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.
Best bank for customer satisfaction
Read more In our Bankrate review
Why Chase won
Chase Bank took first place in J.D. Power’s 2025 Retail Banking Satisfaction Survey for California, far outpacing second place finisher U.S. Bank. 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’s products
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.
Pros and cons
$3-$5 fee for non-Chase ATMs
Low yields for CDs and savings accounts
Monthly fees charged for most accounts (though they are waivable)
Patelco Credit Union Review
Best credit union
Read more in our Bankrate review
Why Patelco Credit Union won
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.
Anyone can become a member by joining the Financial Fitness Association. Or you can qualify if you live, work, worship or go to school in northern California, or work for one of more than 1,100 businesses that Patelco services throughout the country. The credit union has more than 500,000 members nationwide and 35 branches, all located in California. Members may access more than 30,000 fee-free ATMs and conduct banking at shared branches nationwide through the CO-OP network.
Patelco’s products
Patelco Credit Union offers a full suite of deposit accounts. Its wide range of certificate terms have an accessible minimum balance requirement and above-average to competitive yields.
However, other rates at the credit union are lackluster (as with its regular savings account) or require a high minimum deposit. For example, its money market account rate is competitive if you deposit at least $100,000 and link Patelco checking account.
Pros and cons
Nationwide ATM access
Solid APYs on CDs
Free checking account
Golden 1 Credit Union Review
Best big credit union
Read more in our Bankrate Review
Why Golden 1 won
Golden 1 is the biggest California-based credit union by assets, according to National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) data. It has twice as many California branches (70) than competitor Patelco, 24/7 phone support (rare for a credit union), and free national access to banking at shared branches and more than 30,000 ATMs via the CO-OP network. Golden 1 membership is open to anyone who lives or works in California and members’ immediate family members and registered domestic partners.
Golden 1’s products
Golden 1 offers CDs, savings accounts, checking accounts and a money market account. Most require a small opening deposit, and there are fee-free options for each. But the rates on the Money Market Savings and Regular Savings accounts are unimpressive.
With no fees and a free debit card, the Free Checking Account is a solid, basic option. Golden 1’s CDs (called “term savings certificates) stand out more, with above-average rates across terms and nationally competitive rates on four- and five-year terms.
Pros and cons
Ally Bank
Best online bank
Read more in our Bankrate review
Why Ally Bank won
If you want top-notch rates and ATM options but don’t need access to physical branches, Ally Bank is a good option for California residents. Ally earned the highest Bankrate Score of all online banks that offer a full range of deposit products, making it a compelling option if you want to do all your banking under one (virtual) roof.
Customers should be comfortable banking online via Ally’s website or through the bank’s highly-rated mobile app, which is available for both iOS and Android users. But with 24/7 customer service, you don’t have to do your banking during standard hours. Plus, customers can use the 75,000-plus ATMs in the Allpoint and MoneyPass networks — plenty of which are in California.
Ally’s products
Ally Bank offers a wide variety of deposit accounts with historically competitive rates and perks. Though its rates aren’t at the top of the market, Ally’s a reliable option for customers who expect good rates but don’t want to switch banks often to chase the best.
For example, in addition to above-average CD rates, you’ll also receive a loyalty bonus when you renew a CD: a 0.05 percent APY increase to the offered rate at the time of the renewal. Its spending account has no monthly fees, comes with free standard checks and a debit card, and even earns a bit of interest. And its savings account has helpful features like “buckets” to save for different goals and a round-up option.
Pros and cons
The right bank for you depends on your financial goals and priorities, with options ranging from traditional banks to online banks and credit unions. Here is a list of tips to consider when choosing a bank:
For savings and CD accounts, APY is the most important factor — compare multiple accounts to identify the best earnings. But for a savings account, make sure you have easy ways to withdraw, too.
Look for banks with low or no fees, especially for common charges like monthly maintenance fees, ATM fees and overdraft fees, which can undercut the interest you earn.
Consider your need for branch access.
Look for convenient digital features, like mobile banking and the ability to lock your debit card.
Read the footnotes and any linked terms and conditions to understand promotional deals.
Research bank reviews and consider managing accounts at multiple banks or credit unions to maximize your earnings and satisfaction.
Bankrate researches over 100 banks and credit unions, including some of the largest financial institutions, online-only banks, regional banks and credit unions with both open and restrictive membership policies.
We score these institutions based on their product offerings (savings, checking accounts, CDs and money market accounts), APYs, fees, minimum deposit requirements, funds access, digital features and more.To determine our picks for the best banks in California, the Bankrate editorial team factored in our proprietary scores and other sources of data, including customer satisfaction data from J.D. Power and information from the FDIC and NCUA. Our picks offer customers easy access to banking services throughout California and a range of checking and savings products. Learn more about how we choose the best banking products and our methodology for reviewing banks.
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