Is Bank of America one of the safest banks?
15,000+ ATMs in the U.S. 15,000+ ATMs in the U.S. Bank of America is just one place below JPMorgan Chase on both the 2023 G-SIBs list and the Federal Reserve's list of the largest U.S. banks, which is why it was chosen in our research as one of the safest banks. The bank's security features also helped it score highly.
Based on the analysis of Bank of America's financial health, risk profile, and regulatory compliance, we can conclude that the bank is relatively safe from any trouble or collapse.
Cons. Bank of America's highest APY on its Advantage Savings account is much less than the national average for savings accounts. There are savings accounts at FDIC-insured online banks with higher yields that don't have a monthly service fee.
The worst banks are Wells Fargo and Citibank. Wells Fargo is the worst bank overall, with a high percentage of unresolved complaints and loss of Better Business Bureau accreditation. Citibank has a string of high-profile cases involving operational chaos and regulatory fines.
Weaknesses. High Levels of Debt: Despite its strong balance sheet, BAC has high levels of debt, which could pose financial risks. High debt levels can increase the company's interest expenses and reduce its financial flexibility, potentially impacting its profitability and ability to invest in growth opportunities.
One obvious culprit for the closures is the rise of online banking. Clients are increasingly becoming more inclined to use online platforms, with 78% of adults in the country expressing that they prefer to make their transactions using the financial institution's website or a mobile application.
Fitch Affirms Bank of America at 'AA-'; Outlook Stable. Fitch Ratings - New York - 19 Sep 2022: Fitch Ratings has affirmed Bank of America Corporation's (BAC) Long- and Short-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDRs) at 'AA-' and 'F1+', respectively. The Rating Outlook is Stable.
Following one of the most successful years in United's long history, United Bank has been named the Most Trustworthy Bank in America by Newsweek for 2023.
There are no bank failures in 2024. See detailed descriptions below.
Earlier last year Silicon Valley Bank failed March 10, 2023, and then Signature Bank failed two days later, ending the unusual streak of more than 800 days without a bank failure. Before Citizens Bank failed in November 2023, Heartland Tri-State Bank failed July 28, 2023 and First Republic Bank failed May 1, 2023.
What bank gets hacked the least?
Our researchers picked Wells Fargo because it offers 24/7 customer service on top of being a global systemically important bank and the third largest bank in the U.S. Having 24/7 access to customer service by phone or online makes it easy to report and respond to suspicious or fraudulent activity immediately.
Key Takeaways: We rate Bank of America 4 out of 5 stars, giving it high marks for branch and ATM access but lower scores for its rates on deposit accounts. The bank has checking accounts with low or no monthly fees, a rewards debit program and relatively low overdraft fees.
Money coach and certified financial planner Ohan Kayikchyan says it can make sense for a household to maintain four accounts: one checking account for monthly recurring bills and another for variable expenses, plus one savings account for emergency funds and a second for other savings goals.
Bank of America has the Financial Strength Rank of 4.
GuruFocus Financial Strength Rank measures how strong a company's financial situation is.
The GSIBs include large firms such as JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo WFC, and Citigroup—banks so critical to the operations of the global financial system that they're unlikely to be allowed to collapse.
In July 2023, the CFPB and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) ordered Bank of America to pay over $200 million for illegally charging junk fees, withholding credit card rewards, and opening fake accounts.
In most cases, the FDIC will try to find another banking institution to acquire the failed bank. If that happens, customers' accounts will simply transfer over to the new bank. You will get information about the transition, and you will likely get new debit cards and checks (if applicable).
No, Bank of America is not partly owned by China. It is an American bank.
Bay Area Bank of America branches that are closing:
Location: 1253 A St., Hayward — Date of closure: 08/20/2024. Location: 337 Main St., Pleasanton — Date of closure: 08/20/2024. Location: 300 Lakeside Drive, Oakland — Date of closure: 03/12/2024. Location: 3250 Mission St., San Francisco — Already closed.
Bank of America plans to close up to 134 branches by 2024, showing that the bank is looking to decrease their retail banking footprint.
How safe is Bank of America right now?
Based on the analysis of Bank of America's financial health, risk profile, and regulatory compliance, we can conclude that the bank is relatively safe from any trouble or collapse.
Banks during recessions FAQs
Your money is safe in a bank, even during an economic decline like a recession. Up to $250,000 per depositor, per account ownership category, is protected by the FDIC or NCUA at a federally insured financial institution.
Bank of America pays slightly higher interest on your account balance. It also has a lower monthly fee and more options to have it waived. While the comparison between the two banks' checking accounts stacks up as a draw, the clear winner among savings accounts is Bank of America Advantage Savings.
Asset-heavy, diversified and regulated banks like JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, PNC Bank and U.S. Bank are among the safest banks in the U.S. and should be considered if you are weighing your options.
For the fourteenth time in a row, the US finance magazine Global Finance declared KfW the “World's Safest Bank”. KfW once again confirmed its leading position among the 500 largest banks worldwide.
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