Banks: The Best Brick and Mortar Checking Accounts
You probably do most of your banking with a banking app or online.
Occasionally, there comes a time when you need to set foot in a brick and mortar bank. Once in a while, you just need to speak to a banker face to face.
Well, we took a look at brick and mortar banks and considered things like availability, lobby hours, if they have a monthly maintenance fee, overdraft fees, monthly service fees, ATM fees, and general vibe of the bank lobby.
We’ve done the research and compiled a list of the top brick and mortar checking accounts available. Some of these accounts offer great features and benefits, such as free checking, no monthly fees, and more.
We also checked out these bank lobbies to see what the general feel is and if they made going to the bank feel like a chore, or more of a pleasant experience.
What Are the Best Brick and Mortar Banks?
What are the best brick and mortar checking accounts and at which banks? This is a question we get asked a lot, and it’s one that we’re happy to answer.
These accounts offer great features and benefits, such as free checking, no monthly fees, and more. If you’re looking for a checking account that’s convenient and easy to use, be sure to check out our list.
Here are the top three brick and mortar banks at which to have checking accounts:
TD Bank
There are what seem to be TD banks on almost every corner.
We like brick and mortar TD bank for its extended hours of availability.
TD is one of the best national banks because many have lobby hours from 8 AM to 6 PM on weekdays. On weekends, many branches of this bank are open Saturday 9:30 to 1:00 PM and Sunday 11-2. This is great for the many of us whose typical banking hours are filled up with work, kids, and other life responsibilities.
TD bank has a user friendly intuitive mobile app.
We don’t love the monthly maintenance fees charged to some accounts if you don’t meet their minimums.
There is also no option for sending domestic wires online. You have to go in person. However, if sending wires is not something you are doing often, then you won’t really mind this.
TD banks in general have a welcoming vibe. We found the employees to be cheerful and easy to work with. They asked how our day was going, remembered us from prior interactions, and seemed to be fairly happy to be there.
The TD bank branches we visited tend to get a little busy on Fridays, but that goes for many banks. If you have to go in person, going on a Tuesday or Wednesday is ideal.
Sometimes they have random gifts in the lobby, like dog bandanas and lollipops. It makes going to the bank feel less like a chore when you leave with a treat and a little something for your furry best friend.
Chase Bank
Chase Bank: Chase offers free checking and savings accounts with no monthly maintenance fee or minimum balance requirements. They also offer a mobile app that allows you to deposit checks and track your account balance.
There are 4,700 branches and 16,000 ATMs.
Chase Bank has a good basic checking account, but sometimes the fees are hard to avoid. Also, if you use a non-Chase ATM, there is a $3 fee.
They are all business here at Chase Bank. The employees are extremely professional, but friendly. Chase Bank gets the job done, but going here ultimately feels like an errand. It’s not warm and fuzzy, but they do what needs to get done.
Bank of America
Bank of America: Bank of America offers free checking and savings accounts with no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements. Bank of America also offers a mobile app that allows you to deposit checks and track your account balance.
In the United States, Bank of America has 3,900 retail financial centers and 16,000 ATMs. So, it’s safe to say there is probably a Bank of America convenient to you.
Some cons with Bank of America: the overdraft fees. The overdraft fee of $35 can be charged up to four times daily. NerdWallet only gives Bank of America a 3.5 out of 5 rating, due to low transfer limits and low rates on certificates of deposit and savings accounts.
We didn’t love the vibe at Bank of America. It is very corporate and stuffy. It wasn’t a bad experience, but we didn’t see a lot of effort to make the place feel like less of a chore. Yeah, no dog bandanas here. That being said, Bank of America gets done what it needs to get done and you can check this errand off your list.
Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo: Wells Fargo offers free checking and savings accounts with no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements. They also offer a mobile app that allows you to deposit checks and track your account balance.
Wells Fargo has 4700 branches and 12,000 free ATMs.
If you are in the Northeast United States, there aren’t many branches there. Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire do not have brick and mortar locations.
$35 overdraft fees can be charged up to three times per day.
As far as the in-person, brick and mortar experience, Wells Fargo is a bit less corporate feeling than Bank of America or Chase. The employees we interacted with were generally friendly and seemed happy to help us.
Wells Fargo is not as “fun” as the TD Bank branches we visited, but it’s definitely a lighter feel.
You can’t go wrong with any of these brick and mortar banks. They all offer great features and benefits.
Ultimately, you’ll want to make in-person banking at a brick and mortar location easy for you.
Choose a bank that is not out of your way and works for your needs.
