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If you live in Georgia, it's important to pick banks that are accessible to you. We reviewed multiple banks who operate in Georgia and picked Capital One 360, Regions Bank, Delta Community Credit Union, and Credit Union of Atlanta as the best banks and credit unions.

These banks and credit unions also stand out because they have low bank fees and strong features. Learn more about our top picks below.

The Best Banks and Credit Unions in Georgia

Capital One 360: Best bank for opening a savings account

Regions Bank: Best bank for opening a checking account

Delta Community Credit Union: Best credit union

Credit Union of Atlanta: Best credit union, tied

All of the financial institutions on our list are protected by FDIC or NCUA insurance. Money is safe at a federally insured financial institution. When a financial institution is federally insured, up to $250,000 per depositor is secure in a bank account.

Compare Today's Rates

Compare the Best Financial Institutions in Georgia

Best bank for opening a savings account

Capital One 360 Performance Savings

Start saving

Capital One, Member FDIC

Insider’s Rating

A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star

4.5/5

Perks

Info icon

Rate as of 4/11/24

Earn 4.25% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on any balance. FDIC Insured.

Fees

no monthly service fee

Annual Percentage Yield (APY)

4.25%

Minimum Opening Deposit

$0

Bonus

N/A

Pros

Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Competitive APY

Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No opening deposit or minimum account balance

Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No monthly service fee

Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Easy to save for various goals

Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. 24/7 live chat

Cons

con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Limited access to customer service by phone

Insider’s Take

Capital One is a strong bank overall. You'll earn competitive interest rates on online savings accounts and CDs.

Capital One 360 Performance Savings review External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user."

Product Details

Over 280 branches in NY, LA, TX, MD, VA, NJ, and Washington, DC

Interest compounded daily, paid monthly

FDIC insured

Best bank for opening a checking account

Regions Bank LifeGreen® Checking Account

Start banking

Regions Bank, Member FDIC

Insider’s Rating

A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star

3.5/5

Fees

$8 or $11 monthly service fee

Annual Percentage Yield (APY)

None

Minimum Opening Deposit

$50

Pros

Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Free overdraft protection available

Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Receive qualifying direct deposits up to 2 days early

Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Possible to waive monthly service fee

Cons

con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. $50 minimum opening deposit

con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. $11 or $8 monthly service fee

con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. $3 out-of-network ATM fee

con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. $36 overdraft fee if overdrawn by more than $5

Product Details

1,300 branch locations in 15 states

2,000 free ATMs

$11 monthly service fee with paper statements, $8 monthly service fee with online statements

To avoid the monthly service fee, keep at least $1,500 in your account monthly, make a $500 single direct deposit, OR a $1,000 combined direct deposit

Free overdraft protection lets you link your checking account to a savings account

Overdraft fee can be avoided by making a deposit before 8 p.m. Central Time the following business day

FDIC insured

Best credit union

Delta Community Credit Union Personal Savings Account

Start saving

DCCU, Member NCUA

Insider’s Rating

A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star

4.25/5

Fees

no monthly service fee

Annual Percentage Yield (APY)

0.25%

Minimum Opening Deposit

$5

Pros

Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. $5 minimum opening deposit

Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No monthly service fees

Cons

con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Low interest rate

con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Interest compounds monthly, not daily

Product Details

Credit union with 29 branches in Metro Atlanta, Georgia; 1 branch in Kentucky, Texas, and Utah

Free shared branches and ATMs around the US in the CO-OP Shared Branch Network

Membership depends on employer/association membership; or you can be a resident of certain counties in Georgia or have a family member who is already a member

Interest compounded monthly, paid monthly

Federally insured by the NCUA

Best credit union

Credit Union of Atlanta Share Savings Account

Start saving

Credit Union of Atlanta, Member NCUA

Insider’s Rating

A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star

3.75/5

Fees

no monthly service fee

Annual Percentage Yield (APY)

0.05%

Minimum Opening Deposit

$25

Pros

Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No monthly service fees

Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. $25 minimum opening deposit

Cons

con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Low APY

con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. No dividends earned on balances under $100

con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Only compounds dividends quarterly

Product Details

Minority-led credit union in Atlanta

5,000 shared branches around the US

Membership eligibility: Work for one of many partner employers, including local government and religious organizations

Must open Share Savings Account to become a member

Dividends compounded quarterly, paid quarterly

Federally insured by the NCUA

Best Financial Institutions in Georgia: FAQs

What is the No. 1 bank in Georgia? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

The No. 1 bank in Georgia depends on what you're looking for. If you prioritize a traditional brick-and-mortar banking experience, you might look at the institutions mentioned in our savings rates list. If your goals are high savings rates and low fees, then you'll probably want to go with an online bank.

What is the most common bank in Georgia? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

Truist Bank is likely the most common bank in Georgia because it has the most branches in the most cities.

What is the largest bank in Georgia? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

Truist Bank, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America are the largest banks in Georgia by branch number.

What's the safest bank in Georgia? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

The safest bank in Georgia will be insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). As long as the institution has federal insurance, your money should be safe. Up to $250,000 is protected per owner in federally insured bank accounts.

Which bank can I use in Georgia? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

There are many banks and credit unions that operate in Georgia. Some banks and credit unions that we recommend are Capital One 360, Regions Bank, Delta Community Credit Union, and Credit Union of Atlanta.

Who is the best bank in Georgia? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

Which Georgia bank is the best for you depends on what you want to use a bank for. We recommend Capital One 360 if you're looking to open a savings account and Regions Bank if you're interested in the best checking account.

Which bank can I open in Georgia? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

There are many banks you can open an account with in Georgia. Capital One 360 and Regions Bank were our top picks for banks you can open an account with in Georgia.

What is the best credit union in Georgia? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

We chose Delta Community Credit Union and Credit Union of Atlanta as the best credit unions in Georgia.

Can anyone open a bank account in Georgia? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

In order to open a bank account in Georgia, you'll probably have to be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Futher restrictions will depend on the bank or credit union you're opening an account with.

Georgia Bank Reviews

The best banks and credit unions in Georgia should offer strong interest rates, good banking perks, and ease of access to Georgian residents. It should also offer many different types of bank accounts, such as checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, and CDs.

Here are the best banks and credit unions in Georgia as picked by Business Insider editors in 2024.

Best Bank for Opening a Savings Account

Capital One 360 is featured in our best online banks guide because its bank accounts do not require a minimum opening deposit or charge monthly service. In comparison, the biggest brick-and-mortar banks in Georgia pay low interest rates on savings accounts, so we chose an online high-yield savings account as out top pick in this category.

Capital One 360 Performance Savings stands out because it pays a competitive interest rate higher than what many traditional savings account and high-yield savings accounts offer right now.

Capital One has branches throughout the US, but it doesn't have any in Georgia. There's a Capital One Cafe in Atlanta, where you can use self-service ATMs or speak with a Cafe Ambassador, but it doesn't offer the same services as branches. Ultimately, you'll have to be comfortable with online banking if you plan to use this account.

Best Bank for Opening a Checking Account

Regions Bank is a solid option if you prefer traditional banking to online banking.

The Regions Bank LifeGreen® Checking Account has a monthly service fee, but you can waive the fee if you keep at least $1,500 in your account monthly, make a $500 single direct deposit, or have $1,000 combined in direct deposits.

Regions Bank has a $36 overdraft fee, but it eliminated overdraft protection transfer fees. This means if you transfer money from a linked bank account to cover an overdraft, you won't have to pay a fee.

Best Credit Union

You might like Delta Community Credit Union if you want to use a credit union instead of a bank. The credit union has 29 branches in the Metro Atlanta area, and it's part of the CO-OP Shared Branch Network, which means you have access to 5,000 shared branches throughout the US.

Delta Community Credit Union has solid free checking and savings accounts with low minimum opening deposits. If you have the Delta Community Credit Union Personal Checking Account, you may enroll in a rewards program, where you'll earn points on debit card purchases. You can use points on categories like cash back, travel, gift cards, concerts, and more. The credit union also has notable CDs with solid interest rates.

Delta Community Credit Union lets you become a member if you or a family member meet one of the following requirements:

You live or work in select Georgia counties

You are a current or former employee of one of the businesses on this list

You are a member of select associations

You are a full-time employee of Delta Air Lines who is a non-US citizen living in the Bahamas, Canada, Puerto Rico, or the US Virgin Islands

If you are a full-time employee of Delta Air Lines who is a non-US Citizen and living in certain foreign countries, you are eligible to open only a savings account.

Delta Community Credit Union members will need to open the Delta Community Credit Union Personal Savings Account.

Best Credit Union, Tied

The Credit Union of Atlanta is an excellent choice if you like banking with local financial institutions instead of national banks.

Credit Union of Atlanta is certified as a minority depository institution (MDI) by the National Credit Union Administration and a community development financial institution (CDFI) by the US Department of Treasury's Community Development Financial Institutions Fund.

Credit Union of Atlanta has two branches in Atlanta, and it's part of the CO-OP Shared Branch network, which has around 5,000 shared branches around the US. It has free checking accounts and savings accounts with low minimum opening deposits.

To open an account at Credit Union of Atlanta, you must be eligible for membership. Credit Union of Atlanta membership is limited to employees of certain organizations, such as the city of Atlanta, Zoo Atlanta, and Atlanta public schools. You may find the full list of organizations here.

All members will also need to open the Credit Union of Atlanta Share Savings Account with $25.

Bank Trustworthiness and BBB Ratings

We use ratings from the Better Business Bureau to help show how financial institutions address customer issues and handle transparency.

Keep in mind a good BBB rating doesn't necessarily guarantee a smooth relationship with a financial institution. You may want to talk to current customers or read online customer reviews to see if a particular bank is right for you.

Financial institutionBBB ratingCapital One 360A+Regions BankADelta Community Credit UnionA+Credit Union of AtlantaA+

All the financial institutions on our list have an A+ rating from the BBB except Regions Bank.

Regions bank received an A rating from the BBB because of government action taken against the bank.

Capital One and Regions Bank have both been involved in recent public controversies.

Capital One used to have an account called 360 Savings. In 2019, Capital One launched the new 360 Performance Savings Account, which paid a much a higher interest rate. Many customers thought their old savings accounts would transition into this new one, but in reality, they had to open a new 360 Performance Savings Account to earn the higher rate. So some customers have been earning a significantly lower savings rate for years.

In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs' lawyers allege that Capital One didn't inform 360 Savings customers that these were two distinct accounts, or that 360 Performance Savings paid a higher rate. However, Capital One wants this case dismissed because it claims people had every opportunity to learn these facts on their own. This case is still ongoing.

In 2022, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau required Regions Bank to pay a total of $191 million in a settlement that accused the bank of charging customers surprise overdraft fees after some ATM withdrawals or debit card purchases.

Why You Should Trust Us: Experts' Advice on Choosing the Best Financial Institution

We consulted banking and financial planning experts to inform these picks and provide their advice on finding the best financial institution in Georgia for your needs.

A bank might be the right fit for you if it aligns with your priorities, says Sophia Acevedo, certified educator in personal finance, banking editor, Business Insider. If you can waive monthly service fees and earn the interest you want, that's a good sign the institution could work out.

You probably want to stick with your bank once you pick one, and Tania Brown, certified financial planner and vice president of coaching strategy at OfColor, says that means anticipating how your needs might change later in life. Does the bank have services you might want, like financial advisors?

It's also important that the bank is accessible, says Mykail James, CFEI. Maybe that means the ability to walk into branches; maybe that means the freedom to use your account while traveling. Roger Ma, certified financial planner with lifelaidout® and author of "Work Your Money, Not Your Life", also highlights the importance of accessibility, in terms of how difficult it is to get money in and out of your account, and to connect that account to any others you might have elsewhere.

Methodology: How Did We Choose the Best Banks in Georgia?

Business Insider's mission is to help smart people make the best decisions with their money. We understand that "best" is often subjective, so under each section, we outline the advantages and limitations of each account or institution. We spent hours comparing and contrasting the features and fine print of various products so you don't have to.

We reviewed the 10 biggest banks and credit unions in the state, plus any financial institutions featured in our guides on Black-owned and Hispanic American-owned banks and credit unions.

We compared bank account features and fees until we narrowed down our top picks. Our top picks stood out from other financial institutions for many reasons. Some offered a competitive interest rate on a savings account or had bank accounts with minimal bank fees.

For our best credit union and the best local bank, we selected financial institutions with easy membership requirements, low minimum opening deposits, and unique bank accounts.

See our full ratings methodology for checking, business checking, savings, and money market accounts »

Sophia Acevedo

Banking Editor

Sophia Acevedo is a banking editor at Business Insider. She has spent three years as a personal finance journalist and is an expert across numerous banking topics.ExperienceSophia leads Personal Finance Insider's banking coverage, including reviews, guides, reference articles, and news. She edits and updates articles about banks, checking and savings accounts, CD rates, and budgeting and saving. She is highly knowledgeable about long-term trends in rates and offers at banks across the U.S.Before joining Business Insider, Sophia worked as a journalist at her college newspaper and was a freelance writer. She has spent seven years writing and editing as a journalist.Sophia was nominated for an Axel Springer Award for Change in 2023 for her coverage of ABLE accounts, tax-free savings accounts for people with disabilities. She was also a winner of a 2018 California Journalism Awards Campus Contest for her photography.She loves helping people find the best solutions for their unique needs and hopes that more people will find the tools to solve their financial problems. She’s inspired by stories of everyday people adapting to their financial circumstances and overcoming their fears around money.ExpertiseSophia's expertise includes:

Bank accounts

Savings and CD rate trends

Budgeting

Saving

How banks operate

EducationSophia graduated from California State University Fullerton with a degree in journalism and a minor in political science.She is an avid reader across a variety of genres, and she started running in 2021. She ran in the 2024 Los Angeles Marathon.

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Evelyn He

Compliance and Operations Associate

Evelyn He is a Compliance and Operations Associate on the Personal Finance team to ensure content accuracy and editorial independence so readers get up-to-date and objective financial advice.The compliance team's mission is to provide readers with fact-checked and current stories so they can make informed financial decisions. The team also works to minimize risk for partners by ensuring language is clear, precise, and fully compliant with regulatory and partner marketing guidelines that align with the editorial team.

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