Best Banks in Milwaukee

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Online/mobile banks typically have strong interest rates because their operating costs are so low compared to their traditional counterparts. This rings true with Ally Bank, as its Online Savings Account is paired with a daily compounding 4.20% APY. At this rate, a $10,000 deposit would see more than $1,788.83 in interest earnings over four years. In addition to being branchless, Ally is monthly fee- and minimum-less.

The Spending Account can expand your banking suite, while still keeping it in-house at Ally. Not only do you get a debit card for free, but you’ll also receive access to the Allpoint ATM network. Allpoint operates an astounding 55,000 ATMs around the world that Ally customers can use free of charge. In terms of interest rates, this account can offer up to a 0.25% APY.

The Ally mobile banking app is available for download on Apple and Android devices. Reviews on the two competing app stores have led to it holding a 4.35-star rating out of 5. Mobile check deposit, an ATM locator, digital account statements and transaction histories and a peer-to-peer money transfer program called Zelle® are just a few of the perks of the app.

Save more with these rates that beat the National Average

• Savings & MMAs
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For the easiest physical access to your accounts, you’ll want to turn to BMO Harris Bank. It provides residents with the biggest number of branches with 71 total in the area. You can find around 600 more branches throughout Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Arizona and Florida. Plus, in addition to BMO Harris ATMs, you’ll have access to more than 40,000 Allpoint Network ATMs. 

BMO Harris offers a great range of bank accounts from a simple savings account to retirement-specific deposit accounts. You’ll also find that BMO Harris offers credit cards, mortgages, loans and more, becoming a true full-service bank. Unfortunately, the bank’s deposit accounts don’t earn at the best interest rates. Its savings account earns at one of the lowest rates (although better than some other big banks). The bank’s CD rates are the best it can offer, with longer-term accounts earning the highest rates.

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The top five biggest bank presences in Milwaukee are largely big banks like BMO Harris. However, the bank with the fifth-most branches is the more regional Tri City National Bank. The bank has 30 branches in the Milwaukee area. You can also access the bank and your accounts online, via email and over a 24 hour automated phone system. 

Tri City National Bank has some pretty standard account offerings. You can run into relatively high minimum deposit amounts. Its deposit rates are relatively unremarkable, although they do outperform the rates big banks offer. 

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Although the Savings Builder account from CIT Bank has a base rate of 0.40%, you can easily make yourself eligible for a significant boost to a 1.00% APY. More specifically, you’ll receive this rate if you deposit at least $100 in your account every month or keep your balance above the $25,000 mark. Unlike many accounts that have exorbitant minimums, CIT calls for just a $100 deposit.

CIT Bank is a saver’s dream, as the bank is jam packed with different types of savings products. You can open a high-yield savings account, a money market account (MMA) or more than a dozen certificates of deposit (CDs).

Managing your CIT account on the go is as easy as downloading the bank’s mobile app. You can check your current and past account statements, view a transcript of your transaction history, deposit checks remotely and move funds between your CIT accounts. CIT mobile customers rate the app at 3.85 stars out of 5, so it appears to be a fairly solid offering.

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For high-yield savings, check out North Shore Bank’s High-Yield Savings account. Unlike many small bank savings accounts with high rates, this North Shore account doesn’t require a minimum deposit to open. There is a relatively high monthly service fee of $15, although you can waive this by maintaining an account balance of at least $1,000. 

Luckily, you can earn a 0.15% APY no matter your balance. 

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Wintrust Community Bank offers some of the best customer service in the Midwest, according to a recent customer satisfaction survey. For starters, the bank prides itself on its strong focus on community, getting to know customers by name and investing in local businesses. You can find over 150 locations in southern Wisconsin, Chicago and northwest Indiana. As part of its online offerings, you can contact your nearest branch and/or submit a question or provide any feedback. 

In terms of accounts, Wintrust has a range of offering. You can find fee-free checking accounts, a Cubs or White Sox checking account, wealth management and more. Plus its accounts have some pretty solid interest rates that will allow your balances to grow and stay safe.

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Milwaukee residents will want to turn to the area’s best national bank, BMO Harris, for the best free checking account in the area. The BMO Harris Smart Advantage checking account doesn’t charge a monthly service fee at all. There is a $3 fee if you want to stick to old-school paper statements, which you can easily avoid by going paperless. 

You’ll need to make at least a $25 deposit to open this account, which is a pretty standard opening deposit requirement. 

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For the best interest-earning checking account from a bank with branches in Milwaukee, turn to Associated Bank’s Choice Checking account. This account offers a debit Matercard and two out-of-network ATM surcharge fee refunds up to $20 per statement cycle. You can also get complimentary personal checks, free cashier's checks and money orders. For current rates, contact Associated Bank directly.

Additional benefits include free digital banking through Zelle to send money, mobile deposit to make deposits from any place and time, and bill pay to manage, organize and make payments online.

A $25 monthly maintenace fee is waived for the first two statement cycles. You can avoid this fee altogether by holding $10,000 in combined deposit accounts with the same statement cycle.

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As a college student, chances are you’re doing a lot of traveling, whether for fun or just going back and forth between home and school. In that case, you’ll want a bank that offers widespread physical access to your accounts. In Milwaukee, you’ll find 54 U.S. Bank branches throughout the area. On a wider scale, the bank has branches in 26 states and over 5,000 throughout the country. 

The simple U.S. Bank Student Checking account requires only $25 to open. There technically is no monthly fee, although if a student wants to keep it old school, there’s a $2 fee for paper statements. Be sure to compare this account with the best savings accounts for students.