The Ascent’s 2022 Bank and Bank Account Awards Winners

The APY for the Synchrony Bank High Yield Savings account is among the highest offered for an online savings account. The account also offers no maintenance fees, easy ATM access, mobile functionality, and just like a traditional bank, it’s FDIC insured.

Ally’s Money Market account packs in a competitively high APY on balances, which makes it a top choice for many yield-hungry consumers. There’s no monthly fees, you have debit card access across 43,000+ Allpoint ATMs nationwide, and Ally offers 24/7 customer support through phone, chat, or email.

Capital One 360 CDs includes the essentials we covet in a CD. The interest rates are competitively high across its suite of terms and there’s no minimum balance. These two features combined are rare to find with other banks.

The LendingClub Rewards Checking accounts stands out with the ability to earn up to 1% cash back on debit card purchases, free ATMs worldwide, and no minimum balance or monthly fees. Not only can you receive your paycheck two days early, but checks are free on your first order and each account has built-in budgeting tools.

The Charles Schwab High Yield Investor Checking® Account is one of the best checking accounts for ATM fees because of its unlimited ATM fee reimbursements. The account also offers reimbursement for ATM fees you incur anywhere in the world. Its unlimited international ATM fee reimbursements also make it a clear top choice for frequent travelers.

The Axos Bank Rewards Checking Account's APY makes it one of the most lucrative checking accounts. Not only does its interest-bearing capabilities make it a viable option, but there are unlimited domestic ATM fee reimbursements and there are no ongoing balance requirements that could result in a minimum maintenance fee.

Chase offers one of the largest branch networks in the nation, without neglecting the online experience. In fact, the online experience is just as robust with simple online and mobile tools to manage your funds. Customers can also receive loyalty rewards for managing their finances under one roof and the customer service rating shows the bank knows how to value its customers.

Bank of America’s Preferred Rewards program is the gold standard for relationship banking discounts, rewards, and perks. You can reap a plethora of rewards like 25%-75% bonus rewards on Bank of America credit cards, fee-free ATM transactions at out-of-network ATMs, and no fees on select Bank of America services, depending on your total assets held across Bank of America accounts. Bank of America has also managed to maintain an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

Wells Fargo is a solid all around bank for those who desire access to both local branches and a high-quality digital banking offering. The bank's network of more than 8,000 branches and 13,000 ATMs ensures that account holders have ready access to a local branch or ATM wherever they may be located.

Charles Schwab is the clear winner for customers who travel frequently and need to access funds or make payments abroad. The Charles Schwab High Yield Investor Checking account offers both no foreign transaction fees and does not have a surcharge for ATM usage worldwide. No checking account we’ve come across boasts this same combination of international-friendly perks.

USAA Bank is one of the best banks if you're a military member, veteran, or an immediate family member of a service member. USAA offers outstanding customer support, low opening deposits on most saving products, and fee-free nationwide ATM services.

Ally Bank has competitive APYs, minimal fees, and a reputation for great customer service. Ally Online Savings account charges no monthly maintenance fees and offers one of the most competitive APYs in the space. There are no minimum balance requirements to open the account as well. The account also stands out for its strong online and mobile management tools, plus its built-in budgeting features that help you save for your financial goals. Those features include a digital envelope system, recurring transfers, and "Surprise Savings”.

Capital One's banking app remains highly rated because you can view transactions, make payments, redeem rewards and monitor your credit score. Capital One also supports features that allow you to set up alerts to monitor your available credit, existing balances, transactions, and bill payments. Simply put, if there’s a money need you need to manage on the go, it’s likely the Capital One app can deliver.

Chime is one of the leaders in a modern movement to cut nuisance fees traditional big banks charge, all while offering more competitive products under the same banner. Its automated savings tools, great customer service, high savings account APY, and simple-to-use app are several of many reasons why we think Chime is blazing the right path forward to modernize banking.

Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by, and debit card issued by, The Bancorp Bank or Stride Bank, N.A.; Members FDIC