Finding the Best Banks in Texas is no easy task. Texas is a huge state, so needless to say, they have many banking options.
For most people, your checking and savings account is your financial focus where money comes in, goes out and gives you a safe place to stash extra cash.
Choosing a bank is different for everyone. What's best for you may be different than what's best for someone else. We started by looking at the Texas Department of Banking's Top 100 Banks by Asset Size and narrowed it down to the 15 Best Banks in Texas based on several factors.
Bankiful evaluated the best banks in Texas by looking at four main factors:
- Free checking with no strings attached. Many banks charge monthly maintenance fees unless you meet specific minimum balance or activity requirements.
- Digital banking tools like bill pay, remote check deposits, instant transfer services, account management, free way to send and receive money, and basic self-service from your computer or a mobile app.
- Savings products like high-yield savings accounts and certificate of deposits.
- Financial products like credit cards, mortgage, personal and auto loans.
The following list represents the best banks in Texas in these categories. Use the list to help you choose the right bank for your needs.
15 Best Banks in Texas
1. CIT Bank – Our No. 1 Choice for Best Online Bank
CIT Bank offers free checking with no strings attached. But they stand out for their high-yield Savings Connect Account which earns 2.10% APY that is linked to the CIT eChecking ⎼ giving customers easy access to their money with a debit card. CIT Bank accounts are available in ALL States.
CIT Savings Connect Features
- Opening deposit: Open with a $100 minimum deposit.
- Earn 16x the national savings rate: Earns 2.10% APY.
- ATM Fees: Get up to $30 in other banks’ ATM fees reimbursed per month.
- Free outgoing wire transfers: Free outgoing wire transfers for accounts with an average daily balance of $25,000 or more.
- Transfer funds: Transfer, pay, and purchase via mobile with Zelle, Bill Pay, Samsung Pay and Apple Pay.
- Banking App: Deposit checks and make unlimited withdrawal and disbursements with the CIT Bank mobile app.
- Mobile banking: 24/7 account access online and mobile, plus an automated telephone system.
- Easy Access: Access your money easily with Zelle & Bill Pay.
- Member FDIC-Insured
Customer Service: Available vis telephone at 866.351.5646 Mon-Fri 7am-7pm Central and Closed Sat & Sun.
Financial Products: Checking, Saving, Certificate of Deposit, Mortgage & Business Loans.
Learn More2. Amarillo National Bank
Amarillo National Bank offers a Free Checking Account option that does not require a minimum balance or monthly service fee.
Free Checking Account Features:
- Minimum Opening Deposit: $50
- Average Daily Minimum Balance: None
- Monthly Service Fee*: None
- Statement Choices: E-mail or paper statements**
- Unlimited Check Writing
Digital Banking: Online and mobile banking, online bill pay and mobile pay.
Savings Products:
- Savings – Earns 0.80% APY
- Money Market – Earns 0.90% APY
- Certificate of Deposit – Earns 2.30% APY
Financial Products: Checking, Saving, Credit Cards, Personal, Auto and Mortgage Loans, HELOC and Investments.
3. American National Bank of Texas
American National Bank of Texas offers a Free eChecking account. This account allows you to make deposits, get environmentally-friendly eStatements and use online and mobile Banking.
Free eChecking features:
- $50 minimum opening deposit
- No monthly service fee with eStatements
- Safe and convenient eStatements
- Free ANBTX Visa debit card
- Free Online Banking with Bill Pay
- Free Mobile Banking
- Free MoneyHD™ Financial Management
Digital banking: The mobile banking app lets you deposit checks quickly and easily. With online banking you'll be able to schedule recurring payments, make a one-time payment, track your bill payment history, make bank-to-bank transfers and use pay-a-person to send electronic payments to anyone with an email address.
Savings products:
- Savings
- Money Market
- Certificate of Deposit
Financial products: Checking, Saving, Credit Cards, Personal, Auto and Mortgage Loans, HELOC and Investments.
4. Austin Bank
Austin Bank offers the Austin Star Checking Account is perfect for everyday banking, for students, or as a convenient second account.
Free Austin Star checking features:
- $50 minimum required to open
- No minimum balance required or monthly service charge
- Free eStatements (paper statements without images are available for a $2 monthly fee)
- Charges from Fee Schedule for Miscellaneous Services still apply
Digital banking: Enjoy free mobile banking with Austin Mobile™. You can access account information and activity, transfer funds and more – all from your mobile device.
Savings products:
- Savings
- Money Market
- Certificate of Deposit
Financial products: Checking, Saving, Credit Cards, Personal, Auto and Mortgage Loans, HELOC and Investments.
5. Broadway National Bank
Broadway National Bank offers the convenience of a big national bank but with a touch of personal service as a local bank.
Free checking features:
- Unlimited Check Writing
- Mobile Banking
- Free Automatic Alerts
- Free Online Bill Pay
- Free Email Alerts
- Free UrDesign Photo Debit Card*
- Mobile Check Deposit
- 24-hour Automated Access
- Free Overdraft Protection Transfers from Linked Account
- No fee to use Out of Network ATMs (ATM owner may charge a fee)
Digital banking: Enjoy free mobile banking. Access Mobile Banking with Bill Pay instantly after opening your account.
Savings products:
- Savings
- Money Market
- Certificate of Deposit
Financial products: Checking, Saving, Credit Cards, Personal, Auto and Mortgage Loans, HELOC and Investments.
6. City Bank
City Bank offers the Simple Checking Account with no strings attached. It takes only a minimum deposit of $50 to open the account. After your account is open, there is no required minimum balance and there is no monthly fee.
Free Simple checking account features:
- E-Statements
- No monthly service charge
- No minimum balance
- Free debit card
- Unlimited check writing
- Overdraft protection
Digital banking:Enjoy free online and mobile banking.
Savings products:
- Savings
- Money Market
- Certificate of Deposit
Financial products: Checking, Saving, Credit Cards, Personal, Auto and Mortgage Loans, HELOC and Investments.
7. Community Bank of Texas
Community Bank of Texas offers the Thrifty free checking account that requires $25 to open. After your account is open, there is no required minimum balance and there is no monthly fee.
Free Simple checking account features:
- No monthly service charge
- No minimum balance
- Free debit card
- Mobile and Online Banking
- Overdraft protection
Digital banking: With online banking you get the freedom and peace of mind that comes from knowing you have 24/7 access to your money. Manage your transaction history, transfer funds, view alerts, pay bills and view check images and deposits.
Savings products:
- Savings
- Money Market
- Certificate of Deposit
Financial products: Checking, Saving, Credit Cards, Personal, Auto and Mortgage Loans, HELOC and Investments.
8. First United Bank & Trust
First United Bank & Trust offers the Freedom Checking Account that can be opened with $1. This checking solution is built to provide a basic, no minimum balance, no-frills checking account that’s economical and thoughtfully featured.
Freedom checking account features:
- No minimum balance requirements
- $1 minimum to open account
- Free eStatements* with Personal Internet Banking
- Earn basic My Bank Rewards with most debit card purchases
- Access surcharge free ATMs at all First United, MoneyPass and Sheetz ATMs
- Simple access to Internet Banking or Mobile Banking
- Unlimited check writing privileges
- Your own personal Visa debit card
- Check Safekeeping*
Digital banking: First United lets you securely transfer money, deposit checks, check balances and more–all on the go with their Mobile app.
Savings products:
- Savings
- Money Market
- Certificate of Deposit
Financial products: Checking, Saving, Credit Cards, Personal, Auto and Mortgage Loans, HELOC and Investments.
9. LegacyTexas Bank
LegacyTexas Bank offers a free checking account that you can open with a minimum deposit of $100. No minimum balance required. No monthly service charge.
Free checking account features:
- No monthly service charge
- No minimum balance required
- Free Debit Card
- Free Online & Mobile Banking
- Free Online Bill Pay
- Free Mobile Deposit
Digital banking: Manage your money on your terms with free online bill pay, free mobile app and free mobile deposits.
Savings products:
- Savings
- Money Market
- Certificate of Deposit
Financial products: Checking, Saving, Credit Cards, Personal, Auto and Mortgage Loans, HELOC and Investments.
10. Pioneer Bank
Pioneer Bank offers a free checking account with no minimum balance, free debit card, 50,000+ free ATMs, easy mobile app with check deposits at the snap of a pic. You can pay bills online, pay people from phone to phone, set alerts to keep tabs on your cash. Oh, and did we mention all this is free?
Free checking account features:
- No monthly service charge
- No minimum balance required
- Free debit card, 50,000+ free ATMs
- Free Online & Mobile Banking
- Free Online Bill Pay
- Free Mobile Deposit
Digital banking: Online banking gives you full control to monitor your accounts and move money securely. You can pay bills online, pay people from phone to phone, set alerts to keep tabs on your cash.
Savings products:
- Savings
- Money Market
- Certificate of Deposit
Financial products: Checking, Saving, Credit Cards, Personal, Auto and Mortgage Loans, HELOC and Investments.
11. Pinnacle Bank
Pinnacle Bank offers a free checking account that requires $100 to open. The free account is truly free with no monthly fee and no minimum balance.
Free checking account features:
- Visa Debit Card with UChoose Rewards
- Online Banking
- Online Bill Pay
- Mobile Banking with mobile deposits
- Account Alerts
Digital banking: Use your smartphone to pay bills or to manage your account and set alerts.
Savings products:
- Savings
- Money Market
- Certificate of Deposit
Financial products: Checking, Saving, Credit Cards, Personal, Auto and Mortgage Loans, HELOC and Investments.
12. Southside Bank
Southside Bank offers the Classic Free Checking Account that requires a $50 minimum opening deposit.
Free checking account features:
- No monthly service fee
- Online Banking
- Online Bill Pay
- Overdraft privilege
- Check Writing
Digital banking: Enroll in online banking eStatements, mobile banking, bill pay, mobile deposit, online banking, pay-a-friend and text banking.
Savings products:
- Savings
- Money Market
- Certificate of Deposit
Financial products: Checking, Saving, Credit Cards, Personal, Auto and Mortgage Loans, HELOC and Investments.
13. TBK Bank
TBK Bank offers a totally free checking account that requires $50 to open.
Totally free checking account features:
- No monthly maintenance service charge
- No minimum balance
- Unlimited check writing; no per-check charges
- Free online banking with bill pay
- Free mobile banking* and mobile deposit
- Free eStatements with paper statements available
- Free debit card†
- Popmoney service available
- $50 minimum deposit to open
Digital banking: Free online and mobile banking to manage your account, deposit checks, pay your bills, make transfers, view your transaction history, send money to people you know, set up real time push notifications and balance alerts.
Savings products:
- Savings
- Money Market
- Certificate of Deposit
Financial products: Checking, Saving, Credit Cards, Personal, Auto and Mortgage Loans, HELOC and Investments.
14. Texas Bank and Trust
Texas Bank and Trust offers a free digital checking account that requires $50 to open.
Free checking account features:
- No monthly service charge
- No minimum balance
- Send money directly to friends, family or anyone
- Online banking with bill pay
- $50 minimum deposit to open
Digital banking: Enroll in online banking eStatements, mobile banking, bill pay, mobile deposit, online banking, pay-a-friend and text banking.
Savings products:
- Savings
- Money Market
- Certificate of Deposit
Financial products: Checking, Saving, Credit Cards, Personal, Auto and Mortgage Loans, HELOC and Investments.
15. USAA Federal Savings Bank
USAA Federal Savings Bank is one of the largest on this list offering free checking that only requires a $25 deposit to open.
Free USAA Classic Checking features:
- No Monthly Service Fees
- 60,000 USAA-preferred ATMs
- No Minimum Balance
- Industry-leading security measures
- Overdraft Protection
- Special features for military recruits
Digital banking: Enroll in online banking, send and receive money with Zelle, track spending, mobile deposits.
Savings products:
- Savings
- Money Market
- Certificate of Deposit
Financial products: Checking, Saving, Credit Cards, Personal, Auto and Mortgage Loans, HELOC, Insurance and Investments.
Ranking Disclosure: Data for this ranking was compiled from and verified against the individual institutions’ websites on Mar. 5, 2019. Rates, terms and conditions are subject to change at the discretion of the individual financial institutions. APY was based on the minimum deposit required to open the account. Some interest rates might be short-term or promotional offers only, and it is possible additional terms and conditions must be met in order to obtain the interest rates listed. Rates and availability might vary by region. Please verify terms and conditions before opening an account. Rankings are completely objective, and no institution, client or otherwise, paid for inclusion or specific placement.
