Finding the Best Banks in Louisiana
Finding the best banks in Louisiana starts with finding the banks with the most branches in the state. That way, Louisianans won’t find themselves stranded without a nearby branch should they need one. Big banks took over this list with the resources to offer more than 100 branches. Below, you will also find some of the best bank accounts, like the best savings accounts, for Louisiana.
Bank | APY | Min. Deposit | Highlights | |
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Ally Bank | 4.00% | $0 |
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Chase Bank | 0.01% | $25 |
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CIT Bank | 0.40% | $100 |
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Capital One | 4.00% | $0 |
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Capital One | 0.10% | $0 |
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Chase Bank | 0.01% | $0 |
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How We Determined the Best Banks in Louisiana
To find the best banks in Louisiana, SmartAsset experts first rounded up the top 15 banks by number of branches in the state. This ensures customers can have easier access to their banks. Then we dived into each bank’s offerings, including accounts, fees, rate structures and more. This information helped determine the best bank accounts for Louisianans, as well.
Ally Bank: The Top Savings Account
The Ally Online Savings Account is the perfect choice for anyone seeking the combination of a high interest rate with no monthly fees or opening minimums. The 4.00% APY that Ally provides absolutely falls within the confines of this description. As a matter of fact, if you let a $10,000 balance sit in this account for four years, you’d earn more than $1,698.59 in interest for doing nothing.
If you’re looking for a checking option to pair with your Online Savings Account, the Spending Account is no slouch. The premier concern of any checking account is to afford you ample access to your money. To meet this need, Ally provides account holders with a free debit card that can be used for purchases or cash withdrawals at more than 55,000 fee-free ATMs in the Allpoint network. Don’t forget that you can also earn up to a 0.25% APY on this interest-bearing checking account as well.
Ally has a mobile offering for Apple and Android users alike. Customers have reviewed Ally’s app a combined 22,000 times to the tune of a 4.35-star rating out of 5. Logging in to the app lets you skim through your personal account statements and up-to-date transaction histories, find Allpoint ATMs, initiate remote check deposits and more.
Best National Bank With Branches in Louisiana & Best Customer Service: Chase Bank
For the easiest branch access in Louisiana, you’ll want to bank with Chase, which maintains 140 branches throughout the state. The bank also operates physical locations in 25 other states along with its thorough online and mobile interfaces. This makes for convenient access to your money no matter where you are. Chase also offers the opportunity to keep all your accounts in one place with ease.
Chase has a somewhat limited suite of accounts, however. You can choose from a couple savings accounts, four checking accounts and a handful of certificates of deposit (CDs). None of its interest-earning accounts offer great rates, however, especially its CD rates. You’ll also want to be mindful of each account’s monthly fees. You can also waive those fees but only if you meet certain transaction or balance requirements.
Luckily, if you need to contact the bank for any reason, Chase offers some of the best customer service in the South Central region according to a customer satisfaction survey. Louisiana residents have 140 branches to choose from, but you can also call the bank at various phone numbers depending on your concern and department.
Best Savings Account Rate: CIT Bank Savings Builder Account
The 1.00% APY of the CIT Savings Builder account is surprisingly easy to attain. First and foremost, you’ll need to make an initial deposit of no less than $100. Once you open your account, simply deposit another $100 a month or keep your account balance above $25,000 to maintain your eligibility. Should your account miss out on each of these guidelines, a 0.40% APY is what you’ll receive.
There are many savings products available through CIT Bank. This includes a money market account (MMA), the Premier High-Yield Savings account and varying styles of certificates of deposit (CDs), like:
- 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
Mobile banking is clearly on the rise, and web-based banks like CIT are at the forefront of these services. Headlining the app are features like mobile check deposit, digital account statements, up-to-date transactions histories and in-house account transfers. “People Pay” is CIT’s proprietary money transfer service, but it’s only available for money market account holders.
Runner-up for Best Savings Account Rate: Capital One 360 Performance Savings
In addition to its solid checking account, Capital One also offers a great 360 Performance Savings account. You’ll earn a 4.00% APY (as of 10/23/24) on any balance you have in this account. Plus, the account is free to own so you don’t have to worry about fees cutting into your savings.
If you open more than one Capital One account, all those accounts will be easily accessible with one login both online and on mobile.
Best Free & Best High-Yield Checking Account: Capital One 360 Checking® Account
When Capital One is an option, most regional banks can’t really compete with its account offerings. The Capital One 360 Checking® account earns the title of both Best Free Checking and Best High-Yield Checking account. It’s completely free without any loopholes or hoops to jump through. You can also use thousands of ATMs around the world fee-free.
This free account also earns interest on all balances, where higher balances can earn higher rates. Balances below $50,000 earn at 0.10% APY, balances between $50,000 and $99,999 earn 0.10% APY and any balances over that earn at 0.10% APY (APYs as of 8/1/24).
Capital One 360 operates online and via mobile, with internet browsing and a smartphone app. You can also call to speak with a real person or visit your nearby location for in-person service.
Best for Students: Chase Bank
Chase Bank is great for both college and high school students with its College Checking and High School Checking accounts. The College Checking account is available to students 17 to 24 years old with proof of student status at account opening. It requires a low minimum deposit of $25 to open. The account isn’t free outright with a waivable $6 monthly fee. You can waive the fee for five years while enrolled in college. You can also waive the fee with either a direct deposit or average ending day balance of at least $5,000 each statement cycle.
The High School Checking account is made for students 13 to 17 years old with a parent/guardian co-owner. The account must be linked to the adult’s personal checking account.