Truist Bank review: Solid regional banking, but rates lag behind competitors

Truist Bank, formed from the merger of BB&T and SunTrust, is now one of the largest banks in the United States. With a wide range of services and a strong physical presence in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, Truist has become a popular choice for many consumers. But is it the right choice for your banking needs?

We reviewed Truist Bank's services, fees, pros and cons, and customer ratings to help you decide if this bank is right for you.

About Truist Bank

Truist Bank was formed in 2019 through the merger of BB&T and SunTrust, two well-established regional banks that have existed since the 1800s. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Truist serves clients across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. It has a particularly strong presence in states like Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia. 

As of 2024, Truist Bank has over 2,000 branches and 3,000 ATMs, making it one of the largest banks in the United States. 

Truist Bank accounts 

Due to its size, Truist offers a long list of banking products and services. This includes personal banking products like checking and savings, loans, insurance policies, business bank accounts, and more. 

Truist Bank checking accounts

Truist offers two types of checking accounts: Truist One Checking and Truist Confidence Checking. Both accounts offer access to a wide ATM network, but there are some key differences.

Truist One Checking is the bank’s premium checking account. It comes with a $12 monthly maintenance fee, which can be waived by one of these methods:

• Make $500 or more in monthly direct deposits
• Maintaining a monthly average balance of $500 or more
• Having a Truist credit card, mortgage, or consumer loan
• Being a student under the age of 25
• Have a linked small business checking account

The account requires a $50 minimum deposit and does not earn any interest. However, the One account does not charge any overdraft or overdraft-related fees. It also offers a negative balance buffer that allows overdrafts up to $100 without penalty to qualified users. 

The more money you keep in your Truist accounts, the more perks you can access. Rewards include waived ATM fees, free checks, waived savings account fees, cash back on Truist credit cards, and more. Reward tiers are determined by the combined balance of your Truist account. So, if you pair a checking and a savings account, you may qualify for a higher tier.

The Truist Confidence Checking is designed for those newer to banking. It comes with a lower minimum deposit ($25) and monthly maintenance fee ($5). You can waive the monthly fee by making $500 or more in monthly direct deposits, 10 qualifying debit card transactions per month, or if you're a student under age 25. 

The Confidence account doesn’t offer the same negative balance buffer as the One account. Instead, charges that exceed your account balance are typically declined. The Confidence account does not offer perks, rewards, or interest. 

As far as checking accounts go, Truist’s offerings are standard for a big bank. The monthly fees are what you’d expect from a bank with physical branches to maintain. 

Truist Bank savings accounts 

Truist Bank's main savings account offers a low APY and moderate minimum balance requirements and fees. 

• Minimum initial deposit: $50
• Monthly fees: $5 (waivable) 
• APY: 0.01%

You can waive the $5 monthly fee by: 

• Being under the age of 18 
• Scheduling a recurring internal transfer of $25 or more
• Maintaining a daily $300 balance
• Having a related Truist personal checking account 

This account includes optional overdraft protection, automatic transfers, and relationship perks (if you have a Truist One Checking account).

Truist's savings account APY is much lower than the national average of 0.45% (as of June 2024). 

But it's not nearly as competitive as high-yield accounts offered by online banks, which can offer APYs of 5.00% or more.

For example, a $5,000 deposit in Truist's savings account would be worth $5,002.50 in five years. If you put that amount in a high-yield savings account earning 5.00%, your deposit would be worth $6,416.79.

Truist also offers a Confidence savings account, which must be paired with a Confidence checking account. It has no monthly maintenance fees and requires a $25 minimum deposit. 

Truist Bank CDs

Truist Bank offers a variety of CD terms and solid APYs. Key features include:

• Terms: 7 days to 60 months 
• APY: 4.00%-4.50% (special CD rates) 
• Minimum initial deposit: $1,000 (for terms over 32 days), $2,500 (for terms between 7-31 days) 

Truist’s CD accounts are much more competitive than their savings account offerings. The bank offers terms ranging from seven days to five years. 

Unfortunately, you'll need to visit a branch to see all of the bank’s CD term and rate options. Truist does list two special CD rates: 

• 5-month CD: 4.50%
• 12-month CD: 4.00%

Most Truist CDs have a minimum $1,000 deposit requirement (terms from 7-31 days have a $2,500 minimum).

Truist’s CD interest rates are slightly lower than other competitors. The best 1-year CD offer rates between 4.50%-5.30%, while Truist’s 1-year CD offers 4.00%

The big downside to Truist CDs is you must open a CD at a branch location — you cannot open a CD online. If you want to withdraw or move your funds after maturity, you’ll also need to visit a branch, which can be a hassle for many. Like most CDs, Truist has an early withdrawal penalty for pulling out your funds before the term ends.

Truist Bank money market account 

Truist's money market account offers a competitive APY and a low minimum opening deposit.

• APY: 4.50%
• Minimum deposit: $50
• Monthly fees: $12 (waivable) 

This account is more flexible and rewarding than Truist’s savings account. It offers a higher APY, free debit card use, and check-writing privileges. Its APY is 4.50%, which is on par with other money market accounts. 

 Like Truist’s checking and savings accounts, the money market account can be linked to prevent overdrafts. The balance counts toward the One checking account rewards tier. 

This account requires a $50 opening deposit and has a $12 monthly fee, which can be waived with a $1,000 daily balance. Like the Truist savings account, withdrawals are limited to six per month. 

Other services Truist Bank offers 

In addition to personal banking accounts, Truist Bank offers a wide range of other financial services, including:

• Credit cards: Truist offers several credit card options, including cash back and travel rewards cards.
• Business banking: Truist provides a full suite of business banking services, including checking and savings accounts, credit cards, loans, and merchant services.
• Loans: Truist offers personal loans, auto loans, mortgages, and home equity lines of credit (HELOCs).
• Wealth management: Truist provides investment management, financial planning, and trust services through its wealth management division.

Truist Bank fees 

Many Truist Bank accounts have monthly maintenance fees. The amount varies depending on the type of account and the balance maintained. The good news is that most monthly fees can be 

waived with regular deposits, a minimum daily balance, or a certain number of qualifying transfers or transactions.

Here's a breakdown of the most common fees:

• Overdraft fees: None
• Non-sufficient funds fee: None
• Monthly maintenance fees: $5-12
• Out-of-network ATM fee: $3
• Excessive transaction fees: $5-15

One benefit to Truist’s bank accounts is that many don’t charge overdraft fees. The One checking account also includes a $100 buffer before you go into the negative. The bank also offers other overdraft protection options, including linking to a savings account or line of credit, which can help avoid these fees.

Truist Bank banking experience 

Online and mobile banking 

Truist Bank offers a robust mobile app for both Android and iOS, which has 4.8/5 and 4.7/5 star rankings on the Apple App Store and Google Play, respectively. 

Customers praise the app's easy navigation and the ability to manage accounts and transactions on the go. However, some users have reported occasional glitches or slowdowns, particularly during peak usage.

With the app, you can: 

• Deposit checks 
• Pay bills
• Send money via Zelle 
• Order checks
• Set spending and region limits 
• Lock cards 
• Set and track spending 
• Schedule branch appointments 

With over 2,000 branches nationwide, Truist Bank offers plenty of options for in-person banking. However, those who live outside of the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic may find it less convenient to access their accounts.

Customer Service 

Truist Bank offers customer support via phone, automated assistance, or at a branch. Phone support is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET. Automated assistance is available 24/7.

Truist does not offer an email support option or live chat on its website. It has an average rating of 1.3 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot and 1.09 out of 5 stars on the Better Business Bureau.

However, it's worth noting that online reviews often skew negative, as satisfied customers are less likely to leave feedback.

Account security

Truist Bank takes several measures to ensure the security of customer accounts, including:

• FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per person, per account 
• Multi-factor authentication 

Is Truist Bank Right For You? 

If you’re looking for a legacy bank with branches in the Southeast or Mid-Atlantic regions of the U.S., Truist could be a good option. Because it’s such a large bank, you may be able to meet most of your banking needs with Truist. 

When deciding whether Truist Bank is the right choice for you, consider the following factors:

• Your geographic location and proximity to Truist branches
• Your preference for in-person vs. online banking
• Your interest in a cashback checking account or high-yield savings options
• Your tolerance for account maintenance fees and minimum balance requirements

You may find better options elsewhere if you want high rates or widespread branch access. Many online banks and credit unions offer similar accounts without the monthly fees. 

How we rated this bank

Every bank review we publish has undergone a rigorous editorial process to ensure accuracy and objectivity.  Learn more about our methodology here. 

Here are some of the factors that influenced this bank’s overall score: 

• Interest rates: Truist Bank offers competitive interest rates on its money market account and CDs, but its savings account APY is significantly lower than many online banks and even some traditional banks. The lack of interest-earning potential on checking accounts is a drawback.
• Fees: The bank's fee structure includes monthly maintenance fees on most accounts, which can be waived by meeting certain requirements. While these fees are generally higher than those charged by online banks, they are in line with those charged by other large national banks. The absence of overdraft fees is a plus.
• Requirements: Minimum deposit requirements for checking, savings, and money market accounts are reasonable, but the higher minimums for CDs may be a barrier for some. The daily balance requirements to waive monthly fees on savings and money market accounts are achievable for many customers but may not be as accessible as some online banks with no balance requirements.
• Product mix: Truist Bank offers a wide range of banking products and services, including a strong business banking lineup. 
• Customer service: Truist Bank's customer service is lacking, with limited support hours, no email or live chat options, and low customer ratings on third-party websites. 
• Digital experience: The bank's digital experience is positive, with a user-friendly mobile app that’s highly rated. 
• ATM & branch access: Truist Bank has a strong regional presence with over 2,000 branches and 3,000 ATMs, but its geographic footprint is more limited compared to some larger national banks. 

Bottom line

As one of the largest banks in the country, Truist offers the advantage of in-person banking along with a wide array of accounts and features. 

However, Truist's savings account rates are relatively low compared to some online banks. Plus, its geographic footprint is more limited than some larger national competitors. Some customers have also reported issues with customer service and occasional glitches in the mobile app.

Truist Bank is a well-rounded choice for those who value a full-service bank with a regional focus, but it may not be the best fit for everyone. When choosing a bank, it’s essential to consider your individual needs and priorities.

Editorial disclosure: Opinions expressed are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.