NBKC Bank review September 2024: high-interest money markets, CDs, and more

On March 30, 2024, NBKC reported assets of more than $1.196 billion. It offers personal and business banking products and services, including checking accounts, MMAs, CDs, and lending products.

All rates and fees are current as of August 5, 2024, and are subject to change.

NBKC Bank

Checking accounts:	Starting at $0 per month
Money Market accounts:	Open with as little as $0
CD rates:	Earn up to 5.25% annual percentage yield (APY)

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Pros and Cons

Pros

• High-interest MMA and CDs allow you to earn passive income on reserve funds
• Interest-bearing checking has no requirements and no balance minimum or maximum
• Limited fees and $12 in out-of-network ATM fee reimbursement each month

Cons

• Only four branch locations
• While most major account types can be opened online, some savings accounts cannot
• Most loan products are only available to Kansas City-area customers

Who is NBKC Bank good for?

With solid interest yield on its MMA and CDs, NBKC is an excellent option for customers wanting to earn passive income on excess funds. In addition, NBKC’s checking account earns 1.75% APY on all balances, so you can even earn interest on your day-to-day balances. In addition, NBKC doesn’t charge many fees on its checking account. You won’t pay monthly, overdraft, stop payment, or returned item fees. It also doesn’t charge for insufficient funds. Finally, NBKC refunds up to $12 in out-of-network ATM fees each month.

Who shouldn’t use NBKC Bank?

NBKC Bank operates as an online bank for most people unless you live near one of its four branch locations. You should choose an alternative if you need in-person banking but don’t live near an NBKC Bank. Also, while you can open most accounts online, some accounts, including individual retirement savings and CD accounts and personal health savings accounts (HSAs), cannot be opened online. If you want to open one of those accounts, you may have to do it in person or at another bank. Finally, even though NBKC lists multiple personal loan options, only bridge loans are available nationwide. All other loans are exclusive to the Kansas City area. People looking for personal loans will have to find another traditional bank.

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NBKC Bank rates and products

NBKC Bank offers personal checking, money market, and CD accounts online. Its free checking account has no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements. All of its deposit accounts earn interest, with the MMA and CDs earning solid interest yields. 

Checking accounts 

NBKC offers just one checking account called the Everything Checking Account. It is a free checking account with very limited fees and up to $12 in out-of-network ATM fee reimbursement each month. NBKC does not offer a new account sign-up bonus.

The account earns 1.75% APY on all balances with no maximum and no qualifications to meet to earn interest. There are no ATM fees if you use an NBKC or MoneyPass ATM. The only fees charged by NBKC are for outgoing domestic wires, international wires, and foreign transactions.

Money market account 

The high-yield savings account offered by NBKC is an MMA. It earns 3.00% APY on all balances with no maximum and no requirements to meet to earn the interest rate. While the rate on some of the top MMAs offered by competitors may be higher, NBKC’s MMA is a strong option thanks to the lack of fees and qualifications and a solid interest yield.

The account comes with a debit card, which is also subject to out-of-network ATM fee reimbursement of up to $12 per month. 

To learn more about high-yield accounts, check out our primer on high-yield savings accounts and our guide to MMAs for more information.

NBKC Bank savings rates compared to current top rates*

While NBKC Bank is a great option, some institutions offer higher interest rates. Compare the rates above to this list of competitors:

Certificates of deposit

NBKC Bank offers both standard and IRA CDs. However, only standard CDs can be opened online. The bank offers standard CDs from six to 60 months, but the six-month CD cannot be opened online. The rest can be, and the rates go as high as 5.25% APY, which is one of the best CD rates on the market. The minimum opening deposit for CDs of one year and shorter is $1,000, while longer-term CDs can be opened with a $250 deposit.

Funds placed in a CD must be kept there until maturity; otherwise, NBKC Bank may charge an early withdrawal penalty.

Business banking products

NBKC Bank offers business checking, business savings, and multiple-length CDs. Neither deposit account charges a monthly fee, and both have the same fee schedule as the personal checking and MMAs. 

NBKC only charges foreign transaction, domestic outgoing wire, and international wire fees. The bank also reimburses up to $12 in out-of-network ATM fees on its business accounts. The business checking account does not earn interest, while the business MMA earns 2.75% APY.

Only the seven-month and 11-month CDs can be opened online. The bank also offers CDs from 12 to 60 months, but opening an online account is not an option. All require a $1,000 minimum opening deposit.

Other services NBKC Bank offers

• Personal loans: NBKC offers personal loans, but the only one available nationwide is a bridge loan. All other personal loans are only available to borrowers in the Kansas City area.
• Business loans: The bank offers commercial, real estate and construction loans, Small Business Administration (SBA) loans, lines of credit, and equipment loans. These loans are also only available in the Kansas City area.
• Business solutions: NBKC Bank offers tap-to-pay services, disbursement, fraud management, collection services, and cash management. You can use Autobooks as part of the bank’s business solutions. 

Online banking

NBKC provides digital banking services, including online banking and bill pay. Both services are free for both personal and business customers. Through online banking, you can set savings goals and receive automatic transfers.

The bank allows you to use its Financial Snapshot to create personalized budgets. You can view trends and view all your finances in one place. You can view e-statements, check account balances, view loan balances, and make loan payments with the desktop and mobile apps.

Bill pay allows you to send payments electronically, set up future and recurring payments, and check the status of those payments. 

You can deposit checks with the mobile app and set up digital payment apps to work with your account. Your NBKC Bank accounts work with Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, and Google Pay. 

The NBKC Bank platform and customer support 

You can access your accounts via desktop and mobile apps. The NBKC Mobile Banking app is well-rated, earning 4.2 stars out of 5 on the Google Play Store based on nearly 600 reviews and 4.4 stars out of 5 on the Apple App Store, based on around 900 ratings.

For customer service, call NBKC Bank toll-free Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Central time. You can also contact them via live online chat Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. CT. You can also email customer service at [email protected]. 

Is NBKC Bank secure?

NBKC Bank customers were notified of a potential data breach in 2023. The breach occurred when an employee provided NBKC credentials and a laptop to an unauthorized third party. No other breaches have been reported since.

In addition to website encryption, NBKC Bank uses various methods to keep your account information safe. NBKC requires multifactor authentication (MFA) when logging in and completing high-risk transactions. You can also enable Touch ID on your mobile account.

Customers can also make and stop payments through the app and enable alerts on their accounts to notify them of suspicious transactions. 

NBKC Bank user reviews

NBKC Bank has excellent reviews online. It is rated 4.8 stars out of 5 on Trustpilot based on 700 reviews, of which 91 percent are five-star reviews. 

Positive reviews were pleased with the bank’s customer service and lack of fees. There are positive reviews on Trustpilot regarding both personal and business accounts. The negative reviewers had issues with a late loan closing cancellation and business payments being held for a week.

Compare NBKC Bank alternatives

NBKC Bank	Key Bank	Bank of America
Top savings APY	Top savings APY	Top savings APY
3.00%	0.01%	0.01%
Top checking APY	Top checking APY	Top checking APY
1.75%	0.08%	0.02%
Top CD APY	Top CD APY	Top CD APY
5.25%	5.00%	4.00%
Other services	Other services	Other services
Personal loans Business loans Business solutions	HSAs Small business banking Home loans and mortgages Loans and lines of credit Credit cards Investing and insurance	Credit cards Home loans Auto loans Investments Student loans Retirement planning
Learn more	Learn more	Learn more
View offer at MoneyLion	Read our review of Key Bank	Read our review of Bank of America

Is NBKC Bank right for you?

NBKC Bank is a great option if you are looking to earn interest on personal bank accounts. Not only does the bank offer outstanding rates on its MMA and CDs, but earning 1.75% APY on personal checking is a nice bonus. Unfortunately, most of the lending products NBKC offers are only available to customers in the Kansas City area. However, if you want to make passive income on deposit accounts, many traditional banks or financial technology companies (fintechs) cannot beat NBKC Bank’s rates.

Frequently asked questions