Choosing the best bank account can be tricky, especially when you're considering big banks like Regions Bank and Capital One.
Regions Bank has physical branches you can visit, while Capital One operates mostly online. Now, let's take a close look at the banking products they offer.
Checking Accounts
Regions Bank is our top pick for checking accounts, especially if you like going to a bank branch now and then. They offer a variety of options that suit individual customers.
What's more, Regions Bank has special account choices made just for seniors and students, as well as online-only checking.
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Account Types And Fees
Regions Bank offers several checking account options, including the LifeGreen Checking and LifeGreen eAccess Account. Here are the accounts, their monthly fee and how you can waive it:
Account | Monthly Fee | Average Day Balance To Waive |
---|---|---|
LifeGreen Checking | $8 | $1,500 |
LifeGreen Preferred Checking | $18 | $5,000 |
Regions Now Checking | $5 | Can't be waived |
LifeGreen eAccess Account | $8 | At least 10 Regions debit/credit card purchases |
62+ LifeGreen Checking | $8 | $1,500 |
LifeGreen® Checking for Students | $0 | Under age 25 |
The Capital One 360 checking account is a free checking account that is used and operated online for optimal convenience.
Bank Account | Monthly Fee | APY On Balance |
---|---|---|
Capital One 360 Checking Account | $0 | 0.10% |
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Features
With the Capital One 360 Checking Account customers can quickly pay their bills, get their cash, make deposits, and transfer their money without the added stress of a monthly fee.
There are over 38,000 fee-free ATMs and over 2,000 Capital One ATMs, which will successfully meet your needs when accessing your money. Another great incentive Capital One 360 offers is a free debit card for all purchases.
Bank Account | Main Features |
---|---|
Capital One 360 Checking Account | No overdraft fees, get paid early, pay bills online, send cash with Zelle, mobile deposit, account alerts |
Regions Bank has different checking accounts to fit your needs. The main one is the LifeGreen Checking account, which is like your basic account. It lets you do online and mobile banking, set up alerts for your transactions, and you can also get optional overdraft protection for more financial security.
If you want advanced features, there's the LifeGreen Preferred Checking account. This one earns you interest and comes with extra perks. You won't get charged Regions ATM fees for two transactions at non-Regions ATMs each statement period.
Account | Main Features |
---|---|
LifeGreen Checking | Alerts and notifications, mobile check deposit, Zelle, Visa debit card |
LifeGreen Preferred Checking | Interest-earning, free two ATM transactions at non-Regions ATMs |
Regions Now Checking | No overdraft fees, unlimited check writing, online bill pay |
LifeGreen eAccess Account | Alerts and notifications, mobile check deposit, Zelle, Visa debit card |
62+ LifeGreen Checking | Overdraft Protection, Alerts and notifications, mobile check deposit |
LifeGreen Checking for Students | Alerts and notifications, mobile check deposit, Zelle, Visa debit card |
Top Offers From Our Partners
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Savings Accounts
There is no real competition here as Capital One offers very competitive savings rates, unlike Regions.
Their 360 Performance Savings account gives you good rates and makes it easy to transfer money between your accounts or other banks. You can even create several Performance Savings accounts for different money goals. Plus, the mobile check deposit feature lets you add money by depositing checks whenever you want.
On the other hand, Regions Bank provides less favorable rates for their savings accounts. It also offers a money market account (unlike Capital One) but the rates are poor as well.
Capital One 360 Performance Savings | Regions Bank Savings | |
---|---|---|
Savings Rate | 4.25% | 0.01% |
Minimum Deposit | $0 | $50 |
Fees | $0 | $5
Can be waived if you maintain a minimum daily balance of $30
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Certificate Of Deposits (CDs)
Also when it comes CDs, Capital One stands out as the better choice.
Unlike Regions Bank, which offers high rates on specific terms, Capital One provides consistently high rates across almost every term. This means customers can earn good returns on their money, regardless of the duration they choose for the CD.
Moreover, Capital One allows for flexible CD investing strategies, like CD laddering and combining short and long-term CDs. This flexibility gives customers more control over their investments and the ability to tailor their CD approach based on their financial goals.
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Capital One CD Rates
CD Term | APY | Early Withdrawal Penalty |
---|---|---|
6 Months | 4.25% | 3 months interest |
9 Months | 4.25% | 3 months interest |
12 Months | 4.50% | 3 months interest |
18 Months | 4.25%
| 6 months interest |
24 Months | 4.00% | 6 months interest |
30 Months | 4.00% | 6 months interest |
36 Months | 3.75% | 6 months interest |
48 Months | 3.75% | 6 months interest |
60 Months | 3.75% | 6 months interest |
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Regions Bank CD Rates
Regions CD Rates | |
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8 Month | 4.50% |
14 Month | 4.00% |
26 Month | 4.50% |
Top Offers From Our Partners
Top Savings Accounts From Our Partners
Quontic High Yield Savings
- 4.50% APY on savings
- Interest is compounded daily
- No Monthly Service Fees
CIT Savings Connect
- Up to 4.85% APY on savings
- No monthly service fees.
- Zelle, Samsung & Apple Pay
Advertiser Disclosure
The product offers that appear on this site are from companies from which this website receives compensation.
Top Offers From Our Partners
Credit Cards
When it comes to credit cards, Capital One is a clear winner with much better options, rewards, and redemption options than Regions Bank cards.
The Capital One Savor Rewards Credit Card is perfect if you want lots of cashback on your regular spending. If you prefer a consistent cashback rate, go for The Capital One Quicksilver—it gives you 1.5% cash back on everything you buy, keeping it simple and rewarding.
If you're working on building or fixing your credit, the Capital One Platinum Credit Card is a reliable option.
Card | Rewards | Bonus | Annual Fee | 2X – 5X
2X miles per dollar on every purchase, plus 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
| 75,000 miles
75,000 miles once they spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
| $95 |
---|---|---|---|---|
1.5% – 5%
5% percent cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 1.5% cash back on all purchases everyday.
| $200
$200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
| $0 | ||
1X – 10X
10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars when booking via Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights and 2 miles per dollar on all eligible purchases
|
75,000 miles
75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
| $395 | ||
1% – 4%
unlimited 4% cash back on dining, entertainment, and popular streaming services, 3% at grocery stores and 1% on all other purchases.
| $300
$300 cash bonus once you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
| $95 | ||
N/A | N/A | $0 |
Travelers will love the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, and for those who want even more travel perks and yearly credits, there's the Venture X card.
Regions Bank has two cashback rewards cards.
The Regions Prestige Visa Signature card gives you more cash back on everyday stuff like groceries, gas, and dining. Plus, if you sign up for the Regions Rewards Multiplier Program, you can get an extra 1% cashback.
They also have a card with a long 0% intro APR, and a secured card meant for boosting your credit.
Card | Rewards | Bonus | Annual Fee | Regions Cash Rewards Visa Credit Card
| 1.5%
1.5% cash rewards on every purchase | $200
$200 bonus Cash Rewards when you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days, or earn a $100 bonus when you spend $500 in the first 90 days | $0 |
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Regions Prestige Visa Signature Credit Card | 1% – 4%
4%/3% on dining & entertainment purchases, including fast food, 3%/2% on gas and grocery store purchases and 2%/1% on all other purchases. When you register for Rewards Multiplier, you can earn up to an extra 1% on every credit card purchase | $200
$200 bonus when you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days after account opening. If you spend at least $500 but not quite $1,000, you will earn a $100 bonus | $0 | |
Regions Life Visa Credit Card | N/A | N/A | $0 | |
Regions Explore Secured Visa Credit Card | N/A | N/A | $29 |
Mortgage And Loans
Regions win as it offers more options for borrowers.
If you're thinking about getting a house or want to tweak your current mortgage terms, Regions has a variety of mortgage loans to choose from. They can also help you tap into the value of your home to get a loan or line of credit. It also offers car and personal loans.
And if you're dealing with student loans, don't worry—they can step in there as well. They might be able to refinance your student loans, giving you a shot at a lower interest rate or changing up how you pay it all back.
On the other hand, Capital One only offers auto loans.
Which Bank Is Our Winner?
Capital One is our winner as it offers a complete banking package, which is better than Region Bank, especially if you have deposit needs and a preference for online-only banking, but not only.
On the other hand, if you prefer personal service or have specific lending or checking needs, you might want to think about Region Bank.
That being said, it is crucial to assess various factors, primarily focusing on those that are significant for your specific needs. This could include banking services, overdraft assistance, frequent ATM usage, proximity to bank locations, and other elements that vary from person to person.
Compare Capital One With Other Banks
Discover Bank is a full-service online bank as well as a provider of payment services. Discover can be used for banking and retirement planning by individuals. Discover is best known for its credit cards with rewards, but it also provides personal, student, and home equity loans.
Capital One began as a credit card company, but it has grown to offer a diverse range of traditional banking services over the years. In addition to credit cards, it offers checking and savings accounts, loan refinancing, auto finance, and children's accounts. As a result, Capital One is more appealing to those seeking a traditional banking experience.
Read Full Comparison: Discover vs Capital One: Which Bank Account Wins?
Capital One is a premium online banking service that offers convenient, dependable service and physical locations to anyone looking for them. Capitol One 360, in addition to providing a trustworthy and dependable service, has no hidden fees or minimums, allowing you to continue earning interest on your daily money. There are over 38,000 fee-free ATMs and over 2,000 Capital One ATMs to meet your money access needs.
American Express is one of the world's most well-known credit card brand names. Customers can get a personal banking solution from American Express National Bank, which offers online savings and CD options. Personal savings accounts have a high potential yield. American Express National Bank is a respectable, secure banking option that does not offer any extra features but does offer the most important one.
Read Full Comparison: American Express vs Capital One: Which Bank Is Better For You?
CIT Bank offers a variety of savings accounts. Savings Connect has two tiers, with the first offering a higher rate if you make qualifying deposits and link your checking account. Savings Builder, on the other hand, offers 3.99 percent if you keep a balance of $25,000 or make monthly deposits of at least $100. There are no account maintenance fees, but you can only make six transactions per statement cycle.
Capital One offers a high yield savings account with a slightly lower rate than CIT Bank's top rate. However, you are not required to jump through any hoops. The account allows six withdrawals per calendar month, but there is no minimum deposit or balance requirement to keep your account open.
Read Full Comparison: CIT Bank vs Capital One: Which Bank Account Is Better?
Chase and Capital One both have banking product lines that compete with traditional high street banks.
Capital One also has a competitive advantage in terms of checking accounts. The Capital One checking account is not only fee-free, but you can also earn interest on your account balance. Chase's checking account does not pay interest, and you must meet certain requirements to have the $12 monthly fee waived.
However, when you open a qualifying account, Chase will give you a welcome bonus, and its checking account has some nice features such as paperless statements for up to seven years and checking account upgrade options.
Read Full Comparison: Chase vs Capital One: Compare Banking Options
Capital One began as a credit card company, but has expanded its line of banking products to rival a traditional bank. Aside from checking and savings accounts, you can also get loan refinancing, auto finance, and children's accounts.
Wells Fargo offers an even broader range of products. There are several checking accounts available, as well as two savings accounts and investment options such as IRAs and 401ks. You can also get loans and mortgages, as well as wealth management services. Wells Fargo is thus a highly comparable alternative to the traditional high street bank.
Read Full Comparison: Capital One vs Wells Fargo: Which Bank Wins?
Capital One made its name as a credit card company, but in recent years, it has developed a decent banking product line that rivals that of a traditional bank. Capital One offers loan refinancing, kids' accounts, and auto finance in addition to checking and savings accounts.
Credit One remains primarily a credit card company, but it does offer a limited range of banking products, including CDs.
Read Full Comparison: Capital One vs Credit One: Which Bank Account Is Better?
Ally has a decent banking product lineup that would make switching from a traditional high street bank relatively simple. Checking, savings, CDs, auto loans, personal loans, mortgages, investments, and retirement products are among the products available. The only obvious omission from the Ally line is the absence of a credit card.
Capital One began as a credit card company, but it has since expanded into a variety of other banking services. You can access auto finance, loan refinancing, and children's accounts in addition to savings and checking accounts.
Read Full Comparison: Ally vs Capital One: Compare Banking Options
Capital One began as a credit card company, but it has recently expanded its banking product line. Capital One offers checking and savings accounts, children's accounts, auto finance and refinancing, in addition to an impressive selection of credit cards.
Citi offers a diverse range of banking products, including checking and savings accounts, CDs, credit card options, mortgages, personal loans, wealth management plans, IRAs, and investment options.
Read Full Comparison: Citi vs Capital One: Which Bank is Best For You?
Bank of America has an impressive product lineup, as one would expect from a large banking institution. There are various checking and savings accounts, as well as numerous credit card options, auto loans, home loans, and investments. This makes switching from your current bank a breeze.
Capital One began as a credit company, but it has recently expanded its product line. You can now access checking and savings accounts, auto finance, refinancing, and children's accounts in addition to an impressive selection of credit cards.
Read Full Comparison: Bank of America vs Capital One: Which Bank Wins?
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Our Methodology: Breaking Down Bank Comparisons
In our thorough banking comparison, The Smart Investor team carefully reviewed and compared banks across five key categories:
Checking Accounts (30%): We examined features like direct deposit, debit card availability, monthly fees, ATM and branch access, check deposit, bill pay options, and account alerts. We also considered any special offers available to customers.
Savings Accounts and CDs (20%): Our focus was on important factors such as the Annual Percentage Yield (APY), minimum deposit requirements, account flexibility, FDIC insurance coverage, special savings offers, variety of CDs, automatic renewal options, and early withdrawal penalties.
Credit Cards (15%): We analyzed rewards programs, annual fees, introductory bonuses, travel benefits, APR, and balance transfer options offered by each bank's credit cards to provide a comprehensive comparison of available features.
Lending Options (15%): We assessed the variety of loan options provided, including personal loans, student loans, mortgages, secured loans, HELOCs, and Home Equity Loans, offering insights into the banks' lending capabilities.
Customer Experience and Bank Reputation (20%): Our evaluation included an analysis of online banking and mobile app usability and ratings, accessibility of customer support, online reviews, JD Power research, Trustpilot ratings, and overall financial stability, providing a holistic view of customer experience and reputation.