Business
Discover 2025’s Top 10 Online Banks for Smart Savings
Published
7 months agoon

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

Image Source: Tima Miroshnichenko from Pexels
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.
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Business
What’s the Best Design Agency in Florida
Published
3 hours agoon
January 22, 2026By
Kelli Hugh
Penji takes over your Florida business’s design workload for one flat monthly rate, removing hourly billing and surprise charges. You get a dedicated team that learns your preferences, so you are not re‑explaining your brand every time you need something designed.
Penji ranks as the best design agency in Florida for business owners who need ongoing design support. For four hundred ninety nine to nine hundred ninety nine dollars a month, you can submit unlimited design requests with consistent quality and no long‑term contracts.
Many Florida business owners discover the same problem: hiring a design agency feels great until the invoice arrives. A simple logo refresh suddenly becomes a four thousand dollar project, and you are still waiting weeks for final files.
The best design agency in Florida should feel like having an in‑house designer without the sixty thousand dollar salary, benefits, or office space. After comparing how different services operate, three options stand out.
1. Penji – Best for Unpredictable Design Needs
Penji leads this list because most Florida businesses cannot predict their design workload. One month you only need a few social posts. The next month you are launching a product and suddenly need packaging, email graphics, sales sheets, and website banners.
Traditional agencies require quotes, approvals, and budget planning for every project. Penji removes all of that. You pay a flat monthly subscription starting at four hundred ninety nine dollars, submit whatever you need, and your assigned designer works through your queue.
This model works especially well for seasonal industries. Tourism companies, real estate teams, and retail shops can increase their design output during busy months without renegotiating rates. Since you are already paying for the subscription, you can use it as much as you need. Many Florida businesses rely on Penji for this flexibility.
2. Boutique Florida Agencies – Best for Major Rebrands
If you are planning a full company rebrand, boutique agencies offer deep strategy, research, and high‑touch creative direction. Expect to invest ten thousand to twenty five thousand dollars for a complete rebrand, plus monthly retainers of five thousand to fifteen thousand dollars. This option is ideal for established companies with larger budgets.
3. 99designs – Best for Exploring Different Styles
99designs runs design contests where multiple designers submit concepts based on your brief. Prices range from two hundred ninety nine to one thousand two hundred ninety nine dollars. It is useful when you want to explore different visual directions, but it is not built for ongoing design needs.
Conclusion
When choosing a graphic design agency in Florida, consider how your business actually operates. Most owners do not plan design needs months in advance. You realize you need a trade show banner two weeks before the event, or your social media manager needs graphics by mid‑week.
This is where Penji’s model as the best design agency in Florida becomes practical. You have design support ready whenever you need it, whether you submit two requests this month or twenty. Review their full graphic design agency services to see the range they cover.
Stop paying per project and start using a more predictable design system. Start your free Penji trial today and clear your Florida business’s design backlog. Cancel anytime if it is not the right fit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s included in Florida design agency pricing
Traditional agencies charge separately for concepts, revisions, and file formats. Unlimited services like Penji include everything. The initial designs, unlimited revisions, and all file types for one monthly rate.
How do I know if my business needs ongoing design support
If you request designs more than twice a month, a subscription service like Penji usually costs less than project‑based agencies. Track your design spending for a few months to compare.
What’s the difference between Florida design agencies and national services
National services like Penji often cost less because they are not limited by local talent pools or Florida office overhead. You still get experienced designers, just without the geographic markup.
Business
What’s the Best Design Agency in Texas for Growing Businesses?
Published
8 hours agoon
January 21, 2026
Known for its legendary cowboy culture, iconic attractions, and deep historical roots, the Lone Star State is also home to thriving businesses. This is thanks to the plethora of graphic design agencies that help boost their visual identity. All you need to do now is choose one that fits your brand well. Here are the best design agencies in Texas you can choose from:
1. Penji

Offering the best unlimited graphic design services, Penji is a design-as-a-service platform that lets you get all your visual asset needs for one flat monthly rate. Its remote-first model allows it to take clients from around the globe, providing them with the highest quality graphic design services.
2. Tenderling

Specializing in hotels, apartments, real estate, restaurants, and wellness, Tenderling is an excellent option for businesses seeking the best design agency in Texas. This award-winning design agency is female-owned and HUB certified by the State of Texas. It offers brand strategy, development, execution, maintenance, and many other services.
3. The Matchbox Studio

Having collaborated with some of the biggest names in the land, The Matchbox Studio takes pride in its work with FedEx, American Airlines, and Fossil. It has a team of strategists, artists, designers, and developers that helps businesses in the entertainment industry achieve attention-grabbing branding and digital design.
4. Left Hand Design

Offering a wide range of graphic design services,Left Hand Design shines in providing design and branding services to its Texas clients. It offers logo design, social media branding, web design, event branding, email template design, and printing services, among others. It also offers ecommerce, print ads, website development, and many other similar services.
5. The Label Collective

Another award-winner on this list of the best design agencies in Texas is The Label Collective. In addition, it is a women-owned business that offers a wide range of graphic design and related services. This includes brand strategy, visual identity, creative services, and brand management.
Business
How You Can Effectively Beat the Fear of Starting a Business
Published
6 days agoon
January 15, 2026
Having your own business provides a multitude of benefits, but why is it that not everyone is doing it? The majority of people see the prospect of leaving a steady paycheck behind as scary. They look at opening a business, a task that requires a first step that’s steeped in uncertainty, fear, and self-doubt. Here are a few steps you can take to create your own business without the hesitations:
Set Achievable Goals

Identify your goals and start listing smaller but attainable goals from them. This way, you will become less fearful and avoid being overwhelmed. Small goals will be easier to digest and reduce your chances of failure, enough to help build your confidence gradually.
Stop with the Perfectionist Mindset
You may want that website to be perfectly working or that version of your product to be as perfect as possible. According to Entrepreneur, mixing perfectionism with entrepreneurship is a bad idea. Getting started is hard enough. You’d do better if you ignored perfectionism. It will be so easy to set yourself up for disappointment when goals aren’t met. Make sure they are attainable.
Do Your Research
When starting a business, you’ll find yourself doing a lot of research. Don’t get tired of learning, as this is what will propel you toward success. The more you know about your niche, the better you’ll be equipped to handle it. In this day and age that information is just a few taps away, research, learn, and absorb.
Start Small
Easing into entrepreneurship can be the best route if starting big is daunting for you. Start with a part-time business, and as you grow and build confidence, you can add to it more and more. This will also let you keep your day job and still look forward to that paycheck until your business is stable enough to let you focus on it full time.
Have Realistic Expectations

The idea of having that perfect work-life balance when having your own business may only be a myth for beginners. Of course, it would be difficult, and if it were easy, everybody would be doing it. Having realistic expectations can help you prevent disappointments. The key is to have great support from family and friends and the understanding that you’ll have that balance soon if you remain persistent.
Go For Low-Risk Businesses
It would really be daunting if you start with a high-risk business, but if you go for something smaller, it wouldn’t be as scary as it seems. Make sure to align your goals with your resources. If you have a limited budget, it’s okay to find a business that matches your finances. Just thinking of production and marketing costs can stress you out, so start small.
Identify and Build Your Community
If you have the passion, grit, and a bit of cash, you’re well on your way to beating your fear of starting a business. Back these all up with an equally passionate community, and you have the foundation of a successful business. Build this community of investors, partners, and customers to help you gain confidence and the finances to get your business going. When you know you have a support group to lend you a hand, your fears will slowly melt away.
Believe in Yourself and Your Business
Don’t let fear get into your mindset. Start believing in yourself and your business, thinking that you don’t need others to be confident. You can boost it for yourself. Focus on what you need to do and steer clear of your insecurities and uncertainties. If they can do it, why can’t you? Just remember that failure is part and parcel of doing business and that it shouldn’t be a cause for fear.

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