Bank of the West Classic Savings Account Review

Bank of the West Classic Savings Account is offered by Bank of the West, a bank founded in 1874 and based in San Francisco, CA. Bank of the West Classic Savings Account is available in 19 states across the USA.

• Low APY. The maximum annual percentage yield for this account is only 0.01%.
• $0 monthly Service Charge available. This account charges a monthly service fee of up to $5, but the fee is waived if you keep a minimum balance of $300 or have a monthly direct deposit of $25.
• No ATM fees. Bank of the West Classic Savings Account does not charge fees on ATM transactions.
• Bill pay. Pay your bills to practically anyone in the United States through Bank of the West.

Pros	Cons
Interest-yielding account. Access to physical branches. No charge on incoming domestic or international wire transfers.	No signup bonus. Does not provide access to a nationwide ATM network. Does not come with a debit card Only available in 19 states. Higher than average wire transfer fees. Monthly service charge (if minimums are not met).

Are savings accounts from Bank of the West federally insured?

Yes, your Bank of the West savings accounts are insured up to $250,000 per person by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). The FDIC is an independent agency of the United States government that protects you against the loss of your insured deposits if an FDIC-insured bank or savings association fails. FDIC insurance is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government.

Does Bank of the West offer a signup bonus?

Bank of the West savings account doesn't offer a signup bonus.

What is the minimum initial deposit for Bank of the West savings account?

The minimum deposit to open a Bank of the West savings account is $25.

Bank of the West Classic Savings Account Minimums

Description
APY Minimum Balance	$0.01
Minimum Balance to Avoid Monthly Fee	Starting at $300
Minimum Direct Deposit to Avoid Monthly Fee	$25
Minimum Opening Deposit	Starting at $25

What APY does Bank of the West offer?

Bank of the West savings account offers an APY of 0.01% (APY stands for annual percentage yield, rates may change).

The interest rate on a savings account or checking account can change based, in part, on what the Federal Reserve does. Note that the APY of a savings account is the amount of interest you will earn if you keep your money in the account for a full year expressed as a percentage. The difference between an APY and an interest rate is that the APY takes into account how often your money earns interest (or compounds). The more often your money compounds, the more it will earn. Savings accounts with an interest rate that compounds daily, for example, will earn a higher return (and therefore a higher APY) than savings accounts that compound annually.

What fees does Bank of the West savings account charge?

Bank of the West savings account does not charge a monthly service fee. See the fee breakdown section below to view all fees.

However, you can waive the monthly fees if you have a minimum daily balance of $300. Avoid the monthly fees by setting up a direct deposit of at least $25.

• Outgoing domestic bank transfers come with a $35 fee.
• Outgoing international bank transfers come with a $50 fee. You can save a ton of money in fees if you use use a nonbank money transfer service.
• Bank of the West savings account charges $3 every time you request a paper statement.

What features and perks does Bank of the West savings account offer?

This savings account includes the following features:

• Check images with monthly statement - Reconciling your accounts and complying with document retention standards is easier when you have access to a copy of your checks for each statement period.
• Fraud monitoring - Bank of the West savings account monitors transactions for potentially fraudulent activity, such as when a debit card is unexpectedly used in a different location, or you make a sudden string of costly purchases.
• Free Online Bill Pay - Online Bill Pay allows you to pay bills easily from your account.
• Mobile Banking Services - Bank of the West savings account allows you to manage your money online or with a mobile app. This includes depositing checks in your account with a mobile app on your smartphone.

Can you set up a direct deposit to Bank of the West savings account?

In most cases, the answer is yes. However, it depends on the direct deposit program your employer uses. Most direct deposit programs allow you to send your paycheck to a savings or checking account. In some cases, you can even split your paycheck between the two.