Ally Bank

Ally Bank is the online-first retail bank people reach for when they want savings, checking, CDs and auto loans without a branch routine. By our assessment, its strongest point is the clean, digital setup: the account work is built around app and web access, and the product line is easy to understand. The trade-off is plain enough, since there are no branch desks to walk up to when someone wants paper, cash handling, or face-to-face help. In practice that means fewer errands and less office-style banking, but also less room for the small in-person fixes that some customers still prefer. Against big legacy banks, Ally sits closer to a straightforward internet bank than a full-service street-corner institution. It makes most sense for people comfortable doing their banking on a screen and less sense for anyone who wants branch access as part of the deal.