Best National Banks for 2026

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.

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.

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 a 3.80% 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 4.50% APY. The online savings account automatically comes with a fee-free checking account that earns an additional 0.50% APY.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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%.

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.

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.

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