banking

Best Banks for High-Net-Worth Families

June 6, 2017

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With their wealth-management and private-banking offerings, a lot of banks are courting clients with significant assets.

We looked for banks that don't require you to be a multimillionaire to take advantage of generous benefits for keeping a high deposit or investment balance.

Our top picks host a broad range of no-fee accounts and services, and they have wide networks of branches.

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BEST: Citibank

With its Citigold package, Citibank rolls out the red carpet for those who keep a combined $200,000 or more in deposit, investment and retirement accounts with the bank.

Citigold customers have access to a banking relationship manager and a financial adviser, as well as to wealth-management seminars, outlook events on the markets and the economy, and private dining, sporting and concert events. Citigold perks include the option to open multiple free Citigold checking accounts (0.03% interest rate); unlimited refunds of out-of-network ATM fees; free standard checks, cashier’s checks and money orders; a free or discounted safe-deposit box; increased interest rates on savings accounts; discounts on mortgages and other loans; $4.95 online stock trades with Citi's investing services; and a waiver of the standard $75 annual fee on an investment account. Citigold members can also earn the highest level of ThankYou rewards points -- redeemable for travel, cash back and other items -- for having a monthly direct deposit and meeting other requirements.

Citigold is especially attractive for international travelers. You'll pay no foreign-exchange fee on debit card transactions, and you can make free transfers from your account to other Citibank accounts in certain countries.

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RUNNER-UP: Bank of America

Bank of America has several tiers of wealth management and private banking services. Merrill Lynch Wealth Management is dedicated to those with assets of $250,000 to $10 million and comes with guidance from a financial adviser. U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management focuses on clients with $3 million or more in investable assets seeking advice on such issues as trust and estate planning and philanthropy.

But for those who keep as little as $20,000 in bank and investment accounts, BofA's Preferred Rewards program offers benefits. The most-generous perks go to those with a balance of $100,000 or more: unlimited ATM fee refunds; a 75% bonus on cash back or points earned with eligible bank credit cards; free checks; the ability to hold up to four checking and four savings accounts with no monthly fees; discounts on loans; a 20% rate boost on a money market deposit account; and up to 100 free stock trades monthly in a Merrill Edge investment account.