The personal-finance website WalletHub recently released the results of its nationally representative 2025 Banking Survey and its latest Banking Landscape Report, which showcase consumer sentiment and detail the average fees, features, and rates associated with more than 3,100 checking and savings accounts.
Banking Survey:
- Inflation Erodes Savings: Nearly 2 in 3 Americans think the money in their bank accounts is not keeping up with inflation.
- Feeling Exploited by Banks: More than 2 in 5 Americans think their bank is taking advantage of them.
- What Customers Value Most: 40% of people say fees matter the most when choosing a bank account, while 30% prioritize interest rates, and 15% focus on branch locations.
- Rates Impacting Spending: Nearly 2 in 3 Americans say high interest rates are making them want to spend less money.
- Support for Fee Caps: 3 in 4 people support a $5 cap on overdraft fees.
- Unfamiliar With the Best Deals: 39% of people say that “unfamiliarity” is the main factor preventing them from trying a small bank or credit union.
Learn more: 2025 Banking Survey
Banking Landscape:
- Online Savings’ Leading Rates: Online-only personal savings accounts provide the market’s highest interest rates, offering 3.2X higher returns than traditional checking accounts.
- Credit Union Benefits: Credit unions offer 39X higher interest rates on checking accounts than regional banks (1.95% vs. 0.05% on average).
- Account Rate Increases: Savings account rates increased by 5% in the past year, while checking account rates increased by 20%. CD rates went up by 18%.
- Best Checking Account: Primis Premium Checking (4.20% APY)
- Best Saving Account: Pacific International Bank Savings (4.75% APY)
- Best 1-year CD: Merchants Bank of Indiana CD (4.86% APY)
Learn more: Q4 Banking Landscape Report, Best Savings Accounts, Best Checking Accounts, Best CD Rates
“The nearly two-thirds of people who say their bank accounts aren’t keeping up with inflation have more than the economy and the Federal Reserve to blame. Consumers should also look in the mirror and ask themselves what they can do to get a better return on their cash. For example, 39% of people say “unfamiliarity” is the main thing keeping them from trying a small bank or credit union, which is a shame because that means people are also unfamiliar with some of the best banking rates on the market. If consumers do a better job of comparison shopping for checking and savings accounts, they probably won’t feel quite as strongly that their bank is taking advantage of them.”
- John Kiernan, WalletHub Editor
More From WalletHub
No comments:
Post a Comment