Seniors are often working with fixed incomes and different priorities than other age groups, making it especially important to find the right bank accounts.
Fortunately, there are banks that offer numerous benefits for seniors, including waived monthly maintenance fees and a wide network of in-person branches. The best banks for seniors also offer low or no fees, decent yields on deposits, and low account minimums.
Use our guide to help you decide which bank is the right fit for you based on your goals, whether you want to save money, earn interest, talk to someone in person, or automate your banking.
How we evaluate products
To identify the best banks for seniors, we reviewed top banks that offer account options with features that may be appreciated by people over age 65. We also considered banks with features for people over age 55. We then compared the following factors: annual percentage yield on both savings and checking; minimum balance required to open and maintain an account; the number and availability of bank branches; the fees and charges associated with these accounts; and whether the bank offered other features that stand out among competitors.
We did not review every bank account in the market, and our recommendations are not listed in a specific order. Our goal is to give readers a summary of the best banks for seniors to help them choose an account that suits their needs, goals, and preferences.
Compare the best banks for seniors
Bank | Best for | Annual percentage yield | Monthly service fees |
![]() U.S. Bank1 <p>Applicant must reside in AZ, AR, CA, CO, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NM, NC, ND, OH, OR, SD, TN, UT, WA, WI, WY to be eligible for Checking account</p> 2 <p>Subject to certain terms and limitations. Member FDIC.</p> |
Waived monthly maintenance fees for seniors (65+) | 0.001%-0.005% (as of 7/14/25) on checking; 0.01% (as of 07/14/25) on savings | May be waived for seniors above 653 <p>No Monthly Maintenance Fee for the U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking account with one of the following: Combined monthly direct deposit totaling $1,500+, an average account balance of $1,500 or greater, the owner of an eligible Small Business Checking account, the owner of a U.S. Bank Smartly VisaTM Signature® Card, are 24 and under, 65 and over, or a member of the military (must self-disclose), or qualify for Smart Rewards® Gold tier or above.</p> |
![]() Wealthfront |
Automated saving | 3.75% 4 <p>Wealthfront Cash account is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC, Member of FINRA/SIPC. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. We convey funds to partner banks who accept and maintain deposits, provide the interest rate, and provide FDIC insurance. Rate is subject to change.</p> | $0 |
![]() Chase |
In-person customer service | 0.01% (as of 04/04/25) | $5 to $15, can be waived |
![]() Capital One |
Opening multiple savings accounts | Up to 3.40%5 <span>A rate of 3.40% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) applies to all account balances. Advertised rates are variable and effective as of 10/01/25. Rates are subject to change at any time before or after account opening.</span> | $0 |
![]() CIT Bank6 <p class="">For a complete list of account details and fees, see our Personal Account disclosures: <a href="https://cit-fcb-t.cit.com/cit-bank/resources/forms">https://cit-fcb-t.cit.com/cit-bank/resources/forms</a></p> |
No monthly service fees | Up to 3.85% on savings balances above $5,0007 <p>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-of-day account balance. APYs — Annual Percentage Yields are accurate as of Sep. 23 2025: 0.25% APY on balances of $0.01 to $4,999.99; 3.85% 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.</p> | $0 |
![]() Charles Schwab |
Investment options | 0.05% (as of 12/23/24) on checking; 0.15% (as of 04/04/25) on savings | $0 |
U.S. Bank
APY
- U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking1 <p>Applicant must reside in AZ, AR, CA, CO, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NM, NC, ND, OH, OR, SD, TN, UT, WA, WI, WY to be eligible for Checking account</p> : 0.001%-0.005% (as of 7/14/25)
- U.S. Bank Standard Savings: 0.01% (as of 07/14/25)
Fees
- U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking: $12 monthly maintenance fee, waived for seniors above 653 <p>No Monthly Maintenance Fee for the U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking account with one of the following: Combined monthly direct deposit totaling $1,500+, an average account balance of $1,500 or greater, the owner of an eligible Small Business Checking account, the owner of a U.S. Bank Smartly VisaTM Signature® Card, are 24 and under, 65 and over, or a member of the military (must self-disclose), or qualify for Smart Rewards® Gold tier or above.</p>
- U.S. Bank Standard Savings: $4, can be waived
U.S. Bank shines thanks to the perks it offers seniors (65 and above), like the ability to waive its $12 monthly maintenance fee on the U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking account.
It also tops our list thanks to the ability to bank in person and the variety of financial products it offers, including checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, and CDs. You'll get in-person customer support at more than 2,000 local branches, which I think is a major advantage for people who prefer to deal with human tellers and not their phone.
Unfortunately, U.S. Bank charges monthly service fees if you aren't over 65 or meet certain requirements, so it's not a good choice if you aren't 65 yet. Additionally, the interest rates on most U.S. Bank accounts are either undisclosed or low (except for the U.S. Bank Elite Money Market account), so if yield is important, you might want a different bank.
- Waives monthly maintenance fees for seniors over 65
- Provides in-person support at more than 2,000 branches
- Offers a wide variety of financial products
- Offers overdraft fee forgiveness
- Only open to prospects in 26 states
- Charges a monthly service fee for those under 65 who don't meet certain criteria
- APYs are either low or undisclosed for most accounts
Visit U.S. Bank | Read our full U.S. Bank Smartly Checking review.
Wealthfront
APY
- Wealthfront Cash Account4 <p>Wealthfront Cash account is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC, Member of FINRA/SIPC. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. We convey funds to partner banks who accept and maintain deposits, provide the interest rate, and provide FDIC insurance. Rate is subject to change.</p> : 3.75%
Fees
- Wealthfront Cash Account: $0
While Wealthfront isn't technically a bank (it's a brokerage), its Cash Account is impressive enough to make our list, and it's great for seniors who are looking for something beyond what the traditional checking and savings account has to offer.
Tech-savvy seniors who want to earn a competitive APY on their cash should check out the Wealthfront Cash Account. It earns a solid APY of 3.75% and has no minimum balance requirement or account fees, and you can start with just $1. Plus, you can set up automations that route your funds into savings or investment accounts, helping you reach your goals faster.
It's a cash account, not a savings account, so you can make as many transfers as you want. And because Wealthfront uses a variety of partner institutions to hold its deposits, you may be able to get up to $8 million in FDIC insurance.
On the downside, Wealthfront has no physical branches, so you'll need to be comfortable with managing your money on your phone or computer. It also means that depositing cash into the account is complicated, so seniors looking for a more traditional bank account should look elsewhere.
- Charges $0 monthly service fees
- Offers a competitive APY rate on its Cash Account
- Provides an automated savings feature
- Doesn't have a minimum balance requirement
- Doesn't have physical branches
- Doesn't provide easy ways to deposit cash
Visit Wealthfront | Read our Wealthfront Cash Account review.
Chase
APY
- Chase Total Checking: Doesn't earn interest
- Chase Savings: 0.01% (as of 04/04/25)
Fees
- Chase Total Checking: $15; can be waived9 <p>$15 Monthly Service Fee OR $0 with one of the following, each monthly statement period: </p> <p>Electronic deposits made into this account totaling $500 or more, such as payments from payroll providers or government benefit providers, by using (i) the ACH network, (ii) the Real Time Payment network or FedNow(SM) network, or (iii) third party services that facilitate payments to your debit card using the Visa® or Mastercard® network,</p> <p> OR a balance at the beginning of each day of $1,500 or more in this account,</p> <p> OR an average beginning day balance of $5,000 or more in any combination of this account and linked qualifying Chase checking, savings, and other balances.</p>
- Chase Savings: $5; can be waived
Seniors who appreciate the ease of pulling out cash at an ATM or depositing a check at a local branch would benefit from banking with Chase. Chase offers more than 15,000 ATMs and 4,700 local branches. The company, which is the largest bank in the U.S., offers eight checking accounts, two savings accounts, and a range of CDs with varying terms (although its savings rates aren't competitive, on the whole).
We recommend the Chase Total Checking account if you want an everyday checking account with the convenience of visiting a local branch.
Unfortunately, the APY on Chase's checking and savings accounts is pretty terrible. The Chase Total Checking account earns no interest, while the Chase Savings account earns just 0.01% (as of 04/04/25). The accounts also come with monthly service fees unless you can meet certain criteria, such as specific minimum balances or monthly direct deposits. While there are plenty of bank branches for seniors to visit, keep in mind that monthly fees and low APYs are the tradeoff.
- Has thousands of branches to provide in-person service
- Offers a wide variety of financial products, including checking, savings, and CDs
- Provides overdraft protection for most accounts10 <p>With Chase Overdraft Assist℠, we won’t charge an Overdraft Fee if you’re overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the business day OR if you’re overdrawn by more than $50 and you bring your account balance to overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the next business day (you have until 11 PM ET (8 PM PT) to make a deposit or transfer). Chase Overdraft Assist does not require enrollment and comes with eligible Chase checking accounts.</p>
- Charges monthly service fees for all checking and savings accounts unless you meet specific requirements
- Provides little or no interest on deposits
Visit Chase | Read our Chase Bank review.
Capital One
APY
- Capital One 360 Checking: 0.10% (as of 09/15/25)
- Capital One 360 Performance Savings: 3.40% 5 <span>A rate of 3.40% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) applies to all account balances. Advertised rates are variable and effective as of 10/01/25. Rates are subject to change at any time before or after account opening.</span>
Fees
- Capital One 360 Checking: $0
- Capital One 360 Performance Savings: $0
Seniors looking for a stress-free banking experience should consider checking out Capital One. It offers the 360 Checking and 360 Performance Savings accounts, which have no monthly service fees and no minimums to open or maintain. Capital One's credit cards are some of the best around, and the company's CDs offer competitive rates, too.
Personally, I love that Capital One will let you open multiple savings accounts so you can organize your short-term savings goals; I have one for travel and another one for sinking funds for car repairs and the like.
The checking account gives you access to more than 70,000 fee-free ATM locations, which could help you save money if you need to hit the ATM. However, Capital One doesn't reimburse for fees incurred at other bank ATMs the way some banks do.
In my opinion, the savings account offers a decent rate, but if you want the absolute highest annual percentage yield, you'll need to keep looking.
- Charges $0 monthly service fees
- Offers decent APY on its Performance Savings account
- Provides access to more than 70,000 fee-free ATMs
- Doesn't have a minimum balance requirement
- Has fewer physical branches than some competitors
- APY rates lag behind some competitors
Visit Capital One | Read our Capital One 360 review.
CIT Bank
APY
- CIT eChecking: 0.25% (as of June 12, 2025) for balances above $25,000
- CIT Bank Platinum Savings: 3.85% on balances above $5,0007 <p>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-of-day account balance. APYs — Annual Percentage Yields are accurate as of Sep. 23 2025: 0.25% APY on balances of $0.01 to $4,999.99; 3.85% 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.</p>
Fees
- CIT eChecking: $0
- CIT Bank Platinum Savings: $0
I hate the idea of paying a bank for the privilege of holding my money, so I always recommend looking for ways to reduce or eliminate monthly service fees. CIT Bank offers both a checking and a savings account with no monthly service, overdraft, or online transfer fees. There is a minimum deposit requirement of $100 to open an account. The Platinum Savings account offers an excellent APY of up to 3.85%.7 <p>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-of-day account balance. APYs — Annual Percentage Yields are accurate as of Sep. 23 2025: 0.25% APY on balances of $0.01 to $4,999.99; 3.85% 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.</p>
CIT Bank offers a variety of other financial products, too, including CDs (but you'll find better CD rates elsewhere). The bank doesn't provide in-person customer service since it has no physical branches, so it won't be a good fit for seniors who prefer to bank face-to-face.
- Charges $0 monthly service fees
- Offers competitive APY rates on its Platinum Savings account
- Offers a wide variety of financial products
- Provides a full-featured mobile app
- Doesn't have physical branches
- Requires a $100 deposit to open an account
- Requires a balance of at least $5,000 to get the highest APY on its Platinum Savings account
Visit CIT Bank | Read our CIT Bank Savings Review.
Charles Schwab
APY
- Charles Schwab Investor Checking: 0.05% (as of 12/23/24)
- Charles Schwab Investor Savings: 0.15% (as of 04/04/25)
Fees
- Charles Schwab Investor Checking: $0
- Charles Schwab Investor Savings: $0
The Charles Schwab Investor Checking and Investor Savings accounts link to your Schwab brokerage account, making it easy to move money from one account to the other for trades and purchases. Plus, there's no minimum balance requirement or monthly service fees. You'll need to open (or already have) a Schwab brokerage account to get a Schwab checking account, but that's a plus in my opinion, since Schwab's investment options and brokerage accounts are so strong.
Seniors who are eager to travel the world can forget about foreign transaction fees when using the Schwab Bank Visa Platinum debit card associated with their Investor Checking account, plus unlimited ATM fee rebates worldwide, which can help cut costs when traveling.
You'll earn interest on your Schwab checking account funds, which not all banks offer. The APY is 0.05% (as of 12/23/24) on the Investor Checking. You'll also earn an APY of 0.15% (as of 04/04/25) on the Investor Savings account, which is pretty on par with the national average but is much lower than what you can get with an online high-yield savings account.
- Charges $0 monthly service fees
- Provides unlimited ATM fee rebates worldwide
- Offers a debit card with no foreign transaction fees
- Doesn't have a minimum balance requirement
- Requires you to open a Schwab brokerage account
- Offers low APY on checking and savings accounts
Learn more in our Charles Schwab review.
How to choose the best bank for seniors
Of course, you can't group all seniors together, but there are some factors that come into play when reaching a milestone age like 55 or 65. Answering the questions below can help inform your decision-making:
- What fees does it charge? Look at monthly service or maintenance fees and other possible costs, including overdraft fees, foreign transaction fees, and reimbursement for ATM fees. The less fees you pay, the better.
- Does the bank offer any special senior discounts or perks? Some banks may waive fees for people over a certain age.
- Are there local branches? If you need access to a safe deposit box or want in-person customer service, consider a bank with a significant physical presence where you live.
- Will you earn interest? Find out the APYs you'd earn on the checking and savings accounts you want to open and ensure the rates you get align with competitors' offerings.
- What other products does the bank offer? Make sure the bank offers the products you need, whether you want checking, savings, money market, or CD accounts. You should also consider investment options. Seniors looking for convenience may prioritize finding an institution that offers everything they are looking for in one place.
- Is there a minimum balance requirement? Some bank accounts may require you to maintain a minimum balance to avoid monthly service fees. While this fee can sometimes be avoided with direct deposit, not all seniors have that option if they no longer have a paycheck coming in.
- Is it FDIC-insured?: Make sure the bank has FDIC insurance to know that your money is safe up to insurance limits. Most reputable banks have this coverage.
Today's Top Financial Offers
Make your money work harder with top picks for savings, checking, investing, and more
Bank/Institution | APY | Bonus Offer | Open Account | Bonus Offer |
---|---|---|---|---|
2025 award winner
Best Checking and Savings Combo
|
||||
4.50
With $0 min. balance
%
APY
|
Limited-Time Offer: +0.70% boost to 4.50% APY on Savings for up to 6 months13 <p>Earn up to 4.50% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.80% APY as of 8/5/25) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking & Savings account with Eligible Direct Deposit by 1/31/26. 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> + up to $300 Bonus with direct deposit.14 <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 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 <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 3.80% 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 3.80% 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 1/24/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. 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> Terms apply. | |||
2025 award winner
Best for Customer Service
|
||||
3.50
With $0 min. balance15 <p>The Annual Percentage Yield (APY) as advertised is accurate as of July 23, 2025. Interest rate and APY are subject to change at any time without notice before and after a High Yield Savings Account is opened. </p>
%
APY
|
- | |||
4.10
With $1 min. balance16 <p>APY means Annual Percentage Yield. APY is accurate as of 09/30/25. Interest rate and APY may change after initial deposit depending on the terms of the specific product selected. Minimum opening deposit is $1.00.</p>
%
APY
|
Limited-Time Offer: Use code EASY to earn $75 for $10,000, $250 for $25,000, $500 for $50,000, or $1,000 for $100,000+ deposited17 <p>New customers only. Earn a cash bonus when you deposit and maintain funds with partner banks on the Raisin platform. Customers will receive $75 for depositing between $10,000 and $24,499, $250 for depositing between $25,000 and $49,999, $500 for depositing between $50,000 and $99,999, and $1,000 for depositing $100,000 or more. To qualify for the bonus, your first deposit must be initiated between August 1, 2025, and November 30, 2025, by 11:59 PM ET, and the promo code EASY must be entered at the time of sign-up. Only funds deposited within 14 days of the initial deposit date and maintained with partner banks on the Raisin platform for 90 days will be eligible for this bonus. Bonus cash will be deposited by Raisin into the customer’s linked external bank account within 30 days of meeting all qualifying terms. This offer is available to new customers only and may not be combined with any other bonus offers. Raisin reserves the right to modify or terminate this offer at any time.</p> |
FAQs
What's the difference between an online bank and a traditional bank?
An online-only bank operates entirely online, without physical branches. All account management activities must take place on your computer, tablet, or smartphone. A traditional bank typically has branches in multiple states nationwide. Examples are national banks like Chase, Citi, and Wells Fargo, as well as the smaller local banks that may be in your area.
What is the best bank for senior citizens?
If you're a senior, the best bank for you will depend on what's most important to you, as well as your financial situation. U.S. Bank, Chase, and Capital One offer local branches for in-person banking. Meanwhile, Wealthfront, CIT Bank, and Capital One offer competitive rates on some of their accounts.
Compare several banks based on their monthly service fees, APY rates, ATM withdrawal access, fees for money orders, and other factors to find the best bank for you.
What banks have free checking accounts with no minimum balance?
You'll find plenty of banks that offer free checking accounts with $0 monthly service fees and no minimum balance requirements. Capital One and Charles Schwab are two banks with these features. Other banks may waive the monthly service fee or require no minimum balance as long as you can meet other criteria, such as having sufficient direct deposits each month.
Banks that didn't make our list
While we think the list above provides plenty of excellent options for seniors, there are some accounts that might be a better fit for you, depending on your goals.
- Axos Golden Checking: The Golden Checking account is Axos' product designed especially for people 55 and older, with no maintenance fees and free checks included. While we think those are great perks, the account's 0.10% (as of 10/02/25) APY is lower than other options on our list. Read our Axos Bank review.
- Discover Bank: Discover offers great options for checking, savings, credit cards, and personal loans, including a checking account that offers cash back and an online savings account with a 3.40% APY. However, Discover's banking options are online, so they're not a good fit for seniors who prefer in-person service. Read our Discover review.