Best Bank Accounts of 2026: Compare Checking, Savings, and CDs from Our Fave Banks

There’s no such thing as one “best” bank account for everyone … and that’s actually a good thing. The right account depends on how you use money, whether you’re a student opening your first checking account, a couple managing shared expenses, or a business owner juggling cash flow.

At LendEDU, we reviewed the best bank accounts overall across checking, savings, CDs, and business banking to find the ones that stand out for specific needs. You’ll see familiar names like Capital One, SoFi, Ally, and Chime.

Table of Contents

1. Best bank accounts to consider this month
   1. 1. Capital One (Best overall)
   2. 2. Barclays (Best simple account)
   3. 3. SoFi (Best for college students)
   4. 4. Synchrony Bank (Best for hands-off savers)
   5. 5. Ally Bank (Best for couples)
   6. 6. Marcus by Goldman Sachs (Best rates for CDs)
   7. 7. Alliant Credit Union (Best for kids)
   8. 8. Chime (Best for no fees)
   9. 9. Bluevine (Best for businesses)
2. How to choose the best bank account for you

Best bank accounts to consider this month

1. Capital One

Best Overall

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Accounts we recommend: 360 Checking, Money Teen Checking, 360 Performance Savings, 360 CDs

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Why Capital One 360 Checking is the best online checking

APY range	0.10%
Required opening deposit	$0
Minimum balance	$0
Monthly fee	$0
Debit card	Yes
Mobile check deposit	Yes
Savings accounts available	Yes
CDs available	Yes
Insurance	FDIC insured
BBB rating	A+, Accredited; Customer reviews = 1.11/5
Trustpilot rating	1.2/5

Hands down, Capital One has the best bank accounts to open online, and its 360 Checking account is no exception. On top of no fees, the account earns a modest APY, and you can score a $250 cash bonus when you open an account as a new customer and receive qualifying direct deposits.

Capital One’s 360 Checking is also on LendEDU’s best checking account list.

Why Capital One Money Teen Checking is the best student bank account

APY	0.10%
Required opening deposit	$0
Minimum balance	$0
Monthly fee	$0
Debit card	Yes
Mobile check deposit	Yes
Savings accounts available	Yes
CDs available	Yes
Insurance	FDIC insured

Capital One Money Teen Checking is one of the best bank accounts for students and teens. The child in your life will get their own debit card, login, and spending tools. But as a parent or guardian, you can monitor activity, set controls, and lock or unlock the card as needed. The account also supports allowances and goal tracking, so it’s easier to teach everyday money skills in a low-stakes way.

Why Capital One 360 Performance Savings is the best online savings

APY	3.30%
Required opening deposit	$0
Minimum balance	$0
Monthly fee	$0
CDs available	Yes
Insurance	FDIC insured

Capital One 360 Performance Savings earns its spot as the best online savings account because it keeps things simple and competitive. You get a solid APY with no fees, no hoops, and no fine print that quietly eats into your balance.

Capital One 360 Performance Savings also appears on LendEDU’s list of best savings accounts.

Why Capital One 360 CDs are the best online CDs

APY range	3.50% – 3.90%
Minimum deposit	$0
Terms	6 – 60 months
Early withdrawal penalty	3 – 6 months of interest
Checking accounts available	Yes
Savings accounts available	Yes
Insurance	FDIC insured

Capital One 360 CDs stand out because they remove two common CD pain points at once: high minimum deposits and uneven rates. For instance, because there’s no minimum required to open a CD, you can start however small you want or spread your savings across multiple terms by building a CD ladder.

The other thing we love about Capital One is that it boasts competitive APYs across all CD terms, rather than reserving decent rates for just one or two options. That consistency is just one reason Capital One 360 CDs also appear on our list of best CDs.

Advantages and Disadvantages of a Certificate of Deposit

2. Barclays

Best for Simple Accounts

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Accounts we recommend: Savings

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Why Barclays Online Savings is the best simple bank account

APY	3.60%
Required opening deposit	$0
Minimum balance	$0
Monthly fee	$0
ATM card	No
Mobile check deposit	Yes
Checking accounts available	No
CDs available	Yes
Insurance	FDIC insured
BBB rating	A+, Not accredited; Customer reviews = 1.06/5
Trustpilot rating	1.6/5

Barclays Online Savings is our pick for the best simple savings account. If you want a no-frills place to park cash and earn a competitive rate, this account does exactly that. The APY is strong, and it’s backed by Barclays, a long-standing global bank with a solid reputation.

Barclay’s Online Savings account also made LendEDU’s best savings list.

3. SoFi

Best for College Students

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Accounts we recommend: Checking, High-Yield Savings

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Why SoFi’s online checking is the best for college students

APY	0.50%
Required opening deposit	$0
Minimum balance	$0
Monthly fee	$0
Debit card	Yes
Mobile check deposit	Yes
Savings accounts available	Yes (automatically comes with checking account)
CDs available	No
FDIC or NCUA insured	FDIC insured (up to $3 million)
BBB rating	A+, Not accredited; Customer reviews = 1.3/5
Trustpilot rating	4.1/5

SoFi’s Online Checking account just might be the perfect fit for college students (or anyone!) who want a modern account that won’t punish you for small mistakes. You can earn 0.50% APY on checking balances, qualify for up to $50 in free overdraft coverage, and get paid up to two days early with direct deposit. There’s also a welcome bonus of up to $300.

SoFi Checking also appears on LendEDU’s list of best checking accounts.

Why SoFi’s online HYSA is the best for college students

APY	Up to 4.00%
Required opening deposit	$0
Minimum balance	$0
Monthly fee	$0
ATM card	No
Mobile check deposit	Yes
Checking account available	Yes (automatically comes with savings account)
CDs available	No
Insurance	FDIC insured (up to $3 million)

You don’t need to be in college to open SoFi’s Online Savings account, but it might be one of your top choices if you are. This account has no account fees, no minimums, and savings Vaults that make it easy to set aside money for short-term goals (whether it’s rent, books, or upcoming expenses).

Plus, new customers can earn a $50 or $300 cash bonus with qualifying direct deposit, along with an APY boost that raises the rate for six months.

SoFi Online Savings also appears on LendEDU’s list of best savings accounts.

4. Synchrony Bank

Best for Hands-Off Savers

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Accounts we recommend: High-Yield Savings

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Why Synchrony High Yield Savings is the best for hands-off saving

APY	3.65%
Required opening deposit	$0
Minimum balance	$0
Monthly fee	$0
ATM card	Yes
Mobile check deposit	Yes
Checking accounts available	No
CDs available	Yes
Insurance	FDIC insured
BBB rating	No rating, Not accredited; Customer reviews = 1.05/5
Trustpilot rating	1.0/5

Synchrony High Yield Savings is a strong fit if you want to earn a competitive APY without any requirements. With this no-frills account, you can deposit your cash, set up automatic transfers if you want, and then just … let it grow.

We’ve found that Synchrony consistently offers solid savings rates (even across its CD terms), and it has a well-built mobile app. So it’s definitely worth considering if you’re more of a hands-off saver.

Synchrony High Yield Savings also appears on LendEDU’s list of best savings accounts.

5. Ally Bank

Best for Couples

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Accounts we recommend: Spending Account, High-Yield CDs

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Why Ally Bank Spending Account is the best checking account for couples

APY range	0.10% – 0.25%
Required opening deposit	$0
Minimum balance	None to earn 0.10% APY ($15K to earn 0.25%)
Monthly fee	$0
Debit card	Yes
Mobile check deposit	Yes
Savings accounts available	Yes
CDs available	Yes
FDIC or NCUA insured	FDIC insured
BBB rating	A+, Not accredited; Customer reviews = 1.14/5
Trustpilot rating	1.3/5

Ally’s Spending Account (checking) is solid across the board, but we specifically want to recommend it to couples who manage finances together. With Ally’s spending buckets, you can divide one checking account into categories like rent, groceries, or shared bills without needing a separate budgeting app. And if you also use Ally’s savings account for shares goals, you can set up buckets there too.

Ally also appears on LendEDU’s best checking account list.

Why Ally Bank High Yield CDs are the best for couples

APY	3.00% – 3.75%
Minimum deposit	$0
Early withdrawal penalty	$0
Checking accounts available	Yes
Savings accounts available	Yes
Insurance	FDIC insured

Ally CDs are a great option for couples who want solid rates without micromanaging another account. There’s no minimum deposit, rates are competitive across terms (not just one random standout), and the 10-day rate guarantee gives you a little protection if rates bump up right after you open one.

Plus, both you and your partner can manage the CD from Ally’s app, so there’s no guessing about maturity dates or whose login has the info. Ally CDs also appear on LendEDU’s best CD accounts list.

6. Marcus by Goldman Sachs

Best Rates for CDs

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Accounts we recommend: CDs

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Why Marcus By Goldman Sachs CDs have the best rates

APY range	3.95% – 4.05%
Minimum deposit	$500
Terms	6 – 24 months
Early withdrawal penalty	90 – 270 days of interest
Checking accounts available	No
Savings accounts available	Yes
Insurance	FDIC insured
BBB rating	A+, Accredited; Customer reviews = 1.14/5
Trustpilot rating	1.3/5

We think Marcus by Goldman Sachs CDs are some of the best bank accounts because they pay competitive APYs across short- and mid-term options. All you need is a $500 minimum deposit, and you can withdraw earned interest at any time without penalty.

Marcus appears on LendEDU’s best CD accounts list. The bank also has a high-yield online savings account with similarly strong rates.

7. Alliant Credit Union

Best for Kids

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Accounts we recommend: Kids Savings

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Why Alliant Credit Union Kids Savings Account is the best for kids

APY	3.10%
Required opening deposit	$5
Minimum balance to earn APY	$100
Monthly fee	$0
ATM card	Yes
Mobile check deposit	Yes
Checking accounts available	Yes
CDs available	Yes (called Certificates)
Insurance	NCUA insured
BBB rating	A+, Accredited; Customer reviews = 1.42/5
Trustpilot rating	2.8/5

Need a top bank account for your kid? Alliant’s Kids Savings Account is one of the rare accounts that’s genuinely useful and generous. It pays a standout 3.10% APY once the balance hits $100, which is wildly high for a kids account.

Plus, parents and grandparents can manage the account jointly, automate allowances, and track progress toward savings goals right inside the Alliant app.

8. Chime

Best for No Fees

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Accounts we recommend: Checking

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Why Chime Online Checking Account is best for no fees

APY	N/A
Required opening deposit	$0
Minimum balance	$0
Monthly fee	$0
Debit card	Yes
Mobile check deposit	Yes
Savings accounts available	Yes
CDs available	No
Insurance	FDIC insured
BBB rating	A+, Accredited; Customer reviews = 3.83/5
Trustpilot rating	3.8/5

Chime’s Online Checking is built around one simple promise: Banking shouldn’t nickel-and-dime you. There are no monthly fees, no minimums, and no traditional overdraft fees. You also get access to cool features like early direct deposit, free overdraft coverage through SpotMe (with qualifying activity), and paycheck advances through MyPay.

Chime Checking also appears on LendEDU’s list of best checking accounts.

9. Bluevine

Best Business Bank Account

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Accounts we recommend: Small Business Checking

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Why Bluevine Small Business Checking is best for businesses and LLCs

APY	Up to 3.0%
Required opening deposit	$0
Minimum balance	$0
Monthly fee	$0
Debit card	Yes
Mobile check deposit	Yes
Savings accounts available	No
CDs available	No
Insurance	FDIC insured
BBB rating	A+, Accredited; Customer reviews = 1.1/5
Trustpilot rating	4.6/5

I’ve personally used Bluevine since 2020, and it’s still the business checking account I recommend most often. You earn interest directly on your checking balance, so it’s almost like it doubles as a business savings account.

Bluevine also does the basics really well for small business owners. There are no monthly fees on the standard plan, easy ACH and bill pay, clean sub-accounts for budgeting, and you can grant team access when you need it. In a world full of stuffy and confusing business bank accounts, it’s a breath of fresh air.

How to choose the best bank account for you

The best bank account isn’t the one with the flashiest headline or the highest rate on a random chart. It’s the one that actually fits how you use money. Before you open anything new, take a minute to step back and think about how your financial life really works day to day.

Here’s how to narrow it down.

1. Start with the type of account you actually need

Are you looking for a checking account to pay bills and swipe your debit card? A savings account to park cash you don’t want to touch? A CD for money you truly won’t need for a while? Or a business account to keep work and personal money separate?

A great savings account may not do much if you still have a bad checking account that’s draining you dry with high fees.

2. Look closely at fees (even if the app looks great)

Monthly maintenance fees, overdraft charges, and minimum balance requirements can quietly drain your account over time. Plenty of excellent accounts today charge $0 across the board, so if a bank is still nickeling and diming you, that’s worth questioning.

3. Compare interest rates

Higher APYs matter most for savings and CDs, but you may also want your checking account to earn a little something-something. Beyond looking at the advertised APY, read the fine print to see what you need to do to earn that APY and how long it’s good for.

4. Decide whether you want online-only or branch access

Online banks often pay better rates and charge fewer fees. Traditional banks offer in-person help, cash deposits, and familiarity. Neither is “better,” but you may prefer one.

Just note: Many online banks (especially ones with the best bank accounts) have great customer service teams that rival most traditional institutions.

5. Think about whether you want one bank or a mix

Some people love keeping all their bank accounts under one roof. Others prefer to use a different institution for checking and savings, so there’s more friction when they want to make a transfer. Which do you prefer? When in doubt, it may feel like less to manage if you keep everything under one roof with one mobile app.

Recap of the best banks and credit unions

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