Southeast: Synovus Bank
![](https://money.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/11_16_best-regional-synovus.png?quality=60&w=600)
WHY IT WINS: Synovus comes out ahead in the Southeast with consumer- friendly fee policies: Across both checking and savings, you can waive maintenance fees with minimum balances no higher than $5,000. It also offers modest customer discounts on loan rates.
CAVEAT: You won’t be able to avoid paying an outside ATM fee if you’ve got Synovus’s most basic checking account.
BRANCHES: 253 in five states.
STANDOUT CHECKING:
Synovus Preferred Checking Account
• Maintenance fee: $25, waived with a $5,000 balance.
• Outside ATM fee: Four free per cycle, then $2.50.
• Interest: 0.05% with a $1,000 minimum.