When you're choosing a bank, it's crucial to look at things like the kinds of products they have, what features their accounts offer, the fees involved, and how well they treat their customers.
Truist Bank and M&T Bank are both major players in the banking scene and in this article, we'll compare the two to help you determine which one is a better match for your financial needs.
Checking Accounts
When it comes to checking accounts, M&T Bank is our winner as it offers a variety of bank account options, including free checking accounts.
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Account Types And Fees
M&T Bank offers four main types of checking accounts, such as the EZChoice checking for basic needs, MyChoice Plus for more features and benefits and MyChoice Premium for premium perks such as waived fees for multiple banking activities:
M&T Bank Account | Monthly Fee | Average Day Balance To Waive |
---|---|---|
M&T Bank EZChoice Checking | $0 | N/A |
M&T Bank MyChoice Plus | $14.95 | $2,500 |
MyWay Banking from M&T | $4.95 | Single monthly deposit/withdrawal/debit payment |
M&T Bank MyChoice Premium | $24.95 | $7,500 |
Truist bank offers personal checking accounts with many features and easily waived monthly fees. However, there is no wide selection of accounts as you have with M&T Bank:
Truist Bank Account | Monthly Fee | Average Day Balance To Waive |
---|---|---|
Truist One Checking account | $12 | $500 |
Truist Confidence Account | $5 | $500 |
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Features
Truist offers two checking account options: the basic one is the Truist Confidence Account, which includes features like mobile bill pay, no overdraft fees, and no check cashing fees, and the Truist One Checking account, a regular checking option.
The Truist One Checking provides benefits such as a loyalty bonus on Truist credit cards, a free first order of 10-pack checks, loyalty bonuses, and more perks.
Truist Bank Account | Main Features |
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Truist One Checking account | Loyalty Bonus on Truist credit cards, Free first order 10-pack checks |
Truist Confidence Account | mobile bill pay, No overdraft fees, No check cashing fees |
With Truist bank, customers can transfer funds and pay online. It can be a direct ACH transfer, sending money with Zelle or pay bill:
M&T Bank's Basic Checking Account gives you handy features like online and mobile banking, M&T Alerts, access to 2,000 ATMs and 900 branches, and a debit card.
Customers can upgrade to the Premium Checking Account for even more convenience. You get all the Basic account benefits, plus extra perks like no fees at non-M&T ATMs, the ability to earn interest, easy check handling with Mobile Deposit, an M&T Debit Card, no fees for using non-M&T ATMs, free standard check orders, and special deposit rates.
M&T Bank | Main Features |
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M&T Bank EZChoice Checking | Online & mobile banking, alerts, 2,000 ATMs, 900 branches, debit card |
M&T Bank MyChoice Plus | No Fee at non-M&T ATMs, Interest-bearing, mobile deposit, debit card |
MyWay Banking from M&T | No overdraft fees, online and mobile bill pay, checkless account |
M&T Bank MyChoice Premium | No fee at non-M&T ATMs, free check orders, special deposit rates |
Savings Accounts
Both Truist and M&T Bank offer savings accounts, but they are not attractive as they offer low rates, far behind what customers can get with other banks.
Truist also has a money market account, but the rates are comparatively low.
Truist One Savings | M&T Bank Savings | |
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Savings Rate | 0.05% | 0.01% |
Minimum Deposit | $50 | $0 |
Fees | $5
The monthly maintenance fee can be waived by maintain a minimum daily ledger balance of $300 OR
schedule a recurring preauthorized internal transfer of $25 or more per statement cycle into the Truist One Savings account OR
waived for a minor under the age of 18 OR
waived with ANY related Truist checking product
| $7.5
Can be waived if you maintain a minimum daily balance of $500 or more or have a personal checking account with M&T Bank or by making at least one deposit in your Relationship Savings account
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Certificate Of Deposits (CDs)
For CDs, M&T Bank offers slightly better options than Truist .
M&T Bank and Truist have higher rates, but it's important to note that these rates are only for promotional terms.
Remember that Truist Bank doesn't show CD rates on its website, and you can only open both M&T Bank and Truist CDs in person at a branch, not online.
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M&T Bank CD Rates
M&T CDs | |
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Select CD 6 Month | 3.90% |
Select CD 12 Month | 3.00% |
Regular CD 6 Month | 3.25% |
Minimum Deposit | $1,000 |
Credit Cards
When it comes to credit cards, Truist Bank is our winner due to a bit better credit card features and more options for customers.
The Truist Enjoy Cash is best for those who want to earn cashback, while travelers may prefer the Truist Enjoy Travel which offers a higher point rewards ratio on travel categories. The Truist Enjoy Beyond offers even more travel benefits.
For those who don't have good credit, the Truist Future card can help those who need 0% intro APR, and there is also a secured card, with a modest annual fee.
Card | Rewards | Bonus | Annual Fee | Truist Enjoy Cash credit card | 1% – 3%
3% cash back on gas and EV charging, 2% on utilities and groceries (up to the $1,000 monthly spend cap) and 1% on all other eligible purchases
OR 1.5% cash back on all eligible purchases | 0% Intro APR 12 months on purchases | $0 |
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Truist Enjoy Travel credit card | 1x – 2x
2x miles per $1 spent on airfare, hotels, and car rentals, 1x on all other eligible purchases | 20,000 miles
20,000 bonus miles when you spend $1,500 in first 90 days after account opening | $0 | |
Truist Future credit card | N/A | 0% Intro APR 15 months on balance transfers and purchases | $0 | |
Truist Enjoy Beyond credit card | 1x – 3x
3x points per $1 spent on airfare, hotels, and car rentals, 2x on dining and 1x on all other eligible purchases | 30,000 points
30,000 bonus points when you spend $1,500 in first 90 days after account opening | $195 | |
Truist Enjoy Cash Secured credit card | 1% – 3%
3% cash back on gas, 2% on utilities and groceries (up to the $1,000 monthly spend cap) and 1% on all other eligible purchase | N/A | $19 |
M&T Bank offers credit cards with varying features, including cash rewards and low introductory APR. The M&T Visa Signature Credit Card is notable for its rewards program and benefits.
Card | Rewards | Bonus | Annual Fee | M&T Visa Signature Credit Card
| 1.5%
1.5% cash back on every purchase | 10,000 points
10,000 bonus points after $500 in purchases made in the first 90 days from account opening | $0 |
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M&T Visa Credit Card with Rewards | 1x
1 point per $1 spent on every purchase | 10,000 points
10,000 bonus points after $500 in purchases made in the first 90 days from account opening | $0 | |
M&T Visa Credit Card | N/A | 0% Intro APR: 12 billing cycles on balance transfers and purchases | $0 | |
M&T Secured Credit Card | N/A | N/A | $0 |
Mortgage And Loans
M&T Bank is our top choice for loans because it provides more borrowing options than Truist.
M&T Bank stands out in the market, especially in mortgages and home equity loans. They offer various types of mortgages, like fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgages, catering to individual preferences. M&T Bank also provides auto loans, personal loans, and even student loans, which Truist does not offer.
Truist has fewer loan options, including mortgages, mortgage refinancing, and home equity loans. They also offer personal loans and auto loans, including refinancing.
Which Bank Is Our Winner?
Overall, each bank excels in different categories, but our winner is M&T Bank, mainly because it's our top choice for checking accounts, CDs, and lending products. Truist Bank has the edge when it comes to credit cards, but it's not enough.
But it's really important to think about different things, especially the ones that matter most to you. This might include looking at banking services, help with overdrafts, how often you use ATMs, how close the bank is to where you live, and other things that are different for each person.
Our Methodology for Comparing Banks
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.
Compare Truist Versus Other Banks
While Truist is a full-service bank where you can find almost any financial product, Chase is our winner. Here's why – and what else to know: Chase vs. Truist Bank
There is no clear winner as to whether Truist Bank or Bank of America is a better choice, but we prefer the latter. Here's why.
Wells Fargo offers better savings rates than Truist Bank, more selection for checking accounts and better credit cards. Here's our comparison: Truist Bank vs. Wells Fargo Bank
Citibank is our winner due to its checking account options, various credit cards, and better savings account rates than Truist Bank.
Overall, we like Fifth Third a bit more than Truist bank, mainly due to the various checking options. Truist is better in credit cards.
Our winner is PNC Bank as it offers more options for checking and higher savings rates than Truist bank. Here's our comparison: Truist Bank vs. PNC Bank
Both Truist and TD Bank are active in a variety of states, such as Florida, Georgia, North And South Carolina, and more. Here's our winner: Truist Bank vs. TD Bank
There is no clear-cut answer to which bank is better, but Regions Bank is better than Truist if we have to choose one. Here's why: Truist Bank vs. Regions Bank
Our preferred choice is American Express, which provides a comprehensive banking package that outshines Truist Bank. Here's how they compare: Truist Bank vs. American Express Bank