The Best Savings Accounts in Alaska for 2024

Alaska, the largest state in the union, is home to nearly 750,000 Americans. Though the state's population is smaller than most, Alaskans need banking services like any other American.

Savings accounts are the second most popular type of bank account in the United States. Due to their popularity, nearly all banks operating in Alaska will offer some savings accounts. Only the checking account is more popular than the savings account.

Savings accounts meet two primary financial needs:

One is that people need a safe place to store their money. Savings accounts are one hundred percent safe. You can't lose money that you deposit into a savings account.

Despite that safety, it's still easy to withdraw cash from the account, making it an excellent place to store an emergency fund.

People also need a way to grow their money over time. Savings accounts accomplish this by paying interest on the deposited balance.

This article will discuss your options if you live in Alaska and want to open a savings account.

Compare Savings Accounts

The Best Savings Accounts in Alaska

Mt. McKinley Bank Kasasa Saver Account

The Mt. McKinley Bank Kasasa Saver Account offers customers a no-fee account with the chance to earn a great interest rate.

There's no minimum deposit to open the account and no minimum balance to maintain. You also won't have to pay monthly maintenance fees to keep the account open.

You must link your account to a Kasasa checking account to earn the best rates. You'll earn the highest available rate if you meet the following requirements each month:

• Make 12 debit card purchases
• Receive one direct deposit
• Receive free eStatements.

You'll earn a lower interest rate if you don't meet the requirements.

Northrim Bank Classic Savings Account

The Northrim Bank Classic Savings Account offers low fees and an interest rate that increases with your balance.

To open the account, you must make a $100 minimum deposit. Once the account is open, you'll want to maintain a $100 minimum balance. If you let your balance fall below that amount, you'll pay a monthly fee of $1.50.

Your interest rate will increase with your account balance. You'll earn the lowest rate with less than $2,500 in your account. You'll earn the second-highest rate if your balance falls between $2,500 and $25,000. You'll earn the best rate once you have $25,000 or more in the report.

Denali State Bank Personal Savings Account

The Denali State Bank Personal Savings Account is a basic account that may charge hefty fees.

You must make a $100 minimum deposit to open the account. You'll also have to maintain a $100 minimum balance to continue earning interest.

If you want to avoid monthly fees, you have to have $200 in the account.

If you can't maintain a balance of $200, you'll pay a $5 maintenance fee. You'll also pay $2 for paper statements. Signing up for e-statement lets you avoid that charge.

You may make six withdrawals per month without paying any fees. Each withdrawal after the sixth will cost $5.

How we picked

MyBankTracker applied a methodology when choosing the best savings accounts in Alaska. Our top recommendations were selected based on a thorough analysis of savings accounts offered by the top 50 banks by deposit market share in Alaska (based on FDIC June 2023 data)--with a physical presence in major cities including Anchorage, Juneau, Fairbanks, Wasilla, and Sitka.

We focused on savings accounts with low monthly maintenance fees, the least demanding requirements to waive these fees, the bank's ATM network, excess withdrawal fees, and other convenience features.

Online Banks Serve All States

If you're looking to open a savings account and don't want to open an account with a national bank, you aren't restricted to working with a local bank.

Online savings accounts can be opened from anywhere and offer many benefits.

One of the most significant benefits of online savings accounts is that they offer much more interest than brick-and-mortar banks. Online banks are cheaper because they don't have to operate ATMs or branches.

They take advantage of the lower cost by paying more interest and charging lower fees.

Low fees alongside higher APYs

Interest and fees can have a massive effect on your savings over months and years. This example will illustrate why an online bank is a much better choice than a low-interest account.

You have $5,000 in a savings account and plan to add $250 monthly.

A savings account at a brick-and-mortar bank may pay as much as .05% interest. If you use a savings account that offers that interest rate, you will have $14,014.07 after three years. Ultimately, you'll have earned less than $15 in interest.

Online savings accounts can offer as much as 10 or 100 times more interest. You might be able to find an online savings account that offers 1.5% interest. If you use an online account that pays that much interest, you'll have $14,429.69 after three years.

Choosing the correct account is worth more than $400 over three years.

Don't forget that the brick-and-mortar bank might charge a monthly fee.

Even a $1 monthly fee will wipe out all of the interest you earned.

Don't worry about minimum deposits.

Another significant benefit of online savings accounts is their low minimum deposits.

Many traditional banks require $50 or $100 before you can open a savings account. It can be difficult for some people to get that much cash at once, which means it's hard for them to open a savings account.

Online banks have shallow minimum deposits. Some let you open an account with as little as a penny. That means that nearly anyone can afford to open an online savings account.

Deposit insurance still applies.

Many people wonder whether online savings accounts are safe. They receive the same insurance that brick-and-mortar banks do. That means that they are just as safe as any other bank.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation offers insurance to banks in the United States. The FDIC will cover up to $250,000 per account type, per customer, at a bank.

That means you can have up to $250,000 in combined savings account balances at an online bank without taking any risk. If the bank can not return your money to you later, the FDIC will reimburse you for any lost amount.

If you need more insurance, you can open a joint account, an it'llepara account ownership type.

You can get even more deposit insurance coverage by opening accounts at multiple online banks.

Top Savings Accounts at Banks in Alaska

Working with a local bank brings several benefits.

One is that local banks can provide personalized service.

As you visit your local bank and get to know the employees there, they will get to know you. They will also get to know your unique financial situation. As the bank’s employees understand your needs, they will be able to meet those needs more effectively.

Another plus is that local banks are usually better able to cut you a deal on fees occasionally. National banks tend to have more rigid rules.

Local banks also do an excellent job of meeting local needs. Given that Alaska is a unique state unlike any other, the banking needs of Alaskans are very different from most Americans.

Local banks understand that and can focus on meeting those unique needs.

National banks do offer one significant benefit. If you travel outside Alaska, your local bank has no won't or branches.

You’ll have to pay another bank’s ATM and bank fees. If you work with a national bank and travel or move somewhere else, you’ll easily be able to use the same bank.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Savings Accounts from Local Banks