With the rapid advancement of digital banking, managing your money has never been easier. From transferring money to friends, monitoring spending, and receiving credit score updates, the top banking apps allow you to complete almost every transaction directly from your phone. The best app for you may depend on where you bank, or even where you’d like to bank, as switching to a new bank can be simpler than it seems. Many of the top options come from some of the largest U.S. banks, offering convenience and advanced features right in the palm of your hand.
In order to help you choose the best banking app for your needs, the Lawyer Monthly Digital Finance team conducted first-hand research on 15 of the top U.S. bank apps. We evaluated them based on app functionality, budgeting tools, customer satisfaction, device compatibility, and more. After our evaluation, we ranked eight banking apps at the top, including those from Wells Fargo, Chase, Ally, and Discover.
Rating: 5.0
Availability: Apple and Android
Virtual Assistant: Yes
Pros & Cons
Pros
Cons
Why We Chose It
Wells Fargo, based in California, is one of the largest banks in the U.S., and its mobile app has garnered top marks. The app allows customers to manage a wide range of banking tasks, from transferring funds and depositing checks to monitoring your credit score and paying credit card bills. The virtual assistant, Fargo, adds an extra layer of support by helping you manage spending and perform basic transactions.
Rating: 4.9
Availability: Apple and Android
Virtual Assistant: Yes
Pros & Cons
Pros
Cons
Why We Chose It
Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Bank of America provides a comprehensive mobile banking experience. The app lets you access checking, savings, and even investment accounts. With the virtual assistant, Erica, customers can complete transactions with ease. Additionally, budgeting tools help users categorize expenses to track their financial goals. However, the bill payment process could be streamlined.
Rating: 4.9
Availability: Apple and Android
Virtual Assistant: Yes
Pros & Cons
Pros
Cons
Why We Chose It
Capital One offers a solid banking app that can handle check deposits, bill payments, and money transfers. The app also allows for easy monitoring of credit scores and identity protection. For iOS users, the app’s widget feature allows checking balances without the need to log in. However, it lacks certain services available on its website, such as investment account management.
Rating: 4.8
Availability: Apple and Android
Virtual Assistant: Yes
Pros & Cons
Pros
Cons
Why We Chose It
Chase’s mobile app integrates all account types, including credit cards and investments. The app also allows users to deposit checks and transfer money via Zelle. Additionally, Chase Offers provides access to exclusive discounts. However, customer support is not available through the app itself, and users may find the abundance of features overwhelming.
Rating: 4.6
Availability: Apple and Android
Virtual Assistant: No
Pros & Cons
Pros
Cons
Why We Chose It
American Express is well-known for its premium credit cards, and its mobile app offers great convenience for managing accounts. The app provides access to Amex Offers, giving users discounts and cashback opportunities. However, the app does not include Zelle for money transfers, and it lacks a virtual assistant.
Rating: 4.6
Availability: Apple and Android
Virtual Assistant: No
Pros & Cons
Pros
Cons
Why We Chose It
PNC offers a solid banking app that comes with some advanced features like Paze, which helps protect your card information during online transactions. The app also allows instant access to deposited checks for an added fee. However, PNC's app lacks a virtual assistant and credit score access for certain account types.
Rating: 4.4
Availability: Apple and Android
Virtual Assistant: Yes
Pros & Cons
Pros
Cons
Why We Chose It
Ally is an online-only bank that excels in providing a comprehensive mobile app. The app allows users to manage checking, savings, auto loans, and investment accounts all in one place. While it offers virtual assistant support, some users may find the lack of credit score access for non-credit card holders limiting.
Rating: 4.3
Availability: Apple and Android
Virtual Assistant: No
Pros & Cons
Pros
Cons
Why We Chose It
Discover's mobile app allows users to manage credit card accounts, deposit checks, and transfer money easily. The app also provides access to a free FICO score and early access to deposits. However, it lacks a virtual assistant and doesn’t offer some of the budgeting tools found in other apps.
Lawyer Monthly, established in 2009, has been providing expert reviews since 2020. Our team of editors and researchers meticulously collect first-party data to ensure accuracy and impartiality in our rankings.
We evaluated over 50 data points from 15 different banking apps, considering factors like app features, security, and customer satisfaction. Features such as ATM locators, money transfers, bill payments, credit score access, and customer support were prioritized in our evaluation. After collecting data, we calculated star ratings to present the top-rated banking apps for your convenience.
