Finding the Best Banks in Oklahoma
Choosing the best bank in your area is a challenge. There are many banks to choose from in Oklahoma, all of which have multiple types of accounts. To help you decide which banks offer the right features and benefits for you, SmartAsset created this list of the best banks in the state. Continue reading to see the most accessible banks and to see which banks offer the best accounts.
Bank | APY | Min. Deposit | Highlights | |
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Ally Bank | 4.25% | $0 |
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BOK Financial | 0.50% | $50 |
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BancFirst | 0.05% | $500 |
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CIT Bank | 0.40% | $100 |
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Arvest Bank | 0.25% | $100 |
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RCB Bank | 0.51% | $100 |
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How We Determine the Best Banks in Oklahoma
SmartAsset’s banking experts found the 15 most popular banks in Oklahoma, based on the number of branches in the state. From those banks we selected the best national and regional banks, as well as the best savings and checking accounts. To make our choices, we considered minimum balance requirements, annual percentage yields (APYs), fee structures and overall accessibility.
Ally Bank: The Top Savings Account
Ally, an online- and mobile-centric bank, carries some of the top savings rates around. Headlining the bank’s plethora of account options is the Online Savings Account that offers a 4.25% APY. This rate compounds on a daily basis, which will help your account accrue interest as fast as possible. Further contributing to the account’s favorable structure is its nonexistent monthly fees and minimum deposit.
Savings accounts are focused on long-term growth, but checking accounts pair well with them due to their transactional benefits. Ally’s Spending Account provides a chance for account holders to take advantage of both styles, though. To be specific, you’ll receive up to a 0.25% APY along with a debit card for purchases and cash withdrawals. Ally customers can use any of the Allpoint network’s 55,000 ATMs for free. However, Ally will pay up to $10 in reimbursements (per statement cycle) to help cover fees from out-of-network ATMs as well.
Mobile banking is one of Ally’s strong suits. Customers can download its app from both the Apple and Android app stores, where it currently maintains a combined average rating of 4.35 stars out of 5. Through this mobile platform, you’ll be able to deposit checks remotely, find fee-free ATMs in your area, send money to family and friends through Zelle®, view your accounts statements 24/7 and more.
Best National Bank With Branches in Oklahoma: BOK Financial
BOK Financial operates in eight states under seven brand names. However, its headquarters are in Oklahoma and you can find it in the state as The Bank of Oklahoma. (BOK stands for Bank of Oklahoma.)
There more than 50 branches in the state but most are in the major cities of Tulsa and Oklahoma City. If you live near a branch, BOK Financial could be a good choice, because it offers numerous financial services. It has standard savings accounts, money market accounts (MMAs), checking accounts and certificates of deposit (CDs). While all large banks have these accounts, the rates are typically quite low. BOK Financial has decent rates (though you may want to look elsewhere for better CD rates).
Beyond simple banking, you can also find investing services to help you can also get loans and wealth management services. If you need some extra guidance on the best ways to bank, you can talk to a financial advisor.
Best Regional Bank: BancFirst
BancFirst is one of the largest banks in Oklahoma with more than 100 local branches. That’s more than any other bank. If you live near a local branch, you may want to consider opening a savings account. The APY is higher than at many other banks and is even higher than some banks’ rates for MMAs.
The other nice thing about BancFirst is the lack of fees. The fees that do exist are either low or you can waive them. For example, the BancFirst Savings account has a monthly fee that you can waive just by maintaining an account balance of $100. Pair this, and its high APY, with a free checking account and you have your basic banking needs covered.
You can also get loans, multiple types of insurance and business accounts through BancFirst.
Best Savings Account Rate: CIT Bank Savings Builder Account
Do you have $100 lying around? That’s all you need to deposit to open a CIT Savings Builder account that features a 1.00% APY. This is one of the top rates in the banking industry, and it’s not that difficult to hold onto. Account holders that deposit $100 a month or maintain a balance of $25,000 earn at that rate, while everyone outside of these guidelines receives a 0.40% APY.
Are you interested in opening more than just the Savings Builder account? If so, you’ll have access to the following savings products at CIT:
- Money market account
- Premier High-Yield Savings account
- 6-month to 5-year term CDs
- 2-year to 5-year jumbo CDs
- 1-year to 4-year “RampUp” CDs
- No-Penalty/11-Month CD
In true modern fashion, CIT Bank is a branchless, online/mobile financial institution. To be specific, this description indicates that there are no physical CIT locations for customers to visit. This leaves the bank’s online banking site and mobile apps to lead the way. Between the Apple and Android app stores, customers have rated CIT’s app at 3.85 stars out of 5. You’ll be able to initiate mobile check deposits, complete in-house account transfers and peruse your account statements 24/7 through these platforms.
Runner-up for Best Savings Account Rate & Best Customer Service: Arvest Bank
The standard savings account from Arvest bank is a great option because of its fair APY (0.25%) and low monthly fee. The fee is just $2 and you can waive it by maintaining a balance of $100. You can also earn a slightly higher rate if you couple your account with a free checking account. In particular, the Free Blue™ Checking account provides unlimited check writing, a debit card and $400 of overdraft protection, all for no monthly fee.
If you’re looking for other ways to save, Arvest Bank offers CDs with competitive rates. Just make sure to ask at your local branch about the current special CDs, because representatives there will have the highest rates.
And even though Arvest Bank is local to Oklahoma, it offers many more services than some other local banks. There are a few credit cards available and the bank also provides help with financial planning and insurance products.
According to J.D. Power’s U.S. Retail Banking Satisfaction Study, Arvest Bank also has one of the highest consumer satisfaction ratings in the entire country. This study takes multiple factors into account, like a bank's ability to handle customer issues, the frequency of its branches, its fee schedules and its product offerings.
Best Free Checking Account: RCB Bank
The best account from RCB Bank, the my Interest Checking account, offers a 0.51% APY. That’s an pretty high rate considering that most checking accounts don’t earn interest at all. However, there is a caveat. Accounts with less than a $15,000 balance earn this APY. Larger accounts earn a 0.01% APY. Once you open an account, which requires a deposit of at least $100, you need to make at least 10 debit purchases per month, have at least one automatic withdrawal or deposit and elect to receive electronic statements.
If you don’t use a debit card regularly, this account may not be right for you. Though it may also be worth making the 10 monthly purchases to earn the high APY. The account also offers $10 in ATM fee reimbursements every rewards cycle.
RCB Bank also offers some useful accounts and services beyond its checking account. For example, it offers an account designed to help you save for your child’s college. College savings plans are not available from every bank but they are a great way to save toward education. RCB Bank also offers retirement accounts, mortgages, investment help and access to wealth advisors.