The Motley Fool Money's 2025 Bank and Bank Account Awards
Our best picks for savings, checking, money market, and more
To determine the Best Bank and Bank Accounts awards for 2025, The Motley Fool Money's experts evaluated accounts focusing on industry factors and user benefits, including:
- Competitive APYs and rewards
- Account minimums and fees
- Brand reputation and customer satisfaction
- Features like ATM access, linked accounts, and branch access
Best Online Savings Account
Capital One 360 Performance Savings
Capital One 360 Performance Savings is an excellent choice for anyone seeking high APYs and low fees in an online bank -- while still enjoying the personalized support of physical branches. With a highly rated mobile app and Capital One, it’s ideal for the hybrid banker who values flexibility in managing their finances.
Best High-Yield Savings Account
LendingClub LevelUp Savings
LendingClub LevelUp Savings features an impressive APY that rewards you for making monthly deposits. With zero account fees, it offers a straightforward and cost-effective way to grow your savings. Plus, you’ll receive an ATM card for easy access to your funds at thousands of ATMs nationwide. Best of all, you can start your savings journey with just $1.
Best Checking Account
Quontic High Interest Checking
Quontic High Interest Checking offers one of the highest APYs available. While you need to make 10 qualifying debit card purchases of $10 or more each statement cycle to unlock the top interest rate, this account is still an excellent way to maximize your savings compared to traditional checking options. Additionally, it features no monthly fees and provides access to fee-free ATMs, making it a smart and cost-effective choice for managing your money.
10 debit card point of sale transactions of $10 or more per statement cycle required to earn the maximum APY. If the qualifying activity requirement is not fulfilled, the interest rate paid on the entire balance will be 0.01% APY.
Best Checking Account for ATMs
Schwab Bank Investor Checking™
Available for free to Charles Schwab Bank brokerage customers, Schwab Bank Investor Checking™ offers unlimited domestic and international ATM reimbursements. Charles Schwab Bank also doesn't charge a foreign transaction fee (which can be 1% to 3% of the transaction cost). In addition, there is no minimum deposit requirement and no minimum balance requirements.
Best Money Market Account
Ally Money Market Account
Ally's banking approach carries over to its money market account with a high APY and a focus on cutting routine account fees to $0, including monthly maintenance. What's more, there are no minimum balance requirements.
Best CD Account
Synchrony Bank
Synchrony Bank provides some of the best online CD rates and is an excellent choice for beginner savers. With no minimum deposit required to open an account, you also benefit from the flexibility to withdraw interest earnings penalty-free before maturity.
Best Bank for CD Laddering
Discover® Bank
With unique term lengths ranging from as short as three months to as long as 10 years, Discover® Bank is an excellent choice for CD laddering, allowing you to maximize your returns and maintain liquidity. And Discover® Bank dropped its minimum account balance for CDs to $0.
Best Bank for Branch Access
Chase
Discover® Bank offers one of the largest branch networks in the nation, without neglecting the online experience, offering simple online and mobile tools to manage your funds. If you have one account with Discover® Bank, there's a good incentive to open up one or two more, with the bank's relationship benefits. What's more, the bank shines with its overall customer service.
Best Bank App
Discover® Cashback Debit
The Discover® Bank mobile app consistently receives some of the highest customer ratings in app stores. You can view your account activity and make payments, but the standout feature here is Discover® Bank's Spend Analyzer, which can help with budgeting and savings goals.
Best Bank Account for Students
PNC Virtual Wallet Student
The PNC Virtual Wallet Student account combines two checking accounts and a savings account into one comprehensive banking solution designed specifically for students. With no monthly fees, no minimum balance requirements, and easy access to your funds, it’s the perfect option for students looking to establish a strong banking relationship.
Best Bank for Veterans
Navy Federal Credit Union
Navy Federal Credit Union offers competitive rates on CDs for military members and their families, and ensures more money stays in your pocket by minimizing fees on all its accounts. Rates on checking and savings accounts aren't quite as high. But the other perks of Navy Federal Credit Union membership, including discounts on popular products and great customer service, could make up for this.
Best Digital-Only Bank
SoFi Checking and Savings
SoFi® offers a dual banking approach by pairing its checking and savings accounts, which both earn competitive rates. Along with scoring high APYs, customers gain access to several relationship benefits as SoFi® members, like earning rewards redeemable for cash, fractional investment shares, statement credits, and loan payments. With no account fees or minimum balance requirement, SoFi® is a great option for individuals looking for both a checking and savings account.
SoFi disclosure:
¹ 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 Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 1/31/2026. Full terms at sofi.com/banking. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.
SoFi members with Direct Deposit can earn 4.00% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 4.00% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Direct Deposit will earn 1.20% 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 12/3/2024. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
² SoFi members with Direct Deposit or $5,000 or more in Qualifying Deposits during the 30-Day Evaluation Period can earn 4.00% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. Members without either Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits, during the 30-Day Evaluation Period will earn 1.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Only SoFi members with direct deposit are eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 12/3/24. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
³ 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 Checking & Savings Fee Sheet for details at sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/.
⁴ SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance 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 $2M through participation in the program. See full terms at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/terms
See list of participating banks at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/receivingbanks
⁵ 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 incurred when using out-of-network ATMs are not subject to reimbursement. SoFi’s ATM policies are subject to change at our discretion at any time.
⁶ 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.
⁷ Overdraft Coverage is limited to $50 on debit card purchases only and is an account benefit available to customers with direct deposits of $1,000 or more during the current 30-day Evaluation Period as determined by SoFi Bank, N.A. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the“30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Members with a prior history of non-repayment of negative balances are ineligible for Overdraft Coverage.
Best Customer Loyalty Program
Bank of America
Bank of America's Preferred Rewards program offers top-notch perks to many of the financial products that Bank of America offers like credit card rewards and lower loan fees. However, there is a minimum balance requirement in order to become eligible, and there are five tiers in the program with their own qualifying balances.
Best Budgeting App for Couples and Families
Monarch Money
Monarch Money is the ideal budgeting app for couples and families, providing a centralized platform to sync all your financial data in one place. With a monthly or annual subscription, you can link all your financial accounts, making it easy to manage shared expenses and savings goals. The app also allows you to track your net worth and monitor progress toward important milestones, such as building an emergency fund or saving for a family vacation.
Best Budgeting App for Bill Negotiation and Subscription Management
Rocket Money
Rocket Money is a great solution for bill negotiation and subscription management, simplifying the task of overseeing multiple bank and credit card accounts. This user-friendly platform consolidates all your accounts, allowing you to easily check balances, view upcoming expenses, and create customized budgets with just a few clicks. Plus, it helps you identify and negotiate bills, ensuring you get the best deals and manage your subscriptions effectively.