---
title: 'Midwest: FirstMerit'
description: With branches in Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, FirstMerit is MONEY's best local bank in the Midwest region.
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    former_staff: true
published: '2015-10-25T16:49:00.000Z'
modified: '2024-05-07T10:17:36.000Z'
section: Banking
canonical: https://money.com/collection-post/best-regional-banks-midwest-firstmerit-2015/
type: Article
source: structured-blocks
---

> **Disclosure:** We research all brands listed and may earn a fee from our partners. Research and financial considerations may influence how brands are displayed. Not all brands are included. [Learn more](https://money.com/page/disclaimer/).

![BestBanks_FirstMerit](https://img.money.com/2015/10/bestbanks_firstmerit.png)

WHY IT'S A WINNER

Why it's a winner: You can avoid [out-of-network ATM fees](https://money.com/collection-post/best-banks-most-atms-chase-2015/) and earn a nice yield on [checking](https://money.com/collection-post/best-checking-bank-account-Aspiration-2015/). Plus you get a 0.5-percentage-point discount on home-equity lines of credit and a 0.25-point discount on personal loans if you set up automatic payments from your account.

#### Caveat

As with many banks, you’ll need a minimum balance to waive the checking account’s maintenance fee.

#### Branches

367 in Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin

#### Standout Account

*Reality Platinum Checking*

**Maintenance fee:** $15  
**How to waive the fee:** Keep a $5,000 daily balance.  
**Outside ATM fee:** $0  
**Interest on $5,000:** 0.05%

**Here are Money's picks for the Best Regional Banks of 2015-2016:**

-   Northeast: First Niagara
-   [Southeast & Southwest: First Citizens](https://money.com/collection-post/best-regional-banks-southeast-southwest-first-citizens-2015/)
-   [South & West: BBVA Compass](https://money.com/collection-post/best-regional-banks-south-west-bbva-compass-2015/)
-   [Multiple Regions: Capital One](https://money.com/collection-post/best-regional-banks-capital-one-2015/)

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