Best Online Financial Services of 2026 

Published on April 29, 2026 | 3 min read

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The best bank and credit union for you will depend on your banking needs, but in general, the best banks offer accounts with low or no minimum balance requirements and don’t charge monthly fees — or at least allow you to waive them.

They also tend to have helpful technology and offer customers high-yield savings accounts and certificates of deposits (CDs) with competitive yields to help your savings stay ahead of inflation.
Bankrate’s picks for best banks and credit unions of 2026
Best for extra FDIC insurance
at SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC

SoFi

  • View your offers in minutes
  • Low fixed rates
  • Affordable monthly payments
  • No prepayment fees

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Rating

SoFi first became popular for its student loan services, but has since expanded into online banking with a high-yield checking and savings account. While its banking lineup is relatively simple, SoFi stands out with competitive APYs, no monthly fees, and a modern digital banking experience.
Overview
• Up to $3 million in extended FDIC insurance coverage through partner banks.
• Earn 0.50% APY on your checking balance.
• Built-in savings tools, including roundups and customizable savings buckets for financial goals.
Why we like 
Savings account, checking account, credit cards, loans, business accounts
Products
Best for Families & Credit Tracking
at IdentityIQ's website

IdentityIQ

  • $1 million fraud insurance available on all plans
  • Four different plan options, including a “Max” family plan that includes up to four minor children
  • Credit score simulator

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Rating

IdentityIQ offers affordable identity protection with comprehensive monitoring and recovery services, helping you stay protected from both digital and real-world identity threats.
Overview
• Comprehensive monitoring: Tracks all three credit bureaus, the web, and financial accounts to help detect identity theft quickly.
• Affordable pricing: Plans start at $19.90/month, or about $16.66/month with annual billing.
• Two-factor authentication: Extra account security with a passcode required for login.
Why we like 
Credit Monitoring & Scores, Dark Web Monitoring, Identity Restoration, Insurance & Protection.
Products
Best for credit monitoring service
at creditscoreiq.com

CreditScoreIQ

  • Real-time credit alerts & monitoring
  • Identity theft & dark web protection
  • Easy credit score & report tracking

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Rating

Originally known for its credit monitoring and identity protection services, CreditScoreIQ now offers tools designed to help users track their credit health, monitor changes, and better manage their financial security through a simple digital experience.
Overview
• Unlimited ATM fee reimbursements with access to 90,000+ fee-free ATMs.
• No minimum balance requirements and no monthly maintenance fees.
• 24/7 customer support available whenever you need assistance.
Why we like 
Savings account, checking account, credit cards, loans, business accounts
Products
Best for unlimited ATM refunds
at axosbank.com

Axos Bank

  • Competitive high-yield accounts.
  • No monthly fees or minimum balances.
  • Unlimited ATM fee reimbursements.
  • 24/7 customer support.

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Rating

While Axos Bank offers limited CD and money market options, it stands out with competitive checking and savings accounts, plus additional services including teen banking, lending, and investment solutions.
Overview
• Unlimited ATM fee reimbursements with access to 90,000+ fee-free ATMs.
• No minimum balance requirements and no monthly maintenance fees.
• 24/7 customer support available whenever you need assistance.
Why we like 
Savings account, checking account, loans, investing
Products
Best for mobile banking
at UFB Direct

UFB Direct

  • High checking APY.
  • Strong digital banking tools.
  • No monthly maintenance fees.

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Rating

UFB Direct is a completely online option that offers checking, savings and money market accounts. It is unique in that it is one of a handful of banks that offers greater APYs when you hold both a checking and savings account with it. The downside is that to open a checking account, you’ll need to also open either a savings or money market account.



Overview
• Earn up to 2.00% APY on your checking balance.
• Flexible digital banking with both mobile app and text banking access.
• Competitive savings and money market rates with no monthly maintenance fees.
Why we like 
Savings account, checking account, money market account, loans
Products

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