Best Banks in Cincinnati

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The Cincinnati area is home to more than 100 full-service U.S. Bank branches. And when you step into any one of them, you can find just about everything you’d expect to encounter at a major national bank. 

You can open a U.S. Bank Smartly Checking account that offers some basic features. This account offers a Visa debit card, as well as access to online and mobile banking. Through these tools, you can transfer money, pay bills and more. 

You can also avoid the $6.95 monthly service fee if you set up direct deposit totalling at least $1,000. The bank will also waive the fee if you keep an average account balance of at least $1,500. 

Overall, U.S. Bank gives you plenty of ways to save more money through special programs and incentives. Some of these are action-driven, so they may encourage a change in behavior that could help you stick to a solid savings routine. 

In addition, you’d have easy access to your funds even outside Cincinnati. U.S. Bank currently manages more than 3,000 offices nationwide.

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Fifth Third Bank runs more than 120 offices in Cincinnati. You can also find branches scattered throughout nine other states. The bank provides an array of banking options from standard checking and savings accounts to certificate of deposit (CD) and individual retirement accounts (IRA)s. 

One of the bank’s most popular options is the Fifth Third Momentum Checking account, which targets those who want to build financial habits to reach financial wellness goals. This account does not require a minimum deposit or balance. Benefits include unlimited check writing, mobile and online banking, and the ability to get your paycheck up to two days early without a fee through Early Pay. 

For those with more than $100,000 in investible assets, the bank offers Fifth Third Preferred Checking, which can let you earn higher interests and waive service charges. This account offers unlimited check writing, a secondary checking account and online bill pay, among other benefits.

Finally, for those seeking to set up a solid financial foundation, the bank offers Fifth Third Express Checking. This account does not charge a monthly service fee and does not require a minimum balance. Check deposits, however, are processed inside a branch for free, but are subject to standard availability rules. Check cashing restrictions and fees may also apply.

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Following J.D. Power’s recent U.S. Retail Banking Satisfaction Study, the firm ranked PNC among the best for overall customer service. The comprehensive analysis gathered responses from hundreds of customers to rank the top banks for customer service. Respondents applauded PNC Bank for many factors such as ease of new account opening, communication and advice, products and fees. 

PNC Bank has opened several channels of communication to serve its customers. You can call, email and even tweet customer service representatives. The website also publishes a comprehensive Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section. So you may find answers to your questions without having to pick up the phone or shoot an email. But of course, you can always visit a local branch. PNC manages more than 1,000 offices throughout the country including more than 70 in the Cincinnati area.  

And beyond superb customer service, you can expect a full suite of banking and investment products through this financial services giant.

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Even though you won’t find any physical Synchrony Bank branches, you can easily open and manage a High Yield Savings account online. In fact, this account currently collects an APY of 4.30%, which crushes the competition as far as savings account rates go. 

You also don’t need to maintain a minimum balance to keep the account active. In addition, Synchrony Bank makes it easy to access your funds. The following options are available:

• Internal transfer from another Synchrony Bank account 
• Electronic funds transfer from an external account
• Mobile check deposit 
• Deposit through ATM with a Plus or ACCEL logo
• Wire transfers initiated by another bank
• Personal or cashier’s check with a completed deposit slip for your account

However, keep in mind that federal law limits most types of withdrawals and transfers from savings and money market accounts (MMAs) to six per statement cycle. Synchrony won’t charge you an excessive withdrawal fee like many other banks would. But they can close your account if this activity becomes too frequent.

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Being a college student is expensive enough, so Chase wants to give you a break as you build you embark on your journey toward financial wellness. As long as you’re between the ages of 17 and 24, you would pay no monthly service fee for a Chase College Checking account. And you can even keep the account open afterward. However, you’d owe a $6 monthly service fee. 

Still, the bank will waive it if you set up direct deposit or if  you maintain an average balance of least $5,000. 

Overall, Chase offers one of the most affordable and beneficial student-focused checking accounts we’ve examined.