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Bank of America is a strong choice for those who want the flexibility to bank both online and in person. Its interest rates are much lower than those of online banks, but Bank of America maintains a strong customer base thanks to its standout Preferred Rewards program, which is the gold standard for relationship banking.
The bank also offers a feature-rich app that's among the best out there. Learn more with our in-depth Bank of America review to find out if it's the right bank for your needs.
A top choice for those who want to do all of their banking in one place and who value the face-to-face support that brick-and-mortar banks are known for. Its Preferred Rewards program provides some of the best relationship perks you'll find with any bank. To top it off, Bank of America's app shines with robust capabilities and great user ratings.
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 The Motley Fool Ascent rates bank accounts.
Bank of America is a good choice for you if:
The Bank of America Advantage Savings account offers the key features you'd expect from one of the largest banks in the nation. For example, it has a low monthly maintenance fee, which can be waived. It also has an extensive national branch network. It's a great choice for those who like banking in person -- but those who prefer banking online aren't left out, either. Bank of America has simple online account management tools and a highly rated mobile app.
The account's APY is nothing to brag about. Nevertheless, loyal Bank of America customers who enroll in its Preferred Rewards program can improve their rates.
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 |
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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.
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up to 4.60%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
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New customers can earn up to a $300 bonus with qualifying direct deposits!¹
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Open Account for SoFi Checking and Savings
On SoFi's Secure Website. |
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Open Account for Capital One 360 Performance Savings
On Capital One'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.
|
4.25%
Rate info
See Capital One website for most up-to-date rates. Advertised Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is variable and accurate as of April 11, 2024. Rates are subject to change at any time before or after account opening.
Min. to earn: $0
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N/A
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Open Account for Capital One 360 Performance Savings
On Capital One's Secure Website. |
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Open Account for UFB Portfolio Savings Account
On UFB'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.
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5.15%
Rate info
To ensure you keep getting the highest rate at UFB, you'll need to keep an eye on their rates. Occasionally, the bank launches new accounts with higher rates. Existing accounts need to contact the bank to request being moved to one of these new accounts.
Min. to earn: $0
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N/A
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Open Account for UFB Portfolio Savings Account
On UFB's Secure Website. |
Bank of America offers two types of CDs. The first is a Featured CD account, which pays a higher rate but has a higher minimum deposit. The second, the Standard Term CD, has more flexible rates and balance requirements but lower APYs.
The interest rates on Bank of America's Standard Term CDs aren't quite as high as its Featured CD rates. However, they're much more accessible to the average person. This CD has just a $1,000 minimum deposit. CD terms are also much more flexible, ranging from as little as 28 days to as long as 10 years. Few banks give you this many CD term options. As a result, Bank of America is good fit if you're interested in a non-traditional CD term. As with the Featured CDs, there's an early withdrawal penalty if you take the money out too soon.
APY = Annual Percentage Yield
6 Mo. APY | 1 Yr. APY | 1.5 Yr. APY | 2 Yr. APY | 3 Yr. APY | 4 Yr. APY | 5 Yr. APY |
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0.03% | 0.03% | 0.03% | 0.03% | 0.03% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
Bank of America's Featured CDs offer the largest APYs you'll find with this bank. They're still not as high as what you can find with some online banks, though. Plus, you'll need a $10,000 minimum deposit. That's steeper than what many of Bank of America's competitors charge. But if you're not satisfied with Bank of America's Advantage Savings rates (and you don't need access to your funds soon), this could be a good choice. Terms range from seven months to 37 months. Keep in mind that you'll pay an early withdrawal penalty if you try to take the money out before the term is up.
The Bank of America Advantage Banking account comes with three settings. You can change these at any time. All flavors of the Bank of America Advantage Banking account come with a waivable monthly fee, custom alerts, debit card controls, mobile deposits, and online budgeting tools.
The three settings are:
If you plan to bank exclusively with Bank of America, look into becoming a Preferred Rewards member. You need to have an eligible Bank of America personal checking account to qualify. You'll also need maintain a minimum balance of at least $20,000 in all of your Bank of America accounts and/or Merrill investment accounts. If you can meet these two requirements, you can reap a plethora of rewards. Just a few examples of rewards:
Few banks -- online or brick-and-mortar -- can match these kinds of relationship perks. They help make up for its lower interest rates on savings and CD accounts.
Bank of America has received some lukewarm reviews from customers. It doesn't have totally shining recommendations from TrustPilot.
However, for the third year in a row (2022-2024), J.D. Power named Bank of America #1 for outstanding client satisfaction with customer financial health support among banks and credit card issuers.
It has an A- rating with the Better Business Bureau. This suggests it's responsive to customer complaints when they do arise.
Chase Bank is one of Bank of America's biggest competitors. While the two banks are similar, each stands apart in its own ways. Chase has one of the largest networks of bank branches in the country. It offers multiple checking and savings accounts. In addition, it provides a variety of popular and less common CD terms. Chase also offers relationship benefits to its customers, including waived fees on select accounts. Nevertheless, Bank of America's relationship perks may be a little more enticing to those who want to be rewarded for their loyalty.
Ally Bank is a smart choice for those who care more about high APYs than they do about branch access. It has fewer account options than Bank of America. But the ones it does offer are undeniably competitive. This includes an interest-bearing checking account and the Ally Online Savings account. Brick-and-mortar banks can't come close to the rates offered on these accounts. It also offers some rarer options, like no-penalty and raise-your-rate CDs. It's definitely possible to do all of your banking with Ally Bank, but you won't earn any special perks for doing so.
Bank of America's product suite expands beyond checking, savings, and CD accounts.
Bank of America® Cash Rewards credit card: This is a great credit card for everyday spending. It offers 3% back on gas or your choice of five other popular categories. There's also 2% back on groceries and at wholesale clubs (on up to $2,500 in combined bonus category quarterly purchases) and 1% back on everything else. Preferred Rewards members also earn a rewards bonus on every purchase.
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card: This card offers 2 points per $1 spent on dining and travel purchases. You'll earn 1.5 points per $1 spent on everything else. It also comes with some must-have travel perks. These include a $100 annual credit for airline incidentals, travel and purchase protections, and up to a $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit.
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card: This is another great card for travelers. It offers unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent, along with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. Preferred Rewards members can also earn rewards even faster.
Bank of America Mortgage: Bank of America offers conventional, Jumbo, FHA, and VA mortgages in all 50 states. That's in addition to fixed- and adjustable-rate terms to suit a variety of borrowers. It's possible to get a loan with as little as 3% down. Preferred Rewards members can earn a discount on their mortgage origination fee.
Keep Reading: How to Open a Bank of America Account
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. The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.