Banking in 2026: Best Banks to Consider and How to Avoid the Worst Fees

16 snips

Jan 19, 2026

Chanelle Bessette, a banking reporter and expert at NerdWallet, discusses the shifting landscape of banking as we approach 2026. She shares insights on how to pick the best bank by comparing high-yield savings accounts, avoiding pesky fees, and weighing the pros and cons of digital-only versus traditional banks. The conversation also tackles how AI is transforming customer service and the implications of reduced consumer protections. Plus, Chanelle highlights the top banks recognized by NerdWallet for their outstanding offerings.

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INSIGHT

Rates Are Ebbing For Savers

Interest rates in banking are ebbing after Fed cuts, which lowers savings yields.
That shift helps borrowers but reduces how much consumers earn on deposits.

ADVICE

Shop Around When APYs Drop

Shop around for bank accounts when your current bank cuts APYs.
Comparing offers can reveal better rates and bonuses elsewhere.

ADVICE

Avoid Costly Bank Fees

Watch out for banking fees like monthly maintenance, overdraft, and ATM charges.
Choose accounts that eliminate or reimburse these costs to avoid losing money.

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Find a bank that pays more, charges less, and keeps your money safe as rates adjust in 2026.

How do you choose the best bank when savings rates are falling and fees won’t quit? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss wealth inequality and retirement security to help you think bigger about what’s “normal” in personal finance. They begin with a rapid-fire hot takes segment, with their perspectives on how money and power shape everyday life, why the decline of pensions shifts retirement risk onto workers, and questions worth asking about what a fairer safety net could look like.

Then, banking Nerd Chanelle Bessette joins Sean and Elizabeth to discuss banking in 2026. They go over how to compare high-yield savings accounts as APYs drop, how to avoid common bank fees (like overdraft and ATM charges), and how to weigh digital-only banks versus brick-and-mortar options. They also cover how AI is changing customer service and fraud, why reduced consumer protections can raise the stakes for shoppers, and which banks topped NerdWallet’s Best-of Awards in key categories.

Our Nerds researched more than 250 banking products, narrowing down to just one winner per category: https://www.nerdwallet.com/l/awards-banking-2026?utm_source=sm&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=cm_organic_011926_podcast_sm_desc_allepisodes_best-of-banking

See all the winners of NerdWallet’s Best-Of Awards: https://www.nerdwallet.com/l/awards?utm_source=sm&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=cm_organic_011926_podcast_sm_desc_allepisodes_best-of-awards

Want us to review your budget? Fill out this form — completely anonymously if you want — and we might feature your budget in a future segment! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK53yAufsc4v5UpghhVfxtk2MoyooHzlSIRBnRxUPl3hKBig/viewform?usp=header

In their conversation, the Nerds discuss: high-yield savings account, best high-yield savings account, savings account interest rates, APY, online banks, best online banks, bank fees, overdraft fees, avoid overdraft fees, ATM fees, ATM fee reimbursement, Allpoint ATM network, MoneyPass ATM network, no-fee checking account, monthly maintenance fee, bank bonuses, certificate of deposit, CD rates, best CD rates, Marcus by Goldman Sachs, SoFi bank, Newtek Bank, best bank 2026, early direct deposit, two-day early direct deposit, savings buckets, savings goal buckets, Zelle transfer limit, bill pay checks, cash deposits at ATMs, fraud protection, bank fraud scams, AI in banking, banking chatbots, customer service chat, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, CFPB complaints, CFPB settlements, credit unions vs banks, pension plan, defined benefit plan, and 401(k) vs pension.

To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com.

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