RANKING & REVIEWS
TOP RANKING SEATTLE CREDIT UNIONS & BANKS
Rating the Top 7 Credit Unions and Banks in Seattle You Should Check Out (Plus 2 to Avoid)
Seattle, Washington is the largest city in the Pacific Northwest and is known for being the birthplace of Starbucks and the grunge movement. Besides enjoying the waterfront scenery and unique style and culture of the city, residents also enjoy a great choice of local banks in Seattle.
It’s easy to get lost in a “big bank” mentality and forget about some of the gems you can find if you search out the best local Seattle bank or credit union. But what you don’t know may be hurting you financially.
Award Emblem: Top 7 Best Banks & Credit Unions in Seattle, Washington
Many community banks in Seattle, Washington and elsewhere try even harder to earn your business with great service and better interest rates than the larger banks offer. In this digital age, they can provide many of the same online and mobile services as a larger bank or credit union in Seattle, so you don’t skip a beat with your banking.
For this article, we’ve sought out the 7 Best Credit Unions & Banks in Seattle and highlighted what makes each of them a “need to know about” banking destination. We’ll also warn you about 2 banks to bypass until they make some value improvements.
Top 7 Best Seattle Bank or Credit Union (Plus 2 to Avoid) | Brief Comparison & Ranking
| Top Seattle Credit Union or Bank | Ratings |
| Banner Bank | 5 |
| BECU | 5 |
| Salal Credit Union | 5 |
| Seattle Credit Union | 5 |
| Verity Credit Union | 5 |
| Columbia Bank | 3 |
| Sound Credit Union | 3 |
| Seattle Bank | 1 |
| Umpqua Bank | 1 |
Table: Top 7 Banks & Credit Unions in Seattle (& 2 to Avoid) | Above list is sorted by rating
Best Seattle Bank or Credit Union FAQ | What Should You Look for When Choosing Where to Bank in Seattle?
Many people stay at the same bank for years because it’s comfortable and they have a fear of the unknown. But if you know exactly what to look for when considering a new credit union or bank in Seattle, WA, it can take some of that fear away.
You may be surprised to find money saving discounts at a best credit union in Seattle, that you didn’t realize you were missing out on. Also, most of the local banks Seattle offers give back to the community you live in.
Here are some important things to consider and compare when choosing among the best banks in Seattle:
- Loan & credit card interest rates
- Customer service reviews
- Community & charitable support
- Fees & penalties
- Free services & discounts
- Branch hours & location convenience
- Online & mobile banking reviews
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AdvisoryHQ’s Selection Methodology
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Please click here “AdvisoryHQ’s Ranking Methodologies” for a detailed review of AdvisoryHQ’s selection methodologies for ranking top-rated credit cards, financial accounts, firms, products, and services.
Detailed Review – Top Ranking Best Seattle Credit Unions & Banks (& 2 to Avoid)
Below, please find a detailed review of each firm on our list of the best credit unions & best banks in Seattle. We have highlighted some of the factors that allowed each credit union or bank in Seattle, WA to score so highly in our selection ranking
Click on any of the names below to go directly to the review section for that firm.
- Banner Bank
- BECU
- Columbia Bank
- Salal Credit Union
- Seattle Credit Union
- Sound Credit Union
- Verity Credit Union
- Seattle Bank
- Umpqua Bank
Banner Bank Review
Banner Bank was founded in Washington state in 1890 and now serves the Pacific Northwest with 175 full-service branches throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and California. They take pride is getting to know their clients as friends.
Below are the highlights that make Banner Bank stand out on this 2018 Ranking of the Best Banks in Seattle.
Banner Bank Services at a Glance:
- 25 branch locations in Seattle, WA & surrounding areas
- Named as the Best Regional Bank in the U.S. by Money Magazine
- Ranked Highest in the Northwest for Client Satisfaction by J.D. Power
- Ranked by Forbes as One of America’s 100 Best Banks
- Better Business Bureau A+ rating
Choice of Credit Card Rewards
Do you like to earn points on purchases and get a low interest rate too? Banner is one of the banks Seattle has with the same great rewards cards as larger banks. You can earn points for purchases with their TruRewards® Mastercard® credit cards with a fixed interest rate as low as 9.99%
Rating Summary
Banner Bank scored a 5 on our Ranking of the Best Seattle Credit Unions & Banks. You don’t rack up the customer satisfaction awards they have without putting your best foot forward daily.
Their growth throughout the Northwest only enhances their strength to provide full service banking for both personal and business needs. They also have the largest number of branch locations in the Seattle area of any other listed banks Seattle offers.
See Also: HSBC Reviews |What HSBC Stands for, Savings, Checking, Personal, and Business Accounts
BECU Review
BECU, also known as Boeing Employees Credit Union, was founded in 1935 when employees needed to finance their own tools. Today, anyone that lives, works, worships or attends school in Washington state or one of 10 Oregon counties can become a member.
Below are the highlights that make BECU stand out on this 2018 Ranking of Best Seattle Credit Unions & Banks.
BECU in Seattle at a Glance:
- 5 branch locations in Seattle, WA & surrounding areas
- Supports local non-profits through their People Helping People Awards
- Provides financial education workshops at their Member Summit
- Offers member discounts
- Better Business Bureau A+ rating
Their Members Matter
You’ll see this at the top of their website, and they really mean it. If you’re looking for credit unions in Seattle that treat you like a person rather than an account number, then you’ll love the Member Idea Exchange on BECU’s website that encourages members’ voices.
Rating Summary
BECU is the most “member-centric” of the credit unions and banks in Seattle, Washington that we found. That, in addition to their great customer support, earned them a 5 on our ranking as one of the best credit union in Seattle.
Another bonus is that they have locations on both coasts. They have 48 branches located throughout South Carolina and the Puget Sound region.
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Salal Credit Union Review
Salal Credit Union was founded in Seattle by Group Health doctors in 1948. Since then, this credit union in Seattle has grown into one of the largest in Washington with over 30,000 members.
Below are the highlights that make Salal Credit Union stand out on this 2018 Ranking of Top Seattle Credit Unions and Banks.
Salal Credit Union in Seattle at a Glance:
- 5 branch locations in Seattle, WA & surrounding areas
- Honored by Seattle Business Magazine as one of Washington’s Health Care Innovators
- Supports charitable and educational causes through the Salal Foundation
- 0% Visa® balance transfers
- Better Business Bureau A+ rating
Helping You Master Your Money
Looking for some budgeting and financial advice from banks and credit unions in Seattle? You’ve come to the right place! Salal offers free and immediate access by phone to a certified financial coach who will guide you in the right financial direction.
Rating Summary
Salal Credit Union scored a 5 as one of the best Seattle credit unions you can find. They get high marks from long-time members for consistent and quality customer service and their excellent mobile and online banking tools.
Their community support and great financial management tools make this a top credit union or bank in Seattle, WA for personal service from a team that treats their customers like gold.
Related: M&T Bank Review | Ranking & Online Banking Reviews
Seattle Credit Union Review
Since 1933, Seattle Credit Union has been part of those shaping this unique and dynamic city. This is a credit union in Seattle that’s easy to join. Anyone who lives or works in the state of Washington or is employed by one of their select employer groups can become a member.
Below are the highlights that make Seattle Credit Union stand out on this 2018 Ranking of the Best Seattle Credit Unions and Banks.
Seattle Credit Union at a Glance:
- 9 branch locations in Seattle, WA & surrounding areas
- Their CEO honored as one of Puget Sound’s Most Courageous Leaders
- First Seattle credit union and second in Washington to be accepted into the Juntos Avanzamos program, recognizing efforts to serve the Latino community
- Member referral bonus
- Better Business Bureau A+ rating
Earn Decent Interest on Checking
In recent years, credit unions and banks in Seattle, Washington and elsewhere have begun offering interest-bearing checking accounts. But Seattle Credit Union takes it to a new level with an outstanding rate of 6.14% APY on your first $500 deposited.
Rating Summary
Seattle Credit Union gets high praise from its members on multiple review sites. Whether they’re applying for an auto loan or banking with them for over 20 years, their customer support is stellar. They scored a 5 as one of the top best Seattle banks and credit unions.
Being born and bred in Seattle, you know you’re banking with a financial institution that is completely dedicated to the city. Seattle Credit Union continues to focus on serving those that make the city one of the most dynamic in the country.
Popular Article: Member’s Choice Credit Union (Ranking & Review)
Verity Credit Union Review
Verity Credit Union was started in 1933 as Postal Works Credit Union #8. It’s one of the oldest credit unions in the state of Washington. Today, anyone that lives, works, or worships in Washington can become a member.
Below are the highlights that make Verity Credit Union stand out on this 2018 Ranking of the Best Seattle Credit Unions and Banks.
Verity Credit Union at a Glance:
- 7 branch locations in Seattle, WA & surrounding areas
- Heavily involved in community events & spotlighting local artists
- They have a Micro-grant Program to provide funding for local projects
- Member discounts on products, like TurboTax
- Better Business Bureau A+ rating
Cash Back Checking
Who doesn’t love earning money on their hard-earned money? Verity Credit Union offers a free Cash Back Checking account that pays you 2.00% monthly on the first $250 spent. You can also earn as much as another $5 cash back each month and refunds on ATM fees nationwide.
Rating Summary
We rated Verity Credit Union a 5 as a top Seattle credit union. We haven’t run across any best banks in Seattle that support the local artists in their city as much as they do. If you believe in the arts and those that support them, this may be your new banking home.
Verity also offers attractive checking accounts for both personal and business banking that help you keep and grow your money. They also highlight on their website “Your Feedback in Action” where they list improvements made based upon member suggestions.
Read More: National Penn Bank Reviews and Ranking | What You Should Know About National Penn Bank
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Columbia Bank Review
This Northwest community bank is headquartered in Tacoma, WA with over 150 branches throughout Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Columbia Bank began in 1993 and focuses on their philosophy of being a bank that puts people first.
Below are the highlights that make Columbia Bank stand out on this 2018 Ranking of the Best Banks in Seattle.
Columbia Bank at a Glance:
- 7 branch locations in Seattle, WA & surrounding areas
- Ranked among the Best Banks in America by Forbes Magazine
- Voted One of Washington’s Best Workplaces by Puget Sound Business Journal
- Named Best Large Business and Best Bank in The Best of South Sound
- Better Business Bureau A+ rating
Unique Wealth Management Approach
Columbia Bank is one of the banks in Seattle, Washington you’ll definitely want to take a look if you’re growing a nest egg for the future. They believe in forming a collaborative relationship to help empower their clients in every stage of life to grow and preserve their money.
Rating Summary
We rated Columbia Bank a high 3 on our Ranking of the Best Seattle Banks & Credit Unions. They are definitely a bank that continues to earn awards both locally and on the national stage.
They have a few mixed reviews from customers, that mainly note their customer service is not consistently good across all branches, so with some attention in that area they would easily earn a higher score on a future best banks in Seattle ranking.
Related: Opus Bank Ranking & Review
Sound Credit Union Review
Sound Credit Union has been serving the citizens of the Seattle area since 1940. This is one of the credit unions in Seattle that has continued to grow since being started by 51 telephone workers initially, to now serving over 115,000 members.
Below are the highlights that make Sound Credit Union stand out on this 2018 Ranking of the Best Credit unions & Banks in Seattle.
Sound Credit Union at a Glance:
- 11 branch locations in Seattle, WA & surrounding areas
- Their CEO honored with a Lifetime Achievement Summit Award from the Northwest Credit Union Association
- Gives back to the community through donations, volunteering, & community investment
- Opening an interactive technology branch in Bellevue, WA
- Better Business Bureau A+ rating
Great Member Perks
If you like your banking to come with lots of free extras, then Sound is one of the best Seattle credit unions to consider. Some of the great member perks they offer are free workshops and financial counseling, free online and mobile tools, and low-rate credit cards.
Rating Summary
Sound Credit Union scored a 3 on our list of the best Seattle banks and credit unions. They have a lot of long-time members that say their customer service is the best, but also some reviews about poor communication.
You’ll definitely want to take a look at this credit Union in Seattle if you like to bank with a community-minded organization. In just one year they made over $139 million in economic contributions, donated to 120 community organizations, and Sound employees clocked over 4,500 volunteer hours.
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Seattle Bank Review
With a name like Seattle Bank, you may think you’ve found the ultimate bank in Seattle, WA. However, we had to put them on our “to avoid” list due to the extremely limited number of branches and lack of customer reviews.
Below are some of the improvements we feel would help Seattle Bank boost their reputation among banks in Seattle, Washington.
Add More Locations
While they do note they have a connection to surcharge-free ATMs around the country, they have just a single branch location in Seattle at One Union Square. If they’re serious about serving the community, a few more branches would make life easier for customers.
Rating Summary
As one of the banks Seattle has that we recommend bypassing for now, we gave a 1 rating to Seattle Bank. We’d be happy to revisit that in the future if they made a few improvements to increase their value to their depositors.
With a name and URL that gets searched thousands of times a month, Seattle Bank has a perfect opportunity to take advantage of that visibility. Another area that would help their standing among other best banks in Seattle would be to work on promoting good customer reviews to get some in circulation on top review websites.
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Umpqua Bank Review
This next bank in Seattle, WA that we recommend you avoid is Umpqua Bank, but for a different reason than the first. They do have several reviews online, but unfortunately many aren’t good. Especially troubling is a D- rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
Below are some of the adjustments we feel would help Umpqua Bank improve their reputation to be a best Seattle Bank in the future.
Repair Their BBB Rating
With so many other credit unions and banks Seattle offers scoring A+ at the BBB, the D- rating really sticks out like a sore thumb. They should start addressing customer service complaints there and promote happy customers to review them in order to repair this rating.
Rating Summary
Umpqua Bank was scored a 1 as a bank in Seattle we recommend avoiding until they improve their reputation. The biggest complaints customers have regarding Umpqua is the handling of loans, and their high and multiple banking fees.
On a positive note, they have 20 locations in the Seattle area, which puts them ahead in the convenience department of many other banks and credit unions in Seattle. If they worked hard on improving customer service, we could see revisiting their score in the future.
Conclusion – Top 7 Best Seattle Bank or Credit Union (Plus 2 to Avoid)
The banks in Seattle, Washington are as unique and dynamic as the city itself. Many have helped shape the community for nearly a century. Whether you’re looking for the newest modern conveniences, like interactive automated tellers, or for banks that support local community artists, you can find it among these best banks in Seattle.
Remember when doing your research to consider the things that are most important to your finances, such as low interest rates on loans or free financial advice. No matter what stage you’re at in your life, there’s a bank in Seattle out there that can help you reach your financial goals.
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