately 6,000 branch locations nationwide, it’s hard to beat this kind of convenience.
How to join: You can open an account online or at a branch.
Bank of America
Why: Bank of America offers a full line of banking products along with a regular checking account and interest checking account, both of which have fees.
Review: Bank of America’s checking fees are high, but you can avoid them if you meet certain requirements. You can access your money at approximately 5,000 brick-and-mortar locations in the U.S. You also have access to mobile banking, and you get a secure debit chip card when you open an account. The bank offers a full array of financial products, including checking, savings, auto loans, mortgage loans, credit cards, investment services and insurance.
How to join: You can open an account online or in a branch.
Related: 10 Best Online Banks of 2017
Chase Bank
Why: Chase Bank offers four different checking accounts, including one designed for students that features lower fees and a low, $25 minimum deposit to open.
Review: With a full range of products and tools that can help you manage your finances, Chase Bank makes it easy to bank by phone, online or at a branch. Chase has 5,200 branches and 16,000 ATMs across the U.S. All Chase accounts come with online banking and bill pay, mobile banking and a free debit card. This bank also has special financial services for military servicemen and veterans with a valid ID; if you qualify, you can enjoy a host of checking benefits, including no annual fee for a safe deposit box, no fee on money orders or cashier’s checks, and no fee for the first four non-Chase ATM transactions.
How to join: You can open an account online or at a branch.
U.S. Bank
Why: With a lower-than-average checking fee of $6.95 and a full line of banking products, U.S. Bank offers customers many options in the form of checking and savings, including a safe debit account, which works like a checking account without the checks.
Review: U.S. Bank provides its customers with a debit card, no-fee transactions at U.S. Bank ATMs, mobile check deposit, bill pay and online banking. U.S. Bank has 3,122 branch locations, which is fewer than many others on this list, but you’ll likely find one of its nearly 5,000 ATMs near you.
How to join: You can open an account online or at a branch.
PNC Bank
Why: PNC Bank offers a high 12-month CD APY and a host of money management tools to its customers. Bonus: PNC supports early education, sustainable building practices and community organizations.
Review: With PNC’s Virtual Wallet, you can you manage your money easily with a calendar view of your transactions, the ability to track spending by category, and more. Although PNC has only 2,600 brick-and-mortar locations nationwide, it has more than 8,800 ATMs. With PNC’s mobile banking, mobile apps, and online banking, you can bank where and when you choose.
How to join: You can open an account online or at a branch.
HSBC Bank USA
Why: HSBC serves customers from offices and branches in cities across the U.S. It offers a full range of financial products and charges only $3 for its monthly checking fee, the lowest out of the top 10 banks.
Review: HSBC offers its customers a low checking fee of $3 and a 0.95% APY on a 12-month CD. The bank also offers four different checking accounts, 4,400 branches worldwide and 24/7 customer service.
How to join: You can open an account by visiting a branch.
Branch Banking and Trust Company
Why: Branch Banking and Trust Company offers five different checking and seven different savings account options. Checking account holders receive debit cards, direct deposit, online and mobile access, free bill pay, and mobile check deposit. The checking account has a low $5 monthly account fee.
Review: With branches in 15 states and the District of Columbia, Branch Banking and Trust Company makes banking convenient for its customers by offering online and mobile banking, plus an array of personal financial management tools. The low, $5 monthly maintenance fee on its Fundamentals Checking account does not require you to keep a minimum balance. BB&T has more than 2,000 branches and 3,100 ATMs.
How to join: You can open an account at a branch, by phone or online.
Regions Bank
Why: Regions Bank offers checking customers free access to online banking with bill pay, secure mobile banking, multiple overdraft protection options, and a Visa check card. With five available accounts, there’s something for everyone, including seniors and students.
Review: The bank offers a full range of products, variety of personal banking solutions, and 24/7 customer service. Its website guides you through the first step of managing your finances by asking you a series of questions to match you with the right account for you according to your answers. Regions Bank is one of the smaller financial institutions on this list, having 1,600 branches and 2,000 ATMs, but its checking account fee is a relatively low $8, and it’s 0.10% APY CD rate is higher than rates offered by larger banks in the top 10.