Best Banks and Credit Unions in the Mid-Atlantic for 2026
Earn up to 3.80% APY* & up to $50 or $400 with direct deposit*
- Limited Time Offer - New accounts earn a 0.70% APY boost to 3.80% for up to 6 months with eligible direct deposit*
- $0 min. balance to earn APY
- Open Checking & Savings Accounts with 1 Sign Up
- Up to 2-Day-Early Paycheck3
- Access additional FDIC insurance up to $3M on deposits4
- No Account Fees5 & No-fee Overdraft Coverage6
*Terms Apply
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Up to $400 Bonus Tiered Disclosure
New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more) OR $400 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more). Cash bonus amount will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 5/15/2026 and will be available through 12/31/26. See full bonus and annual percentage yield (APY) terms at sofi.com/banking/checking-offer/
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APY disclosures
Annual percentage yield (APY) is variable and subject to change at any time. Rates are current as of 5/28/26.. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional rates and information can be found at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet. -
Fee Policy
We do not charge any account, service or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. We do charge a transaction fee to process each outgoing wire transfer. SoFi does not charge a fee for incoming wire transfers, however the sending bank may charge a fee. Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Bank Fee Sheet for details at sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/. -
Additional FDIC Insurance
SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per depositor 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 $3M through participation in the program. See full terms at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms. See list of participating banks at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks. -
ATM Access
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 may be incurred when using out-of-network ATMs. SoFi’s ATM policies are subject to change at our discretion at any time. -
Early Access to Direct Deposit Funds 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.
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Overdraft Coverage Overdraft Coverage is a feature automatically offered to SoFi Checking and Savings account holders who receive at least $1,000 or more in Eligible Direct Deposits within a rolling 31 calendar day period on a recurring basis. Eligible Direct Deposit is defined on the SoFi Bank Rate Sheet, available at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet. Members enrolled in Overdraft Coverage may be covered for up to $50 in negative balances on SoFi Bank debit card purchases only. Overdraft Coverage does not apply to P2P transfers, bill payments, checks, or other non-debit card transactions. Members with a prior history of unpaid negative balances are not eligible for Overdraft Coverage. Eligibility for Overdraft Coverage is determined by SoFi Bank in its sole discretion. Members can check their enrollment status, if eligible, at any time by logging into their account through the SoFi app or on the SoFi.
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0.70% Savings APY Boost
Earn up to 3.80% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.10% APY) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking & Savings account with Eligible Direct Deposit by 12/31/26. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at sofi.com/banking#2. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.
Earn Up to 3.75% APY* on qualifying balances with Barclays' Tiered Savings Account
- $0 Min. Balance to Earn APY on Barclays' Tiered Savings
- No Monthly Maintenance Fees
- Easy Direct Deposits & Online Transfers
- Deposits are FDIC Insured
*Rate as of 4/14/2026
Barclays Tiered Savings Annual Percentage Yields (APYs) are accurate as of 4/14/2026. Rates may change at any time without prior notice, before or after the account is opened. The same rate may apply to multiple Tiers and Tiers may change without notice. APY earned is based on the Tier in which your end of day account balance falls. Please see Barclays Tiered Savings for current Tier and APY information.
Earn 3.75% APY* with Platinum Savings
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With a Balance of $5,000 or More*
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Earn 0.25% APY with a Balance of Less than $5k*
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$100 Minimum Deposit to Open Account
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No Account Opening or Monthly Service Fees
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CIT Bank Account is FDIC Insured
*For complete list of account details and fees, see our Personal Account disclosures
1 Platinum Savings is a tiered interest rate account. Interest is paid on the entire account balance based on the interest rate and APY in effect that day for the balance tier associated with the end-ofday account balance. *APYs — Annual Percentage Yields are accurate as of January 9, 2026: 0.25% APY on balances of $0.01 to $4,999.99; 3.75% APY on balances of $5,000.00 or more. Interest Rates for the Platinum Savings account are variable and may change at any time without notice. The minimum to open a Platinum Savings account is $100.
2 Based on comparison to the national average Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on savings accounts as published in the FDIC National Rates and Rate Caps, accurate as of February 17, 2026.
*Platinum Savings APY Boost Promotion Terms and Conditions
This is a limited time offer available to New and Existing customers who meet the Platinum Savings APY Boost promotion criteria.
Accounts enrolled in the Platinum Savings Annual Percentage Yield (APY) Boost promotion will receive a 0.35% APY boost on the Platinum Savings current standard APY tiers for 6 months following the opening of a new account or when an existing Platinum Savings account is enrolled in the promotion. The Platinum Savings APY boost will be applied on account balances up to $9,999,999.00. Account balances above $9,999,999.00 will earn the standard APY. If the standard-published APY should change during the promotion period, the APY boost will move with it, offering an account APY above the standard rate.
The Promotion begins on February 13, 2026, and ends June 30, 2026. Customers enrolled in the promotion prior to the end date will receive the APY boost for the 6-month period outlined in the terms and conditions.
The promotion can end at any time without notice.
New CIT Bank Customers: This Platinum Savings APY Boost promotion offer is valid for New CIT Bank customers, who, at account opening, do not have a valid CIT Bank User ID (a "New Customer") or any open CIT Bank accounts provided that the following requirements are met:
• New customers must open a Platinum Savings account with a valid Promo Code, CITBoost. The Platinum Savings APY Boost Promo Code will appear on the online account opening enrollment web page. The Promo Code must be used at the time of account opening. Accounts opened during the program period without the Promo Code are ineligible to receive the APY boost.
• The enrolled Platinum Savings account must be open to receive the APY boost during the promotional period.
CIT Bank Customers with an account prior to the promotion: This Platinum Savings APY Boost promotion is valid for a Primary account owner with an existing account with a CIT Bank User ID before the start of the promotion, provided that the following requirements are met:
• Customers without a Platinum Savings account open prior to the Promotion must open a new Platinum Savings account via the enrollment web page using Promo Code CITBoost.
• Customers with a Platinum Savings account opened prior to the promotion may enroll their current Platinum Savings account into the Platinum Savings Boost promotion via the enrollment web page using Promo Code CITBoost.
• Customers who are not the Primary account owner on a Platinum Savings account may open a new Platinum Savings account as the primary account owner via the enrollment web page using Promo Code CITBoost.
• Accounts opened or enrolled during the program period without the Promo Code are ineligible to receive the APY boost.
There is a limit of one Platinum Savings APY Boost promotional offer per account and per Primary customer. If multiple Platinum Savings accounts are opened, only one account per primary account owner is eligible.
There is no minimum account balance requirement to participate in the Platinum Savings APY Boost promotion.
Additional Important Terms
• The Platinum Savings APY Boost promotion may not be combined with other promotions.
• Customers are ineligible to participate in the Platinum Savings APY Boost promotion if:
o They are earning an APY over the standard rate.
o They participated in a cash bonus promotion in the past 6 months.
• Custodial accounts and accounts in the name of a Trust are not eligible.
• This offer is non-transferable.
The value of Platinum Saving Boost will be reported as interest income on IRS Form 1099-INT for the calendar year in which it was paid. The recipient is responsible for any applicable taxes.
Earn a variable 3.10% APY* with American Express® High Yield Savings Account
- No monthly fees1
- $0 minimum balance required to open account1
- Bank on the go with the American Express® App2
- Member FDIC
*Rate as of 5/19/2026
*The Annual Percentage Yield (APY) as advertised is accurate as of 05/19/2026. Interest rate and APY are subject to change at any time without notice before and after a High Yield Savings Account is opened. Interest Rate and APY of a Certificate of Deposit account is fixed once the account is funded.
1. There is no minimum balance required to open your Account, to avoid being charged a fee, or to obtain the Annual Percentage Yield (APY) disclosed to you.
2. iOS and Android™ only. See app store listings for operating system info.
Despite their smaller size, most regional banks offer the same access to an array of banking products. Like their national counterparts, most offer competitive rates on savings accounts and loans. The Mid-Atlantic region — including Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. — is no different.
Many top financial institutions operate in this region. So in order to identify the best banks and credit unions of the Mid-Atlantic, we researched their accounts, fees, annual percentage yields (APYs) and customer satisfaction ratings.
Here are Money's picks for the best banks and credit unions in the Mid-Atlantic for 2026:
- Mid-Atlantic Federal Credit Union - Best Overall
- Bank of America - Best for CDs
- CFG Bank - Best for Interest-Bearing Checking
- M&T Bank - Best for Free Checking
- Atlantic Union Bank - Best for Customer Satisfaction
*Rates and fees were current as of Oct. 14, 2025.
Best Overall: Mid-Atlantic Federal Credit Union
Despite being a regional financial institution, Mid-Atlantic Federal Credit Union has an ATM network that boasts 30,000 locations. It offers checking, savings, money market and student accounts as well as share certificates (i.e., the credit union equivalent of CDs) with competitive rates. Its Rewards Checking currently offers 5.00% APY on up to $10,000 and the credit union refunds out-of-network ATM fees.
Mid-Atlantic also provides loan rate discounts for its members and offers individual retirement accounts (IRAs) as well as youth accounts, which receive dividends. The credit union only operates three branch locations, but it offers its Online Branch, which provides comprehensive services.
- Very high APY on checking accounts
- Refunds out-of-network ATM fees
- Loan rate discounts for members
- High APY for checking capped at $10,000
- $2,500 minimum opening balance for money market
- Comparatively lower yields on CDs
Best for CDs: Bank of America
Bank of America is the second largest U.S. bank by assets and the third largest by branch locations with 3,857 supplemented with 15,000 ATM locations. The bank has a solid presence in the Northeast, and it offers checking accounts, savings accounts, student accounts and CDs.
Its CDs are where the bank stands out. With terms ranging from 28 days to 10 years and APYs as high as 3.51%, the Bank of America's CDs have high-yielding options for short- and long-term savers. They do, however, require a minimum deposit of $1,000. Bank of America receives a J.D. Power score of 8 out of 9, but it doesn't offer money market accounts.
- 3,857 branch locations
- J.D. Power score of 8 out of 9
- High APY CDs
- $1,000 CD minimum
- Monthly fees for checking and savings
- No money market accounts
Best for Interest-Bearing Checking: CFG Bank
CFG Bank receives high scores from customers, with a 3.4-star rating out of a possible 5 on Trustpilot. The bank offers checking, savings, money market accounts and CDs. But its interest-bearing checking stands out. CFG's Interest Checking account currently offers an APY up to 2.00% and provides access to more than 55,000 global ATMs as part of the Allpoint™ network.
CFG only operates three branches in Maryland; however, its allows online access for its customers, including mobile check deposits through its app. The bank's money market account provides a higher-than-average APY — currently 4.15% with a $1,000 minimum opening deposit.
- Attractive interest-bearing checking
- High APYs for money market
- Access to a network of over 55,000 ATMs
- Limited branch locations
- $50,000 requirement for highest checking APY
- Longest term CD is five years
Best for Free Checking: M&T Bank
M&T Bank operates over 960 branches and 1,600 ATMs in Washington, D.C., and 11 states, including numerous in the Mid-Atlantic. One of its key features is its financial management tools. Customers, including children who open a Starter Savings account, can create budgets and track their spending online or through the M&T Bank mobile app.
M&T Bank's free EZ Choice checking account stands out, with no monthly maintenance fees, no minimum balance requirements and no minimum transaction requirements. Its MyChoice Plus Checking account is interest-bearing, and customers can avoid the $14.95 per month maintenance fee by maintaining an average daily balance of $2,500 or with direct deposits totaling $1,500 per monthly cycle.
- Fee-free checking without minimum balance requirements
- 960 branches in 12 states
- Also offers interest-bearing checking accounts
- Higher deposit requirements and fewer terms for CDs
- No money market accounts
- APYs are not disclosed on its website
Best for Customer Satisfaction: Atlantic Union Bank
Atlantic Union Bank boasts more than 130 branch locations throughout Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia. It has a network of 30,000 ATMs and offers checking, savings, money market accounts in addition to CDs. One of the bank's biggest appeals is that it has multiple interest-bearing checking options and a highly-rated mobile app.
So it's little surprise that the bank scores well for customer satisfaction, with high rankings from J.D. Power over the past several years, including the highest overall customer satisfaction score for 2021 in Mid-Atlantic. Atlantic Union is still dealing with some fallout from regulatory action over overdraft practices that resulted in a CFPB order in December 2023, but since the settlement, the bank has made improvements to its overdraft program, including reduced fees and, in some instances, eliminated fees.
- Multiple interest-bearing checking options
- Operates more than 130 branch locations
- Highly-rated mobile app
- Comparatively lower savings APY
- Undisclosed minimum opening balance requirements
How we chose the Best Banks of 2026
To determine our list of best banks for 2026, Money staff evaluated hundreds of the largest retail banks, credit unions, regional and state banks, ranked by assets, and 20 of the most popular online banks. We then compared opening balance requirements, interest paid, fees and features to determine our top picks.
To select the best banks and credit unions of the Mid-Atlantic, we researched the major financial institutions in the area and compared their deposit account minimums, APYs, fees and extra perks and benefits. We also looked at the number of branches and ATMs each bank has, as well as their customer satisfaction ratings.
You can read our full methodology here.