Benzinga can help you find a bank with accounts that make sense for you.
Whether you want to make the move to online banking or need a bank with more branches near you, check out our list of the best banks in Pennsylvania to find your perfect match today.
Best Banks in Pennsylvania Near You:
- Best for Checking Accounts: Axos Bank
- Best for Branch Access: PNC Bank
- Best for Financial Planning Tools: Citizens Bank
- Best for Mobile Banking: BBVA
- Best Savings Accounts: CIT Bank
- No Maintenance Fees
Best for Checking Accounts: Axos Bank
Celebrating its 20th year, Axos Bank is in the online banking game for the long haul. It offers banking and borrowing and investment products to personal banking customers. Axos also handles small business and commercial banking customers along with commercial lending.
If you’re in the market for personal banking accounts, Axos offers checking accounts, savings and certificates of deposit (CDs). You have your pick amongst Axos’ roster of checking accounts.
Essential Checking is a free, simple checking account with the benefit of unlimited ATM fee reimbursements. CashBack Checking account is also free, but earns you 1.00% cash back on purchases.
Rewards Checking is the most popular account from Axos. This is a high-yield checking account with tiered interest rates. Completing each of the following actions nets you ⅓ of the total potential interest rate:
- Receive at least $1,000 in eligible direct deposits monthly
- Conduct 10+ monthly transactions with your Axos Visa Debit Card
- Conduct 15+ monthly transactions with your Axos Visa Debit Card
Rewards Checking offers free banking with no overdraft or non-sufficient funds fees. Axos will also reimburse all ATM fees you incur with this account.
The last 2 accounts cater to the needs of seniors and young people with targeted features and benefits. Golden Checking is reserved for those 55 years of age or older. This account earns interest and comes with free checks and other perks. First Checking teaches teens aged 13-17 the ins and outs of banking and earning interest.
Common features between all accounts include mobile deposits, bill pay and peer-to-peer payments.
Axos’ checking accounts are impressive as well. High Yield Savings and High Yield Money Market are interest-bearing savings accounts from Axos. These are maintenance fee-free and you don’t need to maintain a balance to keep the account active.
Best for Branch Access: PNC Bank
PNC Bank is a nationwide bank serving personal customers, small businesses and corporate and institutional customers.
With 343 branches in Pennsylvania, PNC is the right choice if in-person banking is a top priority to you. Choose from a wide array of personal banking products, including checking, savings, credit cards and its Virtual Wallet banking packages.
There are 3 tiers of Virtual Wallet packages:
- Virtual Wallet is a basic account with low monthly service charges. Avoiding the fees is easy with qualifying actions.
- Virtual Wallet Performance Spend is a rewards account that earns interest.
- Virtual Wallet Performance Select is a premium account that earns higher interest rates and other perks.
Each of these accounts include some ATM reimbursements, free Zelle and Bill Pay, higher rates on relationship savings accounts and the opportunity to earn cash back.
Performance Spend and Performance Select each have additional available perks. Mobile and online banking include top of the line digital tools.
- Comparing Checking Accounts
Best for Financial Planning Tools: Citizens Bank
Another large bank with many locations in Pennsylvania, Citizens Bank operates 299 branches in the state.
Choose from 4 checking accounts. Student Checking is a free account for those under 25 with ATM reimbursements. One Deposit from Citizens Bank is a basic account with an easy-to-avoid fee – just make 1 qualifying deposit monthly.
Citizens Bank Platinum Checking and Citizens Bank Platinum Plus Checking are each interest bearing accounts with premium benefits. Each of these accounts also come with increased relationship discounts for products like money market accounts and personalized advice and service.
Citizens provides its customer a handy financial planning tool with Citizens Checkup. Free to all account holders, you can have a banker help you evaluate your finances and develop a financial plan or start planning for events like retirement.
Make your appointment online or call a branch today.
Best for Mobile Banking: BBVA
Look no further than BBVA whether you’re new to mobile banking or a digital banking die-hard. The accolade-winning BBVA Mobile Banking 9.0 app is designed to adapt to the needs of customers. It keeps constant updates on your evolving financial status at a click’s length away.
BBVA’s offerings span a wide array of personal, commercial, small business, commercial and wealth products.
For personal banking, you’ll find checking and savings accounts, credit cards and loans, among other products. BBVA limits some of its products to states it operates physical branches in. Other products are available in all states.
In Pennsylvania, you can access the suite of nationwide products, including 2 checking accounts. Both accounts require only $25 to get started.
To earn tiered interest rates, open a Premium Checking account. If you prefer cash back rewards, you can turn on Simple Cash Back with an Online Checking account.
Savings accounts with BBVA include a basic savings account, an online savings account, a money market account and CD accounts.
- Business and Personal Checking
Best Savings Accounts: CIT Bank
CIT Bank offers solid digital personal banking accounts. You can open a checking or savings account with CIT for as little as $100. CIT also provides home loans and several different CDs.
CIT is a great bank if you’re looking for a savings account. There are 3 accounts available with different perks. Choose from the Savings Builder account, Premier High Yield Savings account or Money Market account.
Premium High Yield Savings is a basic savings account that earns interest at a competitive rate. The Savings Builder account is an interest-bearing account with a tiered rates structure. Different tiers are accessible if you perform specified actions each month. These include actions such as maintaining a minimum monthly balance or receiving direct deposits.
CIT Money Market account is 1 of the more popular accounts. This account is a cross between an interest-bearing savings account and a checking account. You can access your funds easily when necessary. You can only make up to 6 transactions with this account, but excessive transactions only cost $10 per and fees are capped at $50 per month.
The account is primarily fee-free aside from excessive transactions. And if you overdraft, it will cost you $25. All CIT accounts have constant access to digital banking tools.
If you’re in the market for a solid online checking account, eChecking may be your perfect match. This is a digital checking account that also earns interest. Those who keep at least $25,000 in their accounts on average earn higher-tier rates. This account is mostly free, and you’ll have some ATM fees reversed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the difference between a bank and a credit union?
A: Because banks are shareholder owned and earn large profits, they are able to offer numerous physical branches along with innovative banking products and technology.
Credit unions are member-owned. Members benefit from profits, often seeing returns in the form of better rates on interest and lower rates on loan. Many credit unions invest in online banking and mobile apps as well, giving members cutting edge technology while retaining a homegrown feel.
Q: Is my money safe in a bank account?
A: Federally-insured banks secure your funds up to $250,000. Your money is insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or FDIC.
Make Your Transition Today
The level of competition between banks today ensures you’re at an advantage as a customer. Find a bank with features that do more for your money.
Benzinga’s list of the best banks in Pennsylvania will help you make the switch.
Methodology
To determine the best banks in Pennsylvania, Benzinga analyzed over 100 banks and financial institutions. We gave weight to banks in Pennsylvania with co-op ATMs and cash-back options. We also gave greater rankings to banks which offered the following: checking and savings accounts, online banking, personal loans, mortgages, educational resources, and a mobile app.
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