Best Banks in Arkansas
Written by
Rudri Patel
Edited by
Elizabeth Constantineau
Arkansas has a mix of local, regional and national banks that cater to a variety of financial needs. Whether you’re looking for a bank with roots and history in Arkansas or a financial institution that has a national reach and online tools, the state has options to suit residents as well as businesses. GOBankingRates has put together this list of the Best Banks in Arkansas to help you find the bank that works best for you.
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GOBankingRates' editorial team is committed to bringing you unbiased bank reviews and information. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and services - our reviews and ratings are not influenced by advertisers. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and our in-depth bank review methodology.
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TOP ARKANSAS BANKS AT A GLANCE
Bank/Institution
Savings APY
Notable Features
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Detailed Reviews of the Best Banks in Arkansas
GOBankingRates’ picks for best banks in Arkansas are all local and regional financial institutions with deep roots in the South.
Gold Winner: Arvest Bank
Arvest was founded in 1961 as The Bank of Bentonville. It has since spread throughout Arkansas and into Missouri and Oklahoma, but its unique structure — 14 locally managed banks covering 110 communities — keeps the focus on community.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) rates Arvest an A+, and it’s a Bauer Financial recommended bank with a four-star “excellent” rating.
Best For
Personal Loans
Great APYs
Low Monthly Fees
Mobile Banking
Auto Loans
Checking Accounts With Low Minimum Deposit
Arvest Bank has a variety of checking and savings accounts to meet customers’ diverse needs. Choices include options with low minimum deposits, and accounts with no monthly fees. Arvest also has Preferred Club relationship checking account with extra perks like $1,000 overdraft coverage.
Total Branch Locations
Over 500
Mobile App Rating
4.9 on the Apple App Store and 3.5 on Google Play
Other Products Offered
Checking, savings, money market, CDs, IRAs, credit cards, home, auto and personal loans
Pros
- Competitive rates on savings accounts, money market accounts and certificates of deposit (CDs)
- Robust mobile app with full account management features and money transfer options
- Extensive library of help and how-to videos
- Strong physical presence
Cons
- Just one interest-bearing checking account
- High minimum balances to earn Preferred Club status
- No online application for money market, CDs or individual retirement account
Why We Like Arvest Bank
Arvest is a true Arkansas bank, with nearly 100 branches and over 100 ATMs throughout the state. It provides a variety of accounts to appeal to just about any Arkansas resident, and solid yields on interest-bearing accounts.
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Silver Winner: First Community Bank
As a full-service, locally owned and operated institution, First Community offers community banking and financial services in the truest sense.
The BBB rates First Community Bank an A+, and Bauer Financial recommends it with a four-out-of-five-star “excellent” rating.
Best For
Low Monthly Fees
Personal Loans
Highly-Rated Mobile App
IRAs
Mortgages
Fee-Free Checking With Bonuses
Community Bank offers several checking accounts with no monthly service charge and no minimum balance requirement. It also offers $20 in free money to new personal checking customers and $50 to new business checking customers. Additionally, customers who bring in their old debit cards and unused checks from another institution will receive up to $20 in bonus cash.
Total Branch Locations
Over 50
Mobile App Rating
4.8 on the Apple App Store and 4.3 on Google Play
Other Products Offered
Checking, savings, money market, CDs, IRAs, credit cards, personal loans, mortgages
Pros
- Several fee-free checking options
- Bonus for new checking customers
- Refund of up to $10 per month for out-of-network ATM fees
Cons
- Some accounts require a minimum balance to avoid fees
- Rates for money market accounts are not competitive and require high balances
Quick Take
First Community Bank offers everything the majority of customers will need in a bank, including fee-free checking accounts, personal loans and up to $10 in monthly ATM-fee reimbursements for out-of-network charges. New checking customers also receive cash bonuses for opening a personal account or a business account.
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Bronze Winner: Cadence Bank
Cadence Bank started nearly 150 years ago in Mississippi, and it arrived in Arkansas in 2000. Despite its shorter history in the state, Cadence is fully committed to supporting Arkansas communities through economic development, financial education and inclusion.
The BBB rates Cadence Bank a B- due to an unresolved complaint, but it’s a Bauer Financial-recommended bank with a five-star “superior” rating.
Best For
High Yields
Loan Options
Low Monthly Fees
Mobile App
Investment Services
High-Yields on Money Market, Checking and CD Bundle
Cadence Bank has a well-rounded selection of accounts, including the tiered high-yield Performance Checking and Money Market Select bundle. You’ll also find Arkansas savings accounts for kids and a checking account for seniors.
Total Branch Locations
Over 350
Mobile App Rating
4.8 on the Apple App Store and 4.5 on Google Play
Other Products Offered
Checking, savings, money market, CDs, credit cards, home loans and lines of credit, auto, RV, credit builder and personal loans
Pros
- Easy-to-avoid fee on standard checking accounts
- Strong selection of checking and savings accounts
- Minimum opening deposits as low as $50
- Live chat customer service available during weekday business hours
Cons
- $36 overdraft fee
- Savings account fees not disclosed on website
- Fewer branches than most other Arkansas banks have
Why We Like Cadence Bank
GOBankingRates likes Cadence Bank for its thoughtfully designed selection of checking and savings accounts, as well as its extensive loans — including a proprietary $0 down payment mortgage loan to support affordable homeownership. In addition, Cadence rewards loyal customers with outstanding rates on bundled relationship accounts.
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Best Banks
Checking Accounts
Savings Accounts
CD Account Rates
Money Market Accounts
Research Methodology
To discover the Best Banks by state, GOBankingRates analyzed the top institutions (excluding online banks and neobanks) by state branch locations. To determine rankings, GOBankingRates looked at the following factors: (1) total assets as sourced from the FDIC; (2) checking product minimum deposit; (3) monthly checking fee ratio (percentage of the minimum to avoid fees compared to the monthly fee itself); (4) savings product minimum deposit; (5) savings product APY; (6) Bauer rating (out of 5 stars); (7) products/services offered (auto loans, mortgage loans, credit cards, investment services and insurance); and (8) the average mobile app rating between the Google Play (Android) and Apple stores. All factors were then scored and combined, with the lowest score being the best. Factors (1), (2) and (4) were weighed 0.5 times, factor (5) was weighed 2.5 times and factor (7) was weighed 1.5 times. All products and offerings had to be available as of Nov. 8, 2024, to be considered. Rates are subject to change; unless otherwise noted, rates are updated periodically. All other information on accounts is accurate as of Aug. 14, 2025.
To qualify as one of the Best Banks in the state, the institution needed at least five branch locations in the respective state, with some exceptions for larger and/or smaller states.
How To Choose the Right Bank in Arkansas
Keep the following considerations in mind when choosing the best Arkansas bank for you.
- Big vs. small: Community banks might offer more personalized service and have more active community involvement, but larger Arkansas banks often have more sophisticated online and mobile platforms, more fee-free ATMs and more account perks.
- Account selection: Look for accounts that suit your priorities, such as no monthly fees, high yields or options for kids.
- Loan products: You don’t have to take out home, auto or personal loans from your bank, but doing so can make managing all your accounts more convenient. It might even earn you relationship benefits.
- Fees: Some of the best banks in Arkansas have fees, but they should give you realistic ways to avoid or minimize them. Low minimum balance requirements, out-of-network ATM fee reimbursements and no overdraft fees are some things to look for.
- Digital platforms: Robust online and mobile banking, digital wallet compatibility and advanced security features improve your banking experience.
- Community involvement: Banks are vital to the needs of local residents and businesses. Business and housing loans, grants and sponsorships are some of the ways banks might support their communities.
Conclusion
With so many banks and credit unions in Arkansas, finding the right one can feel like looking for a needle in a haystack. Keep your financial priorities in mind as you explore GOBankingRates’ top picks, then get to work on an application for the one you like best.
FAQs About Banking in Arkansas
Here’s more information to help you find the best Arkansas bank for your needs.- What is the best bank for high-yield savings in Arkansas?
- Cadence Bank has outstanding yields on bundled accounts.
- Which banks have the most ATMs in Arkansas?
- Most banks don't disclose ATM numbers by state, but Arvest does. It has nearly 125 ATMs in Arkansas.
- Are there any banks in Arkansas with no monthly fees?
- No bank reviewed by GOBankingRates is completely without fees, but each of the top Arkansas banks above have certain accounts with no fees or fees that are easily waived.
More Resources for Banking
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Checking Accounts
Savings Accounts
CD Account Rates
Money Market Accounts
Daria Uhlig contributed to the reporting for this article.
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