11 Best Banks in Idaho for Your Financial Needs

1. Chase

Chase runs 17 branches in Idaho, and it will pay you $400 to open a checking account. That is the largest new-checking bonus any major bank is offering right now, and it is money most Idahoans leave on the table by keeping the account they opened years ago.

Here is the entire requirement. Open a new Total Checking account, then have $1,000 or more in qualifying direct deposits arrive within 90 days of enrolling in the offer. It is cumulative, so two or three ordinary paychecks clear it, and the bonus is paid within 15 days of you meeting the requirement. The $15 monthly service fee drops to $0 in any statement period with $500 or more in qualifying electronic deposits, a $1,500 daily beginning balance, or $5,000 in average beginning day balance across linked accounts. One trap to know: Zelle, cash, checks, wires and interest do not count toward either number.

Set your expectations on the footprint. 17 branches across Idaho is not a bank on every corner, so treat Chase as a national account you can occasionally reach in person rather than a neighborhood bank. What carries it is the nationwide side: 5,000+ branches and 14,000+ ATMs, Zelle built in, a well-rated app, and the option to add a Chase savings account or credit card later under the same login.

The catch worth naming: the bonus is only open to people who are not already Chase checking customers, and you can collect one new-checking bonus every two years. It is reported to the IRS on a 1099-INT. If that fits you, open a Total Checking account and route your paycheck to it.

If you want the biggest checking bonus on the market alongside a real Idaho branch network, claim the $400 with Chase here.

2. Current

A Boise rent increase tends to show up before the raise that covers it. The gap between when a bill is due and when your paycheck lands is where most budgets actually break, and it is the specific problem Current is built for.

The signup math is simple. Open an account with promo code WELCOME75 and get $75 once your Eligible Payroll Deposits total $1,500 or more in your first 35 days. It is cumulative rather than one big deposit, it is new customers only, and the cash arrives about 10 business days after you cross the line. Recurring wages from an employer, a payroll provider or a government payer count. Non-direct-deposit ACH transfers, Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, PayPal, Google Pay, mobile check deposits, cash and one-off deposits such as a tax refund do not.

The feature that earns its keep after the bonus is Paycheck Advance, which lets you draw up to $750 of pay before payday and is offered by Finco Advance LLC rather than a bank. There is no monthly fee on the account, and the whole thing opens from your phone, which is the point in a state where the nearest branch may not be convenient.

One thing to be clear about, because it is routinely written up wrong: Current is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services come from Choice Financial Group and/or Cross River Bank, both Member FDIC, so deposit insurance reaches you on a pass-through basis up to $250,000 and depends on those conditions being met. If that structure is fine with you, open an account with code WELCOME75 and claim the $75.

3. D.L. Evans Bank

This bank was founded over 100 years ago and faithfully serves southern Idaho. D.L. Evans Bank offers online and mobile banking and connects customers to the MoneyPass network of over 40,000 ATMs. 

Free Community Checking from D.L. Evans Bank comes without monthly fees or minimum balance requirements. You’ll need $100 to open the account, but you can earn interest with a $500 balance. 

The more you put into your checking account, the higher the interest you’ll earn. You’ll also earn a decent APY on savings accounts from this bank. 

D.L. Evans Bank also offers several other checking accounts to choose from. You can also obtain loans and CDs from this Idahoan bank. 

4. Farmers Bank

If you’re looking for fee-free checking from a local bank, look no further than Farmers Bank. There are only a few Farmers Bank branches in the state, but you can also bank online and through the mobile app if you’re an account holder. 

Opt into eStatements, and you can avoid the monthly fees and minimum balance requirements. Farmers Bank also offers competitive loan rates and drive-up banking on Saturdays for convenient access to your bank account. 

5. First Federal Savings Bank of Twin Falls

For a potent combination of high APYs and no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements, look to First Federal Savings Bank of Twin Falls. After all, it’s much easier to read in your head than aloud. 

Nevertheless, this bank offers free checking accounts with impressive APYs and savings accounts with respectable APYs. You must open the accounts with $100, but you get up to $25 in ATM fees refunded each statement cycle. 

First Federal Savings Bank of Twin Falls also offers business banking services. Most of the physical branches of this Idaho-only bank are in the Twin Falls area, but you can also obtain competitive rates on loans. 

6. Idaho Central Credit Union

If you live in Washington, Oregon, or Idaho, you can open an account at Idaho Central Credit Union. This credit union offers competitive rates on savings accounts and loans. 

Idaho Central Credit Union offers several free checking accounts and higher interest rates on its savings accounts than at many other local banks. These accounts also come without minimum balance requirements, though you’ll need at least $100 to open the account. 

This credit union charges a $5 membership fee as well. However, membership gives you access to free credit scores and monitoring, as well as 30,000 ATMs scattered throughout the nation. 

7. STCU

You can join this credit union if you belong to a qualified organization or association affiliated with STCU or live in north Idaho. However, you won’t find any physical branches south of Coeur D’Alene. 

The First5 Savings Account from STCU has a high APY, but the rate only applies to the first $500 you deposit. However, you won’t pay any monthly fees or have to meet minimum balance requirements. 

8. Washington Trust Bank

You can’t bank in Idaho without coming across Washington Trust Bank, the oldest community bank in the nation. It was also the first bank to print bills with the first president on them. 

Washington Trust Bank has physical branches in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Many of its accounts come with no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements, as well as no overdraft fees and low opening deposits. 

However, Washington Trust Bank doesn’t score well regarding APYs for its savings and checking accounts. You’ll also need at least $5,000 to qualify for the highest APY. 

Open a Simply Free Checking account, and you won’t pay overdraft fees. Simplicity Checking requires $50 to open but offers free paper and eStatements. 

9. Zions Bank

With over 150 years of history in Idaho, this regional bank offers everything from personal and auto loans to CDs, checking, and savings accounts. It also has one of the best banking apps for banks in Idaho. 

The broad Zions Bank network extends to Utah, Wyoming, and Idaho. Most checking accounts come with no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements, though you must have $50 to deposit when opening your account. 

Zions Bank does offer a decent APY for its savings accounts. You can also open a free Anytime Checking account, but you’ll pay $3 if you want paper statements. 

The Anytime Checking account is non-interest bearing and doesn’t require a minimum balance. It also connects you to Zelle and requires $50 to open. 

10. Bank of Idaho

We couldn’t compile a list of the best banks in Idaho and not include the Bank of Idaho itself.  This bank is smaller than most of the banks on our list, but that’s not to say it can’t help out Idahoans in a big way. 

This bank offers a handful of locations throughout the state. However, you can bank online or from your smartphone if you’re away from a branch. 

When you open a checking account with the Bank of Idaho, you can avoid monthly fees if you opt into eStatements. You’ll need $100 to open the account, but there’s no minimum daily balance. 

The Bank of Idaho also works with the larger MoneyPass ATM network to connect you to your account as you travel. You can also use several financial tools on the Bank of Idaho website. 

11. Cottonwood Community Federal Credit Union

You can find some of the best checking accounts at credit unions nationwide, Cottonwood Community Federal Credit Union included. This credit union was founded in 1942 and serves those who live, work, worship, or attend school in Idaho and Lewis Counties. 

Cottonwood Community FCU pays above-average rates for its savings accounts. Regular share accounts come with no monthly fees. 

To help serve Idaho residents, this credit union also participates in shared branching. This partnership allows you to complete transactions at other credit unions within the same network.