Neobanks are digital-focused banking providers that typically offer many of the same financial services you could find at a traditional brick-and-mortar bank. Due to their online nature, they may be able to provide more generous terms on banking products.
Whether a neobank is right for you will depend largely on your financial goals and the benefits you're looking for in a financial institution. Let's take a closer look at neobanks, their pros and cons and whether a neobank is a good option for you.
What Is a Neobank?
A neobank is an online-only provider of checking accounts, savings accounts and loans through a website or mobile app. As such, they don't operate branches or in-person banking services. With generally lower overhead than traditional banks, neobanks provide an alternative banking solution that often features low or no fees and higher interest rates on deposits.
Keep in mind, however, most neobanks are not banks in the traditional sense because they're not licensed or chartered. Rather, they are fintech (financial technology) companies that partner with banks to issue loans, receive deposits and provide other financial services.
While offerings vary from one neobank to another, some of the most common products and services they offer include:
- High-yield savings accounts
- Checking accounts
- Early access direct deposits
- Debit cards
- Cash back and credit builder credit cards
- Loans
- Digital tools for money management or debt reduction
While the number of neobank account holders is relatively small compared with traditional banks, this style of banking appears to be gaining popularity. According to Insider Intelligence, there are 17.3 million neobank account holders in the U.S., representing 6.5% of the population. However, that number is expected to rise to 40 million account holders by the end of 2025.
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Pros of Neobanks
Neobanks aim to compete with traditional banks by excelling where the latter often falls short, such as by eliminating excessive fees. Neobanks offer numerous benefits:
Potentially Earn and Save More
As online-only banks, neobanks don't incur the heavy costs of operating physical branch offices. Consequently, they can pass that savings along to customers in the form of valuable financial rewards, including higher annual percentage yields (APYs) on deposit accounts and lower interest rates on loans. Additionally, many neobanks don't charge monthly account fees or foreign transaction fees.
Convenient Account Management
You can do most—if not all—of your banking online or through a smartphone app with a few clicks, taps or swipes. Neobanks make it easy to deposit checks, make payments, apply for a loan and perform many other financial tasks.
Enhanced Customer Service
With a traditional bank or credit union, getting help from a live person can sometimes be challenging, particularly after hours. However, many neobanks offer 24/7 customer support by phone or chat. Neobanks may also beat traditional banks when it comes to adding new apps, budgeting tools or other technology you can use to help improve your financial health.
Global Banking Benefits
If you frequently travel internationally, you may benefit from a multicurrency account offered by many neobanks. With one account and a linked debit card, you can deposit dollars and convert them to another currency in seconds to pay for goods and services around the world. Conversion fees may be lower with neobanks, and many don't charge foreign transaction fees, helping you save money on purchases outside of the United States.
Deposits Could Be FDIC-Insured
While neobanks are not themselves licensed or chartered as banks, the deposits they manage could still be covered by Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC). Before you open an account, ensure the neobank offers deposit insurance through their partner bank. You can verify whether a neobank offers federal insurance by checking its website or reviewing the account's terms and conditions. You can also use the FDIC's BankFind tool to verify if the partner bank is an FDIC member.
Cons of Neobanks
While there are some excellent reasons to open an account with a neobank, there are also some downsides worth considering, such as:
No Physical Branches
It's relatively easy to manage your account online, but you may want the option to visit a branch and get help in person. Having the ability to ask questions in person can be helpful when dealing with more complex transactions. Live phone or chat help is sufficient for most banking needs, but in-person assistance may save time and effort in some situations.
Limited Access to Cash
Unlike traditional banks that maintain their own ATMs, neobanks typically offer access to partner ATM networks operated by other banks or companies. However, with both traditional banks and neobanks, you could incur a fee if you withdraw cash from an out-of-network ATM, although many neobanks cover this fee.
Potentially Limited Range of Financial Products
Neobanks often dive deep into a few specific benefits instead of spreading wide with a broad array of products and services. As a result, you may not have mortgages, auto loans and other products commonly found at traditional banks. Similarly, many neobanks don't provide common banking products and services like notary services, investments or insurance policies.
Is a Neobank Right for You?
Neobanks are growing in popularity, having amassed millions of account holders in the past few years alone. Neobanks are challenging traditional banks by lowering or eliminating fees and generally providing lower interest rates and higher deposit APYs.
Despite their benefits, neobanks may not be ideal for you, especially if you prefer in-person banking at your local bank or credit union. Along the same lines, opening a neobank account might not be the best option if you view using technology as more of a nuisance than a convenience.
For the best of both worlds, consider using multiple bank accounts, such as a neobank for more favorable yields and interest rates and a traditional brick-and-mortar bank for making cash deposits and banking in-person service.
The Bottom Line
Neobanks could be a great option for many banking customers who would like to get more from their bank. While it might mean losing access to in-person services, other benefits could more than make up for it.
Just as managing your money is critical, so, too, is managing your credit. It's a good idea to get your Experian credit report and credit score for free at least once annually. Additionally, free credit monitoring can send you alerts to potential identity theft issues and help you track your credit score over time.