If you’re on the hunt for a better bank, you have a few aspects to consider as you settle on one with the features that fit your needs. Would you like to walk into a branch for assistance, or are you comfortable managing your accounts primarily online? Do you typically hold high balances in your accounts — which opens the door to a host of extra benefits, including fee waivers, at many institutions — or would you rather find a checking account that’s free regardless of how much money is in it? Is it important to keep your checking and savings accounts all under one roof (whether it’s brick-and-mortar or virtual), or are you willing to spread your deposits across multiple institutions to maximize the yields and other benefits you get with different accounts?
Whatever your priorities, you should be able to find institutions that suit you in our ranking of the best banks and credit unions. With the help of Curinos, a financial-data provider, we studied accounts at 40 financial institutions, judging them based on criteria including fees, minimum balance requirements, yields and the availability of additional perks, such as financial planning services or identity theft protection. We’ve named the three institutions (listed in alphabetical order) that stood out most in each of three categories: national banks, internet banks and credit unions. We also highlighted two institutions that are an especially good fit for each of three profiles: high-net-worth clients, retirees and travelers.
