Best Banks and Credit Unions

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The best bank or credit union for you depends on what you’re in the market for: a savings account, a checking account or some other service. Whatever you're looking for, NerdWallet has you covered.

Here is an overview of the best overall institutions and accounts of 2024.

+ See a summary of NerdWallet's best banks and credit unions of 2024

Best-of 2024 Banking Winners:

Alliant Credit Union: Best credit union.
Ally Bank: Best bank; best CDs.
Charles Schwab Bank: Best for ATM access.
Chase: Best for sign-up bonuses; best for branch access.
Discover® Bank: Best online banking experience.
SoFi: Best checking account overall; best checking account for overdraft fee avoidance.
UFB Direct: Best savings account.
Vio Bank: Best money market account.

NerdWallet compared and rated 60 financial institutions, including banks, neobanks and credit unions, to pick winners across eight 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.
3.10% APY on savings.
Read more in our Alliant Credit Union review.

Ally Bank: Best bank and best CDs

No overdraft fees and more than 43,000 ATMs.
4.25% APY on savings and 4.50% on 1-year CD; flexible and no-penalty CDs with competitive rates.
Read more in our Ally Bank review.

Charles Schwab: Best for ATM access

Unlimited worldwide ATM fee reimbursem*nts.
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0.45% checking APY.
Read more in our Charles Schwab Bank review.

Chase: Best for sign-up bonuses and best for branch access

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 online banking experience

No monthly fees and 4.25% APY on savings.
Read more in our Discover Bank review. (Discover Bank is FDIC Insured.)

SoFi: Best for checking account overall and best checking account for overdraft fee avoidance

Up to 4.60% APY on savings balances and 0.50% 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.

UFB Direct: Best savings account

5.25% APY on all savings balances.
No minimum deposit requirement and no monthly fees.
Read more in our UFB Direct review.

Vio Bank: Best money market account

5.30% APY on all money market balances.
No monthly fees.
Read more in our UFB Direct review.

Best Banks and Credit Unions - NerdWallet (1)

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SoFi Checking and Savings

NerdWallet rating

4.5

Bonus

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Summary of the best banks and credit unions of 2024

Best-of 2024 Banking Award Winners
NerdWallet rating	Best credit union overall.
NerdWallet rating	Best bank overall. Best bank or credit union for CDs.
NerdWallet rating	Best bank or credit union for ATM access.
NerdWallet rating	Best bank or credit union for sign-up bonuses. Best bank or credit union for branch access.
NerdWallet rating	Best online banking experience.
NerdWallet rating	Best checking account overall. Best checking account for overdraft fee avoidance.
NerdWallet rating	Best savings account.
NerdWallet rating	Best money market account.

» Looking for the biggest banks in the country? See the list of largest banks in the U.S.

We took a close look at 60 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: Alliant Credit Union, Ally Bank, Amalgamated Bank, American Express National Bank, Axos Bank, Bank of America, Bank5 Connect, Barclays, Bask Bank, BMO, BMO Alto, Boeing Employees Credit Union, Bread Savings, BrioDirect, Capital One, Charles Schwab Bank, Chase, Chime, CIT Bank, Citibank, Citizens, Citizens Bank ,Community First Credit Union of Florida, Connexus Credit Union, Consumers Credit Union, Current, Discover Bank, E-Trade, EverBank (formerly TIAA Bank), First Tech Federal Credit Union, FNBO Direct, GO2bank, Huntington Bank, Ivy Bank, Lake Michigan Credit Union, LendingClub Bank, Marcus by Goldman Sachs, Navy Federal Credit Union, NBKC, Pentagon Federal Credit Union, PNC, Popular Direct, Quontic Bank, Revolut, Salem Five Direct, Sallie Mae Bank, Securityplus Federal Credit Union, Self-Help Credit Union, SoFi, Synchrony Bank, TAB Bank, U.S. Bank, UFB Direct, Upgrade, USAA Bank, Varo, Vio Bank, Wells Fargo and Zynlo Bank.

How we rate banks and credit unions