Compare the best banks and credit unions in New Jersey — up to 4.05% APY, verified fees, minimums, and membership rules from 39+ local institutions.
New Jersey's banking market packs an unusual density of institutions into a small geographic footprint — the state has more than 80 FDIC-insured banks and 130 credit unions, creating fierce deposit-pricing competition. Affinity FCU, the state's largest credit union, routinely publishes savings and CD rates that rival national online banks. State-chartered institutions are supervised by the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance, and all carry FDIC or NCUA insurance to $250,000.
State regulator: New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance. Every institution below is FDIC- or NCUA-insured to $250,000.
Best banks and credit unions in New Jersey 2026
Columbia Bank — Savings: 4.05% APY, $100 min, no monthly fee. New Jersey community bank with strong local presence and relationship deposit rates.
American Heritage Credit Union — CD: 3.81% APY, $1,000 min, no monthly fee. 12-month Certificate: APY paid on $1,000 minimum balance; $500 minimum certificates available at 0.10% lower APY; rate effective August 21, 2026 per the page. Read Sep 7, 2026 on americanheritagecu.org.
Citizens Bank (NJ) — Money Market: 3.75% APY, $25,000 min, no monthly fee. Citizens Bank (which acquired Investors Bank in 2022) offers Quest Money Market with competitive yields for higher balances across New Jersey.
Navy Federal Credit Union (NJ) — CD: 3.70% APY, $1,000 min, no monthly fee. 12-month Short-Term Certificate: $1K minimum APY column; 3.70% at $1K and $20K, 3.75% at $100K; penalties apply for early withdrawal. Read Sep 7, 2026 on navyfederal.org. Rates as of 2026-09-07 per the page.
Visions Federal Credit Union — CD: 3.50% APY, $500 min, no monthly fee. 12-month Share Certificate: 12 month to 17 month band; $500.00 minimum opening balance, fixed rate; rates effective September 2, 2026 to September 8, 2026 per the page; read on visionsfcu.org/rates/ira-rates. Read Sep 7, 2026 on visionsfcu.org. Rates as of 2026-09-01 per the page.
Affinity Federal Credit Union — CD: 3.25% APY, $500 min, no monthly fee. 12-month Certificate Account: Unless otherwise noted, certificates can be opened with a minimum deposit of $500; certificate rates accurate as of 8/27/2026 per the page. Read Sep 7, 2026 on affinityfcu.com. Rates as of 2026-09-07 per the page.
Manasquan Bank — CD: 3.25% APY, $500 min, no monthly fee. 12-month 1 Year Certificate of Deposit: $500 minimum deposit to open account and $500 minimum balance to earn APY; a 14 Month Special pays 3.75% and 18 Months pays 3.80%; early withdrawal penalty of 3 months' interest for terms under 12 months. Read Sep 7, 2026 on manasquanbank.com. Rates as of 2026-09-07 per the page.
ConnectOne Bank — CD: 3.20% APY, $500 min, no monthly fee. 11 Month CD: No 12-month term is printed; the 11 Month CD is the nearest. You must deposit at least $500 to open a Time Deposit. The page states 'The terms advertised above are Promotional Rates. Additional rates available by visiting your local banking office'. Read Sep 7, 2026 on connectonebank.com. Rates as of 2026-09-01 per the page.
Every bank with a branch in New Jersey
96 FDIC-insured banks run 2,207 full-service offices in New Jersey. 57 of them are community banks, and 34 operate nowhere else. This is the federal record: every figure below is the regulator's own.
TD Bank, National Association — 208 offices in New Jersey, of 1,046 nationwide, holding $58.1bn at 30 June 2025, leverage ratio 10.32%.
Deposits by office come from the FDIC Summary of Deposits, counted each 30 June; the leverage ratio is capital as a share of assets, from each bank's latest Call Report. Nothing here is blended into a score. Search by ZIP to see the offices nearest you.
Every bank we publish a page for in New Jersey
37 of them, largest first. Each page carries the bank's own Call Report figures and every office it runs.
Every office we publish a page for in New Jersey, by town. Each carries what that branch holds, when it opened and the other branches within five miles.
143 federally insured credit unions run 320 offices in New Jersey, between them serving 21,611,630 members. 49 carry the NCUA's low-income designation. Figures are from each credit union's own NCUA Call Report.
Navy Federal Credit Union — 2 offices in New Jersey, 15,350,733 members, $203.6bn in assets, net worth ratio 11.37%.
Pentagon — 1 office in New Jersey, 2,759,060 members, $29.4bn in assets, net worth ratio 10.47%.
Fourleaf — 1 office in New Jersey, 519,123 members, $14.4bn in assets, net worth ratio 9.07%.
Police & Fire — 3 offices in New Jersey, 438,038 members, $10.2bn in assets, net worth ratio 18.21%.
American Airlines — 1 office in New Jersey, 388,005 members, $9.45bn in assets, net worth ratio 11.49%.
American Heritage — 5 offices in New Jersey, 329,657 members, $5.32bn in assets, net worth ratio 8.46%.
Visions — 16 offices in New Jersey, 251,746 members, $5.25bn in assets, net worth ratio 10.37%.
Affinity — 17 offices in New Jersey, 245,563 members, $4.40bn in assets, net worth ratio 8.14%.
Altra — 1 office in New Jersey, 158,923 members, $3.09bn in assets, net worth ratio 12.44%.
Polish & Slavic — 7 offices in New Jersey, 127,100 members, $2.73bn in assets, net worth ratio 11.26%.
Andrews Federal Credit Union — 3 offices in New Jersey, 153,258 members, $2.58bn in assets, net worth ratio 10.88%.
Self Reliance Financial — 1 office in New Jersey, 31,580 members, $2.03bn in assets, net worth ratio 17.07%.
A credit union is measured differently from a bank and the numbers are not interchangeable: the net worth ratio here is the NCUA's capital measure under 12 CFR 702, where 7% is well capitalised, and shares are the credit union equivalent of deposits. Membership usually turns on where you live or work, so a local credit union is often open to you even when its name suggests otherwise.
What makes a New Jersey bank account worth opening
Look at four things in order: the APY (does it beat the FDIC national average of about 0.60%?), the monthly fee (anything above $0 should come with a clear waiver path), the minimum opening deposit, and the membership rule for credit unions. New Jersey residents typically qualify for at least one large state-chartered credit union on residency alone, and that credit union is often the highest-APY option available locally.
Is my money safe at a New Jersey bank or credit union?
Yes, if the institution is federally insured. FDIC covers banks up to $250,000 per depositor, per ownership category; NCUA covers credit unions at the same limits. Every institution in this directory carries one of those insurances — the FDIC or NCUA ID is listed on the full provider row.
New Jersey banking FAQ — credit unions, rates & insurance
Who can join Affinity Federal Credit Union in New Jersey?
Affinity FCU is open to anyone who lives, works, worships, or attends school in select New Jersey counties. Membership also extends through many employer groups and family connections. The application is online and typically requires a $5 savings deposit to open.
Does New Jersey tax savings-account interest?
Yes — and New Jersey has one of the highest state income tax rates in the country, with a top bracket of 10.75%. This significantly reduces net yield on deposit accounts. A 4.80% HYSA nets roughly 2.74% after combined federal and NJ state tax for a top-bracket earner, making tax-advantaged alternatives (munis, I-bonds) worth considering.
Why are New Jersey deposit rates competitive despite the state's small size?
New Jersey packs over 80 banks and 130 credit unions into a small geographic area, creating intense competition for retail deposits. Proximity to New York City also means NJ institutions compete against money-center banks for affluent commuter deposits, which pushes local CUs and community banks to offer above-market rates.
Are New Jersey state-chartered deposits federally insured?
Yes. All NJ state-chartered banks carry FDIC insurance and credit unions carry NCUA insurance, both up to $250,000 per depositor per ownership category. The New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance supervises state-chartered institutions.
Rates and fees change frequently. Confirm current figures directly with each institution before applying, and see our editorial methodology for how this directory is built and maintained.