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Best Banks in Milwaukee

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We maintain strict editorial integrity in our writing and assessments. This post contains links from our advertisers, and we may receive compensation when you click these links. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone. | Advertiser Disclosure
We maintain strict editorial integrity in our writing and assessments. This post contains links from our advertisers, and we may receive compensation when you click these links. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone. | Advertiser Disclosure

Finding the Best Banks in Milwaukee

When looking at the banks with the most branches in the Milwaukee area, regional banks dominate the list. A few big banks come in at the top, with the resources to maintain a larger number of bank branches, so this offers a bit more convenience. However, the smaller banks still maintain great numbers and even better rates and fee structures than their big counterparts.

Bank
APY tooltip icon
Min. Deposit Highlights
Ally Bank logo Ally Bank 4.00% $0
  • The Top Savings Account
  • High APY
Learn more

Highlights

  • The Top Savings Account
  • High APY
BMO Harris Bank logo BMO Harris Bank 0.01% $25
  • Best National Bank With Branches in Milwaukee
  • More than 70 branches in Milwaukee area 
Learn more

Highlights

  • Best National Bank With Branches in Milwaukee
  • More than 70 branches in Milwaukee area 
Tri City National Bank logo Tri City National Bank 0.02% $100
  • Best Regional Bank
  • Variety of accounts to choose from 
Learn more

Highlights

  • Best Regional Bank
  • Variety of accounts to choose from 
CIT Bank logo CIT Bank 0.40% $100
  • Best Savings Account Rate
  • One of the best APYs on the market
Learn more

Highlights

  • Best Savings Account Rate
  • One of the best APYs on the market
North Shore Bank logo North Shore Bank 0.08% $0
  • Runner-up for Best Savings Account Rate
  • No minimum to open 
Learn more

Highlights

  • Runner-up for Best Savings Account Rate
  • No minimum to open 
Wintrust Bank logo Wintrust Bank 0.15% $0
  • Best Customer Service
  • Good interest rates
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Highlights

  • Best Customer Service
  • Good interest rates
BMO Harris Bank logo BMO Harris Bank 0.00% $25
  • Best Free Checking Account
  • Low opening deposit requirement
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Highlights

  • Best Free Checking Account
  • Low opening deposit requirement
Associated Bank logo Associated Bank 0.05% $25
  • Best High-Yield Checking Account
  • Best rates in the area 
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Highlights

  • Best High-Yield Checking Account
  • Best rates in the area 
U.S. Bank logo U.S. Bank 0.00% $25
  • Best for Students
  • No monthly fee
Learn more

Highlights

  • Best for Students
  • No monthly fee

How We Determined the Best Banks in Milwaukee

To determine the best banks in Milwaukee, SmartAsset looked at the banks with the top 15 most branches in the Milwaukee area. This ensures that our top picks offer a convenient physical presence for residents who may want to have checking accounts, savings accounts or other accounts at these institutions. We explored each bank’s account offerings, fees, rates and more. Comparing this information led to the following list of the best accounts and banks in Milwaukee. 

Ally Bank: The Top Savings Account

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 4.00% APY. At this rate, a $10,000 deposit would see more than $1,698.59 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.

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Best National Bank With Branches in Milwaukee: BMO Harris Bank

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.

Best Regional Bank: Tri City National Bank

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. 

Best Savings Account Rate: CIT Bank Savings Builder Account

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.

Runner-up for Best Savings Account Rate: North Shore Bank High-Yield Savings Account

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. 

Best Customer Service: Wintrust Community Bank

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.

Best Free Checking Account: BMO Harris Smart Advantage Account

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. 

Best High-Yield Checking Account: Associated Choice Checking

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.

Best for Students: U.S. Bank Student Checking

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.

Save more with these rates that beat the National Average
Unfortunately, we are currently unable to find savings account that fit your criteria. Please change your search criteria and try again.
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Unfortunately, we are currently unable to find savings account that fit your criteria. Please change your search criteria and try again.
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