Whether you live in Parkersburg or Huntington, you have a number of fantastic banking choices in West Virginia. This includes large, convenient, national banks or regional banks offering a small-town feel.
Regardless of size, there are plenty of possibilities for checking, savings, and other financial needs.
Spoiled for choice, it can be overwhelming. That’s why we’ve done the homework for you, exploring the best banking options in West Virginia.
7 Best Banks and Credit Unions in West Virginia
Here are the seven best banks and credit unions in West Virginia you can open an account with today:
- Citizens Bank of West Virginia
- Summit Community Bank
- City National Bank
- First Community Bank
- Element Federal Credit Union
- Bayer Heritage Credit Union
- Pendleton Community Bank
See West Virginia’s Best Bank Bonus Offers & Promotions
1. Citizens Bank of West Virginia
Citizens Bank of West Virginia is a local, community-owned bank that offers a full range of banking, investment, loan, and financial planning services for both consumers and businesses.
Since 1924, Citizens Bank has been an active economic partner in the local communities it serves. The bank’s board, leadership, and staff are committed to providing best-in-class service to help community members meet their financial goals.
- Checking Account: Citizens Bank offers 4 checking account options, including fee-free accounts and an interest-bearing money marketing checking account.
- Savings Account: Citizens Bank offers traditional personal savings accounts and a Christmas Club savings account.
- CDs: You can find annual percentage yield (APY) rates up to 4.1% for CD offerings.
Pros
- Wide variety of financial products and services, including wealth management, employee pensions, and 529 college savings plans.
- Fee-free checking account options.
- Solid financial management and budgeting tools (free perk).
- Strong local community ties.
Cons
- Limited presence. Only 6 locations in the state and none outside of West Virginia.
- Very low interest for traditional savings accounts.
2. Summit Community Bank
Summit Community Bank offers banking services primarily in the eastern and southern parts of the state, the northern Shenandoah Valley, and some regions of Virginia.
Founded in Moorefield, West Virginia in 1995, this relatively young bank has already grown to 30 banking locations.
- Checking Account: 6 options, including interest-bearing accounts, money market accounts, and Senior Select Checking.
- Savings Account: 4 options, including auto-debit savings and junior savings accounts for kids.
Pros
- Free personal checks, free certified checks, and free money orders (1 free certified check or money order per month with select checking accounts).
- Variety of checking and savings account options to choose from for best alignment with your goals and needs.
- Debit card text alerts.
Cons
- Bank offers Mastercard debit cards (some consumers prefer Visa).
- $50 or more is required to open a checking account.
- Account service fees are assessed for not meeting minimum balance or direct deposit requirements.
3. City National Bank
Headquartered in the state’s capital, Charleston, City National Bank has a strong statewide and regional presence. City National Bank boasts 86 locations throughout West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio.
Since its founding in 1957, City National Bank has provided a diverse array of financial products to meet community needs for consumer and business banking.
- Checking Account: 7 different checking account options, including a Bounce Back account to get your credit back on track and 3 interest-bearing accounts that offer a slew of great features.
- Savings Account: City National offers a traditional savings account or a Liquid Gold Money Market
- CDs: 13-month and 17-month options with APYs up to 3.95%.
Pros
- West Virginia-based bank with a robust regional presence.
- Range of financial products, designed for both affluent consumers and those bouncing back from negative credit history.
- Fees for the first two overdraft items for any checking account (except Checkless Checking) are waived.
Cons
- Limited CD options and relatively low APYs for those options.
- Monthly fees for City Gold ($5), Checkless Checking ($5), and Bounce Back Checking ($6.99) account options.
- A $36 fee per overdraft item is charged (after the first 2 lifetime fees are waived) which is relatively steep.
4. First Community Bank
First Community Bank (FCB) operates 17 branches throughout West Virginia and has dozens of locations outside of the state in Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee.
Founded in Bluefield, Virginia in 1874, FCB was created to meet the needs of Princeton residents after their town was razed during the Civil War. Over the years, First Community Bank has continually striven to meet the changing needs of its local community.
FCB offers a complete range of financial products and services, including checking and savings, mortgages, personal loans, business loans, credit cards, merchant payment services, insurance, estate and trust services, and wealth management.
- Checking Account: 5 options to choose from, including 3 accounts with no monthly service charges and 2 interest-bearing options with variable interest compounded and credited monthly.
- Savings Account: APY of 0.06% for a minimum balance of $100.
- CDs: APYs of 0.15% to 0.60% based on CD term lengths.
Pros
- The bank offers checking accounts specially designed for seniors aged 50+.
- Excellent options for both small businesses and consumers for daily banking, loans, and asset management.
- Small-town bank vibe, but FCB has big-bank assets (valued at $2 billion).
Cons
- No presence outside of Middle Appalachia and a somewhat limited presence in the state.
- APY rates for CDs and savings accounts are extremely low relative to other bank offers.
- Limited hours of customer service.
5. Element Federal Credit Union
Open since 1978, Element Federal Credit Union (EFCU) is one of the state’s smaller and newer credit unions. At present, it has $35.2 million in assets and provides banking and financial services to roughly 4,000 members.
While small in size, the EFCU offers extremely attractive benefits, loan rates, and other perks to its members: primarily employees of the federal, state, and local government and their immediate family members.
Additionally, all deposits up to $250K are backed by the government. Deposits up to this sum are insured through the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (NCUSIF) which operates similarly to the FDIC.
- Checking Account: Range of checking account options (7 to choose from), most of which offer interest and require no minimum balance or minimum opening deposit.
- Savings Account: 14 different savings account options, with APYs up to 0.06%. Five of these accounts are geared toward young (under 18) savers. EFCU also offers 9 different money market accounts, with APYs up to 2.25%, and 5 different club savings accounts to save funds for Christmas, vacations, and other short-term, future goals.
- CDs: Earn APY rates of up to 2.48% for a deposit as low as $100.
Pros
- Designed to meet consumers wherever they are in their financial journey
- Ability to earn a relatively attractive return on CDs for a deposit of only $100
- Specialty personal loans for marriage, adoption, and other life goals with low APR
Cons
- Membership is limited to government employees and their immediate family members.
- Only three locations in the state of West Virginia.
- Limited financial product offerings compared to other banks.
6. Bayer Heritage Credit Union
Bayer Heritage Credit Union (BHCU) is headquartered in Proctor, West Virginia. Founded in 1957, Bayer Heritage is a National Credit Union Association (NCUA) insured institution, with consumer deposits up to $250K backed by the federal government.
BHCU has five branches throughout West Virginia and approximately $700 million in total assets.
Membership is open to employees of Bayer Corporation (specifically named in the BHFCU Charter) and immediate family members of existing members, as well as individuals who live, work, worship, or attend school in Wetzel, Tyler, or Marshall counties in West Virginia and other select counties in Ohio and South Carolina.
- Checking Account: 3 checking account options, all with no monthly service fee. The Checking Plus account offers 1% cash back on all purchases up to $10.
- Savings Account: Earn monthly dividends on a “Share” savings account or vacation savings account. A $5 minimum is required to open a “Share” account.
- CDs: CD and Jumbo Certificate options with APYs up to 3.355%.
Pros
- Attractive and flexible range of account options.
- Ability to earn cash back on debit card.
- No fees on checking accounts.
- Payment protection for Bayer CU Visa credit cards.
- Business loan offerings in addition to consumer financial products.
Cons
- Limited availability. Only 5 branches throughout the state.
- Relatively low APYs for CDs.
- Fewer financial offerings than big-box banks.
7. Pendleton Community Bank
Pendleton Community Bank (PCB) is centered on the local community: stimulating economic growth, the professional success of PCB employees, and the personal, and financial success of PCB customers.
Pendleton Community Bank has a history of being there for its customers during hard times.
Originally founded as the Farmers and Merchants Bank (FMB) in 1925, it served the unmet financial needs of local farmers and merchants. Twelve years later, FMB officially became Pendleton Community Bank and opened doors during the heart of the depression.
Over the decades, PCB has expanded and acquired additional financial centers and branches of other banks. Today, Pendleton has 8 branches in West Virginia and 5 additional locations in Virginia. It is a full-service bank, offering checking, savings, retirement planning, mortgages, credit cards, merchant services, personal loans, and a wide range of business banking services.
- Checking Account: 2 account options, including the Kasasa Cash Checking account which offers up to a 4.00% APY on balances up to $9,999 and no monthly account fees.
- Savings Account: 4 savings account options, including a Christmas Club account and an account designed for student savers.
Pros
- Extremely strong ties to West Virginia and a history of supporting local communities.
- Full suite of offerings for personal and business banking.
- Very competitive checking account options with attractive, tiered interest rates.
Cons
- Limited locations and customer service hours.
- Minimum balance ($1,000) must be maintained to avoid service charges($4.99 per month) for an Interest checking account.
- Minimum opening deposit required for checking accounts: $50 for Kasasa Cash or $1,000 for Interest Checking.
Choosing the Best Banks and Credit Unions in West Virginia for Your Needs
To help you determine the bank or credit union that is best for you, here are some questions to answer. This will help you understand your needs and preferences.
- Do you prefer a bank or a credit union? Typically, banks have more locations, more updated technology, more financial products, and more attractive rates. Credit unions, however, are known for having better customer service and willingness to work with consumers who have poor credit.
- Are there any monthly service fees or overdraft fees? Avoid paying any of these charges! We’ve shared banks and credit unions that don’t assess these fees, or offer fee-free account options.
- What sort of credit and debit cards are issued? Some customers may prefer Visa to Mastercard, or want the prestige of acquiring an American Express card.
- What are your customer service needs? Are you comfortable troubleshooting issues on your own through help articles and consumer forums? Or do you want the face-to-face support that only a teller at a local branch can provide?
- How often do you need to access an ATM? Periodically, we all need to withdraw cash. How willing are you to pay fees? How far are you willing to drive to for an ATM in your network?
- What is the online banking and mobile app experience? Most financial institutions offer online and mobile banking, but some websites and apps are more robust and user-friendly than others. The experience should be intuitive, seamless, and straightforward.
- What are the interest rates? For many, this is a top consideration and it’s certainly important, but it may not be the most important determining factor. For an average daily balance of $1,000, the difference between a 0.01% APY and 1.00% APY is only $9.99 a year — a very minimal sum. You may find you are more than willing to forgo 10 bucks a year for more convenient banking options. Or, to do business with a bank whose values align with your own.
- Security. The financial institution should offer vigorous account security and fraud protection, including data encryption, two-factor authentication for mobile or online banking, credit monitoring, spend alerts, and other security safeguards.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common bank in WV?
The most common bank in West Virginia, based on the total number of branches, is City National Bank with 58 offices in 44 cities followed by:
- United Bank: 48 offices in 29 cities
- Truist Bank: 47 offices in 37 cities
- WesBanco Bank: 42 offices in 30 cities
What is the oldest bank in WV?
United Bank, founded in 1839 in Parkersburg, is West Virginia’s oldest bank.
What is the best bank to use in West Virginia?
We recommend City National Bank as the best bank in West Virginia. In addition to a strong regional presence, it offers an attractive range of solution-based products and services for consumers at all stages of financial growth — even those with damaged credit history.
City National Bank also offers a range of other free perks (roadside assistance, cell phone protection, and medical discounts).
What bank has the most branches in West Virginia?
The winner for most branches in West Virginia is also the state’s best bank: City National Bank with 58 offices.
Here is the list of banks with a large number of West Virginia locations:
- United Bank: 48
- Truist Bank: 47
- WesBanco Bank: 42
- Peoples Bank: 30
- Summit Community Bank: 30
- Huntington Bank: 26
- First Community Bank: 17
- Chase Bank: 17
- Clear Mountain Bank: 9
- Woodforest National Bank: 9
- First United Bank & Trust: 9
*Exact numbers may vary slightly over time
What is the best credit union in West Virginia?
The best credit union in West Virginia, according to our research, is Element Federal Credit Union. Element Federal CU offers an unbeatable range of financial products and services at attractive rates, along with free educational tools to promote financial literacy.
How We Chose the Best Banks and Credit Unions in West Virginia
All of the featured financial institutions deliver an outstanding banking experience. We carefully weighed the pros and cons of doing business with any of these institutions so you can make the best choice for your needs.
Criteria we’ve researched include:
- Interest rates for checking and savings accounts
- APY rates for CDs
- Minimum balance requirements
- Monthly fees and requirements for fee waivure
- Accessibility of branch locations and bank ATMs
- Customer service — means of access and contact hours
- Online banking experience
- Mobile app experience
- NSF or overdraft fees
- Financial products offered in addition to checking and savings
- Additional perks offered with accounts
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