Choosing the best banks for millennials is a real dilemma, especially when it feels like not all banks have successfully transitioned to the 21st century.
We’ve thoroughly reviewed dozens of banks and credit unions to determine which ones are best suited to millennials, looking at their fees, features, accounts, and customer experience.
Read on for our take on what each bank has to offer and the things you should be on the lookout for when choosing a bank to make your experience as smooth as possible.
12 Best Banks for Millennials in 2024
Here are the best banks for millennials you can open an account with today:
- 🏆 Discover® Bank
- Varo Bank
- Chime
- CIT Bank
- Current Bank
- Aspiration
- UFB Direct
- Chase
- Ally
- Quontic
- One Finance
- Capital One
1. Discover® Bank 
Discover National Bank (Member FDIC) also offers some excellent accounts, including a fee-free online savings account with an APY of 4.00%.
Their checking account comes with no monthly fees and a 1% cash back on debit card purchases.
They also offer CDs (Certificates of Deposit) with APYs that go as high as 3.40% for terms of 5 years or more.
With Discover, your money is insured by FDIC. That means your money is as safe here as with any of the other major banks in the States.
They also have a handy financial literacy center to help you understand personal finance subjects a little deeper while developing good money habits.
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2. Varo Bank 
Varo Bank is an online bank that promises its customers no fees. There is no credit check required to open the account, making it ideal for those who have been refused a bank account elsewhere.
The Varo checking account is truly a free checking account—it has no monthly fees and no minimum balance requirements. Furthermore, there are no overdraft fees and fee-free withdrawals from all 55,000+ Allpoint ATMs.
Other features include early direct deposits, a contactless debit card, and cash deposits at Green Dot locations – something that not a lot of online banks have. You can also get an advance of up to $100, with the maximum fee being $5.00.
You can also open a savings account with an APY that starts at 3.00%.
The good news here is that the rate will go up to 5.00% if you meet two preset requirements: receive direct deposits totaling $1,000 or more and end the month with a positive balance in your Varo Bank Account and Savings Account, making the account a rather lucrative proposition.
One other product that those looking to build up their credit score might appreciate is Varo Believe. Varo Believe is a secured credit card with no minimum deposit required or annual fees. All payments are reported to the three major credit bureaus.
To qualify, you need to have at least $500 in qualifying direct deposits over the past 90 days and no negative balances, among other criteria.
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3. Chime 
Technically speaking, Chime is not a bank, but its banking products and services are worthy of consideration. Chime works with two large banks – The Bancorp Bank and Stride Bank, so your money is still FDIC-insured.
They offer three different accounts, including Spending Account, Savings Account, and Credit Builder.
All three accounts come with no monthly maintenance fees or minimum balances. The lack of fees makes them ideal if you’re looking for a budget account as you build up your savings.
- Automatic Savings: Here, the automatic savings feature can come in handy with round-ups automatically transferred to the savings account, where they’ll earn an interest rate of 2.00% APY.
- Fee-Free ATM Withdrawals: Chime supports both Apple Pay and Google Pay, making it that much easier to manage your money. You also get fee-free withdrawals from over 60,000 ATMs, including ATMs at Target, Walgreens, 7-Eleven, etc.
- Early Paycheck Delivery: You can get your paycheck as much as two days earlier. At the same time, Eligible customers who qualify for SpotMe also get fee-free overdrafts – particularly useful if you find yourself with your back against the wall.
Chime has been in the news recently, with some customers complaining their accounts were being closed. The issue has blown over since – and there’s even an IPO on the cards for this fintech unicorn!
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4. CIT Bank 
CIT Bank is an online bank that works more like a traditional bank. Here you’ll find a wide range of accounts, products, and services consummate with the more conventional banks, including CDs, MMAs (Money Market Accounts), and mortgages.
Savings, Checking, and Money Market Accounts have a minimum open deposit requirement of $100. Other qualifying criteria can change from one account to the next.
The bank also offers CDs with different term lengths; however, the maximum APY you can earn is fairly low compared to the competition.
The e-Checking account comes with several features, including $30 in ATM fees reimbursements per month, Zelle for easy money transfers, and most importantly, no monthly fees. You’ll also earn an APY based on your balance.
The Savings Connect account also comes without a monthly fee and high APY. The Savings Builder is specifically designed to help you reach savings goals such as buying a house or saving up for your kid’s college tuition.
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5. Current Bank 
Current is not a bank, but works with both Choice Financial Group to provide its customers with investing and banking products and services.
They recently merged their Basic and Premium spending accounts and removed all monthly and annual fees. The APY is currently set at 0%
The Current Account has several outstanding features such as instant notification, no overdraft fees, and savings insights.
Other features include cashback, mobile check deposits, fee-free overdrafts, early access to direct deposits, immediate refunds on gas station authorizations and free withdrawals from Allpoint ATMs.
They also offer an account for teens that comes with no minimum balance requirements, no transfer fees, and no hidden fees.
Current’s savings account is also worth considering. It offers up to 4% APY and helps you save towards specific goals with Savings Pods. Current works with a lot of influencers. While this might not mean better banking services, it does add to the appeal of this account.
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6. Aspiration 
Aspiration is a financial company on a mission to save the planet along with its customers. Technically speaking, Aspiration is a broker-dealer.
However, it works with ten banks, so you’re FDIC-insured up to $2.5 million – enough to cover the most aspirational of savers.
Their primary account, called Spend & Save, comes in 2 plans called Aspiration and Aspiration Plus.
- Aspiration: Aspiration follows the Pay What is Fair model, so you get to decide how much you pay each month, even if you choose not to pay anything at all.
- Aspiration Plus: Aspiration Plus will set you back $5.99 per month, billed on an annual basis. As an added perk, you can earn up to 3.00% APY on your account.
Regardless of the account you choose, you can rest easy knowing that Aspiration will not use your money to fund the fossil fuel industry. You also get cashback on your Conscience Coalition purchases and a personal impact score to help make more environmentally-friendly purchases.
Aspiration also offers an Investment and a Retirement account, both of which you can open with as little as $10.00.
Just like the accounts we discussed previously, both Investing and Retirement accounts follow an environmentally friendly ethos.
Aspiration also has a zero carbon footprint credit card that offers up to 1% cashback on carbon zero months and tree planting with every purchase.
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7. UFB Direct 
If you’re looking for a safe place to stick your savings and watch it grow, we recommend UFB Direct.
While the bank doesn’t offer a checking account, its savings accounts and money market accounts are competitive compared to the national average. You can also take out a mortgage.
The UFB Best Savings account currently earns 4.31% APY at every tier. There are no monthly fees and no minimum balance requirement.
Account holders get access to online banking tools and mobile deposits. If you aren’t connected to Wi-Fi, you can also manage your account and access some features over text.
UFB Direct’s other banking product, the Preferred Money Market account, also has an APY of 4.31%. There’s a $10 monthly maintenance fee that can be waived if you have over a $50,000 balance.
The bank also emphasizes its focus on security. It is FDIC insured and takes several security measures, using SSL encryption and automatically logging you out after a certain amount of inactivity.
In terms of user experience, UFB Direct’s app is highly rated and the website is easy to use. You can find educational articles, instructional videos, and FAQs on the blog.
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8. Chase 
Chase is one of the biggest banks in the US and forms part of what is known as the Big Four. It has a long, rich history that goes as far back as 1799. Over this time, Chase has managed to build a solid portfolio of products and services.
At the moment, Chase is offering new customers a welcome bonus of up to $200.
Chase offers a wide range of accounts, including both checking and savings. Just like other traditional banks, their APY interest rate is nothing to write home about.
Still, you do get the added convenience of visiting a branch – something online banks do not offer.
While Chase is not an online bank, its mobile app is one of the best out there, boasting features such as My Chase Plan, a feature that allows you to break repayments over time.
Other features include Chase Credit Journey, with free credit scores, budgeting, and rewards.
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9. Ally 
Ally Bank is another online financial institution with a strong portfolio of products and services.
It has managed to work out how to be an online bank down to a T. Ally offers not only traditional banking products and services but some innovative ones as well, including investing options.
- Savings Account: Their savings account has no monthly service fees or balance requirements. It includes several features like Round-Ups, Surprise Savings, and an APY of 4.00% APY applicable on all tiers.
- Checking Account: On the other hand, their checking account offers an APY of 0.25% and eCheck Deposit, Zelle, and fee-free withdrawals from over 43,000 Allpoint ATMs.
Ally also offers four credit cards, from a basic credit card to a specialized cashback card for nurses and educators.
If you’re looking to grow your savings, you might want to look at Ally’s investment options, including managed portfolios, self-directed trading, and forex trading.
There’s a whole list of investment options available, including stocks, ETFs (Exchange-Traded Funds), options, and many others. You can start your investment journey with as little as $100
Ally also offers mortgages, auto loans, and personal loans, making it a bank with which you can build a long-term relationship.
They’re also SEC-registered, an Equal Housing Lender, and a member of FINRA and SIPC.
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10. Quontic 
Quontic is one of less than 3% of banks certified by the federal government as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). As a CDFI, Quontic helps make homeownership a reality for individuals struggling to qualify for traditional mortgages.
When it comes to its banking products, Quontic’s accounts come with no overdraft fees or monthly service fees and online and mobile banking. You also get access to over 90,000 fee-free ATMs across the country.
It offers three checking accounts, all of which come with a Quontic debit card and a pay ring for contactless payments.
- Bitcoin Rewards Checking: The innovative Bitcoin Rewards Checking account puts 1.5% of your point of sale purchases on your Quontic debit card towards Bitcoin purchases.
- Cash Rewards Checking: There’s also a Cash Rewards Checking account that offers 1.5% cash back on debit card purchases.
- High-Interest Checking: Quontic’s High-Interest Checking account is competitive, offering 1.10% APY when you make at least 10 $10 debit card transactions per cycle.
Quontic’s High Yield Savings is impressive, too. It provides a 0%, which is higher than the industry average.
If you’re looking for checking and savings with solid returns from an online bank with a simple user experience, Quontic should be on your list.
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11. One Finance 
One Finance is a financial app with more than a few tricks up its sleeve that has several ethical considerations at its heart.
Their banking products and services are offered through Coastal Community Bank, which the FDIC covers. As such, each depositor is insured for up to $250,000.
The account has no monthly fees and no minimum balance requirements, making it ideal for new savers. Account-holders get fee-free overdraft protection when you’ve made at least $500 of direct deposits in the last month.
You also get continuous access to your free credit score, which can help you make smarter choices if you’re having issues in this department.
You might also want to know that the bank will not use your deposits to support oil, gas, coal, firearms, tobacco, palm oil, or private prisons.
Direct deposits will make their way into your account up to 2 days earlier. They can even help you get a credit line with payments spread over time.
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12. Capital One 
Capital One is one of the more traditional banks on this list. However, this doesn’t mean that you miss out.
At the moment, they have started to reopen their branches and cafes, so if you’re one for face-to-face customer service, this is a valuable feature to have.
Their Capital One 360 Performance Savings offers an APY of 4.00% and has no fees or minimum balance requirements.
The 360 Checking account, on the other hand, does not earn interest but equally carries no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements.
If you’re looking at setting some money aside, you might want to check out their CDs with the 60-month CD carrying an APY of 3.50%.
Capital One also offers a variety of credit cards and auto loans.
The bank even has a convenient auto navigator to help you find your next car and get pre-qualified. The entire process is available online through their website.
They also have a Learn and Grow portal to learn about different aspects of personal finance management.
Learn More:
Best Banks for Millennials: What To Look Out For
Picking one of the best banks for millennials that’s the best for everyone is a difficult task.
Millennials, especially, have an extensive range of interests and opportunities. These require different kinds of bank accounts, features, and support.
As such, you first need to understand what your goals and aspirations are and how the bank can help you do just that.
There are several features and perks that you might want to consider when choosing a bank.
Think of this as a general list that can help you make sure you select an excellent bank account.
Low fees
No or low fees can help you make sure you get the most out of your money. From no monthly maintenance fees to free ATM withdrawals or ATM fee reimbursements, your money can go further when you do not have to pay any fees.
FDIC
FDIC-insured banks offer an extra measure of security. Should something happen to the financial institution, you are guaranteed your money by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).
Bank Offers and Perks
Bank offers are often available to new customers only as they help banks grow their customer base, and they’re worth looking out for in your search.
On the other hand, perks such as cashback rewards reward you for being a customer while growing your account.
Interest Rates
If you’re looking to save money, high-interest rates such as those offered on high-yield savings accounts can be a game-changer.
Interest rates help you grow your money while it’s sitting in your account, essentially having the bank pay you for keeping your money with them.
Online Banking and Mobile Banking
Online and mobile banking can help you get more done without having to visit a branch.
A solid mobile app should offer handy features such as the ability to check the account balance on your deposit accounts, budget, and transferring funds.
Best Banks for Millennials FAQs
What is the best bank for millennials?
The best bank for millennials is going to be the one that best serves personal needs. For example, a millennial small business owner will have different financial needs and requirements than a millennial working on their Ph.D. with a growing student loan balance. The important thing here is to focus on what you need and then use our list of best banks for millennials to find the right bank for you.
Who do millennials bank with?
As our review has shown, millennials bank with all sorts of banks. The main decision driver will always be very personal; after all, a bank is there to help you grow your finances. There is a favorable inclination towards online banks, with online checking accounts and savings accounts tending to offer more features and better rates.
What banks do millionaires use?
Generally speaking, millionaires tend to use private banks, which offer products and services tailored to the rich such as investment accounts, brokerage accounts, and other financial services.
Many big banks tend to have a private banking arm. In contrast, several other banks are fully dedicated to servicing high-net-worth individuals such as millionaires.
Is there a bank better than Chime?
Though a popular question I get asked, this is not an easy question because everyone has different financial needs. As such, Chime will never be the best bank for everyone, but it can be the best bank for many people!
Chime offers customers a great selection of accounts with little to no fees and a great mobile app that’s worth checking out – some of the reasons why it gets a good rep.
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