Best Banks in Pennsylvania
Written by
Rudri Patel
Edited by
Elizabeth Constantineau
Pennsylvania is home to two major U.S. cities, yet 48 of its 67 counties are rural, which means Pennsylvanians’ banking needs are quite diverse. Whether you prioritize online and mobile banking or hometown banks and credit unions with strong ties to your community, Pennsylvania has a bank to meet your needs. In this guide, GOBankingRates reviews three top options for checking, savings and certificate of deposit (CD) accounts.
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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 PENNSYLVANIA BANKS AT A GLANCE
Bank/Institution
Savings APY
Notable Features
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Detailed Reviews of the Best Banks in Pennsylvania
Learn more about GOBankingRates’ top picks for best banks in Pennsylvania.
Gold Winner: First Commonwealth Bank
First Commonwealth Bank is a local bank offering a broad range of products to help you manage your budget and meet your financial goals. The bank has nearly 100 branches in western and central Pennsylvania, plus a large network of fee-free ATMs for easy access to your money.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) rates First Commonwealth Bank an A+.
Best For
Digital Banking
Low Monthly Fees
Loan Options
Low Minimum Deposits
Nationwide ATM Access
Basic Checking and Savings With No Fees or Minimum Opening Deposits
First Commonwealth Bank account options range from standard checking and savings accounts to holiday and vacation club savings and high-yield CDs. A highly rated mobile app makes managing your accounts easy.
Total Branch Locations
Over 125
Mobile App Rating
4.8 on the Apple App Store and 4.4 on Google Play
Other Products Offered
Checking, savings, money market, CDs, credit cards, personal, auto and home loans
Pros
- Four checking accounts, two savings accounts and two money market accounts to choose from
- Basic checking and savings have no monthly fees and no minimum opening deposits
- Checking customers eligible for discounted loan rates
- 55,000 fee-free ATMs nationwide
- Refer-a-friend rewards
Cons
- Low APYs for all accounts except CDs
- No live customer service chat
- $15-per-day overdraft protection transfers
Why We Like First Commonwealth Bank
First Commonwealth Bank offers a nice selection of deposit accounts that lets you find the right combination of perks and fees. Accounts with monthly maintenance fees make it easy to have the fees waived.
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Silver Winner: Citizens Bank
Citizens Bank is a super-regional bank offering Pennsylvania residents a full range of financial services through its branches and online platform. Although it’s the largest bank among the picks for top banks in Pennsylvania, services like financial consultations with Citizens bankers give the bank a community feel. Citizens has an A rating from the BBB.
Best For
Mobile App
No Minimum Deposit
Wealth Management
Loan Options
Credit Cards
The More You Save, the More You Earn
Citizens Bank stands out for its blend of nationwide reach in key regions and perks for loyal customers. Whether you're managing everyday banking, planning a major purchase or running a business, the bank's wide product lineup and personalized guidance make it a versatile choice for a variety of financial needs.
Total Branch Locations
More than 1,100
Mobile App Rating
4.7 on the Apple App Store and Google Play
Other Products Offered
Checking, savings, credit cards, home loans, student loans, wealth management, business accounts, investment management
Pros
- Many branch and ATM locations
- CitizensPlus loyalty program offers benefits for your checking account if you have a larger balance
- Complimentary personalized guidance from a Citizens Bank professional
Cons
- Low APYs for Citizens Bank's savings accounts
- High $25,000 minimum deposit requirement to get the highest CD rates, and they aren't the most competitive
- Branches aren't spread throughout the country
Why We Like Citizens Bank
Citizens Bank has a vast footprint in the New England, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions with more than 1,100 branches and 3,400 ATMs. The CitizensPlus loyalty program opens a lot of opportunities to save money, such as with mortgage discounts, home equity line of credit discounts, a credit card fee reduction, student loan discounts and personalized financial advice.
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Bronze Winner: First National Bank of Pennsylvania
The First National Bank of Pennsylvania is a subsidiary of First National Bank, a Pittsburgh-based regional financial institution with a presence that spans seven states and the District of Columbia. The bank takes an ecommerce approach to banking, with a website eStore where you can search accounts by feature and “buy” those that you want to open. The BBB rates FNB an A+.
Best For
Mobile App
Low Monthly Fees
Auto loans
Investment Services
Home loans
Wide Variety of Deposit Accounts and Loan Options
First National Bank of Pennsylvania stands out for a big selection of checking, savings, CDs and loan products. The Freestyle Checking doesn't come with a monthly maintenance fee and the CDs offer relatively competitive APYs.
Total Branch Locations
Over 300
Mobile App Rating
4.8 on the Apple App Store and 4.5 on Google Play
Other Products Offered
Checking, savings, CDs, HSAs, home loans, auto loans, insurance, investments
Pros
- CD specials come with attractive rates
- Extensive selection of loan options
Cons
- APY on checking accounts is not very competitive
- You must meet certain restrictions to waive monthly fees
Why We Like First National Bank of Pennsylvania
First National Bank of Pennsylvania offers a range of accounts and products, which can make it easy to manage multiple financial needs in a single place. Additionally, the extensive physical footprint within the Free State makes in-person access an option when handling your banking tasks.
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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. 22, 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 Pennsylvania
Here are some things to consider as you shop for your Pennsylvania bank.
- Big vs. small: Community banks like First Commonwealth and First National offer more personalized service and engage more actively in the community. While larger banks like Citizens often have more sophisticated online and mobile banking platforms, more fee-free ATMs and more account perks.
- Account selection: Look for Pennsylvania savings accounts and checking accounts with low or no monthly fees, generous APYs and convenient access to your funds.
- Financial products: Keeping your bank, investment and insurance under the same roof make it easier to manage your accounts and could earn you relationship benefits.
- Fees: Most banks have some fees, but they should make it easy to avoid as many of them as possible. ATM fee reimbursements and no overdraft fees are some things to look for.
- Digital platforms: Full-featured online and mobile banking apps with digital wallet compatibility and advanced security features make banking safe and easy.
- Community involvement: Look for a community-focused bank that invests money and resources locally.
Conclusion
With so many banks and credit unions in Pennsylvania, settling on one is a challenge. Keep your financial priorities in mind as you explore GOBankingRates’ top Pennsylvania bank picks, then get to work on an application for the one you like best.
FAQs About Banking in Pennsylvania
Here's more information to help you find the best Pennsylvania bank for your needs.- What is the best bank for high-yield savings in Pennsylvania?
- Among the banks GOBankingRates reviewed, First Commonwealth Bank stands out for offering the highest yields. Citizens Bank is another strong option, and through its separate online division — Citizens Access — you can also take advantage of high-yield savings rates.
- Which banks have the most ATMs in Pennsylvania?
- Citizens Bank has over 700 ATMs in Pennsylvania. You'll also get a good selection of ATMs with First Commonwealth Bank because it's part of the large Allpoint ATM network.
- Are there any banks in Pennsylvania with no monthly fees?
- No bank reviewed by GOBankingRates is completely without fees, but each of the best Pennsylvania banks above has certain accounts with no fees or fees that are easily waived.
More Resources for Banking
Best Banks
Checking Accounts
Savings Accounts
CD Account Rates
Money Market Accounts
Daria Uhlig contributed to the reporting for this article.
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