What was most interesting at the ranking of Top 10 online banks released yesterday by GOBankingRates.com, a Bankrate.com challenger, were the companies that did not make the list. That list included some of the more well-known e-banks.
So which banks were left off? Try Simple, Bluebird, Moven, GoBank, BankMobile, CapitalOne360 and Tangerine. And, from Europe, Hello Bank, mBank and first direct.
GOBankingRates considered seven criteria for each online bank:
- Checking account fee;
- Savings account yield;
- One-year CD interest rate;
- BauerFinancial Star Rating indicating overall financial strength;
- Whether the bank offered 24/7 customer service by web or phone;
- Whether the bank offered real-time chat with a live representative; and
- Whether the bank offers a mobile app.
Banks were then ranked based on their overall scores.
Interestingly, GOBankingRates did not consider — and this is shocking — the online banks’, er, actual website, its functionality and features. And that means you might want to take the ranking below with more than a pinch of salt. Consider, for example, the No. 6 on the list below, CIT Bank. It particularly offers the bare minimum online features — this is not an online banking investing in its online services.
For what it is worth, the list:
- Ally Bank
- Bank5 Connect
- Discover Bank
- GE Capital Bank
- Synchrony Bank
- CIT Bank
- Sallie Mae Bank
- TIAA Direct
- First Internet Bank
- Barclays Bank
Learn about online banks at Bank Innovation 2015 on March 2-3 in Seattle. Request your invitation here.