What constitutes the best banks in PA can be subjective, as each of us has different preferences. We’ve compiled a list to help you decide which bank ticks all the boxes for what you need.
Whether you want more handy personal finance tools or amazing APY rates, the banks and credit unions on our list should meet your expectations.
8 Best Banks & Credit Unions in Pennsylvania
Here are the 8 best banks and credit unions in PA that you can open an account with today:
- First National Bank: Best Overall Bank Account in PA
- Santander Bank: Best Free Checking Account in Pennsylvania
- TD Bank: Best Bank for Small Businesses
- Citizens Bank: Best Pennsylvania Bank for Financial Planning Tools
- CIT Bank: Best PA Bank to earn APY on Savings Accounts
- PNC: Best for Branch Accessibility
- PSECU Credit Union: Best Credit Union in PA
- Philadelphia Federal Credit Union: Runner-Up Best Credit Union in PA
See Pennsylvania’s Best Bank Bonus Offers & Promotions
1. First National Bank 
Best Overall Bank Account in PA
Headquartered in Pittsburgh, First National Bank is a solid choice for personal or business banking, with hundreds of branches and ATMs across Pennsylvania.
The bank offers personal checking and savings, loans and mortgages, investment planning, insurance resources, and a wealth of business products and services.
Accounts
First National Bank offers five checking accounts to meet a variety of user needs.
Each account comes with a free Visa® debit card, access to 1,500 fee-free ATMs, and mobile check deposits. Users can also add their FNB debit or credit card to Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay.
Online Banking, bill pay, mobile banking, and telephone banking are free to customers with an eligible account; however, there may be a fee for certain optional services.
First National Bank also offers many savings opportunities, including a standard savings account without a monthly service fee with a $500 balance, money market accounts, HSAs, CDs, and IRAs.
They also offer personal loans, mortgages, vehicle loans, investment services, insurance products, and business banking.
Pros:
- Robust mobile app
- Free online bill pay
- Many account options
Cons:
- Some accounts have overdraft fees
- Some accounts require high balances to earn interest
Learn more:
2. Santander Bank 
Best Free Checking Account in Pennsylvania
If you are looking for a financial institution with a solid presence in Pennsylvania and nationwide and some of the best checking account options, Santander is worth considering.
Santander is one of the largest banks in PA, with 415 brick-and-mortar branches nationwide and hundreds in PA, so you can easily bank in PA or while you travel.
Santander Bank offers an online portal and mobile banking, including check deposits, online bill pay, and more.
Accounts
Santander Bank has three checking accounts, each with a monthly maintenance fee. The Simply Right Checking asks for a low minimum deposit of $25 to get started. It grants free checking on the condition that you make at least one monthly deposit in the account.
If you don’t meet this requirement, you’ll have to pay a monthly fee of $10. Keep an eye on your balance to avoid unnecessary expenses over time.
Santander also offers many opportunities for savings, with a traditional savings account paying 0.03% and no minimum balance requirement. They also offer money market savings accounts and CDs with APYs as high as 5% to help you reach your financial goals.
They also offer personal loans, credit cards, investment products, and small business banking.
Pros:
- Monthly fees easily waived
- Overdraft protection options
- Great selection of checking accounts
Cons:
- Small ATM network
- Low APYs
Learn more:
3. TD Bank 
Best Bank for Small Businesses
According to J.D. Power’s Small Business Banking Satisfaction Study, TD Bank is one of the best banks for small businesses.
TD Bank has ranked very high more than once in this study, whose goal is to rate banks based on their customer service skills and the quality of their financial services.
TD Bank also has robust banking products for personal banking needs, including checking and savings accounts, and has over 1,100 locations to visit, so it’s easy to bank at TD Bank.
Accounts
TD Bank has a handful of personal checking accounts, some of which have promotions, so you can earn money to open a new account. The monthly fees at TD bank are somewhat high, but each account offers ways to waive it.
You will also find two savings account options at TD Bank, with minimum balance requirements of $300 – $10,000 and waivable monthly maintenance fees. APYs start at 0.02%, but you can earn more with relationship rates and high balances.
Regarding business banking, TD Bank caters to small and large commercial businesses, with many products and loans to keep your business in great financial shape.
Pros:
- Longer banking hours than most banks
- Easy to waive monthly maintenance fees
- Robust business banking products
Cons:
- Low APYs
- High monthly maintenance fees
Learn more:
4. Citizens Bank 
Best Pennsylvania Bank for Financial Planning Tools
Citizens Bank is a great option both for online and offline banking services. It is a large national bank with 1,100 offices nationwide and 235 branch locations across Pennsylvania.
Accounts
Citizens Bank has five checking accounts. One is the most basic account. It has monthly maintenance fees, but it’s easy to avoid them by making at least one qualifying monthly deposit. They also offer premium checking accounts that include interest-bearing products.
Their Students Checking is an account tailor-made for students, which waives all fees for students under 25 and promises to reimburse ATM fees.
Citizens Bank also has two basic savings accounts and one Private Client™ Savings for people with higher balances.
Citizens Bank customers can also enjoy credit cards, home loans, student loans, investment products, and a Citizens Bank Checkup, an appointment with a banker to review your financial goals and progress. Citizens Bank also offers small business and corporate banking products.
Pros:
- Large checking account selection
- Free banking for students
- Robust mobile app
Cons:
- Low APYs
- High overdraft fees
Learn more:
5. CIT Bank 
Best PA Bank to earn APY on Savings Accounts
CIT Bank is an online-only bank, which offers an entire set of financial products and a great digital experience simultaneously.
There are no branch locations in Pennsylvania (or anywhere else). Still, CIT Bank has remotely accessible customer service to stay close to its customers. It will give you all the digital tools you need for online and mobile banking.
Accounts
CIT Bank’s e-Checking account is a digital checking account that earns a modest interest rate. You can earn more annual percentage yield, but you must keep at least $25,000 in the account to qualify. This account is fee-free, and it reimburses some of the ATM fees you might incur.
CIT Bank offers four savings accounts, including a money market account, each with competitive APYs and a $100 minimum opening deposit requirement. Interest compounds daily on the accounts, and they don’t have monthly maintenance fees. If you need help getting into a savings habit, consider the Savings Builder, which rewards your newly found savings habits with higher interest rates as you progress.
Customers can also access CDs and mortgage loans. However, they do not have business banking products.
Pros:
- No monthly maintenance fees
- High APY on savings
- Can bank 24/7
Cons:
- No physical branches
- Mobile app has low ratings
Learn more:
6. PNC Bank 
Best for Branch Accessibility
PNC Bank is a local bank based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Since it started in Pennsylvania, it makes sense that PNC has many branches in the state. It has 266 branches, to be specific.
If being able to go to a local branch and personally interact with a bank representative is something you value, then PNC is a good choice as a financial institution.
In addition to its many branches, PNC Bank also has a wide variety of financial products, including debit and credit cards, personal checking accounts, savings accounts, and Virtual Wallet banking packages.
Accounts
The basic Virtual Wallet account from PNC charges a monthly service fee of $7, which you can avoid the checking account fee if you maintain an average of $500 in the account each month or arrange monthly direct deposits of at least $500.
Some other accounts include additional perks, like the Performance Select Account, which earns interest on balances above $2,000 if you meet the requirements.
All PNC accounts come with a full set of online tools plus mobile banking, Zelle for money transfers, bill pay, opportunities to earn cash back, free ATMs, and ATM fee reimbursements.
PNC also offers various military and student banking products, such as credit cards, loans, small business, and corporate banking.
Pros:
- Robust mobile app
- Combines checking and savings into one account
- Opportunities to earn interest
Cons:
- High overdraft fees
- Low APYs
Learn more:
7. PSECU Credit Union 
Best Credit Union in PA
PSECU Federal Credit Union was founded in 1933, and its main office is in Harrisburg, PA. It is the largest credit union in Pennsylvania, with $8 billion in assets and over 590,000 members.
How To Become a Member
- Work for a company or be in an association that has PSECU membership as a benefit
- Went to a school that has a partnership with PSECU
- Live with someone who is a PSECU member
- Are an immediate family member of someone who has a PSECU membership
If you don’t meet any of these requirements but you are a PA resident, don’t worry – you can still become a member of PSECU.
All you need to do is enroll in the Pennsylvania Recreation and Parks Society first, which costs about $5.
PSECU offers checking accounts, savings accounts, loans, and many other financial services to its members.
This credit union has lower fees and higher interest rates than the average banks, so I’d recommend you try it if you are eligible for membership.
Pros:
- Anyone can become a member with a $5 donation
- Low fees
- Large account selection
Cons:
- Dividends have tiers
- Not all ATMs accept deposits
Learn more:
8. Philadelphia Federal Credit Union 
Runner-Up Best Credit Union in PA
Philadelphia Credit Union was founded in 1951 in Philadelphia and has many branch locations in the city.
It’s in the top five largest credit unions in Pennsylvania, with $1 billion in assets and more than 116,000 members.
Its members are federal, state, and local government employees and their families.
This credit union offers various financial products, such as checking, savings, CD, and money market accounts, plus personal loans, car/ truck/ SUV loans at competitive rates, bill pay, and much more.
In addition to the brick-and-mortar offices in Philadelphia, it offers mobile banking and a web portal. You can access their customer service online, in person, or by phone.
Pros:
- Opportunities to earn high APYs
- Large selection of products
- Offers personal and business products
Cons:
- Requires high balances to earn interest and dividends
- Must be a member
Learn more:
How To Choose The Best Banks In Pennsylvania
At BankBonus.com, we’re committed to providing consumers with the resources they need to select a bank or credit union. Here’s an overview of the steps we recommend our readers take to choose the best banks in Pennsylvania:
- Understand different types of banks: You have access to traditional banks, online banks, credit unions, and neobanks. Understanding their differences and determining which type of institution aligns best with your preferences is important.
- Choose the right account: Checking, savings, money market, and certificate of deposit accounts are the most common types of bank accounts. Understand what each offers and choose a bank with the type of account(s) you need.
- Look for low-fee banks: Account fees can add up quickly. As you compare bank accounts, look for an account that doesn’t charge unavoidable monthly maintenance fees, overdraft fees, and ATM fees.
- Consider branch and ATM access: If having access to branches matters to you, choose a bank with physical locations. Regardless, you should prioritize banks that have a vast ATM network or reimburse ATM fees.
- Compare account features: Determine which features you’re looking for. A few common bank account features to consider are interest, cashback, mobile features, cash deposits, and minimum account balance requirements.
- Check out reviews and ratings: Picking a reputable bank is crucial. To get an idea of a bank’s customer experience, read expert reviews and look to sources like TrustPilot, the Better Business Bureau, and J.D. Power.
- Read the fine print: Don’t sign up for an account without understanding the terms and conditions. Ensure the account is FDIC or NCUA insured and understand its requirements, fees, and expiration dates for bank bonuses.
- Look at the bank’s additional products: If you want to manage your finances under one roof, look into each bank’s additional products. Many banks also offer credit cards, wealth management, investment accounts, and loans.
Read our full guide to choosing a bank here
Our Methodology
The BankBonus team has analyzed dozens of banks to provide our readers with thoroughly informed and accurate reviews. We evaluated digital financial platforms, online banks, regional banks, and national banks with a presence in Pennsylvania.
Our assessment of each bank factors in these considerations:
- Product lineup: We review the types of accounts, loans, and services offered by each bank, as well as the number of accounts.
- Fees and pricing: We also consider each institution’s fees, including monthly maintenance fees and other service charges.
- Account features: To compare banks, we take a close look at the features, limits, and capabilities each one has to offer.
- Interest: Along with these features, we consider whether or not the bank offers interest-bearing accounts and compare their rates to industry averages.
- Brand reputation: The bank accounts we recommend have been carefully vetted to ensure they are legitimate, secure, and backed by FDIC insurance.
- User experience: Additionally, we consider the ease of use and availability of resources on each bank’s website and factor in reviews of the mobile app from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
- Branch and ATM access: To gauge convenience, we also look at each bank’s branch and ATM availability and consider their ATM reimbursement policies.
- Customer service: In our review process, we also explore their customer service channels, hours of availability, and third-party reviews.
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