Why it's tops: Great checking options.
You have your pick of a free account or Choice ATM Checking. On the latter, fees are waived with $250 direct deposit or five online bill payments. And meeting those requirements buys you unlimited free withdrawals at other banks' ATMs for 12 months.
Also, the account automatically converts to interest checking after one year; rates vary by state and balance. Among J.D. Power's top picks for customer satisfaction in California.
Bank of the West has branches in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
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