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NBKC Bank Review: An Affordable Choice for All-in-One Banking

Review Updated
Kailey Hagen
By: Kailey Hagen

Our Banking Expert

Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures our experts’ opinions aren’t influenced by compensation. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page. APY = Annual Percentage Yield. APYs are subject to change at any time without notice.

NBKC Bank strives to put customers first with its emphasis on few fees and great customer support. It doesn't have as many checking and savings account options as some of its competitors, but the ones it offers are pretty competitive and come with rare perks, like out-of-network ATM fee reimbursement. Read our full NBKC Bank review to learn more about everything it has to offer.

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NBKC Bank

Rating image, 3.50 out of 5 stars.
3.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Bottom Line

NBKC Bank offers competitive accounts backed by great customer service. While its APYs aren't the highest in the industry, they're well above the national average. And the lack of minimum balance requirements on most accounts means they're open to just about everyone.

Pros
  • No monthly maintenance fees
  • Several types of CDs
  • Good customer service
Cons
  • APYs not as high as some online banks

NBKC Bank savings account review

NBKC Bank has a single savings account, which is part of the hybrid checking-savings account known as the NBKC Everything Account.

NBKC Everything Account review

The NBKC Everything Account consists of a linked checking and savings account you open together. The savings portion enables you to set up and track your progress toward savings goals, and it has no monthly fees. Its annual percentage yield (APY) isn't as high as what you'll find with some of the best online banks, but it's still higher than what you see with most brick-and-mortar institutions. Plus, there's no minimum balance requirements to earn interest.

Compare savings accounts

If you don't think the NBKC Everything Account is a good fit for you, there are plenty of other high-yield savings accounts out there. Here are a few more that are worth considering.

Compare savings rates

Make sure you're getting the best account for you by comparing savings rates and promotions. Here are some of our favorite high-yield savings accounts to consider.

Account APY Promotion Next Steps
up to 4.60%
Rate info Circle with letter I in it. You can earn the maximum APY by having Direct Deposit (no minimum amount required) or by making $5,000 or more in Qualifying Deposits every 30 days. See SoFi Checking and Savings rate sheet at: https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
Min. to earn: $0
New customers can earn up to a $300 bonus with qualifying direct deposits!
5.00% APY for balances of $5,000 or more
Rate info Circle with letter I in it. 5.00% APY for balances of $5,000 or more; otherwise, 0.25% APY
Min. to earn: $100 to open account, $5,000 for max APY
N/A
5.25%
Rate info Circle with letter I in it. To ensure you keep getting the highest rate at UFB, you'll need to keep an eye on their rates. Occasionally, the bank launches new accounts with higher rates. Existing accounts need to contact the bank to request being moved to one of these new accounts.
Min. to earn: $0
N/A

NBKC Bank CD accounts

NBKC Bank has three types of certificates of deposit (CDs).

NBKC Bank Personal CDs

NBKC Bank's Personal CDs are what most of us think of when we think of CDs. You deposit money into the account and leave it alone to earn interest. If you have to withdraw your funds early, you pay a penalty.

Available terms range from three months to five years and the minimum balance requirement depends on the term you choose. Longer-term CDs have lower balance requirements than short-term CDs. Like NBKC's savings accounts, its CD APYs fall somewhere between those of brick-and-mortar banks and the best online banks.

NBKC Bank Add-On CDs

NBKC is one of the few places you'll find add-on CDs. This enables you to make additional deposits into the CD over the course of the term. There's only a single, one-year term option and its APY isn't quite as competitive as what you can find elsewhere. But it could still be worth considering if you're interested in this type of CD.

NBKC Bank IRA CDs

NBKC Bank's IRA CDs are identical to its Personal CDs, except the money you put here is considered part of an IRA. This means you don't pay taxes on your interest when you earn it, but you're also unable to easily access your funds. If you try to take money out before you turn 59 1/2, you'll face a 10% early withdrawal penalty.

Compare CD rates

CD rates change often, so it's a good idea to shop around before you commit to locking up your money. Here are a few other CD providers worth a closer look.

Rates as of May 14, 2024
Bank & CD Offer APY Term Min. Deposit Next Steps
APY: 4.70% Term: 1 Year Min. Deposit:  $2,500
APY: 5.05% Term: 1 Year Min. Deposit:  $1
APY: 5.15% Term: 9 Months Min. Deposit:  $1
Member FDIC.
APY: 4.75% Term: 1 Year Min. Deposit:  $500

NBKC Bank checking account review

The NBKC Everything Account serves as the bank's checking and savings account.

NBKC Everything Account review

The NBKC Everything Account offers all the features you'd expect from a checking account, including online and mobile account management tools and a debit card with access to a large, nationwide ATM network. It also offers monthly out-of-network ATM fee reimbursements, which you don't see with every bank. Plus, there aren't any maintenance fees or minimum balance requirements.

Compare checking accounts

If you're just looking for a standalone checking account, one of our top checking account options might be a better fit for you.

NBKC Bank customer service and experience

So far, NBKC Bank hasn't featured in any large-scale customer satisfaction surveys, like the J.D. Power U.S. Direct Banking Study. This makes it a little difficult to know how it stacks up to its competitors.

But the reviews that are available for the bank are largely positive. It has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and most of its reviews here suggest its customers are happy with the service they receive.

NBKC Bank relationship benefits

NBKC Bank doesn't offer any relationship benefits, like better APYs on savings accounts or lower interest rates on loans to customers who open more than one account. But this isn't that unusual for a primarily online bank like NBKC Bank.

Because it doesn't have that many branches to maintain, it's able to keep its overhead costs down. It passes that onto its customers by eliminating many common bank account fees.

Alternatives to NBKC Bank

If you don't think NBKC Bank is right for you, here are some other options to consider:

Chime Bank

Chime is similar to NBKC Bank in several ways. It offers competitive online checking and savings accounts with few monthly fees. It doesn't have CDs, but those looking to earn a high APY on their savings should definitely move it up on their list.

Ally Bank

Ally Bank is one of the best-known online banks and it offers a greater variety of banking products than many of its competitors. These include checking, savings, and CD accounts as well as loans and investment accounts. Its APYs are usually pretty competitive and it doesn't charge monthly maintenance fees.

IS NBKC Bank right for you?

NBKC Bank could be a good fit for you if:

  • You're looking to open a checking and a savings account.
  • You want access to add-on CDs.
  • You're comfortable managing your money online.

Other products by NBKC Bank

In addition to the bank accounts discussed above, NBKC Bank also offers the following:

NBKC Bank money market account

NBKC Bank's money market account is similar in many ways to its NBKC Everything Account. It offers an above-average APY plus a debit card and a nationwide ATM network for easy access to your funds. There's also no minimum balance requirement.

NBKC Bank credit cards

NBKC Bank offers the following credit cards:

  • NBKC Bank Visa Signature® Real Rewards Card
  • NBKC Bank Visa Signature® Max Cash Preferred Card
  • NBKC Bank Visa® Platinum Card
  • NBKC Bank Secured Visa® Card
  • NBKC Bank Visa Signature® College Real Rewards Card

NBKC Bank mortgages

NBKC Bank offers conventional home loans as well as FHA, VA, and construction loans. It can also help homeowners who are looking to refinance or borrow against the equity in their homes. Read our full NBKC Bank mortgage review to learn more.

NBKC Bank loans

NBKC Bank also offers the following types of loans:

  • Personal loans
  • Auto loans
  • Bridge loans

Our bank and credit union methodology

Our methodology for scoring banks and credit unions revolves around evaluating key aspects such as annual percentage yield (APY), brand reputation, fees and minimum requirements, and additional perks.

These criteria are weighted differently across various account types, ensuring a comprehensive assessment that reflects the competitive landscape and economic conditions.

We strictly feature products that offer federal insurance and high customer satisfaction, keeping our recommendations unbiased by advertiser influence. This robust evaluation process helps us generate balanced, reliable best-of lists that guide consumers to top financial products.

Learn more about how The Motley Fool Ascent rates bank accounts.

FAQs

  • NBKC stands for National Bank of Kansas City. This is the only city where the bank has any physical locations.

  • Yes, NBKC is a legitimate bank and its accounts are backed by the same FDIC insurance as other top banks.

  • NBKC has a hybrid checking-savings account known as the NBKC Everything Account. You open both types of accounts together and can move your money between them as needed.

Our Banking Expert