Just spent way too much time comparing what are the best online banks and honestly there's a lot more options than I realized. Most people don't realize how much better the rates and features are compared to traditional banks - like we're talking 2-3% APY on savings accounts versus basically nothing at your local bank.

I kept coming back to a few names. Ally seems to be the solid all-rounder if you want simplicity - decent rates around 2.5% and their automated savings tools actually make it easier to not touch your money. If you're specifically looking for the highest yields, Vio and Bread Financial are pushing 3.5% and 3% respectively, though you lose ATM access which is the tradeoff. SoFi's checking and savings combo caught my attention because you can hit 3% on savings with direct deposit and barely any fees.

For people who want to get fancy with it, Quontic has this Bitcoin rewards checking thing which is pretty niche. CIT Bank seemed solid too - they've got multiple account types at different yield levels depending on what you need.

The thing about comparing online banks is that the best one really depends on what matters to you. Need easy ATM access? That rules out several. Want the absolute highest rate? You're picking between a few specific accounts. Want to keep it simple with minimal fees? That's a different set.

If I had to pick what are the best online banks for most people just starting out, I'd probably say Ally or Discover - both have solid customer service reputations and aren't trying to be too clever. But if you're optimizing specifically for savings rate and don't mind the limitations, the newer players like Bread and Vio are actually offering better numbers. Rates have shifted since these rankings came out a few years ago though, so definitely check current rates before moving money around.