Best Banks in Texas

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Depending on where you live, you might find different financial institutions. 

We examined several national and local banks and credit unions to find the best banks in Texas. We prioritized minority depository institutions when reviewing local financial institutions. We also considered online banks when searching for the best savings accounts in the state. We selected Capital One 360, Bank of America, Chase, Rally Credit Union, and GECU as our top picks in Texas.

These banks have remained our best banks for Texas for the last few months because they continue to stand out for their unique accounts and impressive features. Learn more about our top picks below.

Overview of Banking in Texas

When deciding who you want to bank with, you'll want to consider whether you want a national bank or a local bank. National banks, which can include online banks, might offer stronger rates and more services. However, local institutions, especially credit unions, are more likely to give back to your specific community and might provide more personalized customer service.

Top Banks in Texas

• Capital One: Best for opening a savings account
• Bank of America: Best for opening a checking account
• Chase Bank: Best for a large Texas branch network
• Rally Credit Union: Best local institution, tied
• GECU: Best local institution, tied

The highest-rated banks in Texas have bank accounts that are FDIC- or NCUA-insured. Bear in mind your money is safe at a federally insured financial institution. When a financial institution is federally insured, up to $250,000 per depositor is secure in a bank account.

Compare the Best Banks in Texas

Best Banks in Texas FAQs

Best Financial Institutions in Texas Reviews

The best banks and credit unions in Texas will offer strong interest rates, good perks, and low monthly fees. They'll also be accessible to Texas residents and offer many different types of bank accounts, such as money market accounts, savings accounts, checking accounts, and CDs. All of our picks are either FDIC-insured or NCUA-insured.

Here are the best banks and credit unions in Texas as picked by Business Insider editors in 2025.

Best Bank for Opening a Savings Account

Capital One 360 is one of the best online banks for a high-yield savings account. It pays 3.80% (rate as of 12/06/24) APY, requires $0 opening balance requirements, and charges no monthly service fee. The Capital One 360 Performance Savings also lets you make multiple savings accounts, functionally working like a savings account with buckets to help you plan your budget. 

Capital One 360 doesn't offer 24/7 customer support, but it gets close. It offers extended customer service hours every day of the week over the phone. It's also a rare online bank with physical branches, but unfortunately, none of those branches are in Texas. You'll still be able to use all of Capital One 360's digital features, though.

Capital One 360 does have ATMs in Texas, though. If you have a Capital One 360 Checking account, you'll be able to deposit cash into select Capital One 360 ATMs. You'll also be able to use Allpoint ATMs and MoneyPass ATMs without having to pay bank ATM fees.

Capital One Review

Best Bank for Opening a Checking Account

Bank of America is matched with Chase for having the largest ATM network by a brick-and-mortar bank and has one of the largest branch networks among U.S. banks.

Bank of America has a variety of checking account options. With the Bank of America Advantage Plus Checking Account, there are several ways to waive the monthly service fee.

Be careful of overdrawing from your account. Bank of America charges a $35 overdraft fee. While it offers overdraft protection, you'll still pay a fee if you transfer money from a savings account.

Another fee to watch out for is out-of-network ATM fees. You'll have to pay a $2.50 fee each time you use an ATM that's not from Bank of America.

Bank of America Review

Best Bank for a Large Texas Branch Network

If you strongly prefer banking in person, you might want to go with Chase Bank. Chase is a brick-and-mortar bank with a large physical footprint; it has over 450 branches across Texas in over 125 Texas cities, making it one of the largest banks in Texas. It also offers a wide variety of banking services, including a savings account for kids that we picked as one of our favorites.

Depending on what account type you go with, you could end up paying monthly service fees. Before you open a checking account or savings account with Chase, check to see if you qualify to waive the monthly bank maintenance fee.

Chase is one of our top picks for avoiding ATM fees because of the Chase Sapphire℠ Banking account. This account reimburses all ATM fees you accrue, including those charged by a third party when you use out-of-network ATMs. This account also doesn't charge foreign transaction fees, which could be helpful if you're an avid traveler.

Chase Bank Review

Best Local Institution, Tied

Rally Credit Union is a local Hispanic American-led institution that doesn't charge monthly service fees. Hispanic American-led institutions are a type of minority depository institution. MDIs provide financial services to underserved populations.

Rally has 21 branches, and it is part of the Co-op Share Network, which provides access to over 30,000 free ATMs and 5,600 shared branch locations. But keep in mind that the credit union charges $2.00 if you use an out-of-network ATM, in addition to whatever the ATM itself charges.

The Rally Credit Union Liberty Checking Account is a high-yield checking account and the bank's strongest product. It lets you earn up to Rally Credit Union Liberty Checking Account if you meet the following requirements: 

• Maintain a balance under $25,000
• Make 10 debit card transactions each month
• Schedule one direct deposit or automatic payment each month
• Enroll in electronic email statements

 To become a member, you need to live, work, or go to school in South Texas. You'll also need to keep at least $25 in your savings account daily to maintain membership.

Best Local Institution, Tied

GECU is an excellent choice if you're exploring local banking options.  

GECU is a certified community development financial institution and Juntos Avanzamos designated credit union. It's been certified to ensure that it provides products and services that serve everyone in the community, regardless of immigration status or income.

The credit union lets you use a permanent resident card, foreign passport, or Matricula Consular as a photo ID. Instead of a Social Security number, you may share your ITIN number. Many of the best banks for immigrants do the same.

GECU offers low-fee checking accounts and savings accounts with low minimum opening deposits. Its CDs also pay high interest rates. It has a wide ATM network made up of its own ATMs, Allpoint ATMs, MoneyPass ATMs, CULIANCE ATMs, and Fifth Third ATMs, but you'll pay at least $3 if you use an out-of-network ATM.

To be eligible for membership at GECU, you or a family member must live in an eligible county or work for a specific employer. If you're searching for a high savings rate, other institutions may offer a better rate.

Tips for Choosing the Best Bank in Texas

Comparing Texas Bank Services and Fees

When opening a new bank account, it's important to go with a bank that offers the services you need. For example, If you're planning on doing all of your banking with one institution, you'll want to make sure they have a good savings account and checking account, at least. 

At the same time, you'll want to avoid bank fees as much as possible. Check ahead of time to make sure the bank you're interested in doesn't charge monthly service fees, or at least charges easily-waivable fees. And if you're likely to accrue out-of-network ATM fees or overdraft fees, look for banks or credit unions that don't charge those fees.

Finally, if you're considering taking out a car loan, mortgage, or personal loan, you'll want to check the bank's loan rates. Credit unions frequently offer lower rates on loans than banks due to their member-owned nature. If you're planning on opening a new loan, becoming a member of a local credit union could be a good call.

Online and Mobile Texas Banking Features

Whether you're going with a bank that has in-person branches or not, you're likely to do at least some of your banking online. Check your prospective bank's mobile banking app ratings ahead of time to see if it's easy to use. And spend some time exploring its website to see if the website is clear and simple to navigate.

Texas Branch and ATM Accessibility

If you're planning on banking in person, it's important to choose a bank that has branches near where you live in Texas. Even if you're planning on using an online bank, the best banks for avoiding ATM fees are the banks that have plenty of in-network ATMs near where you live. Check ahead of time to confirm your potential bank's branch and ATM locations.

Texas Banks and Specialized Bank Accounts

There are some types of bank accounts, like checking accounts and savings accounts, that you're likely to find at any bank or credit union you go to. But other types of accounts, such as student bank accounts, checking accounts for seniors, checking and savings accounts for kids, and second chance bank accounts, are harder to find.

If you're interested in one of these specialized bank accounts — for example, if you're heading to college and are looking for a bank account for college students — check ahead of time with the bank or credit union you're interested in to make sure they offer them.

Credit Unions in Texas

As of the second quarter of 2024, the National Credit Union Association recognized just under 400 Texas credit unions. Of those, the biggest credit union in both total assets and number of members is the Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union. This credit union has over 60 local branches across Texas for easy branch access, serves over one million members, and has over $15 billion in total assets. The credit union's field of membership covers most of Texas, but its website doesn't list specifics on how to join.

Our two top picks for best credit unions, GECU and Rally Credit Union, are also large. Both have hundreds of thousands of members and over $4 billion in total assets as of the second quarter of 2024. Other large credit unions include Credit Human Federal Credit Union, which is a credit union anyone can join, Security Service Federal Credit Union, and American Airlines Federal Credit Union.

Banks Trustworthiness and BBB Ratings

We use ratings from the Better Business Bureau to help show how financial institutions address customer issues and handle transparency. 

Bank of America has an A rating due to government action against the bank.

Chase Bank has an A- rating from the BBB because it hasn't responded to one complaint filed against the bank.

Capital One 360, Bank of America, and Chase have been involved in recent public controversies.

Capital One used to have an account called 360 Savings. In 2019, Capital One launched the new 360 Performance Savings Account, which paid a much higher interest rate. Many customers thought their old savings accounts would transition into this new one, but in reality, they had to open a new 360 Performance Savings Account to earn the higher rate.

In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs' lawyers say that Capital One didn't inform 360 Savings customers that these were two distinct accounts, or that 360 Performance Savings paid a higher rate. However, Capital One wants this case dismissed because it claims people had every opportunity to learn these facts on their own. This case is still ongoing.

In 2023, Bank of America paid over $100 million to customers in a settlement when accused of repeatedly charging a $35 overdraft fee for the same transaction, withholding credit card rewards, and enrolling customers in credit card accounts without them knowing or authorizing it. In 2022, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau required Bank of America to pay $225 million, claiming the bank mishandled state unemployment benefits during the pandemic.

Also in 2022, the CFPB ordered Bank of America to pay $10 million. The CFPB says that Bank of America was illegally garnishing customers' accounts.

In 2023, JP Morgan Chase was required to pay $75 million in a settlement with the U.S. Virgin Islands that accused the financial institution of failing to report suspicious activity regarding Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking operation.

Why You Should Trust Us: Experts' Advice on Choosing the Best Bank in Texas

To learn more about what makes a good bank and how to choose the best fit, four experts weighed in:

BI

• Tania Brown, CFP® professional, vice president of coaching strategy at OfColor
• Roger Ma, CFP® professional and author of "Work Your Money, Not Your Life"
• Sophia Acevedo, banking editor, Business Insider
• Mykail James, MBA, certified financial education instructor, BoujieBudgets.com

Here are five questions you'll want to ask yourself when choosing a bank:

1. Is it FDIC insured? If it's a credit union, is it NCUA insured?
2. What does the account charge in fees?
3. How can your bank grow with you?
4. How accessible is it, in person or online?
5. What type of security does it provide for online access?

Methodology: How Did We Choose the Best Banks in Texas?

At Business Insider, our goal is to create helpful content to help you make good decisions about your money. Every person is different, so we provide ample options so you can find the most suitable financial product or account for you. We also follow our editorial standards when writing about banks and banking products.

We research extensively to make sure that you know the standout features and limitations of a financial institution.

We looked at the top 10 biggest banks and credit unions in the state, plus state financial institutions featured in our Black-owned banks and credit unions guide and Hispanic American-owned banks and credit unions guide. 

When searching for the best accounts, we homed in on those that paid high interest rates and offered unique features.

For the best credit unions, we chose institutions that provided the strongest overall banking experience: great customer service availability, easy membership requirements, and accounts with low minimum opening deposits and zero monthly fees.

See our bank account methodology to learn more about how we rate bank accounts, which includes checking accounts, savings accounts, and certificates of deposit, among other consumer deposit accounts. We rate all bank accounts on a scale of one to five stars. The lowest rating possible is one star and it means the bank account requires significant improvement. A five-star bank account is the highest potential rating, and it shows the account is one of the strongest options possible.

When rating bank accounts, we judge them across several different categories including interest rate, minimum opening deposit, customer service, bank ethics, bank security, miscellaneous features, and mobile app ratings. When calculating our ratings, we put more weight on interest rates and monthly service fees for accounts where those are relevant. We put less rate on categories like minimum opening deposit.

Kit Pulliam

Banking reporter

Kit Pulliam (they/them) is a banking expert who specializes in certificates of deposit, savings accounts, and checking accounts. They’ve been reporting, editing, and fact-checking personal finance stories for more than four years. ExperienceIn college, Kit worked as an undergraduate research assistant in a psychology lab. While there, they found that they were passionate about writing and helping others write about topics that matter.Before Business Insider, Kit was an editorial specialist for Tax Analysts, diving into the tax code to help readers get the best information about a confusing but necessary subject.They find banking similar to taxes in that way: There are some things everyone needs to know because just about everyone needs to work with a bank — and you don’t want to end up with an account that doesn’t serve your needs.As interest rates change, they enjoy the fast pace of reviewing rates for products like CDs and high-yield savings, which can change daily and have a direct impact on readers’ money.Their work has been featured in Business Insider and MSN. They were part of the My Financial Life series with Business Insider.ExpertiseTheir expertise includes:

• Certificates of deposit
• Savings accounts
• Checking accounts
• CD rates
• Bank reviews

EducationKit is an alumnus of Vanderbilt University, where they studied English and psychology and received the Jum C. Nunnally Honors Research Award for their senior thesis.Outside personal finance, Kit enjoys reading, film, video games, and cross stitching. They are based in the DC area.

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Evelyn He

Compliance and Operations Associate

Evelyn He is a compliance and operations associate for Business Insider’s Personal Finance team. Evelyn ensures content accuracy and editorial independence so readers get the most up-to-date and objective financial advice, enabling them to make informed financial decisions.ExperienceAs part of the compliance team, Evelyn helps fact check Personal Finance stories and works to make sure that the language is clear, precise, and compliant with government regulations and partner guidelines. Previously, Evelyn worked as a compliance specialist for Apellis Pharmaceuticals and a legal assistant at the law firm Morrison Mahoney.ExpertiseEvelyn is an expert in the following areas:

• Compliance
• Quality assurance
• Affiliate marketing
• Search engine optimization (SEO)
• Content strategy

EducationEvelyn earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from UMass Amherst and a master’s in marketing from Boston University.Evelyn has two dogs, Money and Tibber.

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