15 Best Banks in Illinois for Your Banking Needs

1. Chase

Chase runs 264 branches in Illinois, 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 Illinoisans 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.

Past the bonus, the footprint is the argument. 264 Illinois branches plus 5,000+ branches and 14,000+ ATMs nationwide means you can deposit cash near home and still use the account anywhere you travel. Zelle is built in, the mobile app is well rated, and you can 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 Illinois branch network, claim the $400 with Chase here.

2. Current

A Chicago rent payment and a winter heating bill often arrive in the same week. 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. Archer Heights Credit Union

If you’re looking for some of the best checking accounts with no minimum balance requirements or monthly services fees, Archer Heights Credit Union has several that only require a $25 initial deposit. Plus, this credit union uses your credit report to decide your eligibility rather than your ChexSystems report. 

Checking accounts come with unlimited check writing. You can also link your savings account for overdraft protection. 

Archer Heights Credit Union is based in Chicago. Membership eligibility depends on if you live or work in the following zip codes: 

• 60632
• 60638
• 60629
• 60652
• 60501

You can also join if you’re employed by the Archer Heights SEG Group or have a family member who is already a member. 

4. Catholic and Community Credit Union

Those looking for a second-chance bank account can find a low-cost option with Catholic and Community Credit Union. This credit union has a Rebound Checking account that costs $7.50 monthly to maintain. 

Once you prove you can hold a positive balance over a year, Catholic and Community Credit Union lets you upgrade to a standard checking account. That’s less than a $100 investment to rebuild your banking history over a relatively short period. 

Catholic and Community Credit Union also participates in the Co-Op Shared Branch network. You can access your account at any participating credit union nationwide without excessive fees.

5. Central Federal Savings and Loan Association

You can open a free checking account with Central Federal Savings and Loan Association. This bank offers a Totally Free checking account that only requires $50 to open. 

You can also open a Basic Checking with Interest account with a $200 minimum opening deposit. You must deposit at least $2,500 into the Super Checking with Interest account and $5,000 into the Preferred Checking with Interest account. 

You can access a vast network of convenient ATMs with any of these accounts. You also get a free debit card and unlimited checks with no minimum balance requirements or monthly fees. 

6. Chester National Bank

Chester National Bank uses the Telecheck system to qualify its account applicants. This means you can potentially open a standard checking account, even if you have a negative ChexSystems history. 

If you’ve never had a negative entry against you in any banking history system, you can still open up to four different checking accounts with Chester National Bank. The Regular checking account only requires $50 to open. 

You must have a minimum balance of $500 to waive the $5 monthly fee for these accounts. You can also waive the fee if you have a savings account with at least $1,000. 

Chester National Bank operates in Sparta, Perryville, and Chester, Illinois. 

7. First National Bank and Trust Company

You’ll find First National Bank and Trust Company physical branches in the following Illinois cities: 

• Clinton
• Forest Park 
• Winnebago
• Rockton
• Roscoe

First National Bank and Trust Company also offers a second-chance checking account called Renew Checking. This account requires $25 when you open the account and a one-time setup fee of $15. 

You can upgrade to a standard checking account one year after you open your second-chance checking account as long as you keep a positive balance. These accounts come with a free Visa debit card you can use. 

8. GN Bank

Otherwise known as Illinois Service Federal, GN Bank offers four checking accounts. The following two checking accounts are the most popular: 

• Absolutely Free Checking: This account requires $100 to open and comes with a free debit card. You can also access your account via the mobile app or online. 
• Retail Checking: Open this account with a similar $100 deposit, and you can pay your bills online and download free statements. Keep that initial $100 in the account to waive the $15 monthly fee. 

GN Bank has two locations in Chicago, Illinois. It also partners with a network of 30,000 ATMs nationwide. 

9. Great Lakes Credit Union

If you have a negative ChexSystems entry, you can take the Great Lakes Credit Union Checking Account Management course to earn the right to open an account with this credit union. The online course sets you up for a positive banking experience. 

The Fresh Start Checking account requires a $50 initial deposit to help you repair your checking history. The $10 monthly fee cannot be waived, and you must have a monthly direct deposit of at least $250 to keep the account. 

Great Lakes Credit Union operates several locations in the following cities: 

• Crystal lake
• Chicago
• Bolingbrook
• Gurnee
• Zion
• Waukegan 

10. Hanmi Bank

You can find Hanmi Bank in Virginia, New York, Texas, New Jersey, California, and Illinois. Local physical branches can be found in Glenview, Chicago, and Naperville. 

Hanmi Bank offers several accounts, including CDs, savings, and money market accounts. This bank is a member-FDIC and compounds interest daily on its savings accounts. 

The Simple Savings account offers a competitive interest rate, but the Savings Account has a higher rate. You need $100 to open a Simple Savings account and $500 in your Savings Account to waive the $5 monthly fee. 

11. Marquette Bank

For $20 and a $5 monthly fee, you can repair your banking history with a Marquette Bank ReStart Checking account. This account has no minimum balance requirements and comes with a free debit card. 

You can transfer your balance to a standard Marquette Bank checking account after a year has passed and you’ve kept a positive balance. You can also enjoy free money orders for the first year. 

Marquette Bank operates 11 locations within Illinois. Marquette Bank can help you get back on your feet if you're looking for a second-chance bank account.  

12. PeopleFirst Bank

PeopleFirst Bank is a member-FDIC financial institution offering a full banking service suite. You can open three savings accounts and even a high-yield checking account. 

The Target Savings Account has no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements. You’ll need $100 to open the account, which is the exact amount you need to open the Statement Savings account. 

However, you must have at least $500 in your Statement Savings account to waive the monthly fee. If you have $2,500, you can deposit into a savings account, you can open the Max Rate account, which requires a $10,000 daily balance to waive its monthly fees. 

You can also open a Minor Savings account for your child with $100. This savings account offers variable interest rates. 

PeopleFirst Bank has several locations in Joliet and Shorewood. It also offers a money market account to help you build your savings. 

13. Regions Bank

Regions Bank vies for a spot among the largest banks in the U.S., but it continues to serve many communities nationwide. It’s available in 16 states and offers everything from checking and savings accounts to investment and loan services.

Savings accounts from Regions Bank have no monthly fees. In some circumstances, the $5 monthly fee for Regions Bank checking accounts can be waived. 

For example, you can waive the monthly fee if you open a LifeGreen or Preferred Checking account, you can waive the monthly fee. However, you cannot waive it for the Regions Now Checking account. 

If you open a Regions Bank savings account online, you must deposit a higher opening balance than if you were to open one in person. However, the savings accounts are free at Regions Bank. 

This full-service bank operates over 2,000 ATMs and 1,500 branches nationwide. Check it out if you’re looking for a bank account that offers the perks of a larger bank but the service of a local bank.

14. Vantage Credit Union

This Illinois credit union offers two checking accounts: the Vantage Basic Checking and Vantage Save.Think.Live. Checking. Both accounts have no monthly maintenance fees or minimum account balance requirements. 

You can open either of these accounts as long as you have a positive Telecheck history and a credit score of at least 499. If you open a Vantage Save.Think.Live. account, you can request a refund every six months on any overdraft fees ($35) you incur. 

15. Bank & Trust Company

This Illinois-based bank offers several checking and savings accounts from which you can choose from. The three checking accounts include: 

• DiamondBasic: A $100 deposit is all you need for a free debit card and mobile and online banking. This account has no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements. 
• DiamondNow: Earn interest on this checking account, which otherwise mirrors the DiamondBasic account.
• DiamondPlus: This checking account comes with insurance and roadside assistance. 

Bank & Trust Company also offers two savings accounts. One caters to kids specifically, while the other is your standard savings account. 

Both savings accounts require $100 to open. You’ll earn interest on your account balance if you have $100 or more, so earning a decent APY with these savings accounts is easy. 

Bank & Trust Company also offers credit cards and loans. While it may not provide the same services as larger banks, it covers the basics reasonably well.