Chase Bank vs. Bank of America [2024]: Which One Should You Choose?

Chase Bank and Bank of America are strong contenders in the banking world. As the two biggest banks in the United States, they both offer simplified banking and a number of benefits. However, Chase Bank edges out Bank of America in nearly every category, from the number of ATMs to variety of account types.

With that said, I personally have used Bank of America for my everyday banking needs since I was a teenager, and I have few complaints. I appreciate that it offers in-person banking as well as a simple mobile app (although Chase does too), and I have been able to avoid fees by keeping a certain balance in my checking account.

At the end of the day, you can’t go wrong choosing either one of these banks. Chase Bank may be a better option if you are a young adult just getting started or a parent trying to introduce your kids to good personal finance habits. If you already have an account with Bank of America, sticking with it will allow you to make the most of its rewards program.

Chase Bank vs. Bank of America comparison

	Chase Bank	Bank of America
Year Founded	1877	1904
Number of branches	Over 4,700	Thousands of financial centers
Number of fee-free ATMs	Around 16,000	Thousands of ATMs
Checking accounts	Chase Total Checking Chase Secure Banking Chase Premier Plus Checking Chase First Banking Chase High School Checking Chase College Checking Chase Sapphire Banking Chase Private Client Checking℠	Bank of America Advantage SafeBalance Banking® Bank of America Advantage Plus Banking® Bank of America Advantage Relationship Banking®
Savings accounts	Chase Savings Chase Premier Savings	Advantage Savings
CDs	CDs ranging from one to 120 months	Featured CD Fixed Term CD Flexible CD
FDIC	Member FDIC	Member FDIC
	Visit Chase	Visit Bank of America

Chase Bank vs. Bank of America: What both companies excel at

Variety of account options

Both banks offer multiple checking, savings, and CD options. Chase organizes its accounts by customer type, with multiple options for students, everyday users, and investors. Bank of America also offers a variety of account options with a focus on different customer types such as students, current Bank of America members, and average users. However, the number of different Chase accounts for kids and teens stands out to me as compared to Bank of America’s options.

Autosave features

Both banks reward your business by offering savings features when you have a linked checking or savings account with the bank. Chase’s checking accounts allow you to set up recurring saving goals when you have a linked Chase savings account.

Bank of America allows you to round up your debit card purchases if you have both a savings and checking account. You can transfer the difference to your savings account automatically.

Fee waivers

While both banks charge monthly fees for nearly all of their accounts, if you meet certain requirements, these fees may be waived. For example, most student accounts for both Chase and Bank of America have waived fees. Additionally, if you meet certain minimum balance requirements, your fees get waived. This is how I avoid fees at Bank of America.

Student accounts

Not all banks are built with younger customers in mind, so it’s refreshing to see that both Bank of America and Chase have multiple options for kids, teens, and college students.

Bank of America offers checking accounts with no fees (as long as you’re under 25) and no overdraft fees. Students can also qualify for Bank of America’s Advantage Savings, which also has a waived fee and includes cashback rewards and personalized financial planning through the Bank of America Life Plan.

Chase offers more options than Bank of America when it comes to accounts for younger account holders. There are parent-connected accounts for kids between ages six and 12, high school students, and college students. None of these accounts come with fees, and most of them give you online banking access, autosave features, and quick mobile deposits.

Chase Bank vs. Bank of America: checking accounts

Chase and Bank of America have numerous checking accounts, each meant for a different type of customer. While nearly every one of these accounts at both banks requires a monthly fee, each holds different features that make these fees worthwhile — or easy to avoid.

Chase Bank checking accounts:	Bank of America checking accounts:
Chase’s accounts come with monthly service fees, some of which can be waived if you meet certain requirements23 Some accounts come with overdraft protection4 No minimum deposit requirements Some accounts earn interest Kids, high school, and college checking accounts available	Accounts have maintenance fees that can be waived if you meet certain requirements Overdraft protection available on certain accounts Most accounts require a minimum opening deposit of $25-$100 Some accounts earn a small amount of interest Accounts for students

Chase Bank vs. Bank of America: savings accounts

While you won’t earn much in the way of interest with either company’s savings account, Chase and Bank of America have different advantages within their savings accounts. Chase specializes in keeping minimum deposits low, while Bank of America prioritizes higher interest rates for Preferred Rewards members.

Chase Bank savings accounts:	Bank of America savings accounts:
Most savings accounts have monthly fees, and some can be waived under certain conditions Autosave features available on all accounts No minimum initial deposit Low interest rate of 0.01% (as of 06/27/24) APY for basic Chase savings account	Have monthly fees that can be waived Offers round-ups through its Keep the Change program that can add to savings Preferred Rewards members earn better rates and rewards $100 minimum deposit needed to open an account Low interest rate of 0.01% (as of 10/28/24) APY

High-yield savings accounts offer significantly more interest. Many of these are offered by online banks and credit unions. Here are some recommendations for high-yield savings accounts that don’t require a minimum balance.

Chase Bank vs. Bank of America: CDs

Both Chase and Bank of America offer various CD types and terms. Each has the same minimum deposit requirements, but Chase offers the highest annual percentage yield (APY) to customers with a qualifying checking account.

Chase Bank CDs:	Bank of America CDs:
CD terms range from 1 month to 10 years $1,000 minimum required to open any CD Best rates come from having a linked Chase checking account	CD terms range from 28 days to 10 years $1,000 minimum required to open a Bank of America CD

3 important differences between Chase Bank and Bank of America

1. Minimum deposit requirements

Both Bank of America and Chase have minimum deposits for their CDs, each requiring $1,000 to get the ball rolling, which is not uncommon for CD accounts. But Bank of America requires an initial deposit for most of its checking and savings accounts, while Chase doesn’t.

Bank of America requires $100 for some of its checking accounts and savings accounts. Chase, on the other hand, has no minimum requirement for any of its accounts. This reason alone might be enough to push me toward Chase if I was setting up my accounts for the first time.

Winner: Chase, as it has no minimum requirements.

2. Loyalty perks

Chase offers rewards specifically through its CDs. You may qualify for a higher interest rate if you have a Chase checking account.

Bank of America, on the other hand, has a loyalty program that offers credit card rewards, discounted rates on loan products, and no fees on certain accounts. You do have to maintain a high balance across all accounts to access these perks. The lowest Preferred Rewards tier starts with a $20,000 balance, while the highest requires over $1 million.

Winner: Bank of America, thanks to its Preferred Rewards program that offers rewards like a $200 reduction in origination fees for mortgages and up to 0.25% off your auto loan rate, even at its lowest tier.

3. Cash back

Chase sometimes offers bonuses for opening certain accounts. Bank of America goes a little further in its cashback offerings.

If you use the mobile app, you can see all of the cash back deals you’re eligible for. Every time I log on, there is a wide variety of rewards available, offering between 1% and 20% cash back at popular retailers. For example, I’ve saved offers to earn 5% cash back at Sephora, 10% back at Safelite, and even 20% back for travel booked through Expedia.

You can use eligible Bank of America credit cards or debit cards to earn rewards.

Winner: Bank of America since its offerings are more diverse.

Which company should you choose?

When you should choose Chase Bank

Chase is a strong choice for the following types of customers:

• Younger consumers looking for fee-free accounts they can later upgrade.
• Customers who want many CD options.
• Those who don’t want a minimum opening deposit.

When you should choose Bank of America

While Chase wins in many regards, Bank of America is still a solid contender for many individuals. These types of people will benefit most from an account:

• Current Bank of America credit card customers who can earn a 25% bonus on their rewards.
• Customers looking to earn cash back at select types of retailers.

What factors to consider before choosing

Chase works well for younger consumers who can take advantage of the few fees and easy-to-use mobile and desktop options. If I was setting up my first checking or savings account, I would definitely consider a Chase account. This said, Chase offers many different accounts across the board, so most customers can likely find an account that works for them.

Bank of America also offers a variety of accounts but really works best for Bank of America loyalists. If, like me, you have other Bank of America accounts or credit cards, you’ll reap the most rewards through Bank of America’s Preferred Rewards program.

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