Page 16 - Money - November 2018

BEST BANKS

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For this category, we focused on free checking and savings accounts, with competitive ATM fees.

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Why it wins: Banner offers Why it wins: Huntington is a
multiple checking accounts Why it wins: Washington Fed- perennial top performer in
that have low, easy-to-waive eral offers a checking account Why it wins: With no minimum J.D. Power’s customer service
monthly fees or are free with no monthly or ATM fees. deposit required and no surveys. The basic checking
altogether. The bank doesn’t And you can avoid surcharges monthly fees, First National account is free, and if you
charge fees for withdrawing from ATM owners by sticking Bank of Omaha is an easy maintain $5,000 in your ac-
from an out-of-network ATM with one of 32,000 ATMs in the pick. It also offers free out-of- count, the bank will waive the
and even offers unlimited MoneyPass network the bank network ATM transactions and monthly fees on an account
refunds on the fees charged by participates in. Washington Fed- a robust national network of that earns a bit of interest and
ATM owners—a rarity among eral’s overdraft fee is below av- ATMs (so you can avoid ATM refunds five out-of-network
traditional banks. Banner is erage, at $25, and interest on its surcharges). And the bank is a ATMs. With both accounts,
also J.D. Power’s top-rated savings account is above regional winner in J.D. Power’s you’ll get free overdraft protec-
bank for customer service in average, at 0.1%. 2018 customer service ratings. tion and a 24-hour grace period
the Northwest region. One other perk: First National to deposit cash and avoid
Caveat: Depending on which offers a refund of one overdraft overdrawing.
Caveat: There’s little not to state you live in, the bank’s fee every 12 months.
like, especially after Banner 236 branches may not be Caveat: To avoid a high $3
raised the interest rate on its convenient. Caveat: You may be a long out-of-network fee, you’ll
basic savings account to 0.1%. Where you can find it: Ariz., drive from any of the bank’s have to use one of the bank’s
Yet the savings account does Idaho, Nev., N.M., Ore., Texas, roughly 100 branches. 1,800 ATMs.
require a $100 minimum Utah, Wash. Where you can find it: Where you can find it:
balance to waive a small Colo., Ill., Iowa, Kans., Neb., Fla., Ill., Ind., Ky., Mich., Ohio,
monthly fee. Key account: Basic Checking S.D., Texas Pa., W.Va., Wis.
Where you can find it: Monthly service fee: $0 Key account: First National Key account: Huntington 5
Calif., Idaho, Ore., Wash. Outside ATM fee: $0 Checking Checking
Key account: Finalist: If you live in Montana, Monthly service fee: $0 Monthly service fee:
Connected Checking Wyoming, or Colorado, check Outside ATM fee: $0 $5, waived with a $5,000
Monthly service fee: $0 out Glacier Bank. Its Easy combined balance
Interest checking account is
Outside ATM fee: $0 Interest: 0.15%
free and pays 0.01% interest.

MONE Y. C O M NO VEMBER 2 018