Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

This device is too small

If you're on a Galaxy Fold, consider unfolding your phone or viewing it in full screen to best optimize your experience.

Skip to main content
Advertiser Disclosure Many of the offers that appear on this site are from companies from which The Motley Fool receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear) and may influence which products we write about, but our product ratings are not influenced by compensation. We do not include all companies or offers available in the marketplace.
    |    Accessibility Options

An Honest Capital One Review: Pros, Cons, and Everything You Need to Know

Review Updated
Brooklyn Sprunger
Author: Brooklyn Sprunger
Brooklyn Sprunger
Brooklyn Sprunger

Brooklyn leads the content team behind product reviews and ratings at Motley Fool Money, ensuring readers get well-researched, expert-backed insights to make smarter financial decisions. With nearly seven years working full-time in financial content -- four of them at The Motley Fool -- she has developed a deep passion for personal finance, from investing strategies to everyday money management. Her financial goals include buying a house and planning as many trips as her budget allows. In her free time, you’ll likely find her listening to a pop culture podcast or telling anyone who will listen to get a high-yield savings account.

See Full Bio

| 1 other [ + ]
Nathan Alderman
Fact Checked: Nathan Alderman
Nathan Alderman
Nathan Alderman
Fact checker

Nathan Alderman has been a full-time Motley Fool employee since 2005, making errors his arch-enemies in a variety of roles including a six-year stint as the dedicated fact-checker for The Motley Fool's premium newsletter services. As Motley Fool Money's Compliance Lead, he makes sure that all the site's information is accurate and up to date, which ensures we always steer readers right and keeps various financial partners happy. A graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Nathan spends his spare time volunteering for civic causes, writing and podcasting for fun, adoring his wife, and wrangling his two very large young children.

See Full Bio

Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures that our product ratings are not influenced by compensation. APY = Annual Percentage Yield.
Offer image for
Member FDIC.

Capital One

Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Bottom Line

Capital One Bank offers all the key features you'd expect from an online bank. These include high APYs, no maintenance fees, and no minimum deposit requirements. It also offers some you wouldn't expect. The bank has a reputation for great customer service, and its teen bank accounts are top notch.

Pros
  • High APYs
  • In-person locations
  • Competitive accounts for minors
  • Solid customer service
Cons
  • Some CD rates are low
  • Few branch locations

Our methodology for scoring banks and credit unions revolves around evaluating key aspects such as annual percentage yield (APY), brand reputation, fees and minimum requirements, and additional perks.

These criteria are weighted differently across various account types, ensuring a comprehensive assessment that reflects the competitive landscape and economic conditions.

We strictly feature products that offer federal insurance and high customer satisfaction, keeping our recommendations unbiased by advertiser influence. This robust evaluation process helps us generate balanced, reliable best-of lists that guide consumers to top financial products.

Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates bank accounts.

Our methodology for scoring banks and credit unions revolves around evaluating key aspects such as annual percentage yield (APY), brand reputation, fees and minimum requirements, and additional perks.

These criteria are weighted differently across various account types, ensuring a comprehensive assessment that reflects the competitive landscape and economic conditions.

We strictly feature products that offer federal insurance and high customer satisfaction, keeping our recommendations unbiased by advertiser influence. This robust evaluation process helps us generate balanced, reliable best-of lists that guide consumers to top financial products.

Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates bank accounts.

Capital One products

Capital One 360 Performance Savings

Capital One 360 Performance Savings
Open Account for Capital One 360 Performance Savings

On Capital One's Secure Website.

Member FDIC.

Ratings Methodology
Rates as of Apr 05, 2025
Award Icon 2025 Award Winner

Capital One 360 Performance Savings

Open Account for Capital One 360 Performance Savings

On Capital One's Secure Website.

Member FDIC.
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Open Account for Capital One 360 Performance Savings

On Capital One's Secure Website.

APY
3.70% Rate info Circle with letter I in it. See Capital One website for most up-to-date rates. Advertised Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is variable and accurate as of Feb. 6, 2025. Rates are subject to change at any time before or after account opening.
Min. To Earn APY
$0
  • Competitive APY
  • Branch access
  • No account fees
  • Comfort of a well-known brand and reputation
  • 24/7 customer support
  • No ATM access

Capital One 360 Performance Savings checks all the boxes we look for in a high-yield savings account. It even offers branch locations and Capital One Cafes where customers can seek in-person support (if you live near one). This makes it a great fit when you want to reap the rewards of online banking but aren't quite ready to cut ties with brick-and-mortar banks.

Read Full Review

Capital One 360 Checking

Capital One 360 Performance Savings
Open Account for Capital One 360 Performance Savings

On Capital One's Secure Website.

Member FDIC.

Ratings Methodology
Rates as of Apr 05, 2025

Capital One 360 Checking

Read Review
Member FDIC.
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Read Review
APY
0.10%
Min. To Earn APY
$0
  • Branches and Capital One Cafes in some states
  • Variety of accounts
  • Robust digital platform and app
  • Great customer service
  • Higher APY available at other financial institutions

Capital One boasts a top-rated mobile app and has over 70,000 fee-free Capital One, MoneyPass, and Allpoint ATM locations. For those looking for face-to-face interaction, Capital One has over 450 locations and 50 Capital One Cafes, where customers can bank, get a cup of coffee, and ask for advice from a certified money coach. However the APY is lower than other online banks.

Capital One 360 CDs

Rates as of March 6, 2025

APY = Annual Percentage Yield

Offer image for Capital One 360 CD
Capital One 360 CD
Bottom Line

Backed by Capital One's well-known brand, the Capital One 360 CDs offer competitive rates across many common terms, though they're stronger in durations of a year or longer. There's no minimum deposit, so savers can benefit even if they don't have a large sum to deposit. Check Capital One's website for the most up-to-date rates.

MINIMUM DEPOSIT $0
Read Review
6 Mo. APY 9 Mo. APY 1 Yr. APY 1.5 Yr. APY 2 Yr. APY 30 Mo. APY 3 Yr. APY 4 Yr. APY 5 Yr. APY
3.80% 3.80% 4.00% 3.70% 3.50% 3.50% 3.50% 3.50% 3.50%

Digital experience

Mobile app

Capital One has some of the highest mobile app ratings I've seen. It lets you handle everyday banking, track your credit score, and send payments via Zelle, all with an intuitive interface.

  • App Store rating: 4.9 / 5.0 stars
  • Google Play rating: 4.5 / 5.0 stars

AI and chatbots

Here's where Capital One gets a little techy. Its AI assistant, Eno, is a 24/7 chatbot that helps with things like balance inquiries, payments, and account alerts. It's decent for quick, straightforward questions, like checking your due date or spotting an unusual transaction.

If you need real financial advice, Eno probably won't cut it. Think of it as a helpful shortcut rather than a full customer service replacement.

Fees and costs

One of Capital One's biggest selling points? No fees. No maintenance fees, no overdraft fees, and no ATM fees at more than 70,000 in-network ATMs. The only exception? A $30 outgoing domestic wire transfer fee, which is standard across most banks.

Fee Charge
Overdraft fees None
Monthly maintenance fees None
ATM fees None at 70,000+ in-network ATMs
Wire transfers $30 outgoing domestic
Data source: Capital One.

Customer experience and reviews

Customer service availability

Customer service is available daily from 8 a.m. - 11 p.m. ET at 800-655-2265. You can also visit a Capital One branch or Capital One Cafe for in-person support if there's one nearby. But as a hybrid bank (with some physical locations, but not as many as a traditional bank), its availability doesn't quite match the convenience of fully in-person or fully online banks. 24/7 service is the gold standard.

Physical locations

Capital One operates more than 250 traditional branches nationwide. But its real innovation is Capital One Cafes -- 55 hybrid banking spaces that double as coffee shops. The idea? A low-pressure, community-driven approach where anyone (customer or not) can grab a coffee, use free wifi, and get financial assistance if they need it. If you're the type who dreads the usual bank experience, this setup feels refreshingly casual.

I recently came across one in Boulder, Colorado.

A Capital One Cafe location in Boulder, Colorado.

What customers say

For a bank, Capital One gets pretty strong customer reviews -- especially considering most people only leave feedback when they're mad. Customers love the mobile app and fee-free structure, though some wish Capital One Cafes offered more full-service banking options beyond just deposits and account assistance.

Security

The perks of banking at a bank as large and full-service as Capital One is a really reliable security system. In fact, we named it one of the Safest Banks in the U.S.

It's FDIC insured, meaning your money is safe up to $250,000 per depositor, per account ownership category. It also has real-time fraud alerts and debit card protection.

Capital One in the news

Capital One has made the news twice in the last few months for things that are worth noting if you're considering opening an account.

Capital One vs. Consumer Protection Bureau

In January 2025, the CFPB sued Capital One, alleging the bank misled customers about differences between its 360 Savings and 360 Performance Savings accounts -- reportedly costing them billions in lost interest. However, the lawsuit was dropped in February 2025.

Capital One acquires Discover

In February 2024, Capital One announced plans to acquire Discover, a move approved by shareholders in February 2025. It's unclear how this will impact customers, but potential changes include Capital One debit cards shifting to the Discover network and Discover banking customers gaining access to Capital One branches.

How Capital One compares

Capital One vs. Bank of America

Capital One is best for digital-first banking with no fees and high savings rates, while Bank of America offers a broad range of financial products and a large branch network. Capital One's savings accounts and CDs have significantly higher APYs, and it charges no monthly fees, unlike Bank of America, which requires balance requirements to waive them.

Bank of America excels in in-person banking with thousands of branches, while Capital One prioritizes a strong mobile experience with AI tools like Eno. If you want a traditional, full-service bank, Bank of America is a solid choice. But if you prefer fee-free banking with strong digital tools and higher savings rates, Capital One is the better option.

Capital One vs. Chase Bank

Capital One is ideal for fee-free banking and competitive savings rates, while Chase is better for branch access and premium credit cards. Chase requires minimum balances to avoid monthly fees, whereas Capital One charges none.

Chase's biggest advantage is its 4,700-plus branches and industry-leading credit card rewards, but its savings rates are much lower than Capital One's. If you value in-person banking and travel rewards, Chase is a strong pick. If you prefer a digital-first experience with better savings opportunities, Capital One wins.

Who Capital One is best for

Capital One is a great option for folks interested in hybrid banking. You get the convenience of a highly rated mobile app for everyday banking, plus the option to visit a branch or Capital One Cafe when you need in-person support. If you want a bank that blends digital ease with real-world access -- without the fees -- Capital One is worth considering. Explore your options and see if it's the right fit for you.

FAQs

  • No, Capital One 360 Checking and Capital One 360 Performance Savings accounts have no monthly maintenance fees, making them a great option for fee-free banking.

  • Yes, Capital One is known for its user-friendly online and mobile banking experience, offering features like mobile check deposit, bill pay, and seamless money transfers.

  • While Capital One operates mostly online, it does have a limited number of branches and Capital One Cafes in select cities, where customers can get in-person support.