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Alina Vasylieva/Getty Images September 12, 2022 Matthew Goldberg is a consumer banking reporter at Bankrate. Matthew has been in financial services for more than a decade, in banking and insurance. René Bennett is a writer for Bankrate, reporting on banking products and personal finance. Brian Beers is the managing editor for the Wealth team at Bankrate. He oversees editorial coverage of banking, investing, the economy and all things money. Bankrate logo The Bankrate promise
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Banks Credit unions Who they serve Mostly customers in an area where the bank has a branch, unless it’s an online-only bank. It could be a certain region, employer or common group. Savings and CD rates Typically lower than the national average. Generally above the bank national average. Do they have branches? Yes, though some online banks have few or none. Yes, though some credit unions are online only. Technology Generally, have advanced technology. Smaller banks might not. Some larger credit unions have advanced technology, but smaller credit unions might not. Key statistics
There were 4,796 federally insured banks in the first quarter of 2022, a slight decline from the year before. There were 4,942 federally insured credit unions at the end of 2021. While the number of credit unions declined from the previous year, the total assets held at all credit unions increased by 11.7 percent. Americans for 14 years on average. Just under half of Americans (44 percent) in savings. shows that 23 percent of households have no savings at all. Sources: , and Credit unions
Advantages of credit unions
Higher rates: Credit unions are not-for-profit organizations owned by their members. “That’s the main difference between (banks and credit unions),” says Rutger van Faassen, director of new markets and innovation at analytics provider Curinos. Credit unions typically provide better savings and lending rates, van Faassen says. insurance: Federally insured credit unions are backed by the U.S. government. Your money is safe if a credit union fails. Check the to see how insurance rules apply to member share accounts, which can help you determine what’s insured and if any amount exceeds the coverage limits. Personal connection: Credit unions tend to be local or regional and often service a specific community. As such, the service a credit union provides may be more personalized, and you may also be supporting an institution that upholds your values. Disadvantages of credit unions
Limited access: Credit unions typically are local or regional and may not serve your area. It may not make sense to bank at a credit union that has no branches near you. Higher rates may be available at online banks: Online-only banks, also known as direct banks, tend to have more competitive savings and CD yields. Membership requirements: You might have to live or work in a certain region to become a member of a credit union. Or the field of membership, which is the common bond shared by the credit union members, might have other requirements. Banks
Advantages of banks
More locations: Brick-and-mortar banks may have branches and ATMs down the street from where you work or live. And larger ones may also have locations wherever you travel across the country. Variety of options: Some of the largest banks in the country, such as or , are brick-and-mortar banks, but banks can also be small local or regional and may provide more personalized service. There are also plenty of for the digitally minded. Advanced technology: Banks are a little ahead when it comes to technology, van Faassen says. They may offer more comprehensive and special savings features, such as automated saving. Disadvantages of banks
Lower savings rates: Many of the large, traditional banks in the U.S. do not offer competitive annual percentage yields (APYs) on their savings products. High balance requirements or maintenance fees: Some banks are known for charging fees, though there are usually ways to waive them. Brick-and-mortar banks vs online banks
Depending on their size, brick-and-mortar banks may operate thousands of branches, just one or some number in between. Online banks, on the other hand, usually don’t operate any branches, and opt instead to offer their products and services solely over the internet. Similarly to brick-and-mortar banks, some online banks offer accounts to customers anywhere in the U.S., while others only allow consumers in certain states or areas to open accounts. Without the expense of branches to maintain, online banks are able to attract customers by offering higher yields on , and , though not all online banks offer competitive rates. Direct banks are also known for not charging maintenance fees. Brick-and-mortar banks sometimes offer signature guarantee services in the form of a notary or medallion signature stamp for transferring securities. Services such as these, along with , are why some consumers prefer to have accounts at brick-and-mortar banks. Bank credit union trends
More reliance on digital banking: Banking technology has been evolving greatly over the years. While most consumers still use traditional banks, 62 percent of consumers say they are somewhat or highly likely to switch to a digital-only bank, a found. Consumers also reported higher levels of satisfaction with digital banks. Branches are closing rapidly: Alongside the rise of digital banking is the decline of branch-banking. Between 2017 and 2021, 9 percent of all bank branches in the U.S. closed, according to a , a nonprofit organization. The : Various banks and credit unions have either cut or plan to cut or reduce their overdraft fees. Alien Credit Union, Ally Bank and Capital One are just a few of the financial institutions that have been at the forefront of this trend. More households are gaining access to bank or credit union accounts: In 2020, 5 percent of households were “unbanked,” meaning they had no bank account, according to the Federal Reserve. While it’s still important to account for that 5 percent, the number of unbanked households has decreased by 3.2 percentage points since 2011. : Some financial institutions are becoming more conscious of their impact on the environment, including where they invest their money. The is a network of banks that are committed to prioritizing the environment and local communities. Many banks have also shifted from paper statements to paperless statements to reduce the amount of paper waste they produce. Are banks safer than credit unions
and NCUA credit unions are both backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government and offer similar protections. Both institutions protect up to $250,000 per depositor, per federally insured bank or credit union, per ownership category. Other factors to consider
Here are some other things to consider when . Are branch and ATM locations convenient? Is the bank or credit union part of an ATM network? Does it reimburse some or all out-of-network ATM fees? Do customer-service hours work with your schedule? Check to research and compare banks. Most popular banks and credit unions by state
STATE MOST POPULAR CREDIT UNION Alabama Regions Bank Redstone Federal Credit Union Alaska Wells Fargo Alaska USA Federal Credit Union Arizona Chase Bank Desert Financial Credit Union Arkansas Arvest Bank Arkansas Federal Credit Union California Chase Bank SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union Colorado Wells Fargo Ent Credit Union Connecticut M&T Bank Connecticut State Employees Credit Union Delaware M&T Bank Del-One Federal Credit Union Florida Wells Fargo Suncoast Credit Union Georgia Truist Bank Delta Community Credit Union Hawaii Bank of Hawaii HawaiiUSA Federal Credit Union Idaho U.S. Bank Idaho Central Credit Union Illinois Chase Bank Alliant Credit Union Indiana Chase Bank Teachers Credit Union Iowa U.S. Bank GreenState Credit Union Kansas Capitol Federal Savings Bank CommunityAmerica Credit Union Kentucky U.S. Bank Abound Credit Union Louisiana Chase Bank Barksdale Federal Credit Union Maine Bangor Savings Bank Atlantic Federal Credit Union Maryland M&T Bank SECU MD Massachusetts Citizens Bank DCU Michigan Huntington Lake Michigan Credit Union Minnesota Wells Fargo Wings Financial Credit Union Mississippi Regions Bank Keesler Federal Credit Union Missouri U.S. Bank First Community Credit Union Montana Glacier Bank Whitefish Credit Union Nebraska Pinnacle Bank Cobalt Credit Union Nevada Wells Fargo Greater Nevada Credit Union New Hampshire Citizens Bank Service Credit Union New Jersey Wells Fargo Affinity Federal Credit Union New Mexico Wells Fargo Nusenda Credit Union New York Chase Bank Bethpage Federal Credit Union North Carolina Truist Bank State Employees Credit Union North Dakota Gate City Bank First Community Credit Union Ohio Huntington Wright-Patt Credit Union Oklahoma Bancfirst Tinker Federal Credit Union Oregon U.S. Bank OnPoint Community Credit Union Pennsylvania PNC Bank PSECU Rhode Island Citizens Bank Navigant Credit Union South Carolina First Citizens Bank Founders Federal Credit Union South Dakota First Interstate Bank Black Hills Federal Credit Union Tennessee Regions Bank Eastman Credit Union Texas Wells Fargo Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union Utah Zions Bank America First Credit Union Vermont M&T Bank New England Federal Credit Union Virginia Truist Bank Navy Federal Credit Union Washington Chase Bank BECU West Virginia City National Bank of West Virginia Bayer Heritage Federal Credit Union Wisconsin BMO Harris Landmark Credit Union Wyoming Bank of The West Blue Federal Credit Union Sources: FDIC and Credit Unions Online Bottom line
When shopping around for the right bank or credit union, always look out for fees, minimum balance requirements and what rates are offered on savings products. You might also want to consider accessibility — whether that be by branch location or by digital means. Most consumers keep their bank account with the same institution for over a decade, so it pays to make a decision that you feel confident with. But don’t hesitate to , especially when some institutions are offering yields that far outpace others. SHARE: Matthew Goldberg is a consumer banking reporter at Bankrate. Matthew has been in financial services for more than a decade, in banking and insurance. René Bennett is a writer for Bankrate, reporting on banking products and personal finance. Brian Beers is the managing editor for the Wealth team at Bankrate. He oversees editorial coverage of banking, investing, the economy and all things money. Related Articles