If you're like a lot of Americans, you have a checking account at one of the nation's four largest banks: Bank of America, Chase, Citibank, and Wells Fargo. Together, these four banks hold about 40 percent of all U.S. commercial bank assets, and they provide many benefits such as nationwide convenience (access to a total of 17,000-plus branches and more than 80,000 fee-free ATMs), state of-the-art digital banking platforms, and sophisticated security systems.
But in our survey of some 49,000 subscribers, all four mega banks scored in the bottom fifth of our overall bank rankings, which consisted of more than 70,000 bank and credit union ratings.
It's not because their services were poor --our readers were satisfied with them overall. Rather, survey respondents told us they found better banking alternatives at more than 60 smaller banks--including some that operate mostly online. They were also more satisfied with the services they got at credit unions especially when it came to customer service and fees.
If you're happy with the services and fees at your current bank, you are fortunate. But if you are looking for an alternative, you have plenty of options. Here's how to find the best institution to meet your banking needs.
