Best National Banks 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. Fees may reduce earnings. 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 11/12/25. 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 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 incomingwire 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/.
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 may be incurred when using out-of-network ATMs. 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 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.
7. 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 website.
8. 0.70% Savings APY Boost
Earn up to 4.30% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.60% APY as of 11/12/25) for up to 6 months. Enroll in SoFi Plus between 9/18/25 and 1/31/26. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at sofi.com/sofi-plus SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.
Earn 4.00% 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 11/19/2025
* 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 3.75% 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 November 20, 2025: 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 November 17, 2025.
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
Whether you're looking for a high-yield savings account or a checking account with lower fees, national banks are appealing for those who want the security and features that large institutions provide. Although they face competition from digital banks and credit unions that may offer higher annual percentage yields (APYs), national banks often provide more products and services, making them a good choice for those who want to handle the majority of their financial needs in one place.
To help you find the right bank, we researched dozens of the largest banks in the country based on their assets. Based on their APYs, fees and customer service, here are our choices for the best national banks of 2026:
- Axos Bank – Best Overall
- SoFi – Best for Savings Accounts
- EverBank – Best for Money Market Accounts
- American Express – Best for Perks
- Discover – Best for Innovation
- Capital One – Best for Low Fees
- Chase – Best Customer Satisfaction
- Ally – Best for Overall Rates
*Rates and APYS are subject to change. All information provided here is accurate as of Oct. 14, 2025.
Best Overall: Axos
Axos Bank is our choice for the best overall national bank. It offers checking accounts, savings accounts and certificates of deposit (CDs) to customers in all 50 states. Its Axos ONE savings accounts offer APYs that are up to 11x the national average. Although principally an online bank, it offers an ATM network with 91,000 nationwide locations through various partnerships and reimburses customers for out-of-network ATM fees.
The FDIC-insured bank has received just 57 Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) complaints last year, and it receives a TrustPilot score of 4.1 stars out of a possible 5. Its fee-free Rewards Checking accounts offer an APY of 3.30%, while its business checking offers established companies a bonus of up to $400. The bank's Summit Savings account offers an APY of 4.00%. One disadvantage of Axos Bank is its $1,000 minimum requirement for CDs.
- Out-of-network ATM fee reimbursement
- Savings APY 11x national average
- Early Payday feature allows access to funds up to two days early
- No physical locations
- $1,000 minimum for CDs
- No money market accounts
Best for Savings Accounts: SoFi
We picked SoFi as the best bank for savings accounts. The bank offers customers its automatic Roundup feature on all debit card purchases, which transfers those balances to accountholders' savings vaults, helping automate their savings. SoFi boasts up to 3.60% APY that allows customers the chance to earn more in interest over the course of seven weeks than they would in one year with the average brick-and-mortar big bank. SoFi offers savings bonuses up to $300
The bank only has four physical locations in two states, and it doesn't offer CDs or money market accounts. However, it has a network of 55,000 ATMs and its limited-time bonus of 0.70% APY can bring its high-yield savings account offering up to 4.30% APY. The online savings account automatically comes with a fee-free checking account that earns an additional 0.50% APY.
- Considerably higher than average APY
- No account fees or minimum balance requirements
- $50 to $300 cash bonus depending on direct deposit amount
- Only four physical locations in two states
- Does not offer CDs or money market accounts
Best for Money Market Accounts: EverBank
While the first two banks on our list don't offer money market accounts, Everbank not only does, but the institution offers exceptional ones. The bank may only have 41 branches in four states, it services all 50 states and boasts a network of 80,000 ATMs. EverBank received just 45 CFPB complaints in the past year, and the bank features no monthly maintenance or overdraft fees while providing out-of-network ATM fee reimbursement.
But what stands out for EverBank are its money market accounts, which offer a competitive 4.00% APY, no fees and no minimum open balance requirements. In addition to providing account access with checks and debit cards, its money market account also features bill pay and mobile check deposits. The bank limits external transfers out of their accounts to $10,000 per day and $30,000 per month, and it has received criticism for its outdated mobile app.
- Mobile check deposits
- Highly competitive money market APY
- Out-of-network ATM fee reimbursement
- Daily limit on outbound external transfers of $10,000
- Lower rating for customer service
- Outdated mobile app
Best for Perks: American Express
You might not think of American Express as a bank, but it offers all the bells and whistles of both brick-and-mortar and online banks. It offers competitive APYs for its online savings, high-yield savings, CDs and online checking accounts. In addition to not charging monthly fees or requiring minimum balances, customers enjoy a perks like a welcome bonus of $250 and membership rewards points on eligible debit card purchases, which can be redeemed for gifts or travel.
It also offer substantially higher-than-usual APYs, including 1.00% for its online checking accounts. Be mindful that despite operating in all 50 states, American Express doesn't have any physical locations. However, its ATM network includes 70,000 locations. Its app provides instant fraud alerts and features Send & Split for sending and splitting purchases.
- No monthly fees or minimum balances
- Comparatively high-yield on checking
- Membership rewards points on eligible debit card purchases
- No physical locations
- No ATM/debit card for savings accounts
Best for Innovation: Discover
None of Discover's bank accounts charge monthly fees, so you can open a savings account, checking account or CD without worrying about maintenance fees or maintaining a balance to qualify for a fee waiver. The bank services all 50 states but doesn't operate any physical locations. However, it has an ATM network of more than 60,000 locations. Of note, Discover's savings accounts do not come with a debt/ATM card.
When it comes to innovation, Discover was our first choice. The bank is leaning into AI and machine learning to help expedite and improve customer service (response times have been reduced by as much as 70%), as well as using the technology for proactive fraud protection features. Additionally, Discover's Freeze It mobile app feature allows customers to instantly freeze their accounts. The bank also advertises a $0 fraud liability guarantee as well as dark web monitoring to ensure your personal information and data is secure and not compromised.
- AI-assisted customer service and fraud detection
- Savings APY 11x national average
- Early Payday feature allows access to funds up to two days early
- No physical locations
- Does not offer mortgage or auto loans
- No out-of-network ATM fee reimbursement
Best for Low Fees: Capital One
Capital One services all 50 states while maintaining 265 branches across nine states. The bank offers early paycheck access, its CDs — which don't have minimum purchase requirements — are very competitive with current APYs as high as 4.00%. Meanwhile, its 360 Performance Savings account features a 3.40% APY. The bank also took the top spot in last year's J.D. Power U.S. National Banking Satisfaction Study.
Where the bank stands out is the absence of fees for its products. Capital One 360 checking and savings accounts have no monthly fees, minimum balance requirements or overdraft fees (purchases are simply declines instead of being processed along with an overdraft fee). Capital One also has a network of more than 70,000 fee-free ATMs. Of note, there are fees associated with cashier's checks, outgoing domestic wire transfers and credit card late payments.
- 265 branch locations in nine states
- No fees for checking or savings accounts
- Fee-free ATM network with +70,000 locations
- No money market accounts
- Comparatively lower JP Power rating
- Can only link up to three external accounts
Best for Customer Satisfaction: Chase
Chase regularly leads the pack in terms of customer satisfaction. The institution finished second in last year's J.D. Power U.S. National Banking Satisfaction Study, and 74% of its 13,867 TrustPilot reviews are either four- or five-star ratings. The bank operates 48 branches but services all 50 states and has a network of 15,000 ATMS.
Chase doesn't offer money market accounts, but it does have accounts specific for students and members o the military. One disadvantage of banking with Chase is its higher-than-average fees for savings ($25 per month) and checking ($15 per month) accounts. However, the bank's CDs have no required minimum purchase amount and currently offer APYs up to 4.00%.
- Largest bank in the U.S. by assets makes it very stable
- Exceptional customer satisfaction rating
- Highly rated app provides mobile check deposit and Zelle integration
- Relatively high fees for savings and checking
- Comparatively low APYs
- Does not offer mortgage or auto loans
Best for Overall Rates: Ally
If you're looking for one bank that offers some of the highest rates, Ally is hard to beat. Its CDs — which have a no-penalty opt-out option — currently feature APYs up to 3.90%. Additionally, the bank's savings accounts and money market accounts offer customers 3.40% APY. As an online financial institution, Ally operates in all 50 states but doesn't have any physical branches. However, it boasts an impressive network of 75,000 ATMS, while allowing customers to receive up to $10 in out-of-network ATM fees per statement cycle.
Ally doesn't charge monthly maintenance fees, overdraft fees or require minimum balances for most of its accounts. The bank's savings account has a limit of 10 transactions or withdrawals per statement cycle, but there is no excessive transaction fee if customers go over. Ally does not offer a way to deposit cash.
- No monthly fees, overdraft fees or minimum balances for most accounts
- Higher-than-average APY for CDs (with no-penalty opt-out options), savings and money market accounts
- $10 in out-of-network ATM fee reimbursement per statement cycle
- No cash deposits
- Savings limited to six transactions per statement cycle ($10 fee thereafter)
How we chose the Best Banks for 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 bank account options, rates, deposit minimums, fees and added benefits and features to select our top choices. Particular emphasis was given to banks that offered higher-than-average rates on core deposit accounts, meaning savings accounts and CDs. We also prioritized banks with broad ATM networks and low fees. You can read our full methodology here.