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Sunstate Bank Review: Overall Rating

FeatureInsider rating (out of 5)
Savings3.5
Checking3
Money market account3.75
CD3.75
Trustworthiness 4
Total: 3.5

Sunstate Bank Pros and Cons

Pros Cons
  • Majority of board members are Hispanic American and the bank serves a local community

  • Involved in the local community through partnerships and volunteering

  • Variety of CD options

  • Possible to waive monthly fees

  • Available only to residents living in Florida
  • Limited bank locations
  • Low APY (Annual Percentage Yield) on savings accounts
  • Monthly service fees

About Sunstate Bank

Sunstate Bank is a Hispanic American-led bank that serves a local community that's considered a "minority community" by the FDIC. It has three branches in Coral Gables, West Miami, and Miami. 

Free ATMs are available at any Sunstate Bank location or through the Presto Network or NYCE Network. If you use an out-of-network ATM, you'll have to pay a $2 transaction fee.

Customer service is available by telephone Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.

The Sunstate Bank mobile app has 4.6 out of 5 stars on the Apple Store, and 3.6 out of 5 stars the Google Play store.

Sunstate Bank is FDIC-insured, so individual accounts are protected up to $250,000 and joint accounts are protected $500,000 per depositor. 

The Role of Hispanic American-led Financial Institutions

Hispanic American-owned financial institutions are integral to providing products and services to underserved communities. These institutions also help address banking gaps among Hispanic American communities.

If you aren't a U.S. resident or have family members that live in another country, you may want to look at Sunstate Bank's international banking products and services. The bank has loan options for non-U.S. residents and international wire transfers. The bank is also partnered with local schools and organizations, participating in education events and 5k runs.

Is Sunstate Bank Trustworthy?

The Better Business Bureau rates businesses based on how they deal with customer issues. Sunstate Bank currently has an NR rating from the BBB because it hasn't received enough inquiries or complaints to evaluate the bank.

Something to keep in mind is that a good BBB rating won't necessarily guarantee that your relationship with a bank will be perfect. When you're choosing a bank or credit union to bank with, it's best to also get advice from friends and family if they've had experiences with the bank. You can also read online customer reviews.

Sunstate Bank doesn't have any public controversies. 

Sunstate Bank FAQs

Is Sunstate Bank legit?

Yes, Sunstate Bank is a legitimate federally insured financial institution. Its bank accounts are FDIC-insured for up to $250,000 per depositor, per account category.

Who is the CEO of Sunstate Bank?

Lloyd DeVaux is the CEO of Sunstate Bank.

Does Sunstate Bank have Zelle?

Yes, Sunstate Bank offers Zelle through its mobile app.

Sunstate Bank Account Reviews

Sunstate Bank Regular Savings

The Sunstate Bank Regular Savings Account - Product Name Only is a decent option if you can maintain at least $100 in your account — that way you can earn interest and avoid the monthly maintenance fee. However, if you compare the APY to other banks, it's fairly low.

If you're looking for a high APY in a savings account, you may prefer one of the accounts on our best high-yield savings accounts guide.

Sunstate Bank Interest Checking Account

The Sunstate Bank Interest Checking Account has a tiered interest rate. The account is best for people who can maintain high account balances — you'll need to keep $100,000 in your account to get the highest APY. 

If you don't think you'll be able to keep at least $1,000 in your account, you may prefer other accounts. Accounts with less than $1,000 don't earn any interest and have a Sunstate Bank Interest Checking Account - Fees Display.

Sunstate CD

A Sunstate Bank CD - Product Name Only is available in a variety of term lengths — from 7 days to 5 years. The APY rates are low, with the exception of the 7-month and 13-month promotional CDs.

If you're searching for more competitive offerings, the best CD rates are available at online financial institutions. 

Sunstate Bank Money Market Account

You may prefer the Sunstate Bank Money Market Account over a Sunstate Bank savings account if you can maintain a daily balance of $100,000 or more. That way, you can get a higher APY and the added perk of easy access to your account through paper checks or ATM card.

If you can't manage at least $2,500 in your account daily, the Sunstate Bank Money Market Account - Fees Display may deter you. It's higher than what other national banks charge and there are banks that don't have any monthly maintenance fees.

How Sunstate Bank Compares

Sunstate Bank vs. Interamerican Bank 

You may prefer Interamerican Bank Regular Savings Account - Brand Name over Sunstate Bank if you value having a larger branch network. Interamerican Bank has five branches in Florida, while Sunstate Bank only has three locations. 

Your decision between the two banks may also rest on what you prioritize in banking.

Sunstate Bank has a decent interest-earning checking account that pays interest on account balances of $1,000 or more. You'll need to meet certain requirements to waive a monthly service fee, though. Interamerican Bank Regular Checking Account - Brand Name might be more appealing if you want free checking and savings accounts. The bank offers checking and savings accounts that do not charge monthly service fees. 

Interamerican Bank Review

Sunstate Bank vs. U.S. Century Bank

If you are looking for a bank that has more bank locations or free ATM options, U.S. Century Bank may be more appealing. U.S. Century has 11 branches in six cities in Florida. It also has free ATMs at U.S. Century Bank locations or through the CUHere, NYCE, SUM, Mastercard, and Pulse networks.

Sunstate Bank might be a better option if you like to open a CD. The bank has 7-month and 13-month promotional CDs paying solid rates right now. Meanwhile, US Century Bank CD - Brand Name pays lower rates overall.

U.S. Century Bank Review

Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed Sunstate Bank 

At Personal Finance Insider, we rate savings, checking, CD, and money market accounts using our banking methodology and CD methodology.

Each account receives a rating between 0 and 5. We evaluate a bank's ethics, customer service, and mobile app for all accounts. We also consider different features for specific types of bank accounts. For example, we look at overdraft fees for checking accounts and interest rates for savings accounts.

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