Subscribe

Best Banks & Credit Unions in Washington

Compare the best banks and credit unions in Washington — up to 3.50% APY, verified fees, minimums, and membership rules from 49+ local institutions.

Washington state banking is dominated by credit unions — BECU (formerly Boeing Employees' CU) is the state's largest financial institution by membership and routinely publishes top-tier deposit rates. STCU anchors the Spokane market, and Columbia CU serves the Vancouver-Portland corridor. Banner Bank and Washington Federal carry the community-bank share. State-chartered institutions answer to the Washington Department of Financial Institutions, and all carry FDIC or NCUA insurance to $250,000.

State regulator: Washington Department of Financial Institutions. Every institution below is FDIC- or NCUA-insured to $250,000.

Best banks and credit unions in Washington 2026

Every bank with a branch in Washington

60 FDIC-insured banks run 1,303 full-service offices in Washington. 35 of them are community banks, and 22 operate nowhere else. This is the federal record: every figure below is the regulator's own.

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 Washington

32 of them, largest first. Each page carries the bank's own Call Report figures and every office it runs.

Branches by town in Washington

Where a bank runs more than one office in a town, every one of them is listed on a page of its own.

Branch pages in Washington

Every office we publish a page for in Washington, by town. Each carries what that branch holds, when it opened and the other branches within five miles.

Seattle

Spokane

Bellingham

Yakima

Auburn

Kennewick

Lacey

Olympia

Vancouver

Bellevue

Edmonds

Gig Harbor

Lynnwood

Mill Creek

Puyallup

Redmond

Shoreline

Tacoma

Tumwater

Every credit union with an office in Washington

103 federally insured credit unions run 668 offices in Washington, between them serving 25,812,952 members. 61 carry the NCUA's low-income designation. Figures are from each credit union's own NCUA Call Report.

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 Washington 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. Washington 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 Washington 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.

Best banks in Washington cities

Washington banking FAQ — credit unions, rates & insurance

Who can join BECU in Washington state?

BECU is open to anyone who lives or works in Washington state — no Boeing employment or specific employer group is required. The geographic eligibility covers the entire state, making BECU accessible to virtually all Washington residents. Membership requires a $5 savings deposit.

Does Washington state tax savings-account interest?

No — Washington has no state personal income tax on earned or investment income. Deposit interest is taxed only at the federal level, which makes high-yield savings accounts especially attractive for Washington residents. A 4.75% APY nets roughly 2.99% after federal tax for a top-bracket earner — significantly better than neighboring Oregon (top rate 9.9%).

Why are Washington credit unions so dominant compared to banks?

Washington's credit-union market benefits from BECU's massive membership base (over 1.3 million members) and the state's tech-industry culture, which values digital-first banking. BECU, STCU, and Numerica all invest heavily in mobile and online tools, which has helped them capture deposit share from traditional branch-based banks.

Are Washington state-chartered deposits federally insured?

Yes. All Washington state-chartered banks carry FDIC insurance and credit unions carry NCUA insurance, both up to $250,000 per depositor per ownership category. The Washington Department of Financial Institutions supervises state-chartered institutions.

Related guides for Washington savers

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.