NBKC Bank Review: An Affordable Choice for All-in-One Banking
Review
Updated
If you're on a Galaxy Fold, consider unfolding your phone or viewing it in full screen to best optimize your experience.
NBKC Bank strives to put customers first with its emphasis on few fees and great customer support. It doesn't have as many checking and savings account options as some of its competitors, but the ones it offers are pretty competitive and come with rare perks, like out-of-network ATM fee reimbursement.
Read our full NBKC Bank review to learn more about everything it has to offer.
NBKC Bank offers competitive accounts backed by great customer service. While its APYs aren't the highest in the industry, they're well above the national average. And the lack of minimum balance requirements on most accounts means they're open to just about everyone.
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.
NBKC Bank could be a good fit for you if:
The NBKC Everything Account consists of a linked checking and savings account you open together. The savings portion enables you to set up and track your progress toward savings goals, and it has no monthly fees.
Its annual percentage yield (APY) isn't as high as what you'll find with some of the best online banks, but it's still higher than what you see with most brick-and-mortar institutions. Plus, there's no minimum balance requirements to earn interest.
Make sure you're getting the best account for you by comparing savings rates and promotions. Here are some of our favorite high-yield savings accounts to consider.
| Account | APY | Promotion | Next Steps |
|---|---|---|---|
Open Account for SoFi Checking and Savings
On SoFi's Secure Website.
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
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 |
up to 3.80%²
Rate info
You can earn the maximum APY by having Direct Deposit (no minimum amount required) or by making $5,000 or more in Qualifying Deposits every 30 days. See SoFi Checking and Savings rate sheet at: https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
Min. to earn: $0
|
New customers can earn up to a $300 bonus with qualifying direct deposits!¹
|
Open Account for SoFi Checking and Savings
On SoFi's Secure Website. |
Open Account for CIT Platinum Savings
On CIT's Secure Website.
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
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 |
4.10% APY for balances of $5,000 or more
Rate info
4.10% APY for balances of $5,000 or more; otherwise, 0.25% APY
Min. to earn: $100 to open account, $5,000+ for max APY
|
Earn a bonus of at least $225 after a one-time deposit of $25,000+.
Transfer a one-time deposit of $25,000-$49,999.99 for a bonus of $225. Transfer a one-time deposit of $50,000+ for a bonus of $300. Account must be opened with code PS2025 while this promotion lasts, and funded within 30 days. Bonus will be fulfilled within 60 days from the funding date. There is no period of time where the customer will be required to maintain the funds. Account must be open when bonus is credited. One bonus per account and primary customer. Bonus will be credited into the Platinum Savings Account that fulfills the funding requirement. Funding can be deposited all at once or incrementally.
|
Open Account for CIT Platinum Savings
On CIT's Secure Website. |
Open Account for American Express® High Yield Savings
On American Express's Secure Website.
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
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 |
3.70%
Rate info
3.70% annual percentage yield as of April 5, 2025. Terms apply.
Min. to earn: $0
|
N/A
|
Open Account for American Express® High Yield Savings
On American Express's Secure Website. |
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 1/31/26. See full bonus and annual percentage yield (APY) terms at sofi.com/banking#1.
² SoFi members who enroll in SoFi Plus with Direct Deposit or by paying the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee every 30 days or with $5,000 or more in Qualifying Deposits during the 30-Day Evaluation Period can earn 3.80% 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 SoFi Plus or Qualifying Deposits, during the 30-Day Evaluation Period will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Only SoFi Plus members are eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits. 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 http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet. See the SoFi Plus Terms and Conditions at https://www.sofi.com/terms-of-use/#plus.
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 depositor 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 $3M through participation in the program. See full terms at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms. See list of participating banks at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks.
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.
NBKC Bank has three types of certificates of deposit (CDs).
NBKC Bank's Personal CDs are what most of us think of when we think of CDs. You deposit money into the account and leave it alone to earn interest. If you have to withdraw your funds early, you pay a penalty.
Available terms range from three months to five years and the minimum balance requirement depends on the term you choose. Longer-term CDs have lower balance requirements than short-term CDs.
Like NBKC's savings accounts, its CD APYs fall somewhere between those of brick-and-mortar banks and the best online banks.
NBKC is one of the few places you'll find add-on CDs. This enables you to make additional deposits into the CD over the course of the term.
There's only a single, one-year term option and its APY isn't quite as competitive as what you can find elsewhere. But it could still be worth considering if you're interested in this type of CD.
NBKC Bank's IRA CDs are identical to its Personal CDs, except the money you put here is considered part of an IRA. This means you don't pay taxes on your interest when you earn it, but you're also unable to easily access your funds.
If you try to take money out before you turn 59 1/2, you'll face a 10% early withdrawal penalty.
CD rates change often, so it's a good idea to shop around before you commit to locking up your money. Here are a few other CD providers worth a closer look.
| Bank & CD Offer | APY | Term | Min. Deposit | Next Steps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Discover® Bank CD
Member FDIC.
Open Account for Discover® Bank CD
On Discover Bank's Secure Website. |
APY:
4.00%
|
Term:
1 Year
|
Min. Deposit:
$0
|
Open Account for Discover® Bank CD
On Discover Bank's Secure Website. |
|
APY:
4.50%
|
Term:
10 Months
|
Min. Deposit:
$2,500
|
Open Account for
On Secure Website. |
|
|
APY:
4.30%
|
Term:
6 Months
|
Min. Deposit:
$1
|
Open Account for
On Secure Website. |
The NBKC Everything Account serves as the bank's checking and savings account.
The NBKC Everything Account offers all the features you'd expect from a checking account, including online and mobile account management tools and a debit card with access to a large, nationwide ATM network.
It also offers monthly out-of-network ATM fee reimbursements, which you don't see with every bank. Plus, there aren't any maintenance fees or minimum balance requirements.
We recommend comparing checking accounts to make sure you're getting the best fit for you. Here's a list of our favorite accounts.
| Account | APY | Promotion | Next Steps |
|---|---|---|---|
Open Account for Discover® Cashback Debit
On Discover Bank's Secure Website.
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
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 |
0%
Min. to earn: N/A
|
Earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month (see details when you click 'Open Account')
|
Open Account for Discover® Cashback Debit
On Discover Bank's Secure Website. |
Open Account for Quontic High Interest Checking
On Quontic's Secure Website.
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
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 |
up to 1.10%
Min. to earn: $1
|
High APY when you complete 10 or more qualifying debit card purchases each month
|
Open Account for Quontic High Interest Checking
On Quontic's Secure Website. |
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.
So far, NBKC Bank hasn't featured in any large-scale customer satisfaction surveys, like the J.D. Power U.S. Direct Banking Study. This makes it a little difficult to know how it stacks up to its competitors.
But the reviews that are available for the bank are largely positive. It has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and most of its reviews here suggest its customers are happy with the service they receive.
NBKC Bank doesn't offer any relationship benefits, like better APYs on savings accounts or lower interest rates on loans to customers who open more than one account. But this isn't that unusual for a primarily online bank like NBKC Bank.
Because it doesn't have that many branches to maintain, it's able to keep its overhead costs down. It passes that onto its customers by eliminating many common bank account fees.
If you don't think NBKC Bank is right for you, here are some other options to consider:
Chime is similar to NBKC Bank in several ways. It offers competitive online checking and savings accounts with few monthly fees. It doesn't have CDs, but those looking to earn a high APY on their savings should definitely move it up on their list.
Ally Bank is one of the best-known online banks and it offers a greater variety of banking products than many of its competitors. These include checking, savings, and CD accounts as well as loans and investment accounts. Its APYs are usually pretty competitive and it doesn't charge monthly maintenance fees.
In addition to the bank accounts discussed above, NBKC Bank also offers the following:
NBKC Bank's money market account is similar in many ways to its NBKC Everything Account. It offers an above-average APY plus a debit card and a nationwide ATM network for easy access to your funds. There's also no minimum balance requirement.
NBKC Bank offers the following credit cards:
NBKC Bank offers conventional home loans as well as FHA, VA, and construction loans. It can also help homeowners who are looking to refinance or borrow against the equity in their homes. Read our full NBKC Bank mortgage review to learn more.
NBKC Bank also offers the following types of loans:
NBKC stands for National Bank of Kansas City. This is the only city where the bank has any physical locations.
Yes, NBKC is a legitimate bank and its accounts are backed by the same FDIC insurance as other top banks.
NBKC has a hybrid checking-savings account known as the NBKC Everything Account. You open both types of accounts together and can move your money between them as needed.
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Motley Fool Money is 100% owned and operated by The Motley Fool. Our knowledgeable team of personal finance editors and analysts are employed by The Motley Fool and held to the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page. APYs are subject to change at any time without notice.
