U.S. Bank Review: Checking, Savings and CDs
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at U.S. Bank, Member FDIC
- Checking
- Savings
- Certificates of deposit
- Customer experience
- Overdraft fees
Overall institution rating
3.3
It’s no secret that big banks sometimes charge high fees and offer low interest rates. U.S. Bank, the country’s fifth-largest by assets, is no exception. But what this institution does well is provide convenient access to thousands of physical branches and ATMs. Note that geographical restrictions may apply and some accounts might not be available in your area.
Best for: Customers who want free use of thousands of ATMs and accessible customer service, don’t require the highest rates and are unlikely to overdraft.
Pros
- Large branch network.
- Large, free, nationwide ATM network.
- 24/7 customer service by phone.
- Overdraft buffer.
Cons
- Expensive overdraft fee.
- Low rates on some CDs.
- Monthly fees (though they are avoidable).
Full review
U.S. Bank
Checking
Checking
Member FDIC
4.0
/5 NerdWallet ratingat U.S. Bank
U.S. Bank offers checking account options including a standard account and an account for people who exclusively use debit cards instead of checks.
The standard account is Bank Smartly Checking. It has a monthly fee of $6.95 but you can get the charge waived in several ways, including by making monthly direct deposits over $1,000 or maintaining an average account balance of at least $1,500. This fee is lower than some banks’ monthly fees, but many banks don’t charge monthly fees at all.
U.S. Bank offers fee-free transactions at more than 40,000 ATMs nationwide, including its own ATMs and those in the MoneyPass Network. But if you go outside of the network, the bank charges a $2.50 transaction fee, in addition to whatever the ATM’s owner may charge.
Savings
Savings
Member FDIC
3.5
/5 NerdWallet ratingFor customers with qualifying linked accounts, U.S. Bank Smartly Savings offers 3.80% APY for balances of at least $25,000. Balances between $5,000 and $24,999 earn 2.80% APY, while accounts with less than $5,000 earn a bit less. These yields are above average — the national average rate for savings accounts is 0.42%.
To earn these yields, you’ll need to have a qualifying linked checking account, credit card or debit card. If there are no linked accounts, the account earns only 0.05% APY.
There is a $25 minimum opening deposit requirement. There’s also a $5 monthly fee, which can be waived by having one of the qualifying linked accounts, or by having an account with a minor under the age of 18.
» Want to compare other savings options? Browse NerdWallet’s list of best savings accounts
Certificates of deposit
CD
Member FDIC
1.9
/5 NerdWallet ratingMany types of CDs. U.S. Bank offers four types of CDs: standard CDs, CD specials, step up CDs and trade up CDs. The last two provide ways to benefit from rate increases. Our ratings focus on standard CDs, which have common terms that we consider across all banks we analyze.
Low rates on standard CDs. There’s a wide range of standard CD terms from one month to five years, and a low minimum deposit of $500. But rates are relatively low, ranging from 0.05% APY for a one-month term to 0.25% APY for a five-year CD, depending on your location.
Higher rates on CD specials. U.S. Bank offers CD specials that have less-common term lengths, such as a promotional 7-month CD that earns up to 4.00% APY, depending on your location. It’s a solid rate, but you can find higher APYs on our list of best CD rates. The minimum deposit requirement for CD specials is $1,000.
Customer experience
4.9
NerdWallet ratingU.S. Bank really shines when it comes to access and reach. In addition to its thousands of branches and ATMs, customer service is available 24 hours a day by phone and during extended hours each day on social media. Customers can also get help by online chat on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CT.
The bank’s iOS and Android mobile apps allow check deposits, transferring money between accounts and person-to-person payments via Zelle. The apps receive good reviews.
Overdraft fees
2.6
NerdWallet ratingIf your account is overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the day, you won't get charged an overdraft fee. But if your account is overdrawn by more than $50 at the end of the day, you’ll pay a pricey $36 per transaction for overdraft transactions of more than $5. You can be charged this fee up to three times a day (for any combination of paid overdrafts and returned transactions). If you overspend, you could quickly dig yourself into a $108-a-day hole.
You can avoid U.S. Bank’s overdraft fees in a few ways: avoid overdrawing by more than $50, link an account for free overdraft protection transfers or use the bank’s overdraft fee forgiveness program. The program gives you a grace period to add money to your account: If you deposit enough money to cover the overdraft by 11 p.m. ET the day that you were charged the overdraft fee, the fee gets waived.
According to the bank’s representatives, U.S. Bank no longer charges an extended overdraft fee.
How does U.S. Bank compare?
Current Product
Member FDIC |  Member FDIC |  Member FDIC |
|---|---|---|
NerdWallet rating 4.0 /5 | NerdWallet rating 5.0 /5 | NerdWallet rating 5.0 /5 |
Monthly fee $6.95 Multiple ways to waive monthly fee | Monthly fee $0 | Monthly fee $0 |
APY N/A | APY 0.50% With $0 min. balance for APY | APY N/A |
Bonus N/A | Bonus $300 Earn up to $300 with direct deposit. Terms apply. | Bonus $360 Up to $360 per year. See website for details. |
Learn more at U.S. Bank | Learn more at SoFi Bank, N.A. | Learn more at Discover® Bank |
Methodology
NerdWallet’s overall ratings for banks and credit unions are weighted averages of several categories: checking, savings, certificates of deposit or credit union share certificates, banking experience and overdraft fees. Factors we consider, depending on the category, include rates and fees, ATM and branch access, account features and limits, user-facing technology, customer service and innovation. The stars represent ratings from poor (one star) to excellent (five stars). Ratings are rounded to the nearest half-star.
