Western Alliance Bank Savings Account Review 2023
Savings accounts can help you grow your money safely and securely. The best savings accounts offer competitive interest rates with minimal fees.
Western Alliance Bank is one option you might consider if you’re planning to open a new savings account.
The bank offers personal savings accounts aimed at helping its customers reach their goals.
Western Alliance Bank Savings At-a-Glance
The personal savings account from Western Alliance Bank is an FDIC-insured interest-bearing account.
There are two options for opening a savings account with this bank. You can visit a branch to open your account in person or open a Western Alliance Bank savings account online through SaveBetter.com.
Which one you choose can determine the rates you earn on savings and the fees you pay.
Compare to Other Savings Accounts
Western Alliance Bank is just one option for saving money. Other banks can offer personal savings accounts with competitive rates, low fees, and convenient access to funds.
Here are three other possibilities when choosing where to keep your savings.
Marcus by Goldman Sachs Savings Account
Marcus by Goldman Sachs offers a high-yield savings account that you can open online in minutes.
While there are no branches or ATMs, you may be okay with that considering the APY you can earn.
There are no monthly fees for this account and no minimum deposit requirements. You can also open CD accounts to save with Marcus.
Read our full Marcus savings account review
Barclays Bank Savings Account
Barclays Bank offers one of the highest APYs for an online savings account.
You can open an account online with a low minimum deposit requirement. You can manage your account through online or mobile banking without monthly fees.
Barclays also offers several high-yield CD options for savers.
Read our full Barclays Bank savings account review
Citi Accelerate Savings Account
Citi is a brick-and-mortar bank, so you might expect savings account rates to be low, but the Accelerate account is an exception.
This savings account offers above-average rates to savers with the convenience of branch or ATM access. Opening your account online and earning interest on your savings is easy.
Read our full Citi savings account review
Who Is Western Alliance Bank For?
Western Alliance Bank may be a better fit for some savers than others. You might choose this savings option if you:
- Are looking for a basic savings account with traditional banking features
- Want the option to earn a higher APY by saving online
- Don’t necessarily need ATM access to make withdrawals from savings
- Want the reassurance of saving with an FDIC-member bank
When comparing any savings account option, it’s essential to consider the rates you could earn, the fees you might pay, and how you’ll be able to manage your money.
Top Features of Western Alliance Bank Savings Accounts
Western Alliance Bank allows you to set up a personal savings account at a branch.
You can also open a high-yield savings option through SaveBetter.com. The features are similar, but there are a few differences to note.
Rates
Interest rates are always an essential consideration for choosing a savings account. If you opt for the traditional personal savings account Western Alliance Bank offers, you’ll get standard savings rates, which aren’t spectacular.
However, you could get a much higher APY by opening your Western Alliance Bank account through SaveBetter.com.
The trade-off is that this is an online-only account and can’t be managed at a branch. That may not matter much if getting the best interest rate on your money is your primary goal.
Fees
Again, where you open your account can determine the fees you pay. There’s a $3 monthly maintenance fee if you go the branch route. You can avoid that by maintaining a $250 daily balance or being a minor under 18.
You’ll pay no fees if you save with Western Alliance Bank through SaveBetter.
ATMs
One upside of saving with Western Alliance Bank at a branch is getting an ATM or debit card. You can select which one you’d like to have and use your card to withdraw cash at MoneyPass ATMs.
If you get the SaveBetter version of this account, you won’t get a debit card or ATM card.
Minimum Deposit
You’ll need at least $100 to open a personal savings account at a Western Alliance Bank branch.
If you open your accounts with SaveBetter, the minimum deposit is just $1. That could make it more appealing if you’re just getting started with saving.
Access
If you open your accounts at a Western Alliance Bank branch, you can manage them in person. You can also log in to online banking or withdraw using your ATM or debit card.
If you’re saving through SaveBetter, you’ll be able to manage your accounts online.
How to Get Started
You’ll first need to decide which account option you’d prefer: basic personal savings or the high-yield version offered through SaveBetter.
You can visit a Western Alliance Bank branch to open your account if you’re going with the basic savings account. You’ll need to share some personal information, including your:
- Name
- Date of birth
- Social Security number
- Phone number and email address
- Physical address
You must also provide a government-issued photo ID and your minimum deposit. Again, you’ll need at least $100 to get started, and you can deposit in cash or by check.
If you’re applying for a high-yield savings account through SaveBetter.com, you must register your personal information with the site.
You can then choose the Western Alliance Bank savings account and enter your bank account information to make your initial deposit.
Rating the Features
Our Western Alliance Bank savings account review wouldn’t be complete without taking a deeper dive into the features.
Here’s a closer look at how these savings accounts work and what you can expect if you decide to open one.
User Experience
Western Alliance Bank has a fairly basic website, with minimal frills. Again, if you’d like to open a savings account here you’ll need to visit a branch.
You can save time by opening your savings account through SaveBetter and it won’t matter if you live near a branch or not, as these accounts are available nationwide.
The signup process is pretty simple, though you will need to know your bank account and routing number to make your initial deposit.
Fees
Western Alliance doesn’t charge many fees for its personal savings accounts. The monthly fee is on the lower side compared to what other banks charge for traditional savings accounts.
You can avoid the fee by choosing the SaveBetter option instead.
Rates
As mentioned, interest rates matter when choosing a savings account. To get the best rates for your money, you’ll likely want to select a Western Alliance Bank account offered through SaveBetter.
The APY for these accounts is substantially higher than you could get by opening your account at a branch. In fact, it’s one of the highest rates offered for any online savings account.
Variety
Western Alliance Bank offers a variety of personal banking products and services. You can open a checking account, savings account, money market account, or CD account.
You can also apply for home or personal loans and set up an IRA to save for retirement.
Note that SaveBetter doesn’t offer these options; you’ll only be able to choose a high-yield savings account.
Customer Support
Western Alliance Bank offers customer support by email or by phone. You can call 888-274-0610 with questions Monday through Friday, from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Help is also available on Saturdays from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. Note that the bank is headquartered in Arizona, so you’ll need to account for any time zone differences when making a call.
There is no live chat support at this time.
Access
You can get an ATM or debit card with a personal savings account from Western Alliance Bank. Your card can be used to withdraw cash at MoneyPass ATMs. You can also manage your money through online banking or at a branch.
If you’re opening your account through SaveBetter, you can only manage it online.
Pros & Cons of Western Alliance Bank Savings Accounts
When comparing pros and cons, the biggest question you must answer is where to open your account.
Opening your account at a branch means you’ll be able to get a debit card or ATM for withdrawing cash, but it also means paying a monthly fee if you’re not able to waive it.
On the other hand, you could get higher rates with SaveBetter. But you’ll miss out on some of the convenience that goes along with local banking.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes, Western Alliance Bank is a legitimate bank. Headquartered in Arizona, it’s an FDIC-member bank that offers personal, small business and corporate banking services to its customers.
Western Alliance Bank is a full-service bank that offers personal, business and commercial banking services. It’s a brick-and-mortar bank that operates out of Arizona. Western Alliance also offers high yield savings accounts online in partnership with SaveBetter.com.
Yes, when you deposit money at Western Alliance Bank your accounts are FDIC-insured. The current FDIC coverage limit is $250,000 per depositor, per account ownership type, per financial institution.
Bottom Line
Western Alliance Bank is one possibility to consider if you’re looking for a new savings account option.
When you’re ready to start, you can either head to a branch near you or open your account through SaveBetter. Remember that you’ll need to meet minimum deposit requirements to start saving with Western Alliance.
