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Safest Banks in the U.S. for October 2024

Review Updated
Dana George
Ben Gran

Our Banking Experts

Nathan Alderman
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 our experts’ opinions aren’t influenced by compensation. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page. APY = Annual Percentage Yield. APYs are subject to change at any time without notice.

It's easy to have an emotional reaction to bank failures. I've written about finances for decades, and still have a moment of low-level panic when news of a bank failure breaks. Fortunately, it doesn't last long because I know there are safety features in place, designed to protect us if our financial institutions go belly up.

There were a few prominent bank failures in 2023 that shook a lot of people's confidence. Other people worry about how safe their bank might be in case of identity theft. The good news is: despite a few alarming headlines when banks fail, most people's bank accounts (or credit union accounts) are safer than ever before.

To determine the safest banks, we looked for large, established institutions with FDIC protection, different types of security features, and 24/7 customer service. Here are our top 10 picks for the safest banks in the United States.

  • Our team of experts assessed 100+ banking institutions
  • We evaluate all banking institutions across the same 4 key criteria: annual percentage yield (APY), brand reputation, fees and minimum requirements, and additional perks
  • Our bank ratings are never influenced by our advertising partners
  • We strictly feature products that offer federal insurance and high customer satisfaction, keeping our recommendations unbiased

Robin Hartill, CFP®, is The Ascent’s Head of Product Ratings and has worked for The Motley Fool since 2020. Her work has appeared in various national publications, including Yahoo! Finance, NerdWallet, Investopedia, CNN Underscored, MSNBC, USA Today, and CNET Money. She previously wrote The Penny Hoarder’s syndicated “Dear Penny” personal finance advice column.

The top 10 safest banks in the U.S.

Bank The Ascent's Rating FDIC Insured?
Capital One 4.50 Yes
American Express® National Bank 4.50 Yes
Quontic 4.50 Yes
Chase 4.50 Yes
U.S. Bank 4.50 Yes
PNC Bank 4.50 Yes
Western Alliance Bank 4.25 Yes
SoFi® 4.00 Yes
Wells Fargo 4.00 Yes
Axos Bank 3.50 Yes

Details of the safest banks

Below is a deeper dive on each of our safest banks, along with an account to consider at each bank.

SoFi®

Award Icon 2024 Award Winner
Offer image for
Member FDIC.

SoFi®

Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 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
Bottom Line

Savers who want a high APY

Pros
  • High APYs on checking and savings accounts
  • Ability to earn a higher APY by setting up direct deposit
  • No monthly fees or overdraft fees
  • Large fee-free ATM network
  • SoFi relationship benefits
Cons
  • No way to open a standalone checking or savings account
  • No physical branch locations
  • Cash withdrawals cost up to $4.95 at third-party retailers

An account we love: SoFi Checking and Savings (member FDIC)

Not only does SoFi have standard FDIC backing, but customers can enroll in the SoFi Insured Deposit Program and get access to up to $2 million in FDIC coverage. And did we mention up to 4.30%² APY on savings?

SoFi Checking and Savings

Member FDIC.

Rates as of Oct 15, 2024
Award Icon 2024 Award Winner

SoFi Checking and Savings

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
Offer Alert
New customers can earn up to a $300 bonus with qualifying direct deposits!¹
APY
up to 4.30%² Rate info Circle with letter I in it. You can earn the maximum APY by having Direct Deposit (no minimum amount required) or by making $5,000 or more in Qualifying Deposits every 30 days. See SoFi Checking and Savings rate sheet at: https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
Min. To Earn APY
$0
  • Competitive APY on both Savings and Checking
  • No account fees³
  • Welcome bonus up to $300 (direct deposit required)¹
  • Early access to direct deposits⁶
  • Tools to help you track savings goals
  • Unlimited number of external transfers (up to daily transaction limits)
  • ATM access⁵
  • FDIC insured (up to $2M with opt-in to SoFi Insured Deposit Program)⁴
  • Combo account only; no stand-alone savings or checking
  • Maximum Savings APY requires direct deposit
  • Overdraft protection⁷ 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 $300¹ 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.



SoFi disclosure:

¹ New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus when they set up Direct Deposit of at least $1,000 during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period. Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 12/31/24. Full terms at sofi.com/banking. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.

SoFi members with Direct Deposit can earn 4.30% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 4.30% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Direct Deposit will earn 1.20% 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 10/8/2024. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.

² SoFi members with Direct Deposit or $5,000 or more in Qualifying Deposits during the 30-Day Evaluation Period can earn 4.30% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. Members without either Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits, during the 30-Day Evaluation Period will earn 1.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Only SoFi members with direct deposit are eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 10/8/2024. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.

³ Our account fee policy is subject to change at any time.

⁴ SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations. Any additional

FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $2M through participation in the program. See full terms at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/terms

See list of participating banks at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/receivingbanks

We’ve partnered with Allpoint to provide you with ATM access at any of the 55,000+ ATMs within the Allpoint network. You will not be charged a fee when using an in-network ATM, however, third-party fees incurred when using out-of-network ATMs are not subject to reimbursement. SoFi’s ATM policies are subject to change at our discretion at any time.

Early access to direct deposit funds is based on the timing in which we receive notice of impending payment from the Federal Reserve, which is typically up to two days before the scheduled payment date, but may vary.

Overdraft Coverage is limited to $50 on debit card purchases only and is an account benefit available to customers with direct deposits of $1,000 or more during the current 30-day Evaluation Period as determined by SoFi Bank, N.A. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the“30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Members with a prior history of non-repayment of negative balances are ineligible for Overdraft Coverage.

Capital One

Offer image for
Member FDIC.

Capital One

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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Bottom Line

Capital One Bank offers all the key features you'd expect from an online bank. These include high APYs, no maintenance fees, and no minimum deposit requirements. It also offers some you wouldn't expect. The bank has a reputation for great customer service, and its teen bank accounts are top notch.

Pros
  • High APYs
  • In-person locations
  • Competitive accounts for minors
  • Solid customer service
Cons
  • Some CD rates are low
  • Few branch locations

An account we love: Capital One 360 Performance Savings

With no fees and no minimum deposit required, the Capital One 360 Performance Savings Account blows our hair back with an APY of 4.10%.

SoFi Checking and Savings

Member FDIC.

Rates as of Oct 15, 2024

Capital One 360 Performance Savings

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
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= 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
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APY
4.10% 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 Sept. 27, 2024. 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.

American Express® National Bank

Offer image for
Member FDIC.

American Express® National Bank

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
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Bottom Line

American Express offers above-average rates for savings accounts. Plus, there are no monthly fees and no minimum to earn the full APY. It's a good choice for funds you won't touch, like emergency savings or college funds.

Pros
  • Competitive APY (annual percentage yield)
  • No monthly fees
  • No minimums for CDs
  • No minimum to earn full savings APY
  • Good customer service
  • Member FDIC
Cons
  • No physical branches
  • Does not offer a checking account
  • No checks, ATM cards, or other physical withdrawal options

An account we love: American Express® High Yield Savings

Member FDIC, one of the most trusted names in financial services, 24/7 service and support, and a 4.10% annual percentage yield (APY) as of October 2, 2024.

SoFi Checking and Savings

Member FDIC.

Rates as of Oct 15, 2024

American Express® High Yield Savings

Open Account for American Express® High Yield Savings

On American Express's Secure Website.

Member FDIC.
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 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, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 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
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Open Account for American Express® High Yield Savings

On American Express's Secure Website.

APY
4.10% Rate info Circle with letter I in it. 4.10% annual percentage yield as of October 15, 2024 $0 Minimum to earn APY
Min. To Earn APY
$0
  • Competitive APY
  • No account fees
  • $0 minimum opening deposit
  • Comfort of a well-known brand and reputation
  • Unlimited transfers and withdrawals
  • 24/7 customer support
  • FDIC insured
  • No ATM access
  • No branch access; online only

American Express High Yield Savings may not have the highest APY on our list, but it still offers a rate well above average and requires no minimum deposit to qualify for the highest APY. It's a good fit for those who want to save at a competitive rate while avoiding withdrawal limits or minimum balance requirements.

Axos Bank

Offer image for
Member FDIC.

Axos Bank

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.
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= Excellent
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Bottom Line

Axos Bank does its best to make managing your money flexible and easy. It does this by offering fee-free accounts and a variety of checking account options. Additionally, Axos provides domestic ATM fee reimbursements (so you're not tied to a single ATM network). It's also one of the few banks to offer a free ATM card for its savings account.

Pros
  • Variety of checking accounts
  • Domestic ATM fee reimbursements on all checking and savings accounts
  • No maintenance fees on any account
Cons
  • Low APYs on CDs and savings accounts
  • No branch locations
  • Unimpressive customer satisfaction ratings

An account we love: Axos Bank Rewards Checking

FDIC insurance plus key security features like two-step authentication, 128-bit SSL encryption, and anti-fraud account monitoring. And this checking account actually pays interest: 0.40% (up to 3.30%) APY.

SoFi Checking and Savings

Member FDIC.

Rates as of Oct 15, 2024
Award Icon 2024 Award Winner

Axos Bank Rewards Checking

Member FDIC.
Rating image, 4.25 out of 5 stars.
4.25/5 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, 4.25 out of 5 stars.
4.25/5 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
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offer alert
Cash in on up to a $500 bonus† and up to 3.30% APY* with a new Rewards Checking account. Just use promo code RC500 before July 31.
APY
0.40% (up to 3.30%) Rate info Circle with letter I in it. To earn the full APY, account holders must do all of the following: Receive monthly direct deposits totaling more than $1,500; make 10 transactions a month with your Axos debit card, or sign up for Axos's Personal Finance Manager; maintain an average daily balance of $2,500 per month in an Axos Invest Self Directed Trading Account; and use your Rewards Checking account to make your full monthly Axos Bank consumer mortgage, personal, or auto loan payment.
Min. To Earn APY
Monthly direct deposits totaling at least $1,500
  • High checking account APY
  • Unlimited ATM fee reimbursements
  • No monthly maintenance, NSF, or overdraft fees
  • No monthly balance requirements
  • Cash back checking option
  • Must meet certain requirements to earn the highest interest tier
  • Low savings and CD APYs compared to competitors

A solid checking account with an APY that far outpaces the competition. The fact that it also has no maintenance fees and no overdraft or NSF fees are the cherries on top.

Rewards Checking disclosure:

To be eligible to earn all or a portion of the cash incentive as part of the promotional offer "RC500," an application for a Rewards Checking account must be submitted between 06/20/2024 at 12:00 am PT and 07/31/24 at 11:59 pm PT.

Axos Bank reserves the right to limit each primary account holder to one (1) checking account promotional offer per year. Promotional terms and conditions are subject to change or removal without notice. Incentive may be taxable and reported on IRS Form 1099-MISC. Consult your tax advisor. After initial requirements above are met, the amount of incentive earned will depend on meeting the additional requirements outlined below:

Rewards Checking bonus up to $500: You must be approved for your new Rewards Checking account and fund it within 60 days of account opening. An incentive of up to $500 can be earned during the first six (6) statement cycles, starting in the statement cycle thirty (30) days after the account is opened. A statement cycle is a calendar month consisting of at least one day your account was open during that month. You can earn a maximum of five (5) payouts during the six (6) statement cycles, and the incentive will be deposited into the qualifying account within 15 business days following the end of the statement cycle in which the requirements were met.

$100 will be earned for each statement cycle, up to $500, when you meet two requirements during that statement cycle: 1) your Rewards Checking account receives qualifying direct deposits at least $1,500.00 in total, and 2) the average daily balance in your Rewards Checking account is at least $3,000.

Your Rewards Checking account must remain open and in good standing at the time the incentive is paid to be eligible.

A direct deposit is an electronic deposit of your paycheck or government benefits, such as Social Security, Disability etc. Other deposits (i.e., online banking transfers, ATM and mobile check deposits, etc.) or person-to-person payments are not considered a direct deposit. Account transactions may take one or more business days from the transaction date to post to the account.

Quontic

Offer image for
Member FDIC.

Quontic

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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Bottom Line

Quontic Bank offers high CD rates with low minimums and a variety of terms. While the bank doesn't offer 4-year CD terms, you can still build a CD ladder with shorter lengths, such as 6- and 12-month terms.

Pros
  • Innovative Bitcoin Rewards Checking account
  • Excellent customer service
  • No monthly maintenance fees
Cons
  • Missing some common CD terms
  • Checking accounts not ideal for infrequent debit card users

An account we love: Quontic 1-Year CD

FDIC insurance, 4.00% APY, plus added security features like multi-factor authentication and mobile app TouchID.

Western Alliance Bank

Western Alliance Bank

Rating image, 4.25 out of 5 stars.
4.25/5 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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Bottom Line

While rates are higher than most, Western Alliance Bank does not operate like your traditional bank. All deposits are managed through a secure digital platform called Raisin. Raisin accounts are fairly bare-bones, without the features offered by other banks.

Pros
  • Highly competitive APY
  • No account fees
  • FDIC insured
Cons
  • All deposits and withdrawals must be conducted via ACH transfer to and from a linked external account
  • Accounts cannot be linked to personal budgeting apps
  • Online only
  • No checking accounts
  • Limited customer service hours

An account we love: Western Alliance Bank CD 1-Year CD

FDIC insurance, a well-respected $65 billion bank, and a great 3.00% APY.

Chase

Award Icon 2024 Award Winner
Offer image for
Member FDIC.

Chase

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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Bottom Line

Chase has one of the largest branch networks in the nation. But it doesn't neglect the online experience. It offers simple online and mobile tools to manage your funds. If you have one account with Chase, there's a good reason to open one or two more. The reason is the bank's strong relationship benefits. What's more, the bank's customer service shines.

Pros
  • Large, nationwide branch network
  • Rewards for customer loyalty
  • User-friendly online and mobile banking tools
  • Good customer service ratings
  • Multiple checking and savings accounts options
Cons
  • Low APYs on savings accounts and CDs

An account we love: Chase Total Checking®

The Chase Total Checking® account is a great option for those who place a premium on customer service, easy access to their funds, and a large branch network. As long as you keep enough money here to avoid the maintenance fee, you shouldn't have any problems with this account.

SoFi Checking and Savings

Member FDIC.

Ratings Methodology
Rates as of Oct 15, 2024

Chase Total Checking®

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
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= 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
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APY
0%
Min. To Earn APY
N/A
  • Largest bank in the U.S. in terms of assets 
  • More than 15,000 ATMs and 4,700 physical locations
  • Wide range of financial products
  • User-friendly online and mobile banking tools
  • No minimum deposit to open
  • Chase Overdraft Assist
  • Low APYs on savings accounts and CDs
  • $12 monthly maintenance fee waived only with qualifying activity

Chase Total Checking® combines tons of features with superior customer service. It's a safe place to put your money. You can walk into any of thousands of branches and withdraw cash from more than 15,000 ATMs in Chase's network. You can access everything online, too. It's one of the best checking accounts for in-person and over-the-phone customer service.

  • New Chase checking customers enjoy a $300 bonus when you open a Chase Total Checking® account with qualifying activities
  • Access to more than 15,000 Chase ATMs and more than 4,700 branches
  • Chase Mobile® app - Manage your accounts, deposit checks, transfer money and more -- all from your device.
  • JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC
  • Open your account online now
  • Available online nationwide except in Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. For branch locations, visit locator.chase.com.
  • Chase Overdraft Assist℠ – no overdraft fees if you're overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the business day or if you're overdrawn by more than $50 and bring your account balance to overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the next business day*


*With Chase Overdraft Assist℠, we won't charge an Overdraft Fee if you're overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the business day OR if you're overdrawn by more than $50 and you bring your account balance to overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the next business day (you have until 11 PM ET (8 PM PT) to make a deposit or transfer). Chase Overdraft Assist does not require enrollment and comes with eligible Chase checking accounts.

**Monthly service fee is $12, or $0 with one of the following, each monthly statement period:

  • Electronic deposits made into this account totaling $500 or more, such as payments from payroll providers or government benefit providers, by using (i) the ACH network, (ii) the Real Time Payment or FedNowSM network, (iii) third party services that facilitate payments to your debit card using the Visa® or Mastercard® network,
  • OR a balance at the beginning of each day of $1,500 or more in this account,
  • OR an average beginning day balance of $5,000 or more in any combination of this account and linked qualifying Chase checking, savings, and other balances.

Wells Fargo

Offer image for
Member FDIC.

Wells Fargo

Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 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
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= Poor
Bottom Line

Wells Fargo offers a variety of banking accounts and relationship benefits, including rare perks like loan discounts to those with multiple accounts. It's also one of the few banks to offer a debit card to savings account customers, and its branch network shines with a large national footprint.

Pros
  • Variety of checking accounts
  • Relationship benefits for loyal customers
  • Debit card with savings accounts
  • Ability to bank all in one place
Cons
  • Checking account fees
  • Low APYs
  • Poor customer service ratings
  • No long-term CDs
  • High overdraft fees

U.S. Bank

Offer image for
Member FDIC.

U.S. Bank

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
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Bottom Line

U.S. Bank offers strong relationship rewards to customers who open multiple accounts. It also offers a variety of checking accounts and some rare CD and loan options. Those interested in money market accounts will also appreciate that U.S. Bank has several to choose from.

Pros
  • Excellent selection of products
  • Relationship benefits for opening multiple accounts
  • Rare CD and loan options
Cons
  • Low APY on deposit accounts
  • Mixed reviews on customer service

PNC Bank

Offer image for
Member FDIC.

PNC Bank

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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Bottom Line

PNC Bank seems to go the extra mile to ensure its customers have a good experience. It offers relationship benefits that reward customers for opening multiple accounts and keeping large sums in the bank, and it's also earned a lot of praise from third parties for its excellent customer service. PNC's APY is competitive and the bank offers some impressive banking options for students.

Pros
  • Great customer service
  • Better APYs for customers who meet certain criteria
  • Sign-up bonuses on select accounts
  • Budgeting tools
  • Gig-quality mobile app
  • Flexible CDs with some unusual options
Cons
  • High overdraft fees
  • No standalone checking accounts
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Protection from bank failure

If your main concern is bank failure, look for a bank with FDIC insurance. This insurance guarantees that you won't lose any money even if the bank fails -- up to $250,000. There are lots of other security and safety features you can look for, but FDIC insurance is the main feature that will protect you during a bank failure.

What are standard bank security features?

Before handing your hard-earned cash over to a bank for safekeeping, you want to know that the bank is safe. Although there's not one single quality that marks the safest bank, there are a collection of features that can help you rest easy.

Here are the most common security features you should look for in any bank:

  • FDIC protection against loss
  • Large, established bank
  • Security features like two-factor authentication
  • Cards with EMV chips in place
  • 24/7 customer service

We'll go into these in more detail below.

What are extra bank security features?

If you're looking for a bank that's especially locked down, you may want to keep an eye out for some more unusual security features. Here are some of the features that are considered "extra":

  • Debit card blocking: Allows you to access your account and freeze your debit card before a pickpocket has time to make it down the block.
  • Guarantee to return stolen money: This guarantee promises to make you whole if someone messes with your account. It's like having a financial insurance policy in your back pocket.
  • Single-use card numbers: Some banks have begun to offer one-time virtual account numbers that allow you to shop online while keeping your actual card number away from the eyes of fraudsters.
  • Next-day cash reimbursement: If you're the victim of theft or fraud, next-day cash reimbursement puts money in your account by the next business day.

These extra layers of protection are great to have, but may not be available -- even at a strong bank. For example, a bank may be solid as a rock, FDIC insured, and offer a great APY, but not be available 24 hours a day.

If a bank does not offer a particular feature, ask yourself how directly it will impact the security of your deposits.

Are credit unions safer than banks?

Not necessarily.

You may hear someone say that credit unions are "safer" than banks (or vice versa). The reality is that a financial institution is as safe as its security measures.

Just as a secure bank is FDIC insured, a secure credit union is insured by the government-backed National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). The point is not whether it's a bank or credit union that houses your money. It's how serious that institution is about protecting your funds.

While bank failures are rare, they do happen. According to FDIC data, during 2001-2024, there were a total of 567 bank failures in the U.S. There are laws in place to make banks more secure, but as consumers, we still play a role. Before parking our money anywhere, we need to do our due diligence to make sure the bank in question has enough security in place to help us rest easier at night.

How Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) works

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is an independent federal government agency that protects depositors like you against the loss of deposits due to bank failure. The FDIC is backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.

Deposits in certain account types are insured for up to $250,000 per depositor, per FDIC-insured bank, and per ownership category. For example, if you and spouse each have $175,000 deposited at the same bank, the full $350,000 would be insured because it is split between two depositors.

What does FDIC insurance not cover?

Keep in mind that just because a bank has FDIC insurance, that doesn't mean your money is protected by FDIC insurance from all possible risks and threats. FDIC insurance only protects your money from bank failure, and only up to $250,000 per depositor, per bank, and per ownership category.

Here are a couple examples of risks and threats not covered by FDIC insurance:

Deposits greater than $250,000 FDIC limit

What if you have more than $250,000 in your bank account, or more than FDIC insurance will cover? These are also called "uninsured deposits." In case you have more money in the bank than the FDIC insures, you might need to open multiple accounts at multiple FDIC-insured banks.

If you're concerned that you might have too much cash in the bank to be protected by the FDIC, use the FDIC's Electronic Deposit Insurance Estimator (EDIE) to see how much deposit insurance you qualify for.

Identity theft and fraud

In case someone steals money from your bank account, commits identity theft against you, or otherwise creates unauthorized transactions with your account, this activity is not protected by FDIC insurance.

However, as a bank customer in the U.S., you have other protections. As long as you report the fraud, missing money, or other unauthorized transactions promptly, the bank or credit union cannot hold you accountable for more than $50 or $500 of unauthorized transactions.

As a bank or credit union account customer, you have a responsibility to keep an eye on your account balance and watch out for any unauthorized activity. If someone has stolen money from you, stolen your identity, or otherwise used your account in a fraudulent way, contact your bank or credit union immediately.

Our bank and credit union methodology

Our methodology for scoring banks and credit unions revolves around evaluating key aspects such as annual percentage yield (APY), brand reputation, fees and minimum requirements, and additional perks.

These criteria are weighted differently across various account types, ensuring a comprehensive assessment that reflects the competitive landscape and economic conditions.

We strictly feature products that offer federal insurance and high customer satisfaction, keeping our recommendations unbiased by advertiser influence. This robust evaluation process helps us generate balanced, reliable best-of lists that guide consumers to top financial products.

Learn more about how The Motley Fool Ascent rates bank accounts.

FAQs

  • Yes, as long as a bank is FDIC insured or a credit union has NCUA insurance in place, up to $250,000 per customer (per account) is safe. You want to see that sticker on the front door that reads "Member FDIC" or "Member NCUA," or find it listed on the FDIC or NCUA website.

  • Not necessarily. What determines a financial institution's safety is the number of security features it has in place and whether the federal government insures its deposits.

  • Not necessarily. If a financial institution has a solid plan to protect your money, it doesn't matter whether it's a regional bank or national bank. The level of security that a bank has in place determines how safe it is.

  • Most online banks offer the best of both worlds -- they're FDIC-insured like your local bank, and they operate with less overhead, meaning they don't need to nickel and dime you with ridiculous junk fees. Before committing yourself to an online bank, make absolutely sure that it is FDIC insured. There are two ways to check:

    1. Call the FDIC toll-free to ask: 1-877-275-3342
    2. Use the FDIC BankFind tool to access detailed information about all FDIC-insured banks, including the online bank under consideration.

    Read More: Are Online Banks Safe?