Our picks for the best brick-and-mortar banks and credit unions in California include Chase Bank, Patelco Credit Union and Golden 1 Credit Union. If you're comfortable banking fully online, check out the consistently excellent rates at Ally Bank. Check out bank reviews, read the fine print and compare annual percentage yields to choose the best bank for you.
California is a large state, and so is your list of banking options in the Golden State. Truth is, there's no one "best" bank — the best option is the one that fits your specific needs. But we've done the research to give you some strong options.
Whether you're looking for easy access to a branch, highly-rated customer service or the best yields, here's our list for the best banks and credit unions in California. Chase Bank took first place in J.D. Power's 2025 Retail Banking Satisfaction Survey for California, far outpacing second place finisher U.S.
This survey weighs factors such as complaint resolution, account options, digital access and trust. Chase also makes it easy to access banking services, with over 800 branches scattered throughout the state, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC). Chase also has branches in every state (and Washington, D.C.) except Hawaii and Alaska, making it appealing for frequent domestic travellers.
Chase bank offers certificates of deposit (CDs), checking and savings accounts. Its Total Checking account stands out with no minimum deposit and multiple ways to move money, including its highly rated mobile banking app, Zelle and more than 15,000 ATMs. It also has a handy overdraft policy that allows you to overdraft up to $50 with no fee.Read more: Bankrate's best checking accounts But, like most of Chase's accounts, it comes with a monthly fee.
And most of Chase's savings accounts and CDs offer seriously low annual percentage yields (APYs). There are a couple of solid CD options for customers with a linked Chase checking account, but other banks offer consistently higher yields across terms. Monthly fees charged for most accounts (though they are waivable) Patelco Credit Union earned the highest Bankrate score of all California-based credit unions we've reviewed and offers a well-rounded selection of products.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
