Best Banks in Georgia

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Our Rating: 5/5

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If you’re willing to explore what an online bank can offer, Ally Bank is a great place to start. Ally’s Online Savings Account and Interest Checking Account make a great combination for anyone looking for strong interest-earning potential. More specifically, the Ally savings account comes with a 1.70% APY, while its checking account earns a 0.50% APY for accounts with a minimum daily balance over $15,000 and a 0.10% APY for accounts beneath that number. There are no monthly fees associated with either of these accounts, nor does Ally institute minimum opening deposits.

A major concern of many online bankers is how readily available cash withdrawals will be without the luxury of branch locations. Ally has done about as much as it can to solve this problem, as it’s become part of the Allpoint ATM network. Allpoint runs 55,000 domestic and international ATMs that Ally customers can visit 24/7 for free. If you’re nowhere near an Allpoint ATM but need cash, Ally will reimburse up to $10 in out-of-network ATM charges per statement cycle.

Although Ally’s branchless nature would definitely be a change for traditional banking customers, the bank can help make your transition smooth with highly-rated mobile and online experiences. Between the Apple and Android app stores, the Ally banking app has steadily maintained a 4.35-star rating out of 5. The app lets you deposit checks on the go, find fee-free ATMs, view account balances and transaction histories and more. Zelle®, a peer-to-peer money transfer program like Venmo, is partnered with Ally to provide speedy payments to friends and family.

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Accessing your bank account with an ATM has never been easier with Wells Fargo’s 725+ ATMs in Georgia alone. Then when you need to visit a representative in person, Georgians have over 275 Wells Fargo branches to choose from. These options paired with the ease of online and mobile banking make banking with Wells Fargo a great option. Plus, as a big bank, you’ll have access to physical locations across the country and even around the world. 

Wells Fargo offers a number of bank accounts. This includes two savings accounts, three CD types, five checking account options and IRAs. Monthly service fees range from $3 to $30, depending on the exact account, with a number of ways to waive the fee. You’ll often have to meet a minimum balance or transaction amount in order to avoid the monthly fee. 

Despite their convenience, big banks aren’t known for offering high-earning interest rates. Wells Fargo is no different, with most of its account interest rates barely reaching the national average of 0.25%. You can, however, work toward earning at a bonus rate, usually by linking accounts together. Higher balances (think over $100,000) can also get you more favorable rates. 

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SunTrust Bank offers Georgia customers the second-most physical locations and ATMs. Georgia residents have access to around 230 SunTrust branches and over 115 ATMs. However the bank has locations in only 11 states and the District of Columbia. 

SunTrust offers a wide variety of bank accounts, including a basic savings account, IRAs, four checking accounts, five CD terms and money market accounts. Most of these accounts do have monthly maintenance fees, ranging from $3 to $25, depending on the account. However, you can get these fees waived entirely by meeting certain requirements, like maintaining a minimum balance. 

The interest rates that come with a SunTrust bank account are pretty standard for a bank of this size. You do have the opportunity to earn at higher rates with certain accounts when you have higher balances. Only SunTrust’s CD rates reach over 1% APYs. However, it is still worth noting that the bank offers higher rates than its big bank counterparts, like Wells Fargo.

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The CIT Bank Savings Builder account offers ample savings capabilities, headlined by a high-end 1.85% APY. To receive this rate, you must keep your account balance at or above $25,000 or complete at least $100 in deposits per month. A 1.17% APY awaits any customers that miss these conditions. To open an account, you need to make a minimum deposit of $100.

The ability to take care of your account management needs through your phone or computer is more important than ever, and CIT has taken notice. When you download CIT’s Apple or Android mobile app, you’ll get to deposit checks remotely, initiate in-house account transfers and read through your account statements in digital form. The bank’s customer base is apparently happy with this app, as it holds a combined rating of 3.85 stars out of 5.

CIT Bank is undoubtedly savings-centric. In addition to the Savings Builder account, you can opt for the Premier High-Yield Savings account, the Money Market account and a selection of term CDs, jumbo CDs, no-penalty CDs and CIT’s proprietary “RampUp” CDs.

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Whether you’re saving toward a new home or beefing up your emergency fund, Fidelity Bank has a savings account for you. Fidelity Bank’s Personal Savings Account earns interest according to balance tiers, with higher balances earning higher rates. These rates are competitive, ranging from 0.15% to 0.30% and outperforming big-name banks and local counterparts. 

You do have to open the account with at least $50, which is an average to low amount compared to other banks. There is a $12 monthly maintenance fee, although you can avoid it with a minimum daily balance of $200. 

As a smaller bank, Fidelity Bank offers Georgians around 48 branches, with more branches in Florida. This does limit customers’ physical access to the bank, especially when traveling out of state. You will still have online and mobile banking at your disposal, though.

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In a recent customer satisfaction survey, United Community Bank was voted the best for overall satisfaction in all of the Southeast. Certainly when you enter the bank’s website, it immediately brands itself as “The Right Partner” to help you manage your money and achieve your savings goals. United Community Bank also claims that it has earned an average customer satisfaction rating of 98% from Customer Service Profiles. The bank has 156 branches throughout four states: Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. There are 65 locations in Georgia alone, and some branches are open on Saturdays. Plus, with online and mobile banking availability, you can access your accounts no matter where you are. 

You’ll have your pick of bank accounts with United Community Bank. From five different checking accounts to a simple savings account to a five-year CD, the bank gives you a number of options to tailor your banking experience to your financial situation. That way, too, you can keep your bank accounts in one place for even more convenience.

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When looking for the best free checking account, you won’t have to look any further than Fidelity Bank’s Totally Free Checking and Direct Free Interest Checking accounts (not to be confused with Fidelity Investments). As their names suggest, neither of these accounts charge a monthly maintenance fee. Each account includes free Visa® Check Cards, eStatements, ATM usage and check card text alerts. You’ll want to take advantage of the fee-free ATM deal, since most banks charge a small fee of around $2.50 when you use an ATM outside of its network. Luckily for Fidelity Bank customers, there is no such fee. 

To open an account, you will need to deposit at least $50. This is slightly higher than a typical $25 opening deposit. However, you’ll get to benefit from the lack of fees and minimums after opening. The Direct Free Interest Checking even earns interest at a 0.05% APY. Then once you have an account, you can easily access it through the bank’s website, mobile services and unlimited check-writing abilities. You can also visit 48 Fidelity Bank branches in Georgia to speak with a representative in person.

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With small beginnings in Mississippi, Renasant Bank now boasts one of the highest-earning checking accounts we’ve seen. The Rewards Checking account offers its customers the opportunity to earn at a 1.51% APY. This rate significantly outperforms most of its big bank and credit union competitors for both savings and checking accounts. 

There are certain qualifications you need to meet to earn at this high rate. Luckily, these requirements should be easy to meet if you plan to use this account as your main checking account. For each qualification cycle, you will need to make at least 10 transactions with your debit card, have at least one direct deposit or ACH automatic payment post and clear and receive your monthly statement electronically. The qualification cycle starts three business days before the beginning of your statement cycle and ends three business days before the end of your statement cycle. 

The APY of 1.51% applies to balances up to $25,000. If your account reaches higher than this amount, you’ll earn at a 0.30% APY instead, given you still meet the requirements. Still, that rate beats the national average savings rate. If you fail to meet the given requirements, your balance, no matter the amount, will earn at a 0.03% APY. 

Further perks of the Renasant Bank Rewards Checking account include a medium-level opening balance of $50, up to $25 in ATM fee refunds, a debit MasterCard and unlimited check writing. There is a slight monthly service fee of $7.50. However, you can easily waive this by signing up for eStatements or maintaining a daily account balance of at least $500.

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You’re going to want a bank that makes managing your money as hassle-free as possible, especially when you head off to college. Chase Bank offers a solid option for students no matter where you’re going to school. Chase boasts 16,000 ATMs and 5,100 branches plus the added convenience of excellent mobile and online banking interfaces. This makes accessing your money both at home and at school a piece of cake. Chase allows students to waive the Chase College Checking monthly account fee for five years while in school. If you’re not in school, you can still avoid the fee with a direct deposit made to the account each statement cycle or an average ending day balance of at least $5,000. 

Not quite ready for college? Chase also has a checking account for high school students, Chase High School Checking. This is for students from 13 to 17 years old. Each student will need a parent or guardian co-owner with their own Chase checking account. As long as these accounts are linked, the student can avoid the monthly service fee. You can also waive the fee with a direct deposit or an average ending balance of at least $5,000 in each statement cycle. Once the student turns 19, the account will convert to a Chase Total Checking®. 

If you’re looking for a more home-grown bank, Ameris Bank offers its Student Banking Solutions. This Georgia-based bank provides checking, savings, credit card and account access resources to help you manage your money wherever you are. Without the reach of a big bank like Chase, Ameris Bank offers locations and ATMs in Georgia, Alabama, Florida and South Carolina. However, the bank will provide its student customers with an Access Checking account with free eStatements. Ameris also provides tips on credit cards, budgets, debt and college spending.