Best banks, credit unions and neobanks:
Best overall, best for overdraft options: Ally Bank. Best overall, best for rates: Alliant Credit Union. Best overall, best for tools: Capital One. Best overall, best for interest checking: Lake Michigan Credit Union.
The safest way to bank online is to access your bank's official online or mobile banking app using a secured Wi-Fi connection.
Key Takeaways. Savings accounts are a safe place to keep your money because all deposits made by consumers are guaranteed by the FDIC for bank accounts or the NCUA for credit union accounts. Certificates of deposit (CDs) issued by banks and credit unions also carry deposit insurance.
For more than 200 years, investing in real estate has been the most popular investment for millionaires to keep their money. During all these years, real estate investments have been the primary way millionaires have had of making and keeping their wealth.
Why are credit unions safer than banks? Like banks, which are federally insured by the FDIC, credit unions are insured by the NCUA, making them just as safe as banks. The National Credit Union Administration is a US government agency that regulates and supervises credit unions.
FDIC insurance. Most deposits in banks are insured dollar-for-dollar by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. This insurance covers your principal and any interest you're owed through the date of your bank's default up to $250,000 in combined total balances.
Whether you want to hear it or not, the truth is that the banks are in bed with the government and although the government tells the banks to “treat people fairly,” they continue to steal your money, while greedily taking money from you (via the government and your tax dollars) at the same time.
Some banks in the United States are not FDIC insured, but it is very rare. One example is the Bank of North Dakota, which is state-run and insured by the state of North Dakota rather than by any federal agency.
The Bottom Line
Credit unions will likely offer you lower-cost services and better interest rate options for both loans and deposits. Banks will likely provide more services and products, as well as more advanced technologies.
This insurance provides peace of mind that money won't be lost should a bank fail. While credit unions aren't covered by the FDIC, their deposits are insured as well. All federal credit unions and many state-chartered credit unions are federally insured by the NCUA.
Overall, if you're choosing between Chase and Bank of America, the better option for you will really depend on your personal banking needs and preferences. Both are big banks with thousands of branches and tens of thousands of ATMs. Chase offers a wider variety of accounts, though it is lacking in IRA options.
The Chase Total Checking® and Wells Fargo Everyday Checking accounts are comparable, with large ATM networks and many branches. Both banks also offer premium checking accounts that earn interest — but not much. But if you want a cash bonus, Chase is the winner.
Both banks cover a majority of states, though Wells Fargo has the edge over Bank of America when it comes to branch count. Both have multiple ways to contact customer service. Unless you need 24/7 access to customer service like Wells Fargo offers, the two banks are roughly on par with each other.
An expert recommends having four bank accounts for budgeting and building wealth. Open two checking accounts, one for bills and one for spending money. Have a savings account for your emergency fund, then a second account for other savings goals.
In terms of a presence in every state, Chase Bank comes the closest with retail locations in all of the lower 48 states.
Another red flag that you have too much cash in your savings account is if you exceed the $250,000 limit set by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) — obviously not a concern for the average saver.
Budgeting with multiple bank accounts could prove easier than with only one. Multiple accounts can help you separate spending money from savings and household money from individual earnings. Tracking savings goals. Having multiple bank accounts may help track individual savings goals more easily.
Tip. Fortunately for consumers, there are thousands of financial institutions that are FDIC-insured, including Wells Fargo. FDIC insurance limits cap at $250,000. The FDIC insures certificates of deposit and money market accounts, along with traditional checking and savings accounts.