The best bank or credit union for you depends on what you’re in the market for: a savings account, a checking account or both. Whatever you're looking for, NerdWallet has you covered.
Here is an overview of the best overall institutions and accounts of 2023.
+ See a summary of NerdWallet's best banks and credit unions of 2023
Best-of 2023 Banking Winners:
Alliant Credit Union: Best credit union.
Ally Bank: Best bank; best money market account.
Capital One 360: Best online banking experience.
Charles Schwab Bank: Best bank or credit union for ATM access.
Chase: Best for sign-up bonuses and for branch access (tie).
Discover Bank: Best savings account.
SoFi: Best checking and savings combo; best checking account overall; best checking account for high interest; best checking account with no monthly fee; best checking account for overdraft fee avoidance.
Synchrony Bank: Best bank or credit Union for CDs.
Wells Fargo Bank: Best bank or credit union for branch access (tie).
Other great accounts:
Axos Bank: Great for interest checking on up to $50,000.
Connexus Credit Union: Great for interest checking on up to $25,000.
LendingClub Bank: Best for cash back.
Marcus by Goldman Sachs: Best for same-day, high-limit transfers.
Quontic Bank: Most domestic ATMs.
Best banks and credit unions
NerdWallet spent more than 200 hours comparing and rating nearly 80 financial institutions, including banks, neobanks and credit unions, to pick winners across more than ten categories. Read on for more information about the institutions and accounts that took top honors this year.
Alliant Credit Union: Best credit union
More than 80,000 free ATMs; interest checking available.
2.70% APY on savings.
Read more in our Alliant Credit Union review.
Ally Bank: Best bank and best money market account
No overdraft fees and more than 43,000 ATMs
3.40% APY on savings and 3.40% APY on all balances in the money market account.
Read more in our Ally Bank review.
Capital One 360: Best online banking experience
More than 70,000 free ATMs; offers tools such as virtual assistance and virtual card numbers; teen checking available.
3.40% savings APY.
Read more in our Capital One 360 review.
Charles Schwab: Best for ATM access
Unlimited worldwide ATM fee reimbursem*nts.
0.45% checking APY.
Read more in our Charles Schwab Bank review.
Chase: Best for sign-up bonuses and for branch access (tie)
No minimum direct deposit requirement to earn cash bonus for new checking account.
More than 4,700 branches in 49 states.
Read more in our Chase review.
Discover Bank: Best savings account
No monthly fees and 3.50% APY.
Read more in our Discover Bank review.
SoFi: Best for checking and savings combo, high interest checking, overdraft fee avoidance and more
Up to 3.75% APY on savings balances and up to 2.50% APY on checking balances (APY is variable and subject to change).
No overdraft fees and no fee for overdraft coverage.
Read more in our SoFi review.
Synchrony Bank: Best for CDs
Highly competitive CD rates.
Bump-up CDs and 11-month no-penalty CD available.
Read more in our Synchrony Bank review.
Wells Fargo Bank: Best for branch access (tie)
About 4,700 branches across the country.
Read more in our Wells Fargo Bank review.
Other great accounts of 2023
You should also consider a savings or checking accountat one of the institutions below. The savings accounts offer APYs much higher than the national average of 0.35% and the checking accounts come with perks like interest on checking balances or ATM fee reimbursem*nts. (Read more about each kind of account in our articles on checking accounts and savings accounts.)
Axos Bank: Great for interest checking on up to $50,000
Up to 3.30% APY on checking for balances up to $50,000.
Unlimited ATM fee reimbursem*nts.
Read more in our Axos Bank review.
Connexus Credit Union: Great for interest checking on up to $25,000
Up to 1.75% APY on checking for balances up to $25,000.
More than 67,000 fee-free ATMs.
Read more in our Connexus Credit Union review.
Learn More
Member FDIC
Barclays Online Savings Account
APY
3.60%
Min. balance for APY
$0
Learn More
Member FDIC
Discover Bank Online Savings
APY
3.50%
Min. balance for APY
$0
LendingClub Bank: Best for cash back
Unlimited 1% cash back on debit card purchases when you meet a minimum monthly balance or direct deposit requirement.
Unlimited worldwide ATM fee reimbursem*nts.
Read more in our LendingClub Bank review.
Marcus by Goldman Sachs: Best for same-day, high-limit transfers
Same-day online external transfers up to $125,000.
3.75% APY (annual percentage yield) with $0 minimum balance to earn stated APY. Accounts must have a positive balance to remain open. APY valid as of 02/14/2023.
Read more in our Marcus by Goldman Sachs review.
Quontic Bank: Most domestic ATMs
More than 90,000 in-network ATMs.
1.10% APY on checking when you meet minimum debit card spending requirements.
Read more in our Quontic Bank review.
» Looking for other excellent options? Browse our picks for best savings accounts and best checking accounts
Did you have something more specific in mind? If so, check out these articles:
Compare the best savings and money market accounts
Compare the best CD accounts
Compare the best checking accounts
Compare the best banks, credit unions and cash management accounts
Compare the best bank accounts for students and kids
Summary of the best banks and credit unions of 2023
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» Looking for the biggest banks in the country? See the list of largest banks in the U.S.
We took a close look at nearly 80 financial institutions and financial service providers, including the largest U.S. banks based on assets, internet search traffic and other factors; the nation’s largest credit unions, based on assets and membership; and other notable and/or emerging players in the industry. We rated them on criteria including annual percentage yields, minimum balances, fees, digital experience and more.
Financial institutions and providers surveyed are: Alaska USA Federal Credit Union, Alliant Credit Union, Ally Bank, Amalgamated Bank, America First Credit Union, American Express National Bank, Andrews Federal Credit Union, Axos Bank, Bank of America, Bank5 Connect, Barclays, Bask Bank, BMO Harris, Boeing Employees Credit Union, Bread Savings, BrioDirect, Capital One, Charles Schwab Bank, Chase, Chime, CIT Bank, Citibank, Citizens, ConnectOne Bank, Connexus Credit Union, Consumers Credit Union, Current, Discover Bank, E-Trade, First Foundation, First Tech Federal Credit Union, FNBO Direct, GO2bank, Golden 1 Credit Union, Hope Credit Union, KeyBank, Lake Michigan Credit Union, LendingClub Bank, Liberty Bank, Live Oak Bank, Marcus by Goldman Sachs, Nationwide (by Axos), Navy Federal Credit Union, NBKC, One, OneUnited Bank, Pentagon Federal Credit Union, PNC, Popular Direct, Quontic Bank, Revolut, Salem Five Direct, Sallie Mae Bank, Scarlet, SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, Security Service Federal Credit Union, Service Credit Union, SoFi, State Employees’ Credit Union of North Carolina, Suncoast Credit Union, Synchrony Bank, TAB Bank, TIAA Bank, Truist, U.S. Bank, UFB Direct, Upgrade, USAA Bank, Varo, Vio Bank, Wells Fargo and Zynlo Bank. How we rate banks and credit unions
