The 10 Best Banks of 2015
In the aftermath of the recent financial crisis, to say big banks earned a bad reputation would be an understatement. Movements like Occupy Wall Street and Bank Transfer Day called for a mass exodus to smaller, not-for-profit institutions like credit unions because of their excellent rates, low fees and personal service. Some Americans listened, switching banks in droves and vowing to never set foot in a megabank again.
But is that to say traditional banks don't have anything of real value to offer? The questionable practices that led to a full-fledged financial meltdown in our country shouldn't be forgotten (or forgiven), but that doesn't mean big banks don't have a place in our lives. Accessibility and convenience are major draws of big banks, which often provide a more comprehensive suite of services through national and global branches and ATMs. National banks also tend to offer a wider choice of products to fit their diverse clients' financial needs, from free checking accounts and jumbo loans to investment, insurance and wealth management services.
Additionally, a 2014 GOBankingRates study of the biggest banks in every state found traditional banks are actually doing quite a bit of good. The biggest banks employ close to 1 percent of the U.S. workforce or 1.23 million people. Their state tax bills are hefty, too; Wells Fargo paid $1.9 billion to its headquarter state of California in 2013. These banks often also give back to local communities in other ways. JPMorgan Chase, for example, committed $100 million to helping Detroit's economy recover, and 18,500 nonprofit organizations and schools benefited in 2013 alone from Wells Fargo's charitable giving of $275.5 million.
10 Best Banks of 2015
If you prefer a national bank, you're not in the wrong -- everyone's financial situation is different, and yours doesn't have to suffer for it. But with so many banks to choose from, it can be difficult to decide which one is right for your deposit and lending needs. That's why GOBankingRates surveyed the 100 biggest U.S. banks by asset size to rank the best of 2015.
We considered each bank's checking, savings and one-year CD accounts; auto loan, mortgage, credit card, investment and insurance offerings; BauerFinancial star rating of financial strength; and branch availability. This data was then used to determine which banks provide the most value to customers. Below is our ranking of the 10 best banks overall.
1. Wells Fargo. Having the most branches of any bank surveyed (6,353) helped put Wells Fargo in the No. 1 spot. Wells Fargo also offers its customers a wide array of products and boasts a BauerFinancial star rating of 4 out of 5.
2. BBVA Compass Bank. With fewer branches, but free checking and more favorable rates than Wells Fargo, BBVA Compass Bank ranked No. 2. All products, from auto loans to mortgage, credit cards, investments and insurance services, are available at BBVA Compass Bank. Its BauerFinancial star rating of 5 is the highest available, and the bank offers 677 branches for convenient, in-person access to banking assistance.
3. Bank of America. Bank of America ranked No. 3 with fewer branches than Wells Fargo, though the two banks offer comparable deposit rates. Bank of America offered all five non-deposit products surveyed, has a BauerFinancial star rating of 4 and offers an impressive 5,083 branches to serve its large customer base.
4. BankUnited. Deposit rates at BankUnited are some of the best among the top 10 banks. Its savings rate of 0.25 percent APY is the second highest, while its one-year CD rate of 0.55 percent APY is the best of the top 10 banks. The bank also boasts a top star rating of 5 and offers all the loan, credit card, insurance and investment products surveyed.
5. First National Bank of Omaha. First National Bank of Omaha interest rates are less than those offered by BankUnited and fairly average for these top 10 banks. Neither its checking nor savings account carries monthly fees, however. Despite offering all the same products surveyed and reflecting its financial strength with a BauerFinancial star rating of 5, First National Bank of Omaha was slated at No. 5 due to its smaller branch network of 127 locations.
6. Zions Bank. Those looking to open a checking or savings account should strongly consider Zions Bank. The bank offers a free checking option that carries no monthly fees, and a savings account rate of 0.45 percent APY, the highest of any bank surveyed for these rankings. Of the suite of other products offered, Zions Bank only lacked insurance services. Its BauerFinancial star rating is equal to that of BBVA Compass Bank, BankUnited and First National Bank of Omaha at a perfect 5.
7. BB&T. BB&T takes the No. 7 spot due to earning the highest BauerFinancial star rating, offering its customers all financial products surveyed and operating more branches (1,853) than many banks ranked higher on the list.
8. Chase Bank. Chase Bank offers customers all the services GOBankingRates considered except for insurance. Its star rating of 4 and 5,714 branches placed it in the top 10, despite having lower rates than other institutions on this list.
9. KeyBank. The Hassle-Free Account at KeyBank is one of the best checking accounts offered by the banks on this list due to its lack of monthly and non-sufficient funds fees and a low $10 minimum deposit to open the account. KeyBank is equipped to support a variety of banking needs, offering all the products and services GOBankingRates considered in its criteria. A healthy star rating is 5 and 1,030 branches helped put this bank in the top 10.
10. U.S. Bank. With more locations than KeyBank but a monthly checking fee and less favorable savings and one-year CD rates, U.S. Bank rounds out the list. U.S. Bank offers customers auto loan, mortgage, investment and insurance services and credit cards. Its BauerFinancial star rating is 4, and it operates 3,239 brick-and-mortar locations.
National banks aren't for everyone, especially customers who are looking for higher yields. Of course, the massive presence of aptly named big banks is proof they are right for a lot of people. As long as a bank offers the services you need most, its size shouldn't matter.
Christina Lavingia is an assistant editor and writer for GOBankingRates.com, a source for the best deposit and loan products, personal finance news and more.
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