Best banks 2012
Sick and tired of being nickel-and-dimed? Take your deposits to one of Money magazine's award winners. These category leaders make it easy to avoid fees, get good interest rates and offer great extras.
A Japanese Macaque soaks in a hot spring at a snow-covered valley in Yamanouchi town
A Japanese Macaque - or Snow Monkey - soaks in a hot spring at a snow-covered valley in Yamanouchi town, central Japan, Jan. 20, 2014.
Japanese Macaques groom each other in a hot spring at a snow-covered valley in Yamanouchi town
Japanese Macaques - or Snow Monkeys - groom each other in a hot spring at a snow-covered valley in Yamanouchi town, central Japan, Jan. 20, 2014.
JAPAN-LIFESTYLE-ANIMAL
A Japanese macaque monkey, known as a "snow monkey," takes an open-air hot spring bath while snowflakes fall at the Jigokudani Monkey Park in the town of Yamanouchi, Nagano prefecture on Jan. 19, 2014.
TOPSHOTS-JAPAN-LIFESTYLE-ANIMAL
Japanese macaque monkeys, known as "snow monkeys," take an open-air hot spring bath as snowflakes fall at the Jigokudani Monkey Park in the town of Yamanouchi, Nagano prefecture on Jan. 19, 2014.
U.S. Bank and Citibank
Minimums to avoid fees: None
Out-of-network ATM fees:
• Four free per month, then $2.50 after that from U.S. Ba
nk
• None from Citibank
Why they're winners: Both banks offer student checking with no account-maintenance fees -- ideal, since college kids are unlikely to watch their balances -- and robust mobile banking that includes remote check deposit.
Since young adults hit the ATM often, we weighted that highly here. U.S. Bank is bigger, meaning greater chance of a branch near Junior's school, but Citibank doesn't charge for out-of-network ATM use (though the bank operating the machine will likely still levy a fee).
Caveats: Because of other-bank ATM fees, you'll want a bank that has the larger number of cash machines near your child's campus and your home.