You have several factors to keep in mind when choosing the right shore.
Costs
A bank may charge fees for specific transactions or to manage and maintain your account each month. Some banks may provide a way to avoid bank charges, such as meeting minimum balance or deposit requirements each month. Bank charges can undermine savings efforts unless you meet the conditions to waive them. If not, find a “no-fee” bank that will only charge for less common events such as wire transfers and late payments.
Accounts and services
Full-service banks typically offer a range of bank account options and other financial services, such as credit cards, loan and retirement and investment accounts and services. Other banks may focus only on a few specific products or services. Choose a bank that offers the types of bank accounts you want to open.
Interest rate
Shop around for the best interest rates to maximize your savings. Earning a higher annual APY will help you grow your account balance faster.
Account minimums
Some banks require a minimum deposit to open an account or a minimum current balance to avoid monthly service charges. Make sure you can meet the account minimums before signing up.
Customer service
The support is not the same in all banks. Some banks focus on in-person services, while others may offer a variety of ways to get help, including phone support, private messaging and email, live chat and virtual mobile assistants. Find a bank that offers your preferred contact and support methods.
Convenience
It’s good to know that you can access your money when you need it. Some banks offer ways to access your funds sooner than others. Look for banks that offer multiple methods to access funds or manage accounts, such as ATMs, mobile and online banking, bill payment, and other convenient tools.