Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Bank
Quality Verified
Updated: April 24, 2024
Quality Verified
Updated: April 24, 2024
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The best bank varies per person, based on individual financial needs and situations. With many types of banks and accounts, finding one that aligns with your circumstances and goals is important. Banks also offer different levels of services and fees. Comparing the different features — security, fees, interest rates and special offers — can help you find the best option, maximize the benefits and positively impact your financial management.
To choose the right bank for you, it’s essential you understand the different banking institutions, account types and ways to protect against potential bank collapse. This knowledge can help you make well-informed decisions to achieve financial success.
On This Page
Learn what steps to take when choosing a bank — from choosing an account and comparing banking institutions to checking essential features and services.
Determine the Right Bank Account for Your Financial Needs
Banking can be crucial to financial management. Depending on your goal, you can use it to create a financial safety net for unexpected incidents or build wealth. That’s why it’s essential to consider various factors carefully.
Before evaluating other aspects, ensure you understand the basic types of bank accounts. This can assist you in narrowing down your options.
Checking Accounts
A checking account is often linked to a debit card that you can use when making purchases or ATM withdrawals. This account also allows you to write checks, pay bills, transfer money and deposit cash or checks.
Savings Accounts
A savings account is among the most common and first bank account people open. They typically earn interest and are great for short-term saving. Keep in mind that your bank may impose a withdrawal limit per month.
Certificate of Deposits
A certificate of deposit (CD) is a banking account where you can keep your money for a certain period. Your money earns interest while it’s stored in the account. Although you can access your money before the account’s maturity, your bank will likely charge fees or impose penalties.
Money Market Accounts
Money market accounts are like a combination of checking and savings accounts. These accounts allow you to have a debit or ATM card, earn interest and write checks. However, there may be a transaction limit and minimum balance requirement.
What’s the Best Bank Account for You?
Banking institutions offer different products. Choosing between them can be a bit overwhelming. A good place to start is by reviewing your financial situation and goals. Then determine which account will help you achieve them.
Given that each type of account has different purposes, it’s okay to maintain multiple accounts simultaneously. You can split your money into different bank accounts as part of your financial management plan. This means you can build an emergency fund while preparing for retirement and creating an investment plan.
Choose a Banking Institution That Aligns With Your Lifestyle and Needs
The next step you should take is to choose a banking institution. Each bank has its products, features and services. There’s not typically a one-size-fits-all option. Comparing strengths, shortcomings and priorities can help ensure you get the service provider that will cater to your financial needs.
Banks are built differently and come in different structures. The most common institutions for personal banking are traditional banks, credit unions, online banks and community banks.
Traditional Banks
A traditional bank is what typically comes to mind when discussing banking institutions. It has physical locations known as bank branches, but online services may also be available depending on the bank.
Credit Unions
Credit unions offer similar financial products and services as traditional banks, including deposits, credit cards and loans. They refer to nonprofit financial institutions that members of unions own.
Online Banks
As the name suggests, an online bank operates online and doesn’t have brick-and-mortar branch locations. These banks typically offer better rates than traditional banks.
Community Banks
Community banks usually have the same products and services as traditional banks. The only difference is a community bank offers them in a smaller geographic area.
Find Banks With Low Fees or No Fees
Bank fees can greatly impact your finances over time. Banks typically charge transaction fees but they may also impose different fees on individuals. You can avoid these charges by choosing a bank that offers low or no fees. You can commonly find this feature in online banks, but traditional banks and credit unions may also waive fees for certain offers.
How to Avoid Fees
There are three ways to avoid bank service fees effectively: Waiving the charges, linking your checking account to another account and signing up for low-balance alerts.
Waive your fees
Depending on the financial institution, you may be able to waive the maintenance fee. Check your bank’s requirements, as you may need to meet a minimum daily balance or set up direct deposits.
Link your accounts
Consider linking your checking account to another account at the same financial institution. The bank will withdraw money from your other account if an overdraw occurs. Although this may come with a fee, it’s usually less than the overdraft fee.
Sign up for low-balance alerts
Check if your bank has a notification system. If it does, sign up to receive alerts when your balance is low. This will help prevent an overdraw.
Decide Which Banking Features and Services Are Most Important
Banks offer a wide variety of features and services. However, it may be challenging to find a financial institution that has all the best features. Identifying which features are essential to suit your financial needs can help you choose a bank. You can start by listing down the features and services you consider non-negotiables or those you can’t do without.
High Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
Where to Find This Feature: Online Banks and Credit Unions
Annual percentage yield (APY) refers to the interest rate usually applied to money you invest into deposit accounts, including CDs, money market and regular savings accounts. It shows how much you may earn from the investment. The higher the APY, the more significant your gains. Online banks and credit unions often offer more competitive rates than traditional banks.
ATM Network
Where to Find This Feature: Most Financial Institutions
Although most banking institutions provide ATM services and access to national ATM networks, some may impose transaction fees if you use an out-of-network ATM.
Bank Branch
Where to Find This Feature: Traditional Banks, Credit Unions and Community Banks
If you want a financial institution with physical branch locations, traditional banks, credit unions and community banks are great options. Among these, traditional national banks have more extensive networks. Meanwhile, many credit unions are part of the Co-op Shared Branch network. If your credit union is one of them, you can do your transactions at another participating credit union.
Banking Safety
Where to Find This Feature: Most Financial Institutions
Most banks are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), while credit unions are under the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). This guarantees that a person will get up to $250,000 should their financial institution go bankrupt.
Debit and credit cards under the Visa and Mastercard networks also tend to have fraud protections.
Digital Features
Where to Find This Feature: Most Banks
Most banks, primarily national and online, offer digital features like mobile apps you can easily download from the App store or Google Play. These allow you to do transactions wherever you are.
Special Perks
Where to Find This Feature: Some Banks and Credit Unions
You may find special offers, such as cash back and budgeting tools, in some banks and credit unions. These are usually available through certain products. For instance, cash back may be accessed through credit card transactions. Budgeting tools may be available through digital platforms.
Additional Services
Where to Find This Feature: Banks and Credit Unions
If you’re interested in other services, such as loans and investments, you may consider banks and credit unions with branch locations. Remember that there may be requirements you need to meet to qualify for certain services.
Compare Your Final Bank Options
Once you narrow down your list based on which types of accounts and banking institutions align with your financial needs and goals, your next step is to choose the right bank. Find the one that has the essential features you find important. Compare fees and rates. It would also help to review the terms and conditions.
Protect Your Money From Bank Failures
Reading about bank failures may cause some people to think twice about banking. For instance, the recent back-to-back failures involving the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), Signature Bank and First Republic Bank have impacted the industry.
The SVB collapsed after depositors rushed to withdraw funds because of insolvency concerns. Signature Bank clients followed suit and withdrew funds en masse upon the SVB collapse. Similarly, First Republic couldn’t recover from losses as its assets dropped after huge depositors decided to withdraw funds over the federally insured limits.
This isn’t the first time the country witnessed bank collapses. However, this doesn’t mean using banking institutions is no longer safe. Taking preventive measures can help protect your hard-earned money.
Remain calm
Despite hearing about bank failures, it’s important not to panic. Don’t make impulsive decisions, such as pulling money from your bank. As shown in recent collapses, this only turns into problems.
Stay informed
Regularly monitor your bank. Generally, a bank failure occurs when the bank can no longer meet its obligations and its assets have fallen below the value of its liabilities. Research and monitor your bank’s status. You can do this by reading financial reports.
Diversify your currency holdings
Consider opening foreign or multi-currency accounts, especially if you get your income from other countries. This can help cut costs and limit fees. You can typically find this offer in online banks.
Diversify your accounts across multiple banks
One way of protecting your money is setting up accounts in different banking institutions. By spreading your funds, you reduce potential losses in a bank failure.
Explore the option of investing in commodities
Investing allows you to build wealth. Aside from stocks and bonds, you can invest in raw commodities like metal bullion. You may also invest in commodities through mutual funds that include commodity-related businesses. You may need professional guidance as investing also comes with risks.
Additional Resources
Various resources and tools exist that you can use to understand bank accounts and banking institutions. MoneyGeek created a list of resources you may find helpful as you embark on your banking journey.
- Consumer.gov: Learn more about budgeting, important details you need to know and how to start a budget for better money management.
- FDIC BankFind Suite: Look for a bank institution, locate branches and determine whether it’s FDIC-insured.
- Federal Trade Commission Consumer Advice: Know the signs to look for to spot fake check scams and understand how these scams work.
- Financial Independence 101: Use this free online training course to start your journey toward financial independence.
- Investor.gov: Access free financial planning tools and learn about investing.
- MyCreditUnion.gov: Access various insurance toolkits for consumers. Find a credit union near you.
- National Association of Personal Financial Advisors: Search for fee-only fiduciary financial planners using your ZIP code or location.
- USA.gov: Learn about different scams and fraudulent activities. Find out where you can report a suspected scam.
- SMART Goals Tool: Use this resource material from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to determine the values most motivating to you and set your goals.
- Spending Tracker: Download this tracker to monitor your weekly and monthly expenses.
About Nathan Paulus
sources
- Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. "2021 FDIC National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households." Accessed June 2, 2023.
- Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. "2022 Summary of Deposits Highlights." Accessed June 5, 2023.