Best Banks and Credit Unions in the West

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 2024-2025:

• Glacier Bank - Best Overall
• Banner - Best for Added Perks
• Golden1 - Best Credit Union
• KeyBank - Best for Checkking
• Wells Fargo - Best for CDs

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

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. 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.

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; in the J.D. Power U.S. Retail Banking Satisfaction Study, it was the second-best bank in the Northwest.

However, to qualify for the bank's highest APYs, you'll need to deposit a substantial amount of money; to earn a higher-than-average APY, you must deposit at least $25,000. Additionally, its accounts typically have monthly fees.

Golden1 Credit Union is a leading credit union in the West, offering bank accounts with low fees and higher-than-average APYs. Through Golden1, you can open a checking account without a monthly fee or open a share certificate — the credit union equivalent of a CD — with higher than usual rates. Golden1 also has special account options for kids and seniors, offering low-cost bank accounts with added perks and benefits.

Although Golden1 does have an interest-bearing checking account, that account option requires a monthly fee. As a credit union, not everyone is eligible for membership at Golden1. Generally, it serves communities in California, but you may be eligible for membership if you work for a partnering employer or have a family member who is an existing member.

For those looking for a simple checking account without a monthly fee, KeyBank stands out for its variety of options. Whether you want a digital-only account or prefer a checking account that includes paper checks, there are several accounts to choose from with KeyBank. A leading bank in select states in the West, it operates branches in Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington. Its checking accounts include perks like early pay, so you can receive your paycheck up to two days sooner and the "Key Coverage Zone": If your account is overdrawn by $20 or less at the end of a day, KeyBank won't charge you an overdraft fee.

KeyBank has multiple checking options, including an interest-bearing account. However, the interest-bearing option has a steep monthly fee. Additionally, KeyBank has a higher-than-usual deposit minimum of $5,000 for its money market accounts, and it offers a lower-than-average APY on its basic savings account.

With Wells Fargo, you can open a CD and lock in an APY that is much higher than the national average. Special rates apply to certain terms — currently, the special rates apply to terms of four months, seven months and 11 months — but Wells Fargo has term options as long as 10 years. If you are an existing Wells Fargo customer, you may be eligible for its "relationship rate," a higher APY available to current customers. Wells Fargo's special rate CDs can be opened entirely online.

The special rates CDs have a higher deposit minimum; you'll need at least $5,000 to open an account. If you want to open another CD with a different term, such as 10 years, you'll have to visit a branch in person.

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, 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 2024-2025 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.

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