Bank of the West review: Brick-and-mortar bank with over 500 branches and eco-friendly policies

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Overall bank rating

Pros and cons

Bank of the West Classic Savings Account

The Bank of the West Classic Savings Account could be worth exploring if you are eligible to waive the Bank of the West Classic Savings Account - Fees Display.

You'll need to maintain at least $300 in your account monthly ($50 if you live in Minnesota) or transfer at least $25 from your checking account each month. If the account is for a minor, the fee will also be waived.

Bank of the West 1% For the Planet Checking Account

Bank of the West has partnered with 1% for the Planet, an environmental international organization focused on climate action, to offer the Bank of the West 1% For the Planet Checking Account.

The checking account has a similar structure to the Bank of the West Any Deposit Checking Account (the bank's standard checking account). However, through the Bank of the West 1% For the Planet Checking Account, the institution donates 1% of its net revenue earned from the account to environmental non-profit organizations that are part of the 1% for the Planet network.

With the Bank of the West 1% For the Planet Checking Account you'll want to be mindful of common bank fees like monthly service fees or overdraft fees. To avoid the $10 monthly service fee, you must be under age 25 or make at least one direct deposit per month.

Bank of the West Flexible-Term Certificate of Deposit

A Bank of the West Flexible-Term Certificate of Deposit may range from 31 days to 5 years. Bank of the West charges steep early withdrawal penalties if you take out money from a CD before it matures.

If you're worried about potential fees, you might also want to check out our guide to the best no-penalty CDs.

Bank of the West Choice Money Market Account

Bank of the West has a debit card included with its money market account, providing easy access for withdrawals.

You'll earn a bit more interest with the Bank of the West Choice Money Market Account than with the bank's savings account. However, it's still pretty low in general, especially if you look at options in our best money market accounts guide.

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How Bank of the West works

Bank of the West is a US brick-and-mortar bank that's owned by BNP Paribas, a French international banking group. It has over 500 branches and 770 free ATMs. You'll find a Bank of the West location in the following 19 states:

• Arizona
• California
• Colorado
• Idaho
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Mexico
• North Dakota
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• South Dakota
• Utah
• Washington
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

You may like Bank of the West if you want a bank that supports environmental justice and sustainability. Bank of the West does not finance arctic drilling, fracking, or coal-fired power generation. It's also a member of several eco-friendly organizations like the Conservation Alliance and Sustainable Ocean Alliance. 

Customer support representatives are available over the phone Monday through Friday from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. PT and weekends from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. PT. 

The bank's mobile app has received 4.8 out of 5 stars in the Apple store and 3.9 out of 5 stars in the Google Play store. 

Bank of the West is FDIC insured, which means up to $250,000 is secure in an individual bank account.

Bank of the West trustworthiness and BBB rating

We use BBB ratings to help you understand how a bank addresses customer complaints. Bank of the West has an A- rating from the BBB because it hasn't responded to one customer complaint.

A good BBB rating doesn't necessarily mean your relationship with a bank will be perfect. Talk to current customers or read online customer reviews to see if Bank of the West could be suitable.

Bank of the West does not have any recent public scandals. 

How Bank of the West compares 

We compared Bank of the West to two other national banks: US Bank and KeyBank.

Your choice between these three banks might largely depend on where you live. All three have branches in Idaho, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.

You'll also want to compare individual bank accounts and see which works best for you.

If you'd like to open a checking account, it will likely be a toss-up between Bank of the West or KeyBank. At Bank of the West, you can open a checking account without making an initial deposit. Meanwhile, KeyBank is the only one out of the three to offer a free checking account. 

US Bank will be your best choice for opening CDs. It offers the highest rates among the three financial institutions, and you'll only need $500 to open a CD. However, for traditional savings accounts, you'll probably want to look beyond these three banks. These banks offer pretty low rates and have monthly service fees.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How much money can you take out of an ATM at Bank of the West?

You may withdraw up to $4,060 from an ATM daily. If you would like to withdraw more money, contact the bank and see if you're able to request a temporary increase.

If you'd like to see the ATM withdrawal limits of other banks or run through alternatives to getting more cash in a pinch, read through our post on ATM withdrawal limits.

How do I avoid Bank of the West fees?

Fees will likely depend on how you run your account. You might have to deal with monthly service fees, overdraft fees, or out-of-network ATM fees.

Most Bank of the West accounts let you waive monthly service fees if you maintain a specific account balance or are under a certain age. 

If you'd like to waive overdraft fees or overdraft protection transfer fees, set up alerts that notify you once your balance falls under a specific amount.

To avoid out-of-network ATM fees, use this search tool by Bank of the West to find out which in-network ATM is closest to you.