U.S. Bank and Bank of America are in the top 10 largest banks in the country. They both offer similar products and services, but Bank of America offers higher interest rates than U.S. Bank. Compare which of these two banks is a better fit for your banking needs.
Pros and cons of U.S. Bank vs. Bank of America
U.S. Bank
Pros
- Smaller CD deposits. U.S. Bank only requires $500 to open a CD, whereas Bank of America asks for a minimum of $1,000.
- Student accounts. Students can have specific banking needs, which makes the $0 monthly fee and four non-bank ATM transactions per month a big plus.
- 24/7 customer support. U.S. Bank offers 24/7 customer service support via phone.
Cons
- Limited locations. U.S. Bank has branches in only 27 states, limiting your ability to talk to someone directly.
- Low interest rates. With interest rates at just 0.01% for its Platinum Checking account, Bank of America can earn more money for you.
- Harder to waive fees. A balance of over $1,000 is needed to waive the monthly fees, whereas with Bank of America, you simply need to be enrolled in the Preferred Rewards program.
Bank of America
Pros
- Larger presence. Bank of America has branches in more states and with many more ATMs.
- Rewards programs. Bank of America allows customers to earn rewards on personal banking products through its two rewards programs.
- Higher APYs. Its lowest APY is 0.02% and its best checking account is 0.06%, meaning your money can earn considerably higher interest than an account with U.S. Bank.
- Customer service. Bank of America has slightly more positive online reviews than U.S. Bank, and has a higher rating with the Better Business Bureau.
Cons
- No free checking. Bank of America ended its free checking option in 2018. However, you can still get the monthly fee waived if you’re a student or are enrolled in its Preferred Rewards program.
- Misc. banking fees. Bank of America has many miscellaneous fees that could eat into your account balance, including a $5 non-BofA ATM fee.
- Not available 24/7. For a bank of its size, it’s surprising that it has limited customer service hours, though it’s available seven days a week.
U.S. Bank vs. Bank of America savings accounts
Both banks offer tiered savings accounts, require minimum deposit amounts, and waive monthly fees if minimum average amounts are kept. However, Bank of America’s 0.01% APY on its standard savings account is higher than U.S. Bank’s 0.01% APY on its standard savings.
Winner: Bank of America
U.S. Bank vs. Bank of America checking accounts
U.S. Bank offers five checking accounts: a basic account, a safe debit account, a student account, an account without checks, a gold account for customers with a loan, and a platinum account for customers with over $25,000 in deposits. You can waive the monthly fees for both U.S. Bank and Bank of America, but the wider range of checking accounts makes U.S. Bank the winner.
Winner: U.S. Bank
U.S. Bank vs. Bank of America other products
- Auto, boat and RV loans
- Brokerage accounts
- Credit and reloadable cards
- Commercial banking
- Financial advising
- Foreign exchange
- Home loans and refinancing
- IRAs and 401(k) plans
- Military banking
- Personal and student loans
- Student and senior banking
U.S. Bank
- 529 plans
- Auto, boat and RV loans
- Brokerage accounts
- Credit and reloadable cards
- Commercial banking
- Financial advising
- Foreign exchange
- Home loans and refinancing
- IRAs & 401(k)s
- Student and military banking
Bank of America
U.S. Bank vs. Bank of America branches and ATMs
Both U.S. Bank and Bank of America offer a wide variety of support channels and a large number of ATMs.
U.S. Bank | Bank of America | |
---|---|---|
Branches | 3,000 | 4,400 |
ATMs | 4,700 | 16,000+ |
Customer service |
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U.S. Bank vs Bank of America special features
Each bank offers a few things that help them stand apart from each other:
U.S. Bank |
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Bank of America |
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Winner: Bank of America
Bottom line
Bank of America has a larger presence across the U.S. with more ATMs but with greater miscellaneous banking fees. U.S. Bank is smaller but still packs a punch with its suite of checking and savings accounts. If you’re looking for a bank with higher-yield accounts, check out other banking options to find a bank that suits your needs.
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