Best Banks and Credit Unions for Mobile Banking
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The best mobile banking providers give you access to financial services anytime you want. Using banking apps on your phone or tablet — or using a bank's website — you can complete many common tasks, including checking your account balance, finding nearby ATMs and depositing a check by snapping a photo.
Here are banks and credit unions with the best mobile banking experiences. To compare a wider range of banks on more than just their mobile apps, see our roundup of best banks and credit unions.
Why you can trust NerdWallet: Our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage to help you choose the financial accounts that work best for you. See our criteria for evaluating banks and credit unions.
- + See a list of our best banks and credit unions for mobile banking
Mobile banking: Best banks and credit unions
Alliant Credit Union
Ally Bank
Capital One 360
Discover® Bank
SoFi
Synchrony
Best Banks and Credit Unions for Mobile Banking
| Bank/institution | NerdWallet rating | Learn more |
|---|---|---|
4.9/5 | LEARN MORELEARN MORE at Alliant Credit Union, Federally insured by NCUA | |
5.0/5 | ||
4.6/5 | ||
5.0/5 | ||
4.9/5 | ||
4.9/5 |
Alliant Credit Union: Best mobile experience at a credit union
Why we chose it:
Highly rated mobile apps.
High limit for depositing checks through the app.
App connects to money management tools.
Alliant Credit Union is easy to join and its savings rates are competitive. Alliant’s apps offer features that let you manage your banking tasks from anywhere.
You can use an ATM locator, review transaction history and balances on demand, deposit checks and pay bills. And the app works with money management tools like Quicken WebConnect. Plus they let you track your ATM fee rebates to know when you’re nearing the $20 monthly rebate limit. There’s also a high daily limit of $100,000 for depositing checks through the apps.
Ally: Best for 24/7 customer service
Why we chose it:
Highly rated iOS app.
24/7 customer service.
Savings account can be broken out into convenient "buckets" for different savings goals.
Ally’s mobile apps let you pay bills, send money to people through Zelle, deposit checks and transfer funds between bank accounts. The apps earn respectable ratings from Android users and high ratings from iOS users. If you ever need human help with your accounts, customer service is available 24/7.
Ally’s online checking account earns interest and has no monthly fees, while its online savings account lets you organize your savings goals into different categories. The savings account’s attractive rate is higher than what you can expect to find at larger traditional banks.
Capital One 360: Best for online banking with some branch access
Why we chose it:
Highly rated mobile apps.
Biometric sign-in (fingerprint or facial recognition).
Credit score monitoring in app.
Capital One isn’t just home to free checking and savings accounts that earn interest; it has a robust mobile banking platform, too.
The apps have all the standard functions of mobile banking, like mobile check deposit, bill pay and the ability to send money to other people in the U.S. They also add a layer of security with mobile app verification, which uses your login credentials and your phone to help ensure only you can access your account. The Capital One mobile apps earn strong ratings from iOS and Android users.
Unlike most online banks, Capital One 360 comes with branch access in a few states. The bank also has Capital One Cafés in select states, where customers can open accounts, speak to bank representatives, get beverages and snacks and use free Wi-Fi.
Discover: Best for balance tracking
Why we chose it:
Highly rated mobile apps.
24/7 customer service.
Biometric sign-in (fingerprint or facial recognition).
"Quick View" feature allows you to see your account balance without logging in.
Discover® Bank offers free checking and savings accounts that pay cash back or offer strong interest rates. Its apps are well-rated by iOS and Android users alike and offer standard features such as an ATM locator, mobile check deposit and online bill pay. For those who want to keep an extra keen eye what you have in your accounts, you can use the app's "Quick View" feature to see your balance without logging in. Customers can also use the app to securely message customer service, view credit scores and freeze and unfreeze accounts.
SoFi: Best for combination checking and savings account
Why we chose it:
High app rating on iOS.
Biometric sign-in (fingerprint or facial recognition).
Credit score monitoring and budget tools.
SoFi offers highly competitive APYs for both checking and savings balances in its combination checking and savings account. The only requirement to reach those high rates is a monthly direct deposit in any amount. The app gets decent ratings from Android users and high ratings from iOS users. Customers can use the app to monitor their credit score and, if so inclined, dive deeper into budgeting with the bank's in-house tools.
Synchrony: Best for savings only
Why we chose it:
Highly rated mobile apps.
In-app customer support.
Biometric sign-in (fingerprint or facial recognition).
Synchrony Bank's mobile banking apps earn great ratings from both iOS and Android users. Customers use them to deposit checks, make payments and transfers, and manage their accounts. The bank offers in-app customer support and a Twitter account dedicated to providing help.
Synchrony account holders get fee-free ATM access at machines in the Popmoney and MoneyPass networks but note that Synchrony doesn't offer a checking account.
Last updated on February 10, 2023
Methodology
We took a close look at nearly 80 financial institutions and financial service providers, including the largest U.S. banks based on assets, internet search traffic and other factors; the nation’s largest credit unions, based on assets and membership; and other notable and/or emerging players in the industry. We rated them on criteria that include annual percentage yields, minimum balances, fees, digital experience and more.
Financial institutions and providers surveyed are: Alaska USA Federal Credit Union, Alliant Credit Union, Ally Bank, Amalgamated Bank, America First Credit Union, American Express National Bank, Andrews Federal Credit Union, Axos Bank, Bank of America, Bank5 Connect, Barclays, Bask Bank, BMO, Boeing Employees Credit Union, Bread Savings, Capital One, Charles Schwab Bank, Chase, Chime, CIT Bank, Citibank, Citizens, ConnectOne Bank, Connexus Credit Union, Consumers Credit Union, Current, Discover® Bank, E-Trade, First Foundation, First Tech Federal Credit Union, FNBO Direct, GO2bank, Golden 1 Credit Union, Hope Credit Union, KeyBank, Lake Michigan Credit Union, LendingClub Bank, Liberty Bank, Live Oak Bank, Marcus by Goldman Sachs, Navy Federal Credit Union, NBKC, One, OneUnited Bank, Pentagon Federal Credit Union, PNC, Popular Direct, Quontic Bank, Revolut, Salem Five Direct, Sallie Mae Bank, Scarlet, SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, Security Service Federal Credit Union, Service Credit Union, SoFi, State Employees’ Credit Union of North Carolina, Suncoast Credit Union, Synchrony Bank, TAB Bank, TIAA Bank, Truist, U.S. Bank, UFB Direct, Upgrade, USAA Bank, Varo, Vio Bank, Wells Fargo and Zynlo Bank. How we rate banks and credit unions
NerdWallet's Best Banks and Credit Unions for Mobile Banking
- Alliant Credit Union: Best for Mobile banking at a credit union
- Ally Bank: Best for Mobile banking at a bank
- Capital One: Best for Mobile banking at a bank
- Discover® Bank: Best for Mobile banking at a bank
- SoFi Bank, N.A.: Best for Mobile banking at a bank
- Synchrony Bank: Best for Mobile banking at a bank
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile banking?
Mobile banking refers to using a mobile device, such as a phone or tablet, to manage your bank accounts. The best banks and credit unions for mobile banking provide apps and mobile-friendly websites that give you access to financial services anytime you want.
- Mobile banking vs. online banking: What’s the difference?
Mobile banking refers to using your phone or tablet to access and manage your bank accounts, whether through an app or the bank's website. Online banking refers to using your laptop or personal computer to access your accounts on a bank website.
- Are banking apps safe?
Good mobile banking apps offer security features to make your transactions safer. At minimum, they require you to log in with a password and/or use your smartphone’s safety features such as facial recognition or fingerprint ID, offer real-time alerts for transactions, and encrypt your information.
You can take key steps to practice safe mobile banking, including making sure your app is up to date before you use it, signing out of the app when you’re done, and having a strong password that you keep safe. Avoid logging into your accounts when using unsecured public Wi-Fi.