This article was subjected to a comprehensive fact-checking process. Our professional fact-checkers verify article information against primary sources, reputable publishers, and experts in the field.
When choosing a bank, customer service can be just as important as interest rates or account features. Whether you prefer the convenience of online banking or the reassurance of walking into a branch, your experience often hinges on how well a bank supports you when issues arise.
After years of banking with a local credit union, I recently switched to an online bank to avoid fees and earn a little interest on my savings. Factors like fees, APYs, overdraft policies, and accessibility are important when evaluating the best banks.
FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment.
Our partners do not influence our ratings.
Up to $400New 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 within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more) OR $400 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more). Cash bonus amount 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 12/31/2026. 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 3.30% 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 3.30% 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 12/23/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
Minimum Opening Balance
$0
Monthly Fee
$0
Why We Like It
Earn a $50 or $400 bonus with eligible direct deposit1 <p>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 within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more) OR $400 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more). Cash bonus amount 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 12/31/2026. Full terms at <a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/" >sofi.com/banking</a>. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.</p><p>SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit can earn 3.30% 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 3.30% 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 12/23/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional information can be found at <a href="http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet">http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet</a>.</p> and up to 4.00% APY2 <p>Earn up to 4.00% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.30% APY as of 12/23/25) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking and Savings account and pay the $10 SoFi Plus subscription every 30 days OR receive eligible direct deposits OR qualifying deposits of $5,000 every 31 days by 3/30/2026. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at <a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/#2">sofi.com/banking#2</a>. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.</p> on your money
Limited-Time Offer: +0.70% Boost on Savings APY to up to 4.00% for up to 6 months on new accounts. Terms apply.2 <p>Earn up to 4.00% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.30% APY as of 12/23/25) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking and Savings account and pay the $10 SoFi Plus subscription every 30 days OR receive eligible direct deposits OR qualifying deposits of $5,000 every 31 days by 3/30/2026. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at <a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/#2">sofi.com/banking#2</a>. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.</p>
No account, overdraft, or monthly fees3 <p>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 incoming wire 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 <a href="http://sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/">sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/</a>.</p>
Get your paycheck up to two days early with direct deposit4 <p>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.</p>
Access additional FDIC insurance up to $3 million5 <p><b style="font-family: Rubik, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif;">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 <a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms</a>. See list of participating banks at <a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks</a>.</b></p>
None on SoFi Checking and Savings3 <p>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 incoming wire 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 <a href="http://sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/">sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/</a>.</p>
Ranks #1 for customer satisfaction according to J.D. Power
Both checking and savings accounts earn interest
Doesn't charge fees for overdrafts and non-sufficient funds
Capital One's 360 Checking and Savings accounts are a solid option if you want no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements. Plus, both accounts earn interest: 3.20% APY6 <span>A rate of 3.20% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) applies to all account balances. Advertised rates are variable and effective as of 03/12/2026. Rates are subject to change at any time before or after account opening.</span> on savings and 0.10% (as of 09/15/25) APY on checking. In J.D. Power's 2025 National Banking Satisfaction Study, Capital One ranked number one (and it did in 2024, too). It also took the top spot in the Mid-Atlantic Region and South Central Region in J.D. Power's 2025 Retail Banking Satisfaction Study.
With Capital One, your funds are pretty accessible in over 70,000 ATM locations. The company does operate some physical branches and "cafes," but there aren't many of those locations compared to Chase and U.S. Bank. Capital One also has one of the best banking apps available.
Pros
No monthly fees, overdraft fees, or minimum balance requirements
Get paid up to two days early with direct deposit7 <p>Early paycheck is available for 360 Checking customers that set up direct deposit with their employer or other payor to receive electronic deposits of regular periodic payments (such as salary, pension, or government benefits). Certain non-payroll and tax payments are not eligible for early paycheck. Early direct deposits may be available to you up to 2 days earlier, however, we are dependent on the timing of your payor’s payment instructions and therefore you may not always see your direct deposits arrive early. Early paycheck eligibility may vary between pay periods and daily/transaction limits apply. </p>
Ranked first in overall customer satisfaction in J.D. Power's 2025 National Banking Satisfaction Study
Cons
Operates a limited number of physical branch locations
Low interest on checking accounts
You must deposit at least $250 in two of three months to be eligible for no-fee overdraft
FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment.
Our partners do not influence our ratings.
Chase Total Checking® Benefits
Get a $400 bonus when you open a Chase Total Checking® account with qualifying activities; offer valid through 4/15/20268 <p>Offer not available to existing Chase checking customers, or those whose accounts have been closed within 90 days or closed with a negative balance within the last 3 years. You can receive only one new checking account opening related bonus every two years from the last coupon enrollment date and only one bonus per account. Coupon is good for one-time use. To receive the bonus: 1) Open a new Chase Total Checking account, which is subject to approval; AND 2) Have your direct deposits totaling $1,000 or more made to this account within 90 days of coupon enrollment. Your direct deposit needs to be an electronic deposit of your paycheck, pension or government benefits (such as Social Security) from your employer or the government. Person to Person payments (such as Zelle®) are not considered a direct deposit. Micro-deposits do not qualify as a direct deposit for the bonus. Micro-deposits are small deposits, typically less than $1, that are sent to your account to verify it is the correct account. After you have completed all the above requirements, we'll deposit the bonus in your new account within 15 days. To receive this bonus, the enrolled account must not be closed or restricted at the time of payout. Eligibility may be limited based on account ownership. Bonus is considered interest and will be reported on IRS Form 1099-INT (or Form 1042-S, if applicable). Offer availability subject to change. Other Chase checking bonus offers may exist concurrently.</p>
Access to more than 15,000 ATMs and more than 5,000 branches
Monthly Service Fee as low as $0 when you meet qualifying electronic deposits or account balance minimums9 <p>$15 Monthly Service Fee OR $0 with one of the following, each monthly statement period: </p>
<p>$500+ in qualifying electronic deposits</p>
<p> OR $1,500+ balance at the beginning of each day</p>
<p> OR $5,000+ average beginning day balance in this account, or in combination with any linked qualifying personal deposits or in investments</p><p class="">OR Link this account to a qualifying checking account</p>
Member FDIC
4.3
FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment.
Our partners do not influence our ratings.
Ranks high for overall customer service by J.D. Power
If you prefer to do a lot of your banking in person, then Chase may be the right bank for you. It has over 5,000 brick-and-mortar bank locations across the country. It also ranks high for overall customer satisfaction, coming in third in J.D. Power's 2025 National Banking Satisfaction Study.
However, beyond that, there's not much that excites me about Chase's banking products. It charges monthly service fees on both its checking and savings accounts. Many of those fees could be waived for some of their checking products if you jump through the right hoops, like having direct monthly deposits of at least $500 to a Chase Total Checking® account.
Neither of Chase's savings or checking accounts earns interest. The company offers overdraft protection on eligible accounts but is limited to $50 or less. If you overdraft over $50, you'd better deposit or transfer money into your account and make it good by the next day, or else you'll be charged a $34 overdraft fee.
Pros
Has over 5,000 brick-and-mortar locations
Ranked third for overall customer satisfaction in the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. National Banking Satisfaction Study
Offers overdraft protection on eligible accounts
Cons
Monthly service fees (some are waivable)
Some accounts don't earn interest
Charges $34 for overdraft transactions over $5 on all Chase checking accounts except except Chase First Checking℠, Chase High School Checking℠ or Chase Secure Checking℠
FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment.
Our partners do not influence our ratings.
AWARD WINNERBest Online Checking
SoFi Checking and Savings Benefits
Limited-Time Offer: Earn a $50 or $400 bonus with eligible direct deposit and up to 4.00% APY on Savings (3.30% APY1 <p>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 within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more) OR $400 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more). Cash bonus amount 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 12/31/2026. Full terms at <a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/" >sofi.com/banking</a>. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.</p><p>SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit can earn 3.30% 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 3.30% 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 12/23/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional information can be found at <a href="http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet">http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet</a>.</p> with +0.70% APY Boost) for up to 6 Months on new accounts. Terms Apply.2 <p>Earn up to 4.00% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.30% APY as of 12/23/25) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking and Savings account and pay the $10 SoFi Plus subscription every 30 days OR receive eligible direct deposits OR qualifying deposits of $5,000 every 31 days by 3/30/2026. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at <a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/#2">sofi.com/banking#2</a>. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.</p>
No account, overdraft, or monthly fees3 <p>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 incoming wire 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 <a href="http://sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/">sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/</a>.</p>
Get your paycheck up to two days early with direct deposit4 <p>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.</p>
Access additional FDIC insurance up to $3 million5 <p><b style="font-family: Rubik, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif;">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 <a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms</a>. See list of participating banks at <a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks</a>.</b></p>
5.0
FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment.
Our partners do not influence our ratings.
When you open a SoFi checking account, you automatically get a savings account
Both SoFi's checking and savings accounts earn interest5 <p><b style="font-family: Rubik, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif;">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 <a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms</a>. See list of participating banks at <a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks</a>.</b></p>
SoFi has never been included in J.D. Power's annual National Banking Satisfaction Study, as of the time of this update. But the company does have a 4.0-star rating on Trustpilot, with 80% of reviewers giving it 5 stars. It also makes our list of the best online banks and the easiest bank accounts to open online.
After researching SoFi so many times, I pulled the trigger and opened an account. I was attracted to it because it has no monthly fee or minimum balance requirements, and it offers high interest rates on checking and savings.
To earn up to 3.30% APY10 <p>Annual percentage yield (APY) is variable and subject to change at any time. Rates are current as of 12/23/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional rates and information can be found at <a href="https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet">https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet</a></p> on your SoFi savings, you must meet a range of conditions.10 <p>Annual percentage yield (APY) is variable and subject to change at any time. Rates are current as of 12/23/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional rates and information can be found at <a href="https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet">https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet</a></p> Otherwise, you'd earn just 1.00% (as of 12/23/25) APY. Without direct deposit, you can also earn the higher savings rate with a SoFi Plus premium membership, but that costs $10 per month.
I like that it automatically covers overdraft charges using my savings without charging me a fee, unlike my credit union, which charges $3 each time it uses my own savings to cover overdrafts. There are, however, a number of conditions you need to meet to qualify for SoFi overdraft coverage.11 <p>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 <a href="https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet">https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet</a>. 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.</p>
Pros
No monthly fees for monthly maintenance, overdrafts, or minimum balances
Interest earned on checking and savings accounts
Get paid up to two days early with direct deposit4 <p>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.</p>
Cons
Has no physical branches
Must have eligible direct deposit, be a SoFi Plus member, or make $5,000 or more in qualifying deposits during a 31-day evaluation period to get high interest on a savings account
Specific requirements for being eligible for the higher APY on savings
$25 minimum deposit to open most checking and savings accounts
Monthly maintenance fees on the Smartly® Checking can be waived with combined monthly direct deposits of $1,500+ or an average account balance of $1,500 or more
Monthly fees are waived for military members, seniors over 65, and adults under 24
Like Chase, U.S. Bank ranks higher than average for overall customer satisfaction according to J.D. Power. In fact, it came in second, scoring 679 in the 2025 study. Still, it also has monthly fees and minimum balance requirements that many financial companies have done away with.
U.S. Bank levies a $12 monthly fee on its Smartly Checking Account and a $5 monthly fee on its Smartly® Savings account, but the savings account fee is waived if you have both a U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking or Safe Debit checking account and a Smartly® Savings account. There are other ways to get the monthly fees waived, including having an average account balance or monthly direct deposits of $1,500 or more. The fees are also automatically waived if you are a military member, a senior age 65 or older, or a teen or young adult age 13-24.
U.S. Bank operates 2,000 physical branches, but those branches are available in only 26 states in the U.S. The bank's tiered rewards system seems designed to benefit customers with at least $25,000 in their accounts. If you have less than that, you can probably find better terms at a different bank.
Pros
Ranks above average for customer satisfaction
Tiered rewards program based on account balance
Monthly fees are waived for military members, seniors over 65 and adults under 24.
Cons
Monthly maintenance fees on checking and savings accounts (waivable)
Most accounts require a minimum deposit of $25
Most rewards are available to clients with $25,000 or more
FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment.
Our partners do not influence our ratings.
2026 AWARD WINNERBest Savings for Customer Service
American Express® High Yield Savings Benefits
Earn a competitive 3.20% annual percentage yield (APY)12 <p>The Annual Percentage Yield (APY) as advertised is accurate as of March 18, 2026. Interest rate and APY are subject to change at any time without notice before and after a High Yield Savings Account is opened. Interest Rate and APY of a Certificate of Deposit account is fixed once the account is funded.</p> from a trusted brand
No minimum deposits or balances required, and no monthly fees13 <p class="">There is no minimum balance required to open your Account, to avoid being charged a fee, or to obtain the Annual Percentage Yield (APY) disclosed to you.</p>
Award-winning financial institution with 24/7 access to customer service representatives
Terms apply
5.0
FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment.
Our partners do not influence our ratings.
Savings accounts are more accessible for non-American Express cardholders
Checking account allows you to earn points for eligible debit card transactions equal to 1 Membership Rewards® point per $2 spent on eligible purchases
You're probably most familiar with American Express for its credit cards, but the financial company also offers savings, checking, and other banking products. Its high yield savings account is one of the best savings accounts that earns a competitive APY of 3.20%12 <p>The Annual Percentage Yield (APY) as advertised is accurate as of March 18, 2026. Interest rate and APY are subject to change at any time without notice before and after a High Yield Savings Account is opened. Interest Rate and APY of a Certificate of Deposit account is fixed once the account is funded.</p> and is available to anyone, even if they're not an Amex cardholder.
I opened an Amex high-yield savings account and have been happy with the return I've received so far (even though the interest rate is variable and has slightly decreased since I opened it.)
Amex's checking account is a newer product for the company, and it is currently only available for current Amex cardholders. If you have an Amex card, you may want to consider the company's checking account. It is one of the few checking accounts that earns interest, currently at 1.00% (as of 10/02/25) APY.
The account also comes with a debit card that rewards you with points for eligible purchases. You'll earn 1 point per $2 spent on eligible purchases. However, American Express is not for you if you need overdraft protection. The company doesn't offer that service.
Pros
1.00% (as of 10/02/25) APY on checking accounts
Earns points on eligible debit card purchases
You don't have to have an American Express card to open a high yield savings account
Cons
You have to be an American Express cardholder to open a checking account
Choosing between an online bank and a traditional brick-and-mortar bank depends on your preferences and the type of banking experience you want. Online banks tend to have lower fees and offer higher interest rates because they don't have the overhead of physical branches. On the other hand, traditional banks provide in-person service, which can be helpful if you value face-to-face interaction. However, you may have to deal with more fees or account restrictions.
The fact that Capital One, which is primarily an online bank, ranks the highest for customer service indicates that online banks are starting to improve in that area, where traditional banks have often had the upper hand.
4.8
FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment.
Our partners do not influence our ratings.
Bank of America Advantage Banking
Up to $500 cash offer. Click ‘Learn More' for more details. Bank of America, N.A. Member FDIC.
FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment.
Our partners do not influence our ratings.
Use Cash App As Your All-in-One Financial Services Platform
Bank14 <p>Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Savings provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand.</p><p class="">Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Direct Deposit provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand.</p> without all the fees—save, send, and spend your money the way you want.15 <p class="">Your balance is eligible for FDIC pass-through insurance through our Program Banks Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and/or Sutton Bank, Members FDIC for up to $250,000 per customer when aggregated with all other deposits held in the same legal capacity at each Program Bank above, if certain conditions are met. Cash App is a financial services platform, and not an FDIC-insured bank. Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. See <a href="https://cash.app/legal/us/en-us/card-agreement">terms and conditions</a>. </p> Get paid up to 2 days early – up to 2 days earlier than most banks16 <p>Your first deposit may take longer depending on your employer.</p>
FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment.
Our partners do not influence our ratings.
Enjoy $400 as a new Chase checking customer
When you open a new Chase Total Checking® account with qualifying activities.8 <p>Offer not available to existing Chase checking customers, or those whose accounts have been closed within 90 days or closed with a negative balance within the last 3 years. You can receive only one new checking account opening related bonus every two years from the last coupon enrollment date and only one bonus per account. Coupon is good for one-time use. To receive the bonus: 1) Open a new Chase Total Checking account, which is subject to approval; AND 2) Have your direct deposits totaling $1,000 or more made to this account within 90 days of coupon enrollment. Your direct deposit needs to be an electronic deposit of your paycheck, pension or government benefits (such as Social Security) from your employer or the government. Person to Person payments (such as Zelle®) are not considered a direct deposit. Micro-deposits do not qualify as a direct deposit for the bonus. Micro-deposits are small deposits, typically less than $1, that are sent to your account to verify it is the correct account. After you have completed all the above requirements, we'll deposit the bonus in your new account within 15 days. To receive this bonus, the enrolled account must not be closed or restricted at the time of payout. Eligibility may be limited based on account ownership. Bonus is considered interest and will be reported on IRS Form 1099-INT (or Form 1042-S, if applicable). Offer availability subject to change. Other Chase checking bonus offers may exist concurrently.</p> FDIC Insured. Offer valid through 4/15/2026.
FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment.
Our partners do not influence our ratings.
AWARD WINNERBest Online Checking
SoFi Checking & Savings - Earn Up to $400 When You Set Up Direct Deposit
Limited-Time Offer: Earn a $50 or $400 bonus with eligible direct deposit and up to 4.00% APY on Savings (3.30% APY1 <p>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 within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more) OR $400 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more). Cash bonus amount 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 12/31/2026. Full terms at <a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/" >sofi.com/banking</a>. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.</p><p>SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit can earn 3.30% 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 3.30% 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 12/23/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional information can be found at <a href="http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet">http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet</a>.</p> with +0.70% APY Boost) for up to 6 Months on new accounts. Terms Apply.2 <p>Earn up to 4.00% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.30% APY as of 12/23/25) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking and Savings account and pay the $10 SoFi Plus subscription every 30 days OR receive eligible direct deposits OR qualifying deposits of $5,000 every 31 days by 3/30/2026. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at <a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/#2">sofi.com/banking#2</a>. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.</p> FDIC Insured.5 <p><b style="font-family: Rubik, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif;">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 <a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms</a>. See list of participating banks at <a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks</a>.</b></p>
According to the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. National Banking Satisfaction Study, Capital One ranks number one for overall customer satisfaction, scoring 689 out of 1,000. Other banks that ranked about average include Chase and U.S. Bank.
Is Chase better than Wells Fargo?
When it comes to overall customer satisfaction, Chase ranks better than Wells Fargo. In the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. National Banking Satisfaction Study, Chase scored 677 out of 1,000, while Wells Fargo scored 648, below the study average of 658.
Is Capital One a good bank?
Yes, Capital One is a good bank to do business with. Besides its high rankings for overall customer satisfaction, Capital One's 360 banking products feature no monthly fees, no overdraft fees, and no minimum balance requirements. Both its checking and savings accounts also earn interest.
Bottom line
Finding the right bank can be challenging. While many offer low fees and high APYs on accounts, how well you're treated — whether online or off — is just as important.
Capital One offers the best of both worlds with the digital offerings of an online bank, as well as branch locations for those who prefer a traditional bank. Plus, its rankings for outstanding customer service rival many online and traditional banks.
Ultimately, the best bank for you depends on your lifestyle and priorities.
How we determined the best banks and companies for customer service
In order to find the banks with the best customer service, we relied on information from the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. National Banking Satisfaction Study. Since this study doesn’t include fintech companies like SoFi, we considered the following:
Fees: In our analysis, we included both banks with monthly service fees on some or all accounts and banks/companies without such fees. We've also included both in our list, but note that we haven't recommended any accounts with monthly service fees you can't waive.
Minimums: We gave preference in our scoring to deposit accounts with low or no minimum balance and opening deposit requirements.
APYs offered on deposit accounts: The national average interest rate on savings accounts is 0.39% (as of 2/17/26), according to the FDIC, while the national average rate for interest checking accounts is 0.07% (as of 2/17/26). To be considered competitive, an account needs to earn an above-average rate. For savings accounts, we only included accounts with very strong rates, but earning any interest on checking is unusual.
Features and benefits: We considered banking perks that set some companies apart from the pack, such as overdraft coverage, budgeting capabilities within mobile apps, 24/7 customer support, and more.
To compile this list, we primarily considered large, national banks rather than hyper-regional or local banks. We prioritized banks that would be available to all or most of our readers rather than institutions only available to a smaller subset.
Editor’s note
It’s worth noting that community banks and local banks you might see in town often score better than larger banks for customer satisfaction. For example, in 2026 data from the American Customer Satisfaction Index, regional and community banks (an aggregate of all smaller banks studied) scored 83 out of 100 for overall customer satisfaction, while banks overall scored 80 and national banks 79.
FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment.
Our partners do not influence our ratings.
AWARD WINNERBest Online Checking
High APY of up to 4.00% on Savings (3.30% APY1 <p>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 within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more) OR $400 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more). Cash bonus amount 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 12/31/2026. Full terms at <a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/" >sofi.com/banking</a>. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.</p><p>SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit can earn 3.30% 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 3.30% 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 12/23/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional information can be found at <a href="http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet">http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet</a>.</p> with +0.70% APY Boost) for up to 6 Months on new accounts. Terms Apply.2 <p>Earn up to 4.00% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.30% APY as of 12/23/25) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking and Savings account and pay the $10 SoFi Plus subscription every 30 days OR receive eligible direct deposits OR qualifying deposits of $5,000 every 31 days by 3/30/2026. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at <a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/#2">sofi.com/banking#2</a>. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.</p>
Paycheck access up to 2 days early with direct deposit4 <p>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.</p>
No monthly maintenance or overdraft fees3 <p>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 incoming wire 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 <a href="http://sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/">sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/</a>.</p>
Streamlined savings and savings goals with Vaults
Access to a large ATM network17 <p>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.</p>
Advertiser and Editorial Disclosures
Advertiser Disclosure
FinanceBuzz is an independent, advertising-supported website. Some or all of the offers that appear on this page are from third party advertisers from which FinanceBuzz receives compensation. For example, we may receive compensation when you click on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear).
FinanceBuzz does not include all financial or credit offers that might be available to consumers nor do we include all companies or all available products. Information, including rates and fees, is accurate as of the publishing date and has not been provided or endorsed by the advertiser.
The credit card offers that appear on this site are from companies from which FinanceBuzz receives compensation such as banks or CardRatings.com.
Editorial Policy
The FinanceBuzz editorial team strives to provide accurate, in-depth information and reviews to help you, our reader, make financial decisions with confidence. Here's what you can expect from us:
FinanceBuzz makes money when you click the links on our site to some of the products and offers that we mention. These partnerships do not influence our opinions or recommendations.
FinanceBuzz reviews and rates products on a variety of quantitative and qualitative criteria. Whenever possible we test each product and include our honest, firsthand experience using it. Read more about how we rate products.
Partners are not able to review or request changes to our content except for compliance reasons. Financial products are highly regulated so we work closely with partners to make sure the information we have on our site is accurate and includes any required legal language and disclaimers.
We aim to make sure everything on our site is up-to-date and accurate as of the publishing date, but we cannot guarantee we haven't missed something. It's your responsibility to double-check all information before making any financial decision. If you spot something that looks wrong, please let us know.