Best Banks in Kansas City

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The premier account offering at Ally Bank is the Online Savings Account. Account holders receive a 4.00% APY with no hoops to jump through to hold onto that rate. If you’re looking to keep earning interest, but want stronger account access, you can pair your savings account with the Spending Account from Ally. Customers with a minimum daily balance below $15,000 get a 0.10% APY, whereas anyone above that threshold gets a 0.25% APY.

Aside from the strong interest-earning potential of Ally, the bank utilizes a very hands-off approach for its fee schedule. In fact, both Online Savings and Interest Checking account holders will avoid monthly fees and minimum initial deposits. So not only can you open an account at any balance, but you’ll also retain every dollar you earn from interest.

Ally’s total lack of physical branches could be a tough pill to swallow for some. Even still, the bank has created a sizable online and mobile account management system. As a matter of fact, between the Apple and Android app stores, the Ally app has an average rating of 4.35 stars out of 5. Common features you can take advantage of include mobile check deposit, a peer-to-peer money transfer program called Zelle® and 24/7 online account statements. You’ll also get a debit card that you can use at 55,000 fee-free ATMs in the Allpoint network. Ally reimburses up to $10 in out-of-network ATM fees per statement cycle as well.

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U.S. Bank offers Kansas City area residents the best access to physical locations with 59 branches in the area. The bank also operates branches in 27 other states which makes for easier access when traveling. This is in addition to the bank’s easily navigable online and mobile banking features. 

You can have your pick of U.S. Bank accounts, from four CD account types to four money market accounts to seven different checking account options. This really allows you to find an account that’s right for you depending on your situation. You generally won’t face high fees or minimum requirements, especially on savings accounts. The bank’s checking accounts do allow you to waive the monthly fees by meeting certain account requirements like minimum balances. 

The cost of maintaining thousands of branches means U.S. Bank doesn’t offer the best interest rates. Its two interest-earning checking accounts and two savings accounts all earn at the lowest APY. So if you’re looking for the highest rates to boost your savings, you’ll want to look elsewhere.

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With 45 branches in Kansas City, Commerce Bank offers residents the second-most branches, just behind U.S. Bank. This means you can still benefit from convenient banking, but with a more regional banking feel. Plus, Commerce Bank provides online and mobile banking features so you can manage your money on the go. 

Commerce Bank offers a range of different bank accounts. With four different checking accounts available, you can choose which one you want to open whether you want a basic account or one that offers added benefits for higher balances. You can even open a CommerceStudent Checking account for anyone 25 years and younger. The bank also offers two savings accounts, CDs, money market accounts and even a health savings account (HSA). 

Commerce Bank doesn’t offer very high interest rates. Its basic savings accounts max out at a 0.01% APY and the CommerceRelationship Checking account only earns at a 0.01% APY. Other accounts like the bank’s CDs and money market accounts reserve the highest rates for the highest balances. It is worth noting, however, that these rates are higher than what a big bank can typically offer.

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In today’s market, it can be tough to find a savings account with strong interest rates and a manageable minimum. The Savings Builder account from CIT Bank takes direct aim at this issue, as account holders can earn up to a 1.00% APY on a minimum initial deposit of just $100. All you need to do is either sustain an account balance of at least $25,000 or make $100 in monthly deposits. If you’re unable to keep up with these rules, your interest rate will sink to a 0.40% APY.

The best savers own more than just a single savings account. If you want to keep your money with one bank, CIT offers these accounts as well:

• Money market account
• Premier High-Yield Savings account
• 6-month to 5-year term CDs
• 2-year to 5-year jumbo CDs
• 1-year to 4-year “RampUp” CDs
• No-Penalty/11-Month CD

With online and mobile platforms at the core of the banking industry, a bank’s mobile apps have never been more important. CIT has fared well in this category, as its Apple and Android mobile apps have a 3.85-star rating out of 5 between the app stores. Remote check deposit and in-house money transfers are the most practical benefits of these platforms, though you’ll also be able to look through your account statements and transaction histories at any time.

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North American Savings Bank offers five standard savings accounts, plus a kids savings account, but it’s the Smart Savers Savings account that’s the best savings account for Kansas City. For starters, the account requires the smallest minimum deposit of the five accounts, at $50. This makes it much more accessible to potential customers than, say, the Super Saver Account which requires at least $15,000 to open. 

Once you’ve deposited at least $50 into a Smart Savers Savings Account, you can start growing your money at the solid APY of 0.25%. For the first six months of account ownership, you can avoid a monthly fee by simply setting up a recurring deposit of at least $25 to the account. After those six months, you’ll need to maintain a minimum balance of $200 to avoid the $7.50 monthly fee. As long as you don’t withdraw any money from your account, your initial and recurring deposits will keep you at the required balance. 

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Not only does U.S. Bank have the most branches in the KC area, but it also offers the best customer service in the South Central United States according to a J.D. Power customer satisfaction survey. (The overall winner for the Midwest region was Wintrust Bank, which lacks a presence in Kansas City.)  For starters, the bank provides a thorough FAQ section so you can first try to find an answer online. If your question isn’t addressed there, you then have various phone numbers to choose from, depending on your query and metro area. This prevents you from getting too lost in the midst of an automated phone tree. Of course, Kansas City residents also have the luxury of visiting one of 59 branches in the area, whether to open an account or seek financial guidance. 

U.S. Bank’s customer service is more than accessibility, however. The bank seeks to extend its products to a variety of customers with its wide suite of bank accounts. For example, you could open its Easy Checking account with its low minimum deposit and low, waivable monthly fee if you just need a simple checking account to help you keep track of your money. On the other hand, you could open a Platinum Checking Package account, to earn top-tier interest and snag extra perks. With five other checking accounts, two savings accounts, four CD types and more, U.S. Bank has an account for just about everyone.

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For the best free checking account in the area, Kansas City residents will want to head to BMO Harris to open a BMO Harris Smart Advantage™ Account. All you have to do is sign up for eStatements instead of paper statements. This may even already be your default in in today’s technological world. If you choose to stick to paper statements, the account will no longer be free and you’ll have to pay $2. 

Along with the bank’s other checking accounts, the BMO Harris Smart Advantage™ Account includes a chip-enabled debit Mastercard® and access to over 40,000 Allpoint® network ATMs throughout the country. With this widespread ATM access, it should be easy to avoid the $3 BMO Harris fee for using an ATM out of its network.

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If using a checking account to keep your money safe isn’t enough, Security Bank of Kansas City’s high-yield checking account should do the trick. For starters, you will need at least $25 to open the Platinum Leaf Checking account. However, this account earns 3.56% APY on account balances up to $50,000. Any balances above this amount will have a 0.10% APY, which still outperforms some larger banks. 

To earn any interest on this account, you will have to meet a few requirements each statement cycle. This includes 15 settled and posted debit card transactions (excluding ATM transactions), at least one ACH direct deposit or ACH debit transaction and Electronic Statements. Electronic Statements are free to sign up for, while paper statements will cost you an extra $3.

These requirements may seem like a lot to ask, but if you use this checking account as you would a normal checking account, you should be just fine. Plus, you get to grow your account balance at a rate usually reserved for premium savings or money market accounts.

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From GPAs to getting to class on time, students have enough to worry about without the added stress that banking can carry. Banking with a big bank like Bank of America can take some of the stress out of banking due to its widespread presence. This means you can find a branch or ATM almost anywhere you go should you need one. 

As a student under the age of 24, you can open a Bank of America Core Checking® account knowing you can avoid the usual monthly fee. Bank of America also makes banking easy with its online and mobile banking features. For one, you can easily send and receive money with Zelle app, as long as you have the other person’s email address and phone number.