Best Banks and Credit Unions in the West for 2026
Earn up to 4.30% APY*
- Limited Time Offer - New accounts earn a 0.70% APY boost to 4.30% 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
- FDIC Insured up to $250k plus up to $3M in supplemental insurance4
- No Account Fees5 & No-fee Overdraft Coverage6
*Terms Apply
1. Up to $300 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 during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit. 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 12/7/2023 and will be available through 1/31/2026. Full terms at sofi.com/banking. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.
SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit can earn 3.60% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 3.60% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Eligible Direct Deposit will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time.
These rates are current as of 11/12/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
2. APY disclosures
Annual percentage yield (APY) is variable and subject to change at any time. Rates are current as of 1/24/25. 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
3. Fee Policy
We do not charge any account, service or overdraft 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 Checking & Savings Fee Sheet for details at sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/.
4. 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.
5. 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 incurred when using out-of-network ATMs are not subject to reimbursement. SoFi’s ATM policies are subject to change at our discretion at any time.
6. Early Access to Direct Deposit Funds
Early access to direct deposit funds is based on the timing of the funding 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.
7. Overdraft Coverage
Overdraft Coverage is limited to $50 on debit card purchases only and is an account benefit available to customers with Eligible Direct Deposits of $1,000 or more during the current 30-day Evaluation Period as determined by SoFi Bank, N.A. The 30-Day Evaluation Period means the 30 consecutive calendar days between the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. SoFi reserves the right to withdraw this benefit at any time, including instances of non-repayment of negative balances or misuse of the benefit. Please see full eligibility for Overdraft Coverage.
8. 0.70% Savings APY Boost
Earn up to 4.30% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.60% APY as of 11/12/25) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking & Savings account and enroll in SoFi Plus by 1/31/26. Rates variable, subject to change at any time. https://www.sofi.com/banking/#2. SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.
Earn 3.90% APY* 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 6/18/2025
* Barclays Tiered Savings Annual Percentage Yields (APYs) are accurate as of 01/13/2025 and may change at any time without prior notice, before or after the account is opened. The APYs are determined by the Balance Tiers (Tiers) and the amount deposited. The same rate may apply to multiple Tiers and Tiers may change without notice. APY is calculated based on the Tier into which the end of day account balance falls. Fees could reduce the earnings on the account. No minimum balance to open, but for interest to post to your account you must maintain a minimum balance that would earn you at least $0.01. Please see the Compare Account Page for current Tier and APY information. The APY for the Barclays Tiered Savings account for balance tiers greater than $250,000 are currently 10X the national average of 0.46% APY, based on the national average of savings account rates published in the FDIC's National Rates and Rate Caps, accurate as of 09/16/2024.
Earn 3.85% 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
*Rate as of 9/23/25
*For complete list of account details and fees, see our Personal Account disclosures
*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-of-day account balance.
*APYs — Annual Percentage Yields are accurate as of September 23, 2025: 0.25% APY on balances of $0.01 to $4,999.99; 3.85% 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.
*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 September 15, 2025.
Earn 3.40% APY* with a Discover™ Savings Account
- Earn Over 5X the National Savings Average¹
- $0 Min. Balance to Earn APY
- $0 Monthly Fees & No Min. Opening Deposit
- No Overdraft Fees
- Deposits are FDIC-insured up to $250,000²
*Rates as of 9/30/2025
*The Annual Percentage Yield (APY) for the Online Savings Account as of 04/25/2025 is more than five times the national average APY for interest bearing savings accounts with a balance of $500 as reported by Curinos as of 04/25/2025. National average is based on information regarding the top 50 banks (by deposit size) and may not include information from variations in regional pricing at such banks or information from products that may not be widely available to their customers. Rates were obtained from Curinos, who relies on the data from the banks it tracks and such information cannot be guaranteed. APYs are subject to change at any time.
Regional and community banks can provide excellent rates and service. In the western states, there are several excellent banks and credit unions that offer higher-than-average APYs, low account fees and added customer perks.
To help you find the best account, Money researched leading financial institutions in this region and identified the five best banks in the West for 2026:
- Bank of America - Best Overall
- Citibank - Best for CDs
- Banner Bank - Best for Interest-Bearing Checking
- BMO - Best for Free Checking
- Glacier Bank - Best for Customer Satisfaction
*Rates and APYs are subject to change. All information provided was accurate as of Oct. 14, 2025.
Best Overall: 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, the latter of which offers terms ranging from 28 days to 10 years and APYs as high as 3.51%. Bank of America requires a minimum deposit of $1,000 for its CDs.
This year, Bank of America ranked highest in the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Retail Banking Advice Satisfaction Study. However, it does not offer money market accounts and there are monthly maintenance fees for its checking and savings accounts. However, those fees can be waived if certain criteria are met.
- 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 CDs: Citibank
Last year, Citibank was the highest-ranked financial institution in J.D. Power's U.S. Retail Banking Advice Satisfaction Study. Last year, the bank posted the highest score at 631 with a study average of 611 (only two other banks — Chase and Bank of America — finished above the average mark). Citibank also receives high marks for its 24/7 phone support and online chat availability.
On the downside, Citi charges a $4.50 monthly fee for its savings accounts and a $15 monthly fee for its regular checking. However, the bank's CDs currently provide up to 4.00% APY, which is among the best available. Citi operates branches in 13 states, but it is available to customers online in all 50 states and boasts a network of 60,000 ATMs.
- Top score in J.D. Power’s 2024 U.S. Retail Banking Advice Satisfaction Study
- 24/7 phone support and online chat availability
- Above average APYs for CDs
- Monthly fees for savings and checking
- No money market accounts
Best for Interest-Bearing Checking: Banner Bank
When you open a new checking account with Banner Bank, you can qualify for unusual perks like identity theft monitoring and resolution services, cell phone protection and discounts on check orders and safe deposit boxes. The community bank serves California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington and is highly-rated for customer satisfaction.
Where Banner Bank stands out is by offering interest-bearing checking accounts — currently up to 0.05% APY — as well as bonuses that come with those accounts. However, to qualify for the cash bonuses, customers must deposit at least $25,000 within 30 days of opening the account and maintain that minimum balance for 90 days. Additionally, its accounts typically have monthly maintenance fees.
- Checking accounts offer added perks and benefits
- Highly-rated for customer satisfaction
- Higher-than-average APY on savings accounts
- Highest APY requires a large balance
- Monthly fees apply to checking and savings accounts
- Limited CD terms
Best for Free Checking: BMO
BMO's Smart Advantage Checking account doesn't require a minimum balance, nor does it charge monthly maintenance fees. The bank also offers higher-tier checking accounts, including an interest-bearing option, but those accounts carry monthly fees. BMO's Savings Builder account rewards customers with an extra $5 for every month they grow their balance by $200 or more for the first year.
However, the bank's money market accounts and CDs currently offer APYs that comparatively lower, and customers must deposit at least $1,000 to open a CD at BMO. The bank's ATM network features more than 40,000 locations.
- Multiple checking account options
- Free checking features no monthly fees or minimum balances
- ATM network of more than 40,000 locations
- Monthly fees for higher-tier checking accounts
- Relatively lower APYs for CDs and money market accounts
- $1,000 minimum deposit for CDs
Best for Customer Satisfaction: Glacier Bank
Based in Montana, Glacier Bank is a top-ranked financial institution for customer service. In fact, J.D. Power awarded the bank the top spot in the Northwest in its U.S. Retail Banking Satisfaction Study last year. The bank has several interest-bearing checking options without monthly fees, and new customers can benefit from the bank's buy-back program. Glacier Bank will buy your old checks or debit card from another bank when you open a new account, and it will give you a $25 credit.
Glacier Bank doesn't disclose all of its rate details online, and the bank's savings and money market accounts charge monthly fees. You may be eligible for a fee waiver based on your balance, but it's important to keep the fee in mind when shopping for a new account.
- Highly-rated for customer satisfaction
- Multiple interest-bearing checking accounts
- New customer buy-back program
- Rate information not disclosed online
- Savings and money market accounts have monthly fees
Compare Savings Accounts rates today
Up to 2-day-early paycheck
Earn up to 4.30% APY*
- Limited Time Offer - New accounts earn a 0.70% APY boost to 4.30% 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
- FDIC Insured up to $250k plus up to $3M in supplemental insurance4
- No Account Fees5 & No-fee Overdraft Coverage6
*Terms Apply
No monthly maintenance fees
Earn 3.90% APY* 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 6/18/2025
Member FDIC
Earn 3.75% APY* with CIT's Savings Connect Account
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$100 minimum balance for APY
- No account opening or monthly service fees
- Deposit checks online with the CIT Bank mobile app
- FDIC Insured
*Rate as of 9/23/2025 1See Site For Details
*For complete list of account details and fees, see our Personal Account disclosures
*Annual Percentage Yield is accurate as of September 23, 2025. Interest Rates for the Savings Connect Account are variable and may change at any time without notice. The minimum to open a Savings Connect account is $100. Fees could reduce earnings on the account.
2Based 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 September 15, 2025.
No minimum opening deposit
Earn 3.40% APY* with a Discover™ Savings Account
- Earn Over 5X the National Savings Average¹
- $0 Min. Balance to Earn APY
- $0 Monthly Fees & No Min. Opening Deposit
- No Overdraft Fees
- Deposits are FDIC-insured up to $250,000²
*Rates as of 9/30/2025
No hidden fees
Enjoy hassle-free banking and earn 4.20% APY* with no more hidden fees.
- Enjoy free monthly maintenance
- Watch your savings grow with daily compounded interest.
- Deposit anytime, anywhere with unlimited mobile check deposits.
- Deposits are FDIC-insured up to $250,000
*Rate as of 10/10/2025
How we chose the Best Banks for 2026
To determine our list of best banks for 2026, Money evaluated hundreds of the largest retail banks, credit unions, regional and state banks and online banks ranked by assets. We then compared opening balance requirements, interest paid, fees and features to determine our top picks.
We selected the best banks and credit unions of the West for 2026 by researching financial institutions operating in western states and scrutinizing their account options, interest rates, minimum deposit requirements and fees. Special consideration was given to banks and credit unions who scored well for customer satisfaction.
You can read our full methodology here.