Best mobile banking apps for September 2024: The best apps for accessing your bank accounts remotely

The best banking mobile applications should be more than a quick way to check your balances. Great apps should be portable, full-service online banking outlets that allow you the same access to banking functions as a desktop app and, in many cases, in-person banking. After reviewing many of the top applications (see our methodology here), here are the best mobile banking apps.

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The 10 best mobile apps of September 2024

*Last updated September 12, 2024

Our top picks for the best banking mobile apps

When ranking mobile banking apps, we considered the average Google Play Store and Apple App Store rating, the number of reviews on those services, the ability to open an account digitally, and other essential convenience and security features. Those features include biometric authentication, Apple Watch or Wear OS apps, the ability to dispute transactions in-app, chat support through the app, early direct deposit, and the number of ATM locations. 

All the listed information about these banks, including fees, features, and other data, is accurate as of September 12, 2024, and is subject to change.

1. Discover Mobile: Best for customers with both checking and credit card products

Discover Card’s mobile banking app tops our list not only because it provides all of the banking app functions you would need but also because its credit card functionality is among the industry leaders. It is well-rated, especially in the Apple App Store. As a credit card mobile app, it was once again near the top of the 2024 J.D. Power U.S. Credit Card Mobile App Satisfaction Survey, just narrowly edged by American Express and Bank of America.

Discover Mobile

Why we picked it

The Discover app has a wide range of features for both banking and credit card customers. On the banking side, you can view account balances and transaction history, transfer money, pay bills, deposit checks, find ATMs, view and send secure messages, and make personal loan payments. You can also send and receive funds via Zelle.

On the credit card side, one of the biggest perks is the ability to view your FICO credit score for free. You also can check your balance and available credit and make payments through the app. The app allows you to redeem rewards via statement credits, electronic deposit to your bank account, or gift cards starting as small as $5. 

Discover’s app lets you link your cards to Amazon and PayPal accounts to make online payments easier and earn additional rewards. You can also set up travel notifications, receive account alerts, and report lost or stolen cards. 

Customers can open accounts completely digitally and set up biometric authentication. It also has in-app chat support and transaction disputing. The Discover mobile app has the functionality to cover all your banking and credit card transaction and feature needs, which is why it is our top choice.

Learn more: Read our Discover review

2. Citi Mobile: Best for customers who want to open an account digitally

Citi Mobile is another outstanding app for banking and credit card customers. Both app versions are well-rated, although the Apple App Store version is higher rated. In 2024, J.D. Power rated Citi well in online banking, mobile banking app, credit card mobile app, and online credit card surveys. 

The bank touts an all-mobile account experience, allowing you to open a checking or savings account without entering a branch location. If you want to enter a branch, Citi has nearly 650 branches in 13 states. While this is far more than Discover, many choices below offer far more branch locations across the United States.

Citi Mobile

Why we picked it

Citi’s Mobile app has many of the standard features you would expect from any provider on this list. One standout feature that differs from the competition is the ability to view bank and credit card account summaries without signing into your account via Citi Mobile Snapshot. 

More standard features include setting up push notifications, quickly locking your debit or credit card through the app, and checking balances and transactions. You can make same-day or scheduled payments, find an ATM, and request a new card if yours is lost or stolen. Funds can be sent or received by connecting your account to Zelle.

Credit card customers can check their FICO score for free through the app. You can access spending insights, manage bill payments, set up account alerts, and change your credit card due date.

Finally, Citi includes other features we scored in our ranking methodology. These features include biometric authentication, specific Apple Watch or Wear OS app, in-app chat support, and transaction dispute, and early direct deposit. Citi Mobile offers an excellent app for both banking and credit card customers.

Learn more: Read our Citibank review

3. Capital One Mobile: Best for digital banking assistance

Thanks to full-service banking features and an outstanding digital assistant, Capital One has one of the best mobile banking and credit card apps on the market. It scored highly in the 2024 J.D. Power satisfaction survey, ranking #1 in all banking mobile apps.

Eno, the bank’s artificial intelligence (AI) digital assistant, is one area where Capital One shines. Eno will notify you via push notifications and emails if you have a suspicious banking or credit card transaction. This can protect you against fraudulent or duplicate transactions. While many users have raved about this feature, our reviewer had issues with Eno when asking it about customer service hours.

Capital One Mobile

Why we picked it

The Capital One mobile app’s top feature is the digital assistant Eno. It notifies you of any potentially fraudulent or duplicate transactions. The app also has standard features, including the ability to lock cards, view recent activity, get current balances, and redeem rewards.

You can also sign up for CreditWise through the app to monitor your credit score. If you have Capital One loans or credit cards, you can check balances and make payments in the app. You can also access virtual cards, allowing you to pay for transactions online without exposing your account number.

The app also includes biometric authentication, transaction alerts, mobile check deposits, fully digital account opening, early direct deposit, in-app chat support, and transaction disputes, as well as Zelle compatibility. Capital One also includes an Apple Watch or Wear OS-specific app, and with iOS, you can set up a widget on your iPhone or iPad to check your balances without signing into your account.

Learn more: Read our Capital One review

4. Chase Mobile: Best for in-app wealth management

While the standard features of the Chase Mobile app compare well with the other banks on this list, one area where Chase has an edge is the ability to connect a J.P. Morgan Wealth Management account. You can manage the account and transfer funds from your Chase checking directly from the Chase Mobile app. Chase offers $0 commission online trades to allow you to build your portfolio.

Chase also scored well in all categories in the J.D. Power satisfaction survey, thanks to outstanding banking and credit card products and a highly rated mobile app.

Chase Mobile

Why we picked it

The ability to move money into your J.P. Morgan Wealth Management account via the app and manage that account in-app is an outstanding feature. You can move cash to and from your wealth management account, roll over assets, and transfer investments all through the app.

Fraud monitoring will contact you 24/7 via text, email, or phone if it notices any suspicious transactions on your account. The bank offers other perks, including Chase Pay Over Time, which allows you to split Credit Card purchases into monthly payments. The bank also has an offer page with discounts at various businesses. You can also monitor and redeem your rewards through the app.

Chase also offers planning and tracking tools, including Credit Journey, a spending and budgeting tool, and an autosave product. These allow you to monitor your credit score, manage your budget, and build your financial reserves. Finally, the app has all the standard features, including biometrics, digital account opening, in-app chat, and transaction dispute, and early direct deposit.

Learn more: Read our Chase Bank review

5. Citizens Bank Mobile Banking: Best for Android banking customers

Citizens Bank Mobile Banking app is one of the few on this list with a higher user rating in the Google Play Store than the Apple App Store. It is highly rated in both, but this is a significant perk for Android users who may be used to a less-than-ideal online experience compared to Apple users.

Otherwise, Citizens Bank is a relatively standard mobile app. While it may lack any outstanding perks like some of the banks listed previously, it contains all the banking features you would expect your mobile app to have. Its nature as a solid mobile app earned it a tie for the second spot in regional bank mobile apps as ranked by J.D. Power, behind only M&T Bank.

Citizens Bank Mobile Banking

Why we picked it

Citizens Bank has provided a mobile app with all the expected standard features. You can open an account through the app, manage accounts and check balances, and freeze and unfreeze debit cards. Mobile check deposit is available, with checks deposited before 10 p.m. ET credited the same day. You can also transfer funds and pay bills directly through the app.

The app also has biometric authentication, in-app chat and transaction dispute capabilities, and early direct deposit. Like all but one bank on this list, funds can be sent and received peer-to-peer via Zelle.

Citizens Bank has fewer in-network ATMs than other providers on this list, and branch locations are limited to 14 states. Nevertheless, the app is very good, and it is one of the few where Android customers won’t feel like they might be missing out on the experience offered to Apple customers.

Learn more: Read our Citizens Bank review

6. Varo Bank Mobile Banking: Best for money management

Online-only banks and financial technology (fintech) companies must have outstanding mobile and online banking. Varo Bank has accomplished this with outstanding mobile apps on the Google Play and Apple App Store.

The app connects Varo checking, savings, and credit card accounts. It even lets you track your credit score for free. In addition to the excellent app, Varo Bank is a great option thanks to its fee-free checking and savings, excellent savings annual percentage yield (APY), and lending products, including a credit-building credit card, cash advance, and line of credit.

Varo Bank Mobile Banking

Why we picked it

The app offers real-time transaction alerts. You can also transfer funds, view balances and transactions, and pay bills with the app. In-app customer support chat is also available. Varo Bank’s free credit score tracker lets you see your score for free in-app. 

Overall, Varo provides many of the same features other providers on this list offer, including Zelle functionality. It offers biometric authentication, fully digital account opening, in-app transaction disputes, and early direct deposit. However, it does not provide a specific Apple Watch or Wear OS app, making it one of the few top apps that doesn’t include that option. Otherwise, it’s a solid mobile app for a good online banking provider.

Learn more: Read our Varo Bank review

7. Chime Mobile Banking: Best for simple banking and mobile app

Customers who reviewed the Chime mobile banking app rave about the simplicity of both the app and the fintech’s banking product offerings. As an online fintech, Chime doesn’t offer all the account options that the traditional banks on this list provide. However, its users seem to be pleased with its highly-rated mobile app.

Despite the limitations of the banking product, the mobile app has the same features as traditional banks. If you prefer the simplicity of banking with Chime, the app will handle all your mobile banking needs.

Chime Mobile Banking

Why we picked it

Chime has a straightforward interface that many users prefer compared to the more complicated apps offered by larger banks. It includes transaction and daily balance alerts, 2FA, and card blocking. For $2, you can access cash advances, up to $500 of your pay, with no credit check or interest. You can use mobile check deposit, but you must set up an eligible direct deposit to access that feature.

Otherwise, you can transfer funds, including Zelle peer-to-peer (P2P) transfers. You can also pay bills and view balances and transactions through the app. While it includes many of the same available features as other options on this list, it does not have a separate Apple Watch or Wear OS app. It does allow for early direct deposit, in-app debit card transaction disputes, and fully digital account opening.

Learn more: Read our Chime Bank review

8. U.S. Bank Mobile Banking: Best for financial planning and budgeting

While many of the apps on this list offer some level of financial planning, budgeting, and credit tracking, U.S. Bank’s clean and simple interface makes it an excellent choice. It also offers great credit card account access for a bank with one of the top-ranked credit card satisfaction ratings in the 2024 J.D. Power survey.

U.S. Bank’s app offers most of the same perks as the other traditional banking providers on this list. It is well-rated in both the Google Play and Apple App Stores. In Q1 2024, the Keynova Group named U.S. Bank the top overall mobile bank and mobile banking app provider.

U.S. Bank Mobile Banking

Why we picked it

When comparing apps provided by large traditional banks, it can be hard to find stark differences between them. Some of the differences come down to user interfaces (UIs), and this is one area where U.S. Bank excels, especially in its budgeting and credit tracking sections. 

Besides not providing early direct deposit, the bank’s app offers standard features. You can deposit checks, set up bill pay, transfer money, pay using a digital wallet, and lock and unlock your card. You can check balances, payments, and transactions in the app. Once you connect your account to Zelle, you can send and receive funds peer-to-peer.

U.S. Bank also offers an in-app virtual assistant that can be used with typing or voice commands. It includes biometric authentication, in-app chat, debit card transaction disputes, and fully digital account openings.

Learn more: Read our U.S. Bank review

9. Axos All-In-One Mobile Banking: Best for customers who prefer Apple products

If you are looking for a bank that offers a great banking app for your Apple device, the Axos All-in-One Mobile Banking app is a great choice. However, if you have Android products or regularly need to send money via Zelle, Axos may not be for you.

The Google Play Store rating is significantly lower than the Apple App Store rating and any other Android app rating on this list. Users complain of frequent crashes in the Android version. Also, Axos does not have a partnership with Zelle, so you will have to send money with the Axos built-in application.

Axos All-In-One Mobile Banking

Why we picked it

While the issues with the Android app and lack of Zelle support may deter some customers, Axos’ app does have some great features. It includes access to both checking and lending products. You can check balances, transfer funds, set up direct deposits, and pay bills in the app. Wire transfers can also be initiated from the mobile app.

In addition, you can apply for a loan, track loan details, and pay loans directly in the app. Additional features include hands-off investing, credit score monitoring, and personal finance management. The app includes biometric login, early direct deposit, in-app chat, transaction disputing, and fully digital account opening.

Learn more: Read our Axos Bank review

10. Fifth Third 53 Mobile Banking: Best for ease of navigation

Fifth Third Bank has one of the top mobile banking applications for regional banks in the U.S. J.D. Power ranked it tied for second in its recent satisfaction survey of regional banks, tied with Citizens Bank and just behind M&T Bank.

Many positive reviews on this app rave about the ease of navigation throughout the app. Many features can be accessed directly from the homepage with one tap. It’s a solid app with most of the features offered by competitors on this list.

Fifth Third 53 Mobile Banking

Why we picked it

The only feature scored in our rubric that Fifth Third doesn’t offer in its app is in-app transaction disputing. Otherwise, it has most of the same banking and finance features. You can view account balances and transactions through the app. Mobile check deposit is available, as is the ability to send funds via Zelle. You can view up to 24 months of statements in the app and set up account alerts to help avoid fraud.

The Fifth Third app includes biometric authentication, a specific Apple Watch or Wear OS app, in-app chat support, and early direct deposit. Unlike Axos, you can send and receive funds via Zelle. Among regional banks, Fifth Third offers one of the best mobile banking apps on the market.

Learn more: Read our Fifth Third Bank review

What is a mobile banking app?

A mobile banking application is cellphone-accessible or tablet-accessible software that allows you virtual access to your bank account. The application should allow you to perform basic banking functions while away from your computer or outside of a branch location.

What Can You Do Through a Banking App?

Whether you have an account at a large nationwide bank, a small community bank, or an online fintech, that financial institution should provide a banking app. While apps for larger banks may have more features, there is a basic set of banking features you should expect to find on any app. 

Standard mobile banking app features should include:

• Ability to check your available balances for your accounts
• Ability to see all accounts with your bank, including deposit, credit card, and loan accounts
• Past e-statements for your accounts, up to at least 12 months in the past
• Transaction history dating back several months
• Ability to transfer funds between your accounts
• Ability to send and receive funds from outside accounts
• Bill pay functionality to schedule one-time and recurring payments
• Ability to contact customer service through the app, preferably by chat but at least by email or forum contact message
• Link for closest branch location or ATM

What to look for in a mobile banking app

Because most mobile apps for major banking providers have similar features, you should consider the banking provider first, then investigate their mobile app to make sure it has all the features you need. 

When you look into a new financial institution and its mobile app, consider the following:

• Make sure the financial institution is trustworthy: The bank should be reputable, which should be easy to investigate online. It should be backed by federal deposit insurance: the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) for banks and the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) for credit unions.
• Make sure it’s easy to use: It doesn’t matter how many features an app has if it is impossible to use, so check online reviews before signing up for an account.
• Make sure it has all the features you’re looking for: Both the Google Play and Apple App Stores usually list the features available in the app, and the bank will likely have a page dedicated to the app on its website.
• Make sure it has security features: If the app doesn’t offer at least 2FA, you should consider another bank. Most good apps should provide multifactor authentication (MFA) and biometric login.
• Make sure the bank hasn’t had app security issues: Before you entrust your information with them, do a quick search to ensure the bank hasn’t had any recent data breaches.

Other financial apps to check out

A mobile banking app is a great financial tool to help manage your finances with your banking provider, but having a few apps you use regularly, such as for budgeting and investing, could help your financial picture even more.  

Here are a few other types of financial apps that can help keep your finances in order:

• Budgeting apps: Keep your finances in order with some of our favorite budgeting apps, including Rocket Money for budget creation, Honeydue for couples’ budgeting, and Empower for wealth management.
• Cash advance apps: While you should limit their use, cash advance apps can help in a pinch. Some of the top apps include Current, EarnIn, and Varo.
• Investing apps: If you are looking to begin your future financial planning, investing apps like Interactive Brokers, Acorns, and Betterment can help you get started. 

Frequently asked questions

What is mobile banking?

Mobile banking is an online service that allows customers to access their account information through a phone or tablet application. Customers can use mobile banking to check balances, transfer funds, pay bills, and monitor transactions. Some mobile apps include budgeting software, investment planning, and credit card and loan tracking.

Are banking apps safe?

Most major banking apps are very safe as they require MFA or biometric authentication. This process either requires an additional code besides the customer’s password to log in, or it requires the customer to use a fingerprint or face scan to verify their identity. While banking apps can be susceptible to data breaches, this is true of any online account. The app is generally safe if the customer doesn’t leak their passwords or fails to turn on additional authentication.

Which bank is best for online banking?

In the recently completed J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Online Banking Satisfaction Study, TD Bank was listed as the best bank for online banking. Capital One, Wells Fargo, and Citi also scored higher than the study average. In our article on the best online banks, Axos Bank was our top choice, followed by Quontic Bank and Bank5 Connect.

Our methodology 

The Fortune Recommends team compared the mobile apps of over 20 top banks to find the best providers. Our top picks are available to customers across the U.S. no matter where you’re located.

We ranked each bank’s mobile app in the following categories and weighted each one as outlined in the percentages below:

• Average rating between the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store (20%): We combined the star ratings from both app stores, as user experience is a huge factor when determining the best mobile app for banking.
• Number of reviews (5%): The more users who have had a good (or bad) experience with an app, the more that influenced our final rankings.
• Fully digital account opening (15%): You shouldn’t have to go into a physical bank location to open a new account. 
• ATM locations (15%): When you need cold hard cash, an app won’t cut it. Banks with larger ATM networks scored higher.
• Biometric authentication (10%): Your safety should be paramount when banking on your phone. Apps with biometric authentication scored higher.
• Apple Watch and Wear OS apps (10%): Many banks now offer specialized, simple apps for wearable tech—these were ranked higher on our list.
• In-app chat support (10%): Finding help within a banking app should be easy when you have an issue. 
• Early direct deposit (5%): Banks offering early access to users’ paychecks ranked slightly higher on our list.

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