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6 Banks With Budgeting Tools I've Reviewed So You Don't Have To

Review Updated
Brooklyn Sprunger
Author: Brooklyn Sprunger
Brooklyn Sprunger
Brooklyn Sprunger

Brooklyn leads the content team behind product reviews and ratings at Motley Fool Money, ensuring readers get well-researched, expert-backed insights to make smarter financial decisions. With nearly seven years working full-time in financial content -- four of them at The Motley Fool -- she has developed a deep passion for personal finance, from investing strategies to everyday money management. Her financial goals include buying a house and planning as many trips as her budget allows. In her free time, you’ll likely find her listening to a pop culture podcast or telling anyone who will listen to get a high-yield savings account.

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Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures that our product ratings are not influenced by compensation. APY = Annual Percentage Yield.

I'm a big believer in budgeting. It's one of the main reasons I've been able to build an emergency fund, save for a house, and splurge on a few unforgettable vacations. But I'll be honest: budgeting feels a lot easier when your bank is set up to help you stay on track.

The accounts below aren't just useful for tracking your spending -- they also come with perks like low fees, helpful features, and even some nice bonuses. If you're looking for a bank that does more than just hold your money, these are worth a look.

Why budgeting tools matter

To me, budgeting isn't about restriction, it's about intention. It's not "I can't go out tonight because I'm on a budget." It's "Dinner out is in the budget! Let's go."

Budgeting tools help you see where your money is actually going and give you the power to decide what matters most. I like tools that let you create spending categories, track progress, and quickly spot where things might be off. That kind of visibility can make all the difference.

Banks with budgeting tools

SoFi®

SoFi Checking and Savings
Open Account for SoFi Checking and Savings

On SoFi's Secure Website.

Member FDIC.

Ratings Methodology
Rates as of May 20, 2025

SoFi Checking and Savings

Open Account for SoFi Checking and Savings

On SoFi's Secure Website.

Member FDIC.
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Open Account for SoFi Checking and Savings

On SoFi's Secure Website.

Offer Alert
New customers can earn up to a $300 bonus with qualifying direct deposits!
APY
up to 3.80% Rate info Circle with letter I in it. SoFi members who enroll in SoFi Plus with Eligible Direct Deposit or by paying the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee every 30 days or SoFi members with $5,000 or more in Qualifying Deposits during the 30-Day Evaluation Period can earn 3.80% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. Members without either SoFi Plus or Qualifying Deposits, during the 30-Day Evaluation Period will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 1/24/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. If you have satisfied Eligible Direct Deposit requirements for our highest APY but do not see 3.80% APY on your APY Details page the day after your Eligible Direct Deposit arrives, please contact us at 855-456-7634. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet. See the SoFi Plus Terms and Conditions at https://www.sofi.com/terms-of-use/#plus.
Min. To Earn APY
$0
  • Competitive APY on both Savings and Checking
  • No account fees
  • Welcome bonus up to $300 (direct deposit required)
  • Early access to direct deposits
  • Tools to help you track savings goals
  • Unlimited number of external transfers (up to daily transaction limits)
  • ATM access
  • FDIC insured (up to $3M with opt-in to SoFi Insured Deposit Program)
  • Combo account only; no stand-alone savings or checking
  • Maximum Savings APY requires direct deposit
  • Overdraft protection requires monthly direct deposit minimum
  • No branch access; online only

For those who plan to set up direct deposit with their new account, we think SoFi Checking and Savings (Member FDIC) is hard to beat. Not only does this savings account offer a strong APY, but the linked checking account earns an above-average rate, too -- which is a rare perk. Plus, there's the opportunity for a bonus of up to $300 and a long list of extra account features. Frankly, it's the kind of combo that could make it worthwhile to switch banking relationships.

You can earn the maximum APY either by making direct deposits into checking or savings, or by depositing $5,000 or more every 30 days. Learn more.

Read Full Review

I like SoFi® because it doesn't just hold your money -- it helps you understand it. With SoFi® Relay, you can track where your money's going each month, spot spending patterns, and set a target to help you stay under budget. One of my favorite features is the cash flow tracker. It shows your income vs. spending side by side, which makes it easier to know when you're overshooting. Plus, SoFi® Vaults lets you organize your savings goals all in one place, so you can watch your progress without juggling multiple accounts.

If you're trying to be more mindful about your finances without diving into a complicated spreadsheet, SoFi® makes it surprisingly simple.

Capital One

SoFi Checking and Savings
Open Account for SoFi Checking and Savings

On SoFi's Secure Website.

Member FDIC.

Ratings Methodology
Rates as of May 20, 2025
Award Icon 2025 Award Winner

Capital One 360 Performance Savings

Open Account for Capital One 360 Performance Savings

On Capital One's Secure Website.

Member FDIC.
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Excellent
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Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
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Open Account for Capital One 360 Performance Savings

On Capital One's Secure Website.

APY
3.60% Rate info Circle with letter I in it. See Capital One website for most up-to-date rates. Advertised Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is variable and accurate as of April 8, 2025. Rates are subject to change at any time before or after account opening.
Min. To Earn APY
$0
  • Competitive APY
  • Branch access
  • No account fees
  • Comfort of a well-known brand and reputation
  • 24/7 customer support
  • No ATM access

Capital One 360 Performance Savings checks all the boxes we look for in a high-yield savings account. It even offers branch locations and Capital One Cafes where customers can seek in-person support (if you live near one). This makes it a great fit when you want to reap the rewards of online banking but aren't quite ready to cut ties with brick-and-mortar banks.

Read Full Review

Capital One's "Map Your Spend" feature is basically a guided tour of your monthly budget. You choose categories, like groceries, streaming services, and takeout, and label them as either "needs" or "wants." From there, you estimate your monthly spending and build a budget around what matters most.

I also like the extra support built into the app. You'll get reminders about upcoming bills, and its virtual assistant, Eno, can flag subscriptions or payments you might've forgotten about. If you're like me and sometimes lose track of a $9.99 charge here or there, this can be a real eye-opener.

Chase

SoFi Checking and Savings
Open Account for SoFi Checking and Savings

On SoFi's Secure Website.

Member FDIC.

Ratings Methodology
Rates as of May 20, 2025

Chase Savings℠

Read Review
Member FDIC.
Rating image, 2.50 out of 5 stars.
2.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 2.50 out of 5 stars.
2.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Read Review
APY
0.01%
Min. To Earn APY
N/A
  • Large, nationwide branch network
  • Highly rated customer service
  • Automated savings tools for those with linked Chase checking accounts
  • Unimpressive APY
  • Monthly maintenance fee

The Chase Savings account doesn't offer a high APY, but it remains a popular pick because of the bank's impressive customer service and huge branch network. Those who prefer personalized, in-person support will find Chase difficult to beat.

If you already bank with Chase (like me!), you'll find a helpful budget tool right inside its app. It's called the Spending Planner. It's not the flashiest, but it gives you a clear snapshot of where your money's going.

You can compare your spending month to month and see which categories (like food delivery or impulse buys) might be creeping up. It's basic, but when you just want a quick pulse check, it does the job.

Wells Fargo

SoFi Checking and Savings
Open Account for SoFi Checking and Savings

On SoFi's Secure Website.

Member FDIC.

Ratings Methodology
Rates as of May 20, 2025

Wells Fargo Platinum Savings

Read Review
Member FDIC.
Rating image, 3.50 out of 5 stars.
3.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 3.50 out of 5 stars.
3.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Read Review
APY
0.01% up to 2.51% Rate info Circle with letter I in it. There are four tiers of APYs: $0 - $99,999.99, $100,000 - $499,999.99, $500,000 - $999,999.99, and $1 million or more. The higher your balance, the greater your APY. The highest rates are relationship interest rates. Your Platinum Savings must be linked to a Premier Checking account to qualify for the highest rates.
Min. To Earn APY
$25 to open
  • Competitive APYs for high balances with relationship rate eligibility
  • Can avoid monthly fees
  • Low minimum deposit
  • Thousands of branches
  • Unlimited branch/ATM withdrawals
  • Check-writing privileges
  • Best rates are relationship rates for very high balances
  • Online savings accounts have higher APYs
  • Monthly service fee

The Wells Fargo Platinum Savings account can offer higher APYs than most branch-based banks, but with the convenience that comes with a national bank. To qualify for the account's highest APYs, customers will need to maintain a high account balance and qualify for a relationship rate by linking to a Premier Checking account. The account's standard APY and relationship rate for linking to Prime Checking are not competitive with other high-yield savings accounts.

I like that Wells Fargo's My Money Map pulls everything into one place so you don't have to track things manually. My Spending Report automatically shows you where your money's going, which helps you catch any overspending early. Budget Watch lets you set monthly spending goals and keeps you posted on how you're doing throughout the month. And with My Savings Plan, you can actually see your progress toward savings goals, which can be a real motivator.

Ally

SoFi Checking and Savings
Open Account for SoFi Checking and Savings

On SoFi's Secure Website.

Member FDIC.

Ratings Methodology
Rates as of May 20, 2025

Ally Savings

Read Review
Member FDIC.
Rating image, 4.75 out of 5 stars.
4.75/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 4.75 out of 5 stars.
4.75/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Read Review
APY
3.80%
Min. To Earn APY
$0
  • Competitive APYs
  • No monthly maintenance fees
  • Saving buckets to separate savings by goals
  • No minimum balance requirements
  • No local branches
  • No cash deposits

The Ally Savings account features a competitive APY on all balances, with no fees or minimums. Customers also have access to several tools like savings buckets, recurring transfers, and roundups to maximize savings opportunities.

Ally has one of the more thoughtful setups I've seen when it comes to budgeting and saving. The "buckets" feature lets you divide your savings into goals -- like a future trip or next month's rent -- without opening multiple accounts. It's visual, easy to adjust, and surprisingly motivating when you watch those little goals fill up.

There's also a tool called "Surprise Savings," which scans your checking account for extra cash you're not using and moves it to savings automatically. And if you like rounding up purchases to save a few cents here and there, Ally's got that too. It's small stuff, but it adds up, especially when you're working toward specific goals.

U.S. Bank

SoFi Checking and Savings
Open Account for SoFi Checking and Savings

On SoFi's Secure Website.

Member FDIC.

Ratings Methodology
Rates as of May 20, 2025

Bank Smartly® Savings Account

Read Review
Member FDIC.
Read Review
APY
up to 3.50% Rate info Circle with letter I in it. Earn up to 3.50% APY when you pair a new Bank Smartly® Savings account with a Bank Smartly® Checking or Safe Debit account and combined qualifying balances and Bank Smartly® Savings balances of at least $25,000.
Min. To Earn APY
$25,000
  • Earn high APY with high balances
  • Monthly maintenance fee is easy to waive
  • This savings account rewards your total banking relationship
  • High threshold to earn the top APY

The Bank Smartly® Savings Account can deliver a competitive APY, but only if you have multiple accounts with U.S. Bank and maintain a high level of combined balances. Many bank customers might not qualify for this high yield.

U.S. Bank's app keeps budgeting simple and stress-free. You can see all your accounts in one place, track spending by category, and get alerts when something looks off. It also shows upcoming bills and sends reminders, which can help you avoid late fees.

If you want to stay on top of your finances without juggling spreadsheets, it's a solid option.

How I chose which accounts to feature here

First and foremost, I looked for banks that offer built-in budgeting tools (because that's the whole point here). But I also wanted to make sure each account was strong on its own. That meant:

  • FDIC insurance, so your money is protected up to $250,000 per account type, per depositor
  • Low or no monthly fees
  • Easy access to your money
  • Solid sign-up bonuses or helpful features beyond budgeting

These picks check those boxes and then some.

FAQs

  • Yes! These apps are built for people who want to get better with money without doing too much manual work. Many features run in the background and offer insights without much effort.

  • While they don't directly save you money, budgeting apps will help you save as a whole by categorizing your spending, alerting you to patterns or unusual activity, and even automating savings.

  • No, you sure don't. These budgeting tools are built into the bank's mobile app and are free to use with your account. Just log in and explore the "budget" or "spending" sections.