Switching banks is never an easy move. Whether you’re moving to Texas or just want a better bank with sweet deals, we’ve narrowed down eight of the best banks in the state for you.
Chase is a solid choice overall, well-known for its rewards credit cards and variety of banking products. It has one of the largest ATM networks in Texas, with over 500 ATMs in the state alone. With that many ATMs, you’ll likely have a few in your area to help avoid pesky out-of-network fees when withdrawing cash. It also has dozens of branches in some of Texas’ biggest cities for easy access to customer support and your cash. Chase also offers multiple checking and savings accounts to choose from, and there’s likely an account for everyone in your family. But its savings account APYs vary by location and, historically, aren’t that high.
PNC offers many personal and business accounts to choose from, but its basic Business Checking account took the win in this category. While there’s a $12 monthly fee, it offers multiple ways to waive it. Alongside that, you’ll get up to 150 free transactions per month by meeting some requirements, no charges for up to $5,000 in cash deposits at select locations and free bill pay. On top of that, there’s a $200 signup bonus when you maintain a balance of $5,000 and make at least 20 debit card transactions within the first three months. Unlike many other top business checking accounts in Texas, PNC gives you the option to apply online or in person — most require you to head to a branch. PNC is a large bank with hundreds of ATMs and branches in Texas, so you’ll likely have easy access to your cash. But you’ll need at least $100 to open its basic business account.
If in-person banking is a necessity for you, Wells Fargo is worth considering. There are 490 Wells Fargo branches in Texas alone, hundreds more than most banks in the state. As one of the big four banks in the US by assets and over 70 million customers, it’s a recognizable bank with a full suite of products and services. However, Wells Fargo doesn’t have the cleanest record — it recently had to pay $250 million for a civil penalty related to its home loans. Customer reviews and ratings are also largely negative, and it earns thousands of complaints on its BBB profile.
USAA offers banking products for US military members, veterans and their families. Offering bank accounts, insurance, youth accounts, mortgages, investing and much more, it’s a full-service bank with affordable products. Its CDs offer rates as high as 5% APY for select terms. There are free checking options, youth accounts and multiple saving accounts to choose from. To become a member, you must be either an active, retired or honorably separated officer of the US military — close family members can also join if you’ve qualified for a membership. Membership is free, and most personal banking options don’t have monthly fees, but you’ll need to make an opening deposit. Also, while USAA has over 60,000 ATMs across the country, there’s only one branch in Texas, so you’ll need to be comfortable speaking with customer support online or via phone.
With its large variety of personal banking options, Capital One takes the win for the best hybrid bank. While it’s mostly an online bank, it has 3,804 branches in the US and 16,000 ATMs in Texas. There are six checking accounts and five savings accounts to choose from, all suiting different lifestyles. While most of your banking will be online, Capital One has stellar reviews for its mobile banking app. One of its best accounts is the 360 Checking Account with no minimums, no monthly fees, early direct deposit and 0% foreign transaction fees. Its savings accounts are solid, too, with the 360 Performance Savings offering a competitive 4.30% APY and no monthly fees. While its app reviews are great, it has over 10,000 BBB complaints, and reviews about its customer service aren’t the best.
Pros
16,000 ATMs in Texas
No monthly fees
Competitive rates on savings products
Cons
Over 10,000 BBB complaints
Pricey outgoing wire transfers
Best for savings
Texas Capital Bank has one of the highest-yielding savings accounts among the best banks in Texas. Its Star High-Yield Savings Account offers up to 5% APY exclusively for Texas residents. There are no minimum balance requirements, no monthly fees and no opening deposit requirement. Balances up to $1 million can earn 5% APY, so no worries about needing to meet balance requirements to earn the best rate. The bank’s CDs are also solid, and one of the best CDs is a 180-day term with a 4.71% APY, but you’ll need at least $1,000 to open it. Its checking options are competitive as well, offering low-fee options and an interest-bearing checking account. But if you want branch access, look elsewhere, because Texas Capital only has 11 in the state.
Pros
High 5% APY on its High-Yield Savings Account
High CD rates up to 4.71% APY
Interest-bearing checking account available
Cons
Only 11 branches in Texas
Best for checking
It was a close call, but IBC Bank took the win for best checking in Texas, thanks to its large variety of accounts for all walks of life and free checking options. IBC’s aptly named Free Checking Account has no monthly fees and offers 50 free checks. There are also two interest-bearing checking account options, a relationship account that offers better rates on CDs and a premium account for those 50 years and older. Nearly all come with unlimited checkwriting, and the accounts with monthly service fees let you waive the fee by keeping a minimum balance. IBC is headquartered in Texas and one of the largest banks in the state, but the site is slightly outdated and difficult to navigate. You’ll also likely need an opening deposit for most of its accounts, and it doesn’t have as many branches or ATMs as other top Texas banks.
Pros
Variety of checking accounts available
Ways to waive fees on all personal checking accounts
Premium checking for ages 50+
Cons
Most accounts require opening deposits
Best for customer service
Frost Bank takes our win for best customer service as it ranked the highest in JD Power’s 2023 US Retail Banking Satisfaction Study for the state of Texas. Frost also earns a stellar A+ rating with the BBB and barely has any complaints in the last few years, which is practically unheard of for a bank. Most reviews are positive, with customers citing great customer service with helpful and friendly representatives. It also has a good number of personal and business banking options to choose from, with multiple and easy ways to waive monthly fees. But it has a less-than-average number of ATMs, only around 1,700 across the country.
Pros
Top-ranked in JD Power’s banking satisfaction study
Monthly fees for the most basic accounts available
Membership requirements
Top banks considered include: Bank of America, BBVA, Cadence Bank, Chase, Capital One, Centennial Bank, Comerica, First Financial Bank, First National Bank, Frost Bank, IBC Bank, Independent Bank, PlainsCapital Bank, PNC Bank, Prosperity Bank, Regions Bank, Southside Bank, Texas Capital Bank, Truist Bank, USAA, Wells Fargo, Woodforest National Bank and Zions Bank.
6 factors to consider when choosing a bank
Texas is a large state with nearly 400 different financial institutions to choose from — not including online options.(1) When comparing banks, prioritize these factors:
Customer support. If something were to ever go awry with your account, you’ll want an easy way to contact the bank to resolve the issue. Compare customer care options, like business hours for customer phone lines, 24/7 chat support and branches in your area for in-person support.
Variety of products. If you prefer keeping most of your bank accounts in one place, look for a full-service bank with a variety of checking, savings and lending products. Also, look at types of accounts, like retirement or kid-specific accounts.
ATM and branch access. Having access to in-person customer support and free ATMs makes it easier to access your cash.
Signup bonuses. While this shouldn’t be a deciding factor, if the bank offers a signup bonus for the account you’re considering, see if you can easily meet the requirements to earn that free cash.
Interest rates. Most banks offer savings accounts, but the APY is what you need to compare. Some accounts have high APYs, but others fall well below the national average.
Expert tip: Online banks can offer stronger perks
If you don't visit your bank's branch often — or at all — then an online bank might be the way to go. Online banks tend to offer fewer fees and higher APYs on their bank accounts, because they have less overhead, so they can pass on their savings to their customers. You may also get access to more modern perks, such as 24/7 in-app chat support, financial advice and budgeting and savings tools.
Narrow down online checking accounts by monthly fees, APY, opening deposits and more. For an even closer comparison, tick the Compare box on up to four accounts to view features side by side.
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10 top banks by branch presence in Texas cities
If branch access is a top priority, having a bank with multiple locations in your home city is a huge plus.
City
Bank
# of branches
Austin
Wells Fargo
34
Dallas
Chase Bank
42
Fort Worth
Chase Bank
23
Houston
Chase Bank
91
Longview
Austin Bank
5
Lubbock
PlainsCapital Bank
10
Midland
Community National Bank
7
Plano
Chase Bank
13
San Antonio
Wells Fargo
27
Tyler
Southside Bank
13
Bottom line
It’s not easy to switch banks or choose a bank — especially with so many banks available in Texas and all the various factors to consider. If none of these best options are for you, or you’re looking for a bank with stronger rates and fewer fees, an online bank with nationwide availability might work for you.
Cassidy Horton is a freelance personal finance copywriter and past contributing writer for Finder. Her writing and banking expertise have been featured in Forbes Advisor, Money, The Balance, Money Under 30, Insure.com, and other top digital publishers. She holds a BS in public relations and an MBA from Georgia Southern University. See full bio
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