Best banks in California in 2021

CIT Bank: Best for online banking

CIT Bank is an online-only institution headquartered in Pasadena, California. Although it serves customers nationwide, its California roots make it a great option for those who want to bank online while supporting a home-grown institution. As of 2016, it’s reinvested nearly $5 billion in the Southern California community to promote affordable housing, economic development, education and access to credit.

Pros

• Plenty of options. CIT Bank offers one checking account and a slew of high-yield savings accounts and CDs.
• Competitive APYs. Thanks to its low overhead, CIT Bank has some of the highest APYs on our list. Its eChecking account earns up to 0.25% and its CIT Bank Premier High Yield Savings Account earns up to 0.5%.
• No monthly fees. CIT Bank’s accounts have no monthly fees and most come with ATM reimbursements as well.

Cons

• No local branches. Because it’s online-only, you won’t find any local branches in your neighborhood. But you can reach customer service by phone or email.
• No ATM network. CIT Bank doesn’t have an ATM network, but it reimburses up to $15 in ATM fees a month.

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Union Bank: Best for locals

Pros

• Plenty of options. Union Bank has five checking account options, including a free account, an interest-bearing account, a teen account and two business accounts.
• Accessibility. Most savings accounts come with an ATM card, making it easy to withdraw cash on the go. It never charges ATM fees and offers reimbursement for operator fees.
• Extended customer service hours. Union Bank has extended customer service hours on weekdays and Saturdays for those who work during normal business hours and can’t call during the day.

Cons

• Low APYs. Most of Union Bank’s interest rates are around 0.01%, which is lower than the national average.
• In-person applications. You’ll need to visit a local Union Bank branch to open most accounts, which can be inconvenient if you don’t live nearby.

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Golden 1 Credit Union: Best credit union

Pros

• Competitive interest rates. The bank’s APYs aren’t the highest, but they’re still better than what you’ll find at most traditional banks.
• Part of CO-OP ATM network. At Golden 1 Credit Union members free access to over 30,000 ATMs across the country.
• Strong customer service. Chat with a representative by phone, email or at a local branch — giving you the ability to get help when and how you need it.

Cons

• Minimum balance to earn interest. You only need $1 to open most checking and savings accounts, but you may need to keep a $100 minimum balance to earn dividends.

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Bank of the West: Best for small businesses

Pros

• Good for businesses. Bank of the West has two straightforward options for businesses: a basic account with 100 monthly transactions and a premium account with unlimited transactions.
• Banking tools. Its online banking tools give you the power to compare your monthly spending habits, set goals and create monthly budgets.
• Convenient customer service. Chat with customer support by phone, live chat or face-to-face at a local branch. It even offers in-person appointments for those needing one-on-one help.

Cons

• Low rates overall. Bank of the West has low interest rates across the board, so it’s not ideal for anyone looking for competitive APYs.
• Some accounts can’t be opened online. You’ll need to fill out an application at a local branch to open some CDs and money market accounts.

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Marcus by Goldman Sachs: Best for CD rates

Pros

• 10-day CD rate guarantee. Marcus will automatically bump you up to a higher interest rate if your CD term’s APY increases within 10 days of funding your account.
• Low minimum deposit. Most CDs have an opening deposit of $1,000 or more. But you can lock in a Marcus CD rate with just $500.
• No-penalty CD option. The Marcus no-penalty CD earns 0.45% interest and lets you withdraw your money after seven days of funding with no penalties.

Cons

• No branches. Marcus is completely online, so you can’t visit a branch to open your account.
• No partial withdrawals. If you need to access your money before maturity, you’ll have to withdraw the full balance as Marcus doesn’t allow partial withdrawals.

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Capital One: Best for students

High school students can learn to manage money with the Capital One MONEY and Kids Savings accounts. College students looking for an account they can keep beyond graduation may like the Capital One 360 Checking and 360 Performance Savings accounts.

Pros

• Earns interest. Every single bank account offered by Capital One earns a competitive interest rate that ranks among the best in their respective categories.
• No fees. You won’t pay anything for monthly maintenance and overdrafts. Plus, there are no minimum balance requirements.
• Savings tools. High school and college students can set savings goals and track their spending with the Capital One mobile app. Parents who are joint-owners can also set up an Automatic Savings Plan.

Cons

• Miscellaneous fees. Capital One ditches a lot of fees charged by other banks, but you’re still on the hook for stop payment requests and overnight debit card replacements.
• No 24/7 support. Unlike other banks of its size, Capital One doesn’t have round-the-clock support. You can live chat during regular business hours and make calls from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET.

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Axos Bank: Best for checking

Pros

• No monthly fees. All personal checking accounts are free to open. Business checking accounts have waivable monthly fees that range from $10 to $15.
• Low opening deposits. Personal checking accounts have opening deposits starting at $0 and business checking accounts have opening deposits starting at $100.
• ATM reimbursements. Most Axos checking accounts have unlimited ATM reimbursements, giving you the freedom to withdraw cash when and where you need it.

Cons

• No cash deposits. Like most online banks, Axos Bank doesn’t accept cash deposits, which could be a drawback if you regularly have cash on hand.
• Withdraw limits. Teens ages 13 to 17 with a First Checking account can’t withdraw more than $100 a day from ATMs.
• Foreign currency conversion rate. You can use your debit card anywhere Visa is accepted, but you may pay a currency conversion fee overseas.

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Ally: Best for savings

Ally is an online bank offering some of the best savings accounts on the market. You’ll find competitive interest rates, no hidden fees and four separate savings tools to help you grow your nest egg.

Pros

• Low fees. There are no monthly fees, plus free access to over 38,000 ATMs when you open a checking or money market account.
• Four savings tools. Divide up your savings using buckets, save the spare change from debit card purchases, set up automatic payments or have Ally analyze your checking account for spare funds.
• Competitive APYs. Ally Bank offers some of the top interest rates across all its accounts. Its checking account earns up to 0.15% interest and its savings account earns 0.5%.

Cons

• No cash deposits. As with most online banks, Ally doesn’t accept cash deposits. Instead, you’ll need to get a money order and mail it in.
• 30 days to fund account. Almost all Ally accounts have a $0 opening deposit, but the bank will close your account if it’s not funded within the first 30 days.
• No debit or ATM card. Ally Bank may be the best bank in California for savings, but you won’t get an ATM or debit card to access your money.