Business
Discover 2025’s Top 10 Online Banks for Smart Savings
McKinsey & Company reveals that 73 percent of bank transactions worldwide now take place online, such as in digital banks and payment systems. The increasing demand of customers for more flexible banking options is attributed to the rise in online banking channels. People prefer online banks because they offer simple tools and resources to manage their money. With this trend, online banking is here to stay.
Best Online Banks: A Quick Guide
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An online bank should cater to your financial needs like any traditional alternative. Here are a few factors to consider when choosing online banks:
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
The annual average yield offered under each account will tell you how much interest your money will earn. When comparing online banks, consider one that offers competitive rates across all of its deposit accounts.
Products and Services
Some online banks offer a complete package of banking products, including checking, savings, certificates of deposit (CDs), and money market accounts. They also offer loans and credit cards. So, look at the products and services offered by online banks before making a decision. You may also combine the services of an online bank with a traditional brick-and-mortar bank.
Account Access
Typically, online banks offer 24/7 access to your account through their website or app. However, you should also consider how the bank handles deposits and withdrawals. It is crucial to know the restrictions, if any, on transfers, the limitations on withdrawals, and whether the bank accepts free cash deposits.
ATM Network
An ATM network is essential if you frequently withdraw or deposit cash. An extensive ATM network will help you avoid transaction fees. If the bank is not associated with a large ATM network, you should look for one that will reimburse out-of-network ATM fees.
Digital Tools
The best online banks offer innovative digital tools to help you accomplish financial goals. For example, Ally will help you organize your savings goals with savings buckets and analyze your spending habits to safely transfer available funds from your checking to your savings account.
Fees
You should avoid any bank, online or otherwise, that charges monthly fees or has extensive requirements to avoid them. Many online banks offer no-fee deposit accounts, require a low or $0 initial deposit to open the account, and don’t need a minimum balance to avoid maintenance fees. However, make sure you know whether the bank charges excessive withdrawal fees, paper statement fees, or fees for other services that you may want to use regularly.
Customer Service
Since you won’t have access to in-person customer service with an online bank, determine how you can contact a customer service representative if needed. Most online banks offer telephone support, live chats, or assistance via email. Some online banks also offer access to live support via extended hours or 24/7.
10 Top-Performing Online Banks
1. Alliant Credit Union
Alliant Credit Union is an NCUA-insured online credit union offering members competitive deposit account rates and minimal fees. Most accounts don’t charge maintenance fees, but these can be waived if you sign up for e-statements. Membership is available for current or former employees of Alliant’s partner businesses in the US. You can also become an Alliant Credit Union Foundation digital inclusion advocate to become eligible for membership. Signing up costs $5, but Alliant will pay the one-time fee on your behalf.
Alliant’s certificates earn solid APYs, with terms ranging from one year to five years. Its savings account earns a respectable yield of 3.10% APY on balances of $100 or more, but there are plenty of higher-yielding savings accounts with APYs over 5%. We like that Alliant’s High-Rate Checking account pays a better yield than other checking accounts and doesn’t require a minimum balance or charge service fees.
2. Varo Bank
Varo offers checking and savings accounts but doesn’t offer deposit certificates. Savings account comes with an APY starting at 2.50%. That rate becomes 5.00% for the first $5,000 if a customer meets the monthly requirements of the bank.
Cash deposits have limits and fees, and Varo customers can only deposit cash at a 3rd party retailer that joins the Green Dot network, including CVS, 7-Eleven, or Walgreens. On the other hand, cash withdrawals can be made through an ATM in the Allpoint network for free.
3. Ally Bank
Established in 2009, Ally Bank is full-service online bank that offers competitive rates on all deposit accounts. Customers can enjoy the highest rates for all balances, regardless of tier. Overall, the high APYs, minimal fees, and reliable customer service support makes Ally an excellent banking solution for millenials who want better savings and retirement plans.
4. Discover Bank
Discover Bank offers deposit accounts, credit cards, personal loans, and student loans. We like that Discover offers deposit accounts, such as CDs, savings, and a money market account, at competitive rates with no fees. While its $2,500 minimum deposit requirement for its CDs is steep, there is no minimum deposit required to open and maintain a savings, money market, or checking account.
5. Laurel Road
Laurel Road, powered by KeyBank, helps healthcare and business professionals achieve their financial goals. They offer student loan refinancing, mortgages, personal loans, credit card, and specialized savings accounts. Laurel Road also offer Loyalty Checking with a low APY. New customers can earn a sign-up and monthly bonus with qualifying direct deposits. In addition, both savings account and checking account has no monthly free or minimum balance requirement.
6. Capital One
Capital One offers an above-average 3.80% APY on its savings account, strong rates on its certificates of deposit, and 0.10% APY on all checking balances. All accounts are free, and customers can access over 70,000 free ATMs.
7. American Express National Bank
This bank offer High Yield Savings Account with a 3.80 APY. Likewise, certifcate deposits (CDs) have competitive rate and there is no minimum opening deposit. You don’t have to worry in case you encounter banking-related issues because American Express National Bank has 24/7 phone support and online chat support.
8. Marcus by Goldman Sachs
Launched in 2016, Marcus is the online-only banking arm of Goldman Sachs, one of the 15 largest banks in the US. The bank’s savings accounts and CDs offer competitive yields and no monthly maintenance fees.
While some online banks offer no minimum deposit requirement to open an account, Marcus requires a $500 deposit to get started with a CD. There’s no minimum deposit requirement for its high-yield savings account. Marcus doesn’t offer a checking account or money market account.
9. My Banking Direct
My Banking Direct is the online-only arm of Flagstar Bank, N.A., which New York Community Bancorp owns. The bank is a lean financial service that offers only savings, checking, and a five-month CD term. The APYs on its savings account and CD are among the best available today.
In addition, the bank doesn’t charge monthly or overdraft fees and provides surcharge-free ATM access through a 55,000 Allpoint and Presto network. To open a savings account, you must deposit $500. Checking accounts can be opened with just $1. During the week, you can access extended customer service hours until 8 p.m. ET and 2 p.m. ET on Sundays.
10. SoFi
SoFi (short for Social Finance) was the brainchild of Stanford Graduate School of Business students who created an alumni-funded lending source initially focused on refinancing student loans. Since then, SoFi has expanded into a variety of loan categories and now offers online checking and savings accounts.
Conclusion
Online banks lets manage your money and account via a website, mobile device, or app. Also, online banks generally offer higher interest rates and fewer fees than traditional banks. You should remember that while technology makes everything accessible, online banks also have some limitations. For instance, online-only or internet-only banks lack in-person interaction. However, if you are comfortable managing your money online, online banks are a convenient and low-cost option.
If you’re looking for a sure-fire game-changer for your brand’s online presence, illustration is it! But where do you get high-quality and fast custom illustration design services? We tested five and made a list so you won’t have to:
1. Penji
A popular design-as-a-service firm, Penji can provide you with more than just illustrations. You can also request social media graphics, UI/UX designs, infographics, and digital advertisements, among others. It operates on an unlimited design model, making it cost-effective. Additionally, its services are fast; you’ll receive your first draft within 24 to 48 hours.
2. Inky
A modern illustration design agency, Inky is the #1 resource for many art buyers in the industry. They represent top-caliber artists, connecting them with businesses looking for high-quality illustrations, icons, and branded assets. All you need to do is find an illustrator whose art style aligns with your brand and contact the agency to collaborate with them.
3. Illozoo
A visual communication agency, Illozoo, represents both emerging and established talent. They offer custom illustration design services for branding, editorial, motion graphics, and packaging. They take pride in their curated artist pool, which has earned them a place on this list of the best illustration design agencies.
4. IllustrationX
A global illustration design agency, IllustrationX, promises to find you the right illustrator for your brand in seconds. It features efficient filters that allow for text, voice, or image searches. They have a team of diverse illustration talents that come from across the globe, allowing you more options to choose from.
5. Duck.Design
Another popular option that offers graphic design subscription services, Duck.Design is ideal for startups, marketing teams, and e-commerce brands. Thanks to its unlimited design requests and revision features, you can get cost-effective, yet high-quality custom illustrations and more.
Did you know? People only spend 2.6 seconds on average looking at an ad before scrolling away. That means your design must be eye-catching, captivating and appealing within those 2.6 seconds to garner a click, sale, and branding awareness. You need great designers to do so, but not all companies provide the same benefits.
Some can get it done faster, some will give you cheaper options for more creative designs, and some charge lower prices than others. Check out these top four ad design companies to see who suits your needs best.
1. Penji – Best Overall
Penji is a graphic design subscription service where you get unlimited designs for a flat monthly fee. Therefore, if you need consistent advertisements with social graphics and marketing efforts over time, Penji is the best choice. They provide a team of focused designers so you can stick to deadlines and maintain brand awareness, without the need to hire freelancers.
Pricing:
- Business Plan: $499/month
- Marketing & Ads Plan: $995/month
- Agency Plan: $1,497/month
2. Design Pickle – Best for Small Teams
Design Pickle is a subscription-based creative service that provides advertisement design and other marketing visuals with a focus on ease and simplicity at a good price. If your small team needs consistent and high-quality graphics without having to hire freelancers, Design Pickle will provide the same day turnaround you need to maintain brand awareness.
Pricing:
- Graphics Pro Plan: $1,349/month
- Graphics Premium Plan (includes video): $2,049/month
3. Flocksy – Best for All-in-One Services
Flocksy is a creative subscription service that offers more than just ad design but graphic design, copywriting, video editing, web development and voice overs under one roof. If your business wants full creative talent without managing more than one freelancer or company, Flocksy is the way to go.
Pricing:
- 2 Daily Hours Plan: $1,195/month
- 3 Daily Hours Plan: $1,795/month
- 4 Daily Hours Plan: $2,395/month
4. 99designs – Best for One-Time Projects
99designs is a global marketplace for design where you pay per project rather than subscribe to a plan. You can host a contest to get various ideas from freelancers across the world and pick your favorite. If you’re looking for someone on a per-project basis without having to have long-term commitment, this is ideal.
Pricing:
- Bronze: $299
- Silver: $499
- Gold: $899
- Platinum: $1,299
Video content with motion graphics generates 1200% more shares than text and images combined. But with hundreds of agencies out there, how do you choose the right one for your project? Whether you need an explainer video, brand animation, or social media content, here are the top 3 motion graphic design agencies for different needs and budgets.
1. Penji
Penji takes the top spot as the best motion graphic design service for one simple reason: unlimited revisions and flat monthly pricing. Most agencies charge thousands per video. Penji offers a graphic design subscription that includes motion graphics along with all your other design needs.
The platform delivers motion graphics services in 48 hours or less. Need a logo animation? Submit a request. Want social media videos? Just ask. Explainer videos for your product? They handle it. The design as a service model means you never worry about per-project costs adding up.
What makes Penji particularly useful is the dedicated team approach. The same designers work on all your projects, so they learn your brand and maintain consistency. Plus, you get unlimited revisions until you’re satisfied. No additional charges. No awkward negotiations. Just keep requesting changes until it’s perfect.
2. Demo Duck
Demo Duck specializes in explainer videos for tech companies. They’ve worked with big names like Google and Salesforce. Their team focuses specifically on making complex products easy to understand through animation. Projects typically range from $15,000 to $50,000 depending on length and complexity.
3. Yans Media
Yans Media offers motion graphics for marketing campaigns. They handle everything from social media animations to commercial videos. Their process includes scriptwriting, storyboarding, and multiple revision rounds. Most projects take 4 to 6 weeks from start to finish. Pricing starts around $3,000 per video.
For businesses needing regular motion graphics, Penji’s subscription model makes the most financial sense. See their work to understand the quality and range of projects they handle.
FAQs About Motion Graphic Design Services
How much does motion graphic design typically cost?
Costs vary widely. Traditional agencies charge $3,000 to $50,000 per video depending on complexity and length. Subscription services like Penji offer unlimited motion graphics for a flat monthly rate, usually making them more affordable for regular content needs.
How long does it take to create a motion graphic video?
Most agencies need 4 to 6 weeks from concept to final delivery. Faster services like Penji can deliver motion graphics in 48 hours for standard projects. Complex explainer videos may take longer regardless of the provider.
What’s included in motion graphic design services?
Most services include concept development, storyboarding, animation, and revisions. Some also offer scriptwriting, voiceovers, and background music. Check what’s included before choosing a provider to avoid unexpected costs.
Do I own the motion graphics after they’re created?
Most agencies transfer full ownership rights upon project completion. Always confirm this in your contract. Subscription services typically include full commercial rights as part of the monthly fee.
Can motion graphics work for B2B companies?
Yes. Motion graphics work particularly well for B2B companies explaining complex products or services. Animated explainer videos help prospects understand technical concepts faster than text alone.
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