Best Brick and Mortar Banks [2024]: Can They Compete with Online Banks?

Online banks have become increasingly popular over the past decade as people appreciate perks like higher interest rates and lower fees. However, if you appreciate the ability to visit a local branch in person, then you may still want to work with a brick-and-mortar bank.

You may be surprised to learn that some of the top brick-and-mortar banks can still compete with online banks in several ways, including some with high savings rates and low fees.

There aren’t as many large brick-and-mortar banks to choose from as there are, say, online banks and credit unions, but you still have plenty of options. We’ll walk you through our six recommendations to help you find the right bank for you.

Featured checking accounts

How we evaluate products

When identifying the best brick-and-mortar banks, we started by making a list of banks on the market, especially national banks. From there, we analyzed each individual bank for factors like account fees and minimums, APYs on savings accounts, number of branches and ATMs, and more.

Our goal was to feature characteristics that are important to consumers, like low (or no fees), above-average savings rates, and excellent customer service. At the same time, we wanted to weed out those banks that had less-than-favorable terms, such as high account fees and minimums or a high number of customer complaints.

The six best brick-and-mortar banks

• Chase
• U.S. Bank
• Citi
• Capital One
• PNC Bank
• TD Bank

Best brick-and-mortar banks comparison

Bank	Best for	# of branch locations	Maximum APY	Monthly maintenance fees
Chase	Nationwide banking	4,700+	0.01% (as of 06/27/24) on savings	Starting at $4.95 for checking and $25 for savings, waived if you meet the criteria2
U.S. Bank3	Midwest and Western states	2,000+	0.01% (as of 07/01/24) on savings4	Starting at $4.95 for checking and $5 for savings, waived if you meet the criteria5
Citi	Large ATM network	650+	4.00% (as of 11/14/24) on savings6	Starting at $5 for checking and $4.50 for savings, waived if you meet the criteria7
Capital One	Fee-free banking	450+	4.00% (as of 10/28/24) on savings 0.10% (as of 10/28/24) on checking	None
PNC Bank	Savings APY	2,200+	4.15% (as of 11/14/24) on savings (relationship rate)	Starting at $7 for checking and $5 for savings, waived if you meet the criteria
TD Bank	Customer service	1,100+	Up to 4.00% (as of 07/01/24) on Signature Savings	Starting at $4.95 for checking and $5 for savings, waived if you meet the criteria

Chase

Chase is the largest bank in the country in terms of deposits, and it also happens to have more branches than nearly any other bank. With thousands of branches nationwide, you can probably find one near you (unless you live in Alaska or Hawaii).

Unlike the second and third largest banks in the U.S., Bank of America and Wells Fargo, Chase doesn’t have minimum deposits on its checking and savings accounts. Even though minimum deposits aren’t particularly high, they do still create an added roadblock to opening an account. Its checking and savings accounts do have monthly fees — starting at $4.95 and $25, respectively — but they can be waived when you meet certain balance requirements.

It’s worth noting that Chase’s savings rates are quite low, so this wouldn’t be the ideal bank to keep any significant savings.

Although Chase does charge overdraft fees, its Overdraft Assist program can help you avoid the $34 charge if your account is overdrawn by $50 or less and if you bring your account balance to overdrawn by $50 or less by the end of the next business day.⁸

Chase is a Member FDIC.

Visit Chase Total Checking® | Read our Chase review

U.S. Bank

U.S. Bank has 2,000 branches in the U.S., spread across 27 states in the Midwest and West. U.S. Bank stands out from many other big banks by offering generous savings rates. With its Bank Smartly Savings Account, you can earn 0.01% (as of 07/01/24) APY if you also have a Bank Smartly Checking or Safe Debit account with at least $25,000 in combined deposits. That’s a pretty high threshold for the maximum APY, so it's definitely worth considering if you’ll be keeping that much in your account. Otherwise, it may not be worth it. The bank also has decent CD and money market rates (though only for specific terms for the CDs).

U.S. Bank has both minimum deposits and fees on its checking and savings accounts. However, the minimums are only $25, and the fees can be waived on both accounts.

U.S. Bank has some overdraft protection. If you’re overdrawing $50 or less, your overdraft fee will be waived if you’ve linked an eligible account. For larger overdrafts, you can have your fee waived if you make a qualifying deposit before 11 p.m. on the day you’re charged the fee.

U.S. Bank is FDIC-insured.

Visit U.S. Bank Smartly®️ Checking | Read our U.S. Bank Smartly Checking review

Citi

Citi offers a wide range of products and an extensive network of ATMs nationwide. It has fewer physical branches than other banks, with only around 600 in the U.S.

Unlike many brick-and-mortar banks, the Citi® Accelerate Savings account offers a 4.00% (as of 11/14/24) annual percentage yield (APY) and decent rates on its CDs. The monthly savings fee of $4.50 is waived if you maintain a monthly balance of at least $500. It has two checking accounts: Access Checking, which does not support check writing, and Regular Checking, which does.

Both accounts have no overdraft or returned item fees (though it will likely decline transactions once you’ve zeroed out your balance). And although Citi charges account maintenance fees, they can be waived if you keep a minimum balance.

Citi is FDIC-insured.

Visit Citibank

Capital One

Capital One stands out from the other banks on this list because, though it still has physical locations in some areas, it’s primarily an online bank (and even tops our list of the best online banks). This is important because it means the bank has all of the same perks you’d expect of any other online bank, including no minimum deposits, no account fees (including maintenance and overdraft fees), and high savings APYs.

Capital One offers 4.00% (as of 10/28/24) APY on its savings account, 0.10% (as of 10/28/24) on its checking account, and 3.50%-4.50% (as of 10/28/24) on its CDs. It’s the only brick-and-mortar bank I found that offers interest on the money in your checking account.

If physical branches are important to you, Capital One may not be the right choice. Its physical branches are primarily in New York and New Jersey. However, it does have a network of more than 70,000 fee-free ATMs.

Capital One is FDIC-insured.

Visit Capital One | Read our Capital One review

PNC Bank

PNC Bank is only available in 29 states in the U.S., but its account offerings and sign-up bonuses can make it a solid choice for people who live near a branch. PNC offers multiple account options, including business, student, and military banking, and its checking account is provided through Virtual Wallet.

This high-yield savings account, which pays 4.15% (as of 11/14/24) APY and has no minimum deposits or account fees, is only available in certain markets and at certain PNC locations. Unfortunately, the rates on its other savings are quite low — you likely wouldn’t want to keep your savings in one of those accounts.

PNC’s Virtual Wallet, which is where its checking accounts are, comes in three different tiers with different perks and fees, starting at $7 per month (though it can be waived). I also appreciate that PNC offers its Foundation Checking account, which has a lower monthly fee and is accessible for people who may not qualify for a traditional checking account. If you’ve been denied checking accounts elsewhere, this one could be a good option.

PNC Bank is FDIC-insured.

Visit PNC Bank

TD Bank

TD Bank is available to people on the East Coast and has standard checking and savings accounts, CDs, credit and debit cards, loans, and individual retirement accounts. If you live or work near a local branch, you can find robust banking features and slightly higher interest rates than some competitor brick-and-mortar banks.

One characteristic I really like about TD Bank is its focus on customer service. It’s the only bank I looked at with 24/7 customer service. You can also call from its app to reduce wait times, chat with its virtual assistant, or even send a DM with Facebook Messenger.

TD Bank advertises a high maximum APY, but most people won’t be eligible. You'll need a balance of at least $100,000 to earn the maximum 4.00% (as of 07/01/24) APY. However, it does have impressive APYs on some of its CD terms.

TD Bank is FDIC-insured.

Visit TD Bank

How to choose the best brick-and-mortar banks

Finding the right bank for you can take time, but it’s worth it in the long run. If you’re looking for a new brick-and-mortar bank, consider the following before you open an account.

• Find the right account: Many banks offer similar features, but each puts its own spin on it. Some banks offer higher interest rates, while others may offer cash back or other perks for signing up for an account. Some account features that used to be standard, like writing checks, may no longer be supported at all banks, so make a list of the features you need and search for a bank that offers them.
• Look for low or no fees: Look for banks that either don’t charge monthly maintenance fees or will easily waive them for maintaining a small balance or setting up a direct deposit. Pay attention to other fees the bank may charge, like overdraft, ATM, or stop payment fees, since these can be higher than at online banks.
• Convenience: If you use a brick-and-mortar bank, it should be conveniently located by your home, office, or other places where you spend a lot of time. While mobile banking has made handling your finances more convenient, you’ll still want to pick a bank with multiple branches and a strong network of ATMs.
• Find the best interest rate: Finding a brick-and-mortar bank that competes with the rates at the best online banks may take more work, but you can do it. Pay attention to the different amounts offered on various checking and savings accounts and what you need to do to earn the highest rates (like maintaining a certain savings balance or having multiple accounts with the bank).
• Look for sign-up bonuses: Banks often offer a sign-up bonus to entice you to open a new account with them or maintain a certain balance. Look out for high account fees that might negate the sign-up bonus or create multiple hoops you must jump through to get the fee waived.

FAQs

Banks that didn’t make our list

When I was putting together this list, there were two notable banks I chose to leave off. Bank of America and Wells Fargo, the second and third largest banks in the country, are among the most popular brick-and-mortar banks. But other than being easily accessible, I felt they were both lacking other benefits. Both banks have minimum deposits on their accounts, monthly account fees, and low savings APYs. I wouldn’t recommend them to anyone over the six banks I did include on this list.

Bottom line

While online banks may earn better interest rates or have fewer fees, some brick-and-mortar banks can still be beneficial. Before you select a bank, whether brick and mortar or online, read the fine print, understand any account fees or minimum balance requirements, and search for a bank that fits your lifestyle.

If you want to see how some of these banks stack up to popular online banks, see our comprehensive list of the best overall banks.