High-net-worth clients often look for more than just basic checking or savings — they want premium service, personalized financial advice, exclusive rewards and wealth management options that grow with them.
The banks on our list stand out for offering robust perks tailored to affluent customers, from concierge-level service to investment support and higher-yield products.
Further, we'll show you which standout accounts each of our top picks has, as well as how we reached our findings.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Be a smarter, better informed investor.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Bank of America
Standout account: Bank of America’s Preferred Rewards program layers on more benefits as your balance grows.
Where it is: About 3,700 branches in nearly 40 states and Washington, D.C.
Bank of America takes honors thanks to its Preferred Rewards program, which offers benefits that increase along with your three-month average daily balance in combined Bank of America deposit accounts and Merrill investment accounts.
The program includes four tiers: Gold, for balances of $20,000 to less than $50,000; Platinum, for balances of $50,000 to less than $100,000; Platinum Honors, for balances of $100,000 to less than $1 million; and Diamond Honors, for balances of $1 million or more.
With the Gold tier, for example, perks include a waiver of monthly maintenance fees on up to four eligible checking and savings accounts; free standard checks, incoming wire transfers and stop payments; and a 25% bonus on rewards you earn with an eligible Bank of America credit card. You also get an interest rate discount of 0.25% on a Bank of America auto loan and a $200 discount on a mortgage origination fee.
If you qualify for the Platinum Honors tier, you get additional benefits, including a 20% boost on the interest rate you earn with the bank’s Advantage Savings account, a 0.5% rate discount on an auto loan, a 75% bonus on rewards earned with a BofA credit card, a $600 discount on a mortgage origination fee, and reimbursement of out-of-network ATM surcharges. For more on the perks that come with each tier, go to www.bankofamerica.com/preferredrewards
Citibank
Standout account: The Citigold banking package offers plentiful perks, including wealth management services, fee waivers and access to special cultural events.
Where it is: About 650 branches in the U.S., with many in the Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, Miami, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., metro areas.
Citibank’s Citigold program offers a host of alluring benefits. To qualify, you must keep a combined balance of at least $200,000 in eligible deposit, retirement and investment accounts. Clients get access to a wealth management team, who offer investment guidance and financial planning services.
You also enjoy perks such as the Citigold Culture Pass, which provides free tickets to the New York Botanical Garden, the Guggenheim Museum and the Museum of Modern Art. Other lifestyle benefits include access to sporting and cultural events.
Relax or meet with financial professionals at Citigold lounges — you’ll find them in a handful of U.S. cities, as well as a few international locations. Each year, get up to $200 in reimbursement for certain subscriptions and memberships, including Amazon Prime, Costco Wholesale, Hulu, Spotify Premium, TSA Precheck and Global Entry.
Citigold customers pay no monthly service fees for a checking or savings account, and they get unlimited reimbursement of global out-of-network ATM fees. Citigold also waives foreign-exchange fees on debit card purchases and ATM withdrawals, and it provides complimentary online wire transfers, standard checkbook orders, stop payments and money orders.
If your combined account balances total at least $1 million, you qualify for Citigold Private Client, which provides access to enhanced benefits, such as advanced wealth planning services and up to $400 in annual subscription rebates.
For more on the benefits that Citigold offers, visit https://citigold.citi.com. And to get additional details on Citigold Private Client, go to https://citigoldprivateclient.citi.com.
Methodology
With data from Curinos, a financial-data provider, as well as from financial institutions and other sources, we evaluated 13 national banks, 14 internet banks (including online accounts from brokerage firms) and 13 credit unions. We reviewed checking accounts, savings accounts, money market deposit accounts and certificates of deposit from each institution.
We looked at interest rates; minimum deposit and balance requirements; monthly maintenance fees and the ease of waiving those fees; ATM benefits, such as waived or reimbursed fees for out-of-network withdrawals; free or discounted benefits, such as personal checks, cashier’s checks, paper statements and overdraft-protection transfers; overdraft fees and concessions, such as cushions; and online and mobile banking features, such as the availability of peer-to-peer payment services. Yields and other data listed in the article are as of early July.
Curinos LLC. Data is obtained from public sources; accuracy and completeness is not guaranteed. Curinos is not liable for reliance on the data.
Kiplinger's Best Banks
- Best National Banks
- Best Internet Banks
- Best Credit Unions
- Best Banks for Retirees
- Best Banks for Travelers
Note: This item first appeared in Kiplinger Personal Finance Magazine, a monthly, trustworthy source of advice and guidance. Subscribe to help you make more money and keep more of the money you make here.
-
I'm a Financial Pro: This Is How You Can Guide Your Heirs Through the Great Wealth TransferFocus on creating a clear estate plan, communicating your wishes early to avoid family conflict, leaving an ethical will with your values and wisdom and preparing them practically and emotionally.
-
To Reap the Full Benefits of Tax-Loss Harvesting, Consider This Investment Strategist's StepsTax-loss harvesting can offer more advantages for investors than tax relief. Over the long term, it can potentially help you maintain a robust portfolio and build wealth.
-
How Prepaid Verizon Phone Service Works and When It's a Smart ChoiceExplore the differences between Verizon Prepaid and Verizon Postpaid plans—costs, perks, flexibility, and when going prepaid makes sense.
-
Child-Free Cruises Perfect For Your Retirement CelebrationHow to find a bespoke ocean or river vacation for adults. Many of these options are smaller, charming river cruises, expeditions, or niche experiences.
-
My First $1 Million: Biopharmaceutical Senior Manager, 45, MassachusettsEver wonder how someone who's made a million dollars or more did it? Kiplinger's My First $1 Million series uncovers the answers.
-
Social Security Wisdom From a Financial Adviser Receiving Benefits HimselfYou don't know what you don't know, and with Social Security, that can be a costly problem for retirees — one that can last a lifetime.
-
Take It From a Tax Expert: The True Measure of Your Retirement Readiness Isn't the Size of Your Nest EggA sizable nest egg is a good start, but your plan should include two to five years of basic expenses in conservative, liquid accounts as a buffer against market volatility, inflation and taxes.
-
Dow Adds 472 Points After September CPI: Stock Market TodayIBM and Advanced Micro Devices created tailwinds for the main indexes after scoring a major quantum-computing win.
