The Best Savings Accounts in Iowa for 2024
Iowa may not be known as a financial hub but, for savers, it's a great state to live in.
If you reside in Iowa, you have access to plenty of local banks that provide savings accounts with no monthly fees and a high level of convenience.
Now:
You'll have to think about how those options compare to online savings accounts, which may be very similar -- but without the physical presence.
We've analyzed the savings accounts at the top 50 banks in Iowa and found the best options to consider.
Don't forget to compare them to online savings accounts, which tend to offer extremely high rates with low fees.
The Best Savings Accounts in Iowa
Hills Bank
Hills Bank offers a solid savings account option for people needing a place to store their extra cash.
The Hills Bank Free Savings Account has no minimum deposit or balance requirements after the account has been opened. To make things even better, there’s no monthly fee to worry about.
The account also comes with a free ATM card that you can use to manage your account or make withdrawals at any ATM on Hills Bank’s network.
As far as interest goes, you’ll earn a relatively low rate. On the bright side, there are no interest rate tiers to worry about, so you’ll earn the same rate regardless of the balance of your account.
United Bank of Iowa
United Bank of Iowa offers the United Savings Account. This account is a good place to store your extra money, but you need to jump through a few hoops.
To open your account, you must make an initial deposit of $50. Once the account is open, there is no monthly fee to keep it open and no minimum balance to worry about. That means that you can add or withdraw money without worrying about fees.
That means that you can add or withdraw money without worrying about fees.
The account’s greatest drawback is that there is a $200 minimum balance to earn interest. If your balance falls below that amount, you’ll stop earning interest until your balance reaches $200 again.
Great Western Bank
Great Western Bank offers a basic savings account service that you can use for your extra cash.
To open your Basic Savings Account, you must start by making a $50 opening deposit. Once the account is open, there is no minimum balance to maintain. You also don’t have to worry about any monthly fees.
If you need access to your money, the bank makes it easy to manage your account online and to make transfers between your checking and savings accounts.
How we picked
MyBankTracker applied a methodology when choosing the best savings accounts in Iowa. Our top recommendations were selected based on a thorough analysis of savings accounts offered by the top 50 banks by deposit market share in Iowa (based on FDIC June 2023 data)--serving major cities including Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Sioux City, and Iowa City.
We focused our choices on savings accounts with low monthly maintenance fees, easy-to-meet requirements to waive these fees, the bank’s physical branch and ATM network, excess withdrawal fees, and any other convenience features.
Online Savings Accounts are Available Nationwide
Local banks may sound appealing for their great service, but there are many banking options out there. You should take the time to consider all of them.
An online bank is one such option, whether you live in Iowa or anywhere else in the U.S..
Online savings accounts are available nationwide, making it easy for anyone to take advantage of their unique perks and benefits.
Take advantage of higher savings rates
One of the things that really sets online banks apart from their competition is that they can pay far higher interest rates and charge far lower fees than brick-and-mortar institutions.
The primary reason that online banks can do this is cost. Online banks cost much less to run than traditional banks do.
Brick-and-mortar institutions must operate an ATM network, rent land to open branches, hire tellers and other staff, pay for security, etc.
Online banks can operate out of one or two centralized offices, saving much money. Those savings are then passed on to their customers.
Less temptation to spend
Saving money can be difficult but not spending money you’ve saved can be even harder.
If you’re using a savings account to save toward a long-term goal, you might be tempted to spend some of the money you’ve accrued before you meet your saving target.
A perk of working with an online savings account is that it helps keep the money out of your mind.
You won’t be driving past your local bank branch or walking past your bank’s ATM daily.
Out of sight means out of mind, which means you’ll have less temptation to spend the money you’ve saved.
Better mobile experience
Every bank has a mobile app and website, but many, especially local banks, offer poor online and mobile experiences.
For online banks, their apps and websites are the primary ways to interact with them.
That means they invest a lot of money in providing the best online and mobile banking experiences possible.
FDIC insurance
If you’re worried about keeping your money safe, you can rest easy with an online bank.
Just like traditional banks, online banks are protected by the FDIC. This means the bank is insured for up to $250,000 per depositor, per account type.
Even if your online bank goes belly up, you won’t lose any money unless you have more than $250,000 in your savings account.
That’s an unusual situation for most people, so it’s safe to say that your money is as safe as possible.
The Best Savings Accounts in Iowa
One of the major advantages of working with a national bank is that national banks usually offer the same experience, regardless of the location.
That’s great news for people who travel or move frequently since they’ll get the same experience everywhere.
This perk turns into a weakness for people who don’t travel frequently.
If you’re an Iowan and don’t leave your area frequently, you might have trouble finding a national bank with savings accounts that cater to your specific, local needs. In this scenario, local banks are a better option.
Pros and Cons of Local Banks
Local banks have one major advantage over national banks.
They are far better equipped to offer personalized service.
With a local bank, you have a much better chance of walking into a branch and seeing a familiar face.
You’ll also have better luck with talking to someone in person if you need help or have questions about your account. With a large bank, you won’t get the same level of familiarity and friendly service in most cases,
The greatest downside of local banks:
The overall convenience isn't as high as that of national banks.
Bigger banks are likely to have a strong branch and ATM network that allows customers to access a physical location if needed.
Advantages of Big Banks vs. Local Banks
| Big Banks | Local Banks |
|---|---|
| Widespread ATM and branch access | More intimate, personal service |
| Better and faster technology and adoption | Community-oriented products and services |
| Uniform service standard across branch network | More willing to negotiate and work with customers |
What Kind of Account is Right for You?
If you still have trouble deciding between an online savings account or a traditional one, ask yourself these questions.
Can you manage your savings digitally?
If you’re a digital native and love working with tech, then an online bank will be a great choice for you.
However:
If you hate computers or are bad with technology in general, you might have trouble interacting with an online savings account.
How often are you visiting branches?
If you’re a regular and everyone there knows your name, you might be missing out on some services by switching to an online savings account.
If you’re more familiar with ATM locations than branch locations, an online bank will be right up your alley.
Do you value in-person customer service?
Online banks save money in large part by employing fewer people per customer.
They don’t need tellers or bank staff because you can’t visit a branch for face-to-face help.
Instead, you’ll have to work with someone over an online chat or the phone.
Most Important Features of a Savings Account
Choosing the right savings account can be difficult and overwhelming.
If you’re having trouble deciding, these are the factors you should compare.
Interest rates
Savings accounts help keep your money safe and increase the size of your savings.
Look for the account with the best interest rate. Settling for less is like passing up on free money.
Fees
Savings account fees eat into your balance, shrinking it away to nothing.
Look for accounts with no monthly fees.
The other fee to worry about is the excess withdrawal fee, which is charged when there are too many outgoing transactions in a single month.
Access to your money
Sometimes, an emergency strikes and you need quick access to your cash.
Make sure that any savings account you choose allows you to get to your money when you need it.
