Best Banks and Credit Unions in the Southeast

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. In the Southeast, there are many banks and credit unions you can use to save for a rainy day or build long-term savings. From community banks to national chains, there are many options to choose from, and picking the right one can feel like a daunting task.

Money researched leading banks and credit unions, including account options, fees, annual percentage yields (APYs), deposit minimums and customer satisfaction ratings to select the best options. Here are the the best banks and credit unions in the Southeast for 2024-2025:

• SouthState - Best Overall
• Ameris - Best for Checking
• First Citizens - Best for Digital Banking
• Synovus - Best for Students
• TD Bank - Best for Savings

*Rates and APYs are subject to change. All information provided was accurate as of Oct. 8, 2024.

SouthState is a prominent bank in the Southeast that operates branches in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. It has a variety of deposit account options, including some without monthly fees and interest-bearing accounts with higher-than-average APYs. The bank has several checking account options, including specialty accounts for teachers, healthcare providers, law enforcement, military service members, veterans and emergency rescue professionals. These accounts have $0 monthly fees, and they include perks like free cashier's checks and they can earn interest.

SouthState operates over 240 branches and ATMs in the southeast, and it's highly rated for customer satisfaction. In the J.D. Power U.S. Retail Banking Satisfaction Study, SouthState scored well above the regional average for customer service. However, SouthState isn't available in every southern state; those in Texas, Mississippi or Louisiana won't have access to a branch. Additionally, although SouthState pays competitive rates on CDs, it has lower-than-average APYs on savings accounts.

Ameris is a regional bank that has several checking account options without monthly fees, including specialty accounts for students. Its Free Checking account has no monthly fee and a low minimum deposit requirement of just $50. The bank is well-known and operates branches in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. It's highly rated for customer satisfaction — in J.D. Power's U.S. Retail Banking Satisfaction Study, it ranked Ameris fourth for customer satisfaction in the Southeast, beating out 10 other banks.

Besides checking accounts without monthly fees, it has other checking options, including premium accounts that offer perks like cell phone protection and identity theft monitoring and resolution services. There are some drawbacks, though. Ameris only operates branches in a few states in the Southeast, and the APYs on its savings accounts and money market accounts tend to be lower than the national average.

If you prefer to manage your bank accounts online or with your phone, First Citizens Bank could be a good option for you. It has a powerful digital banking option for its customers, allowing you to manage the majority of your financial tasks online. It also has budgeting tools that you can use to track your spending, create budgets and sub-budgets and view trends over time.

First Citizens Bank operates branches in 23 states, and it's highly rated for customer satisfaction. In J.D. Power's U.S. Retail Banking Satisfaction Study, it ranked First Citizens Bank sixth out of 14 banks.

That said, First Citizens Bank has lackluster APYs on its deposit accounts, with lower-than-average rates on savings accounts, money market accounts and CDs. It has stricter withdrawal limits on savings accounts than most banks. While other institutions allow you to make as many as six withdrawals per month without penalty, First Citizens Bank allows just two free withdrawals per month. After that, it charges a $3 fee for each additional withdrawal.

For minors and college students, Synovus can be an excellent banking option. It has a student checking account with a low $3 monthly fee. However, if students enroll in electronic statements, the fee is waived. Synovus has special savings accounts for minors under the age of 18 without monthly fees, and for students, the bank has useful perks like a powerful mobile app to handle most banking transactions. Additionally, Synovus has a broad ATM network, making it easy for college students to access their money at a Synovus ATM or at Publix supermarkets.

However, Synovus offers lower-than-average rates on savings and money market accounts, and it doesn't provide rate details about CDs online; you have to contact a local branch for information. Synovus only operates branches in a handful states — Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee — so not everyone will be able to take advantage of this bank's offerings.

With TD Bank, you can earn a significantly higher APY. If you maintain a balance of $100,000 or more, you can qualify for a rate that is about eight times higher than the national average. And, there are multiple ways to qualify for fee waivers, so you can enjoy the higher APY without worrying about monthly maintenance fees. It's highly-rated for customer service. In the J.D. Power U.S. Retail Banking Satisfaction Study, J.D. Power ranked TD Bank seventh out of 14 banks in the southeast.

Despite being one of the largest commercial banks in the country, TD Bank only operates in some states. In the Southeast, TD Bank operates branches in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. Additionally, it doesn't offer personal money market accounts, and in order to qualify for the highest APYs on CDs, you must have an existing TD Bank personal checking account.

How we chose the Best Banks of 2024-2025

To determine our list of best banks for 2024-2025, Money evaluated hundreds of the largest retail banks, online banks, credit unions, and regional and state banks, ranked by assets. We then compared opening balance requirements, interest paid, fees and features to determine our top picks.

Money also researched the top banks and credit unions that operate in the Southeast to identify the five best banks in that region, including account options, current APYs, fees and customer service ratings. We prioritized banks with broad branch and ATM networks in the Southeast.

You can read our full methodology here.

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