CIBC Bank USA Review: No-Fee Accounts Plus Cross-Border Banking

GOBankingRates Score

CIBC

4.5

SCORE

GOBankingRates Best Banks 2023 scores and rankings are objectively determined by our research/editorial team. Our scoring formula weighs several factors that differ from category to category depending on what consumers want from varying products and banks.

Our Take: CIBC Bank USA is likely to have the highest appeal among those who live in Midwest counties that contain physical branches, plus Canadian residents who need cross-border banking.

• Fees
  4.8
• Breadth of Products
  4.3
• Opening Deposit Requirements
  4.5
• Rates
  4.5

How did we calculate this?

About CIBC Bank USA

CIBC Bank USA falls under CIBC US, which provides cross-border banking services for the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. CIBC was formed in 1961, following the merger of the Canadian Bank of Commerce and the Imperial Bank of Canada.

The financial institution established its presence in the United States in 2014, when it acquired Atlantic Trust Wealth Management. It cemented its U.S. operations with the purchase of Chicago-based The PrivateBank as a wholly owned subsidiary. CIBC Bank USA is headquartered in Chicago.

Learn more about the financial institution with this CIBC Bank USA review.

CIBC Bank USA Products

CIBC Bank USA is a legitimate bank that offers a good selection of in-branch banking products and digital savings options. The bank is especially useful for individuals whose financial interests cross the border between the United States and Canada. 

CIBC Bank USA Checking Accounts

CIBC Bank USA’s checking accounts include a basic iCan Checking account and myChoicePlus Checking. The myChoice Prestige Checking account has tiered rates that increase as your balance grows. Other options include a second-chance account called EasyPath Access that has no checks and can’t be overdrawn. There’s also a health savings checking account for eligible individuals.

Canadian residents with an existing CIBC bank account can open a CIBC Bank USA Smart Account to facilitate banking across the U.S.-Canadian border.

Features

• No monthly fees
• Non-network ATM fee refunds up to $50 per month for iCan and myChoice Prestige accounts, $25 for myChoice Plus
• No minimum balances required to maintain iCan account
• Accounts with check-writing privileges earn interest
• Free checks

Pros

• No fees
• No minimums for iCan Checking
• iCan Checking debit card pays up to $20 cash back each month
• Generous ATM fee refunds

Cons

• Must live in an eligible county in Illinois, Michigan, Missouri or Wisconsin to apply online
• Must call a branch or customer service for current rates on many account types

CIBC Bank USA Savings Accounts

For regular savings, customers can choose between two savings accounts: CIBC Savings, available to individuals who live near a branch, and CIBC Agility, an online account open to anyone. CIBC Agility is a high-yield account paying 3.27% APY and requiring a $1,000 minimum opening deposit. CIBC Savings rates increase with higher balances, but you’ll need to contact the bank to find out the rates.

CIBC Bank USA also offers individual retirement accounts in the form of a savings account with a variable, tiered interest rate. IRA savings accounts have a $50 minimum opening deposit, and interest is compounded quarterly.

Features

• No monthly maintenance fees with CIBC Agility
• $3 quarterly fee with CIBC Savings if balance drops below $250 any day
• Tiered rates with CIBC Savings
• Eligible for Traditions Club rewards program for customers 50 or older

Pros

• Competitive rates on CIBC Agility balances
• Low $3 fee per quarter if CIBC Savings account balance drops below $250 any day
• CIBC Savings and IRA Savings reward higher balances
• Unlimited ATM withdrawals from CIBC Savings
• IRA Savings account available as traditional, Roth or rollover IRA

Cons

• High opening deposit for CIBC Agility account
• CIBC Savings rates not available online
• CIBC Savings and IRA Savings interest compounded and credited quarterly

CIBC Bank USA Money Market Accounts

There’s just one money market account at CIBC Bank USA, and it offers a variable, tiered rate, with interest compounded and credited monthly.

Features

• Tiered rates
• $15 monthly fee; waived with a daily balance of $2,500 or more
• $50 opening deposit required

Pros

• Low opening deposit requirement
• Service fee can be waived

Cons

• Can’t open an account online

CIBC Bank USA CD Accounts

Terms as short as 30 days for CIBC Bank USA’s regular and jumbo CDs let you limit how long your money is tied up. The online-only offering, called Agility CD, is available in terms of nine to 24 months. Rates on the account range from 0.25% APY to 0.50% APY, depending on the term and the account balance.

The terms for the IRA CD might differ, but like the regular and jumbo CDs, there are no annual or custodial fees, and the CD is renewed automatically when it matures.

Features

• $1,000 minimum opening deposit for the standard, Agility and IRA CDs; $100,000 minimum for the jumbo CD.
• IRA CD interest compounded quarterly; interest for other CDs is compounded and credited according to the terms of the CD (monthly for Agility CDs).
• Fixed rates
• Must maintain minimum opening balance on standard and jumbo CDs to earn interest
• Can withdraw or reinvest interest on regular and jumbo CDs
• Eligible for Traditions Club rewards program for customers 50 or older

Pros

• Guaranteed returns with no risk of losing your investment
• IRA CD available as traditional, Roth or rollover
• No fees unless you incur a penalty for early withdrawal
• Standard and jumbo CDs might be eligible to use as loan collateral

Cons

• Can’t open standard, jumbo or IRA accounts online
• IRA CD interest compounded quarterly
• Must call to get rates for most CDs

Banking Experience

Your banking experience will depend on where you live and how you bank. CIBC Bank USA is a regional bank, so the number of people with access to a branch is limited. Online-only Agility accounts are available nationwide, and all customers can use the NetBanking digital banking platform to manage accounts.

Customer Service

When you need assistance, you can call the Client Support Center at 877-448-6500 or the Agility support line at 844-704-7882, or send an email using the link on the CIBC Bank USA website. There’s also an emergency help desk you can call to report a lost or stolen card. That number is (800) 236-2442. 

Branch Availability

CIBC Bank USA has 21 branch locations and 27 ATMs in Illinois, primarily in the greater Chicago area. St. Louis, Milwaukee and Birmingham, Michigan, each have one branch, and St. Louis and Milwaukee each have one ATM location.

Mobile and Digital Experience

NetBanking lets CIBC Bank USA account-holders deposit checks, transfer money, pay bills and see account information from their computer or mobile device. Once you’ve signed up, you can download the CIBC US mobile app for Android or iOS. However, the app gets just three out of five stars on Google Play and two out of five stars in the App Store.

Convenience

NetBanking gives users 24/7 account access from a computer or mobile device, so customers who do all their banking online are bound to find CIBC Bank USA to be convenient as long as an ATM is nearby. If you prefer to bank in person and don’t live in a city with a branch, this probably isn’t the bank for you.

How To Open an Account

To open an Agility account online, head to the Agility product pages on the CIBC Bank USA website with the following information on hand:

• Current U.S. home address
• U.S. Social Security number
• Valid U.S. driver’s license or state ID number
• External account information to transfer your opening deposit

For other accounts, you can apply online if you live in one of the following counties:

• Illinois: Cook, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Lake or Will
• Michigan: Macomb, Oakland or Wayne
• Missouri: St. Louis County or St. Louis City
• Wisconsin: Milwaukee or Waukesha

Outside of these counties, contact CIBC Bank USA for assistance.

Key Information

Customer Service Number: 877-448-6500; 844-704-7882 for assistance with Agility accounts

Routing Number: 071006486

CIBC Bank USA Fees

The only monthly maintenance fees for U.S. residents are the $15 charge you’ll incur if the daily balance in your money market account dips below $2,500. You can avoid most other fees by managing your accounts wisely and keeping them active. 

CIBC Bank USA vs. Competitors

See how CIBC Bank USA stacks up against its competitors before you decide whether this is the bank for you. Here are some details on what the banks offer:

CIBC Bank USA vs. BMO Harris

Like CIBC, BMO Harris is a Canadian bank, but it offers more in the way of financial services and has terrific customer service that includes 24/7 phone assistance. However, the CIBC Bank USA Smart Account makes CIBC Bank USA a better choice for Canadian customers who bank in the United States.

CIBC Bank USA vs. Chase

As a banking giant, Chase has a full range of financial services, plus bonus offers for opening an account. But if you’re looking for a more personal experience and live near a branch location, you might prefer CIBC Bank USA’s more local focus.

CIBC Bank USA vs. Bank of America

Bank of America has excellent account perks, such as free transactions at non-Bank of America ATMs, rate boosters for select accounts, and up to 10% cash back on debit-card purchases. However, CIBC Bank USA might still be a better value if your banking needs are simple. The bank has a good choice of accounts with no minimum opening deposit and no monthly maintenance fee.

Final Take

CIBC Bank USA offers a well-rounded selection of accounts, most of which have no or low opening deposits and no fees. But banking here is more difficult than with competing banks because of the limited number of branches and ATMs.

Editor’s Favorite

The Agility Savings and Agility CD accounts are solid choices. Neither account has a maintenance fee, and both pay competitive rates.

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