Regions Bank Review: Account Good for You?

Regions Bank offers a variety of deposit products, easy account opening requirements, and special reward programs. Read on to see if this bank is right for you.

This Midwestern and Southern region bank is scattered across 15 states and provides a large variety of deposit products that you may not find elsewhere. They do offer eligibility for a variety of rewards that you may not find at other banks, including a bonus just for keeping money in your savings account.

Keep reading to see if the benefits offered at Regions Bank are enough to make you want to become a Regions customer too.

Services Offered

Checking

With $50, you can open any of the following Regions Bank checking accounts. Each account gives you access to online/mobile banking, a Regions Visa CheckCard, overdraft protection, and no Regions ATM fee on two non-Regions Bank ATM withdrawals per month. You may also be eligible for relationship rates on CDs, discount rates on installment loans with autopay, and access to the Regions Relationship Rewards Program.

• LifeGreen Checking Account: With $50, you can open the LifeGreen Checking Account. You can waive the monthly fee with a minimum $500 monthly direct deposit or average balance of $1,500. You have unlimited check writing abilities with this account.

• LifeGreen eAccess Checking: If you like to conduct your banking online or use your Visa CheckCard more than you write checks, this account is a good option. You can waive the monthly fee with 10 monthly bankcard transactions.

• LifeGreen Simple Checking: If you don't want to worry about keeping a minimum balance or conducting a certain amount of bankcard transactions, the Simple Checking account offers you a flat fee each month. There's no way to waive it, but the fee is lower than either of the above checking accounts.

• LifeGreen Preferred Checking: This is the only Regions Bank Checking account that earns interest. In order to waive the monthly fees, you'll need at least $5,000 monthly in your Preferred Checking account. You can also waive the fee with a combined balance of $25,000 in all of your Regions Bank accounts or have a mortgage/installment loan of at least $25,000 in good standing.

• LifeGreen Checking Account for Students: If you are 25 years old or younger, you may be eligible for this student account. If you qualify, you will not pay a monthly fee. It offers the same benefits as the above checking accounts, including access to a Visa CheckCard and online/mobile banking.

• LifeGreen 62+ Checking Account: Banking customers age 62 and older can open this account, but it does have a monthly fee. You can waive it by having at least a $300 direct deposit each month or $1,000 combined direct deposits each month. You can also waive the fee with an average balance of $1,500.

Compare Checking Account Promotion

Citi Priority Account - Earn up to $2,000 Cash Bonus

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Expires in 3 days

• Earn up to $2,000 cash bonus when you open a new eligible Citi Priority Checking Account with required activities
• Within 20 days of opening, deposit the minimum amount of new-to-Citibank funds.
• Maintain a minimum balance for 60 consecutive calendar days from the 21st day.
• If your balance falls to a lower tier at any point during the maintenance period, the bonus changes.
• Bonus will be paid within 30 days after you successfully complete all required activities.

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BMO Harris Smart Advantage™ Account - $200 Cash Bonus

Open a new BMO Harris Smart Advantage™ Account online and get a $200 cash bonus when you have a total of at least $4,000 in qualifying direct deposits within the first 90 days of account opening. Offer is limited to one per customer and is not available for existing BMO Harris personal checking customers (including signers on joint accounts) or those who have closed a BMO Harris personal checking account within the past 12 months. Conditions apply.

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Expires 5/12/2023

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U.S. Bank Smartly™ Checking - Up to $600 Bonus

Earn up to $600 when you open a new U.S. Bank Smartly™ checking account and complete qualifying activities. Subject to certain terms and limitations. Offer valid through April 11, 2023. Member FDIC. Complete these steps within 90 days of opening your new Bank Smartly™ checking account online:

• Enroll in online banking or the U.S. Bank Mobile App
• Complete two or more direct deposits of $3,000 to $5,999.99 to earn $200, $6,000 to $9,999.99 to earn $400 and $10,000 or more to earn $600.

Applicant must reside in AZ, AR, CA, CO, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NM, NC, ND, OH, OR, SD, TN, UT, WA, WI, WY to be eligible for Checking account

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Expires 4/11/2023

Savings

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• Regions LifeGreen Savings Account: If you have a Regions Checking Account, you can open this savings account free of charge. Opening deposit is $50 if opened online or $5 at a bank. If you set up automated monthly transfers from your checking into this savings, you will earn a 1% annual savings bonus (up to $100/year).This savings account may be used for overdraft protection.

• Regions Savings Account: You'll need $50 to open the Regions Savings Account. You do not need a checking account with Regions to open this account. You must keep a $300 minimum daily balance in order to waive the monthly fee. This account can be used for overdraft protection.

• Savings for Minors: If your child is 18 years old or younger, you can open this account for him/her. There is no monthly fee and they only need $5 to open the account.

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CIT Bank Platinum Savings - 4.75% APY

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• 4.75% APY with a balance of $5,000 or more
• 0.25% APY with a balance of less than $5,000
• $100 minimum opening deposit
• No monthly maintenance fee
• Member FDIC

Member FDIC

Discover Online Savings - $200 Cash Bonus

To get your $150 or $200 Bonus: What to do: Apply for your first Discover Online Savings Account, online, in the Discover App or by phone. Enter Offer Code CY223 when applying. Deposit into your account a total of at least $15,000 to earn a $150 Bonus or deposit a total of at least $25,000 to earn a $200 Bonus. Deposit must be posted to account within 30 days of account open date. Maximum bonus eligibility is $200.

What to know: Offer not valid for existing or prior Discover savings customers or existing or prior customers with savings accounts that are co-branded, or affinity accounts provided by Discover. Eligibility is based on primary account owner. Account must be open when bonus is credited. Bonus will be credited to the account within 60 days of the account qualifying for the bonus. Bonus is interest and subject to reporting on Form 1099-INT. Offer ends 6/15/2023, 11:59 PM ET. Offer may be modified or withdrawn without notice. See advertiser website for full details.

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Expires 6/15/2023

High Yield Savings Account - 4.80% APY

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• No fees
• $1 minimum deposit
• 24/7 online access
• FDIC insured

Money Market Accounts

Money market accounts have a higher yield. They also allow access to your funds with provided checks and/or a bankcard.

• Regions Money Market: If you can keep a balance of at least $2,500 in your account, you can waive the fee on this money market account. You'll need $100 to open it. This account gives you access to online banking with bill pay and tiered interest rates (the more you save, the higher the interest rate).

• Platinum Relationship Money Market: If you can keep a balance of at least $15,000 or you have a LifeGreen Preferred Checking Account, you can waive the monthly fee on this account. You can open the account by meeting one of two requirements. Open the account with $15,000 and have a Regions Checking Account with direct deposit or a Regions Checking Account with at least a $2,500 balance. You'll also have access to online banking and bill pay as well as tiered interest rates.

CDs

If you can tie your money up for a specific period, you stand to earn higher interest rates on your money.

• Promotional CD Accounts: You'll need at least $10,000 to open a promotional CD, which generally has higher interest rates. If you have a Regions Checking account, you may qualify for relationship interest rates (higher rates). You can renew the CD at maturity or take your money. You can also select to have the interest earned deposited in your Regions checking or savings account.

• Regions CD: You can open a CD of varying maturity dates with $500 for a 90-day or longer term or $2,500 for terms 7 to 89 days. If you have a Regions Checking account, you may qualify for higher, relationship interest rates. You can disburse the interest to any of your other Regions banking accounts. You can also select to have the CD automatically renew at the current market rates upon maturity.

IRAs

Regions also offers tax-advantaged IRA accounts, including traditional and Roth IRAs. You have the following options for your Regions IRAs:

• Fixed Rate: This IRA works similar to a CD. You put your money in the account for a fixed period and earn a fixed rate of interest. The terms range between 6 months and 60 months. You need just $250 to open an account. You may make additional deposits during a specific period and at maturity.

• Money Market: With $50, you can open this IRA, which allows deposits at any time. Deposits must be at least $25 and you can link it to a Regions Checking account for automatic deposits.

• 18-Month Variable Rate: You'll earn a variable rate over the 18-month term on your $250 or higher opening deposit. You can make additional deposits of at least $50 throughout the term as well.

Now Banking

Regions Bank offers another solution, called Now Banking. You don't necessarily have to open an account at Regions in order to use the benefits of this banking solution. You have a few options:

• Regions Now Card: This prepaid Visa is reloadable with a minimum of $10 deposits. There is a small monthly fee, but you can have it waived with $500 monthly direct deposits. You can only spend what's on the card and you may be eligible for Regions Cashback Awards program (see more below).

• Regions Now Savings: If you have a Regions Now Card, you also have access to a Regions Now Savings account. This account has no monthly service fee or minimum balance requirements. You must open the account with $10 and you will earn interest. You may be eligible for an annual savings bonus. You may also be eligible for the Builder's Bonus, which rewards you with $1 for each month that you deposit at least $5 and make no withdrawals.

• Check Cashing Service: Regions allows you to cash checks at their bank even if you don't have an account there. You enroll in the program and pay the applicable fees based on the amount of the check and whether it's a Regions check or not.

Reasons We Like Regions Bank

• You can earn Relationship Rewards. All you need is a personal Regions checking account to enroll. You then earn rewards just by conducting your normal daily activities, such as paying bills online or making ATM deposits. You can then redeem the rewards for cash or fun prizes.

• You can earn cashback awards. You can activate this program in your online banking portal. You'll then have a list of specific retailers that are participating in the program. If you shop at those retailers using your Visa check card, you earn cashback, which is deposited into your checking account.

• You can bank online or on your mobile device. You can conduct many of your normal banking transactions this way, including transferring money, checking balances, and paying bills. You can also deposit checks from your mobile phone using the Regions Bank app.

• You can lock up your check card. If you don't want to allow certain transactions, such as online transactions or ATM transactions, you can click "lock" in your online banking portal. This is also helpful if you lost your card or think it's stolen. You can lock all activity on your card so the card cannot be used by anyone.

• You can get text alerts about your banking transactions. You can set up alerts to let you know when a deposit was made, when a check clears, if you have a low balance, or if you incurred an overdraft charge. You personalize the alerts based on your own needs.

• You can earn annual bonuses on the LifeGreen Savings account. If you set up automatic monthly transfers of at least $10 from your checking account to your LifeGreen savings account, Regions Bank will reward you with a 1% bonus at the end of the year. They will pay up to $100 and the bonus is based on your average monthly balance.

• Regions Bank has more than 1,500 branches and 2,000 ATMs in the 15 states they are located. If you live in these areas, you will have plenty of options to help you avoid the non-Regions Bank ATM fees.

• You may be eligible for Priority Banking. If you have a Regions consumer checking account and at least $50,000 on deposit with Regions Bank in any deposit or investment account, you may qualify for Priority Banking. This gives you access to a dedicated personal banker, more mobile banking benefits, special offers, and access to financial consultants.

• You can set up overdraft protection. You must opt into the overdraft protection program and have a savings, money market account, Regions credit card, or Regions personal line of credit linked to the account. Note: Transfer fees may apply.

• You may be eligible for discounts on a variety of Regions products if you have a Regions checking or savings account. The discounts include savings box deposit discounts, interest rate discounts, and higher interest rates on certain investment products.

Reasons You May Want to Look Elsewhere

• No interest for low-balance customers. If you want to earn interest on your checking balances, you need at least $5,000. The remaining 3 checking accounts with lower balance requirements don't offer interest. The only way around this would be to open a savings account simultaneously. If you need to make more than six withdrawals per cycle, though, you'd incur excessive withdrawal fees.

• Regions Bank is only located in 15 states. If you don't live in Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, North or South Carolina, Texas, or Tennessee, you won't be able to open an account.

• Low interest rates. The interest rate offered on certain deposit accounts is relatively low. Unless you have a large amount of money to keep on deposit, you can likely find higher interest rates at online bank competitors.

How It Compares

• Wells Fargo: Wells Fargo is located in more than twice as many states as Regions Bank. However, their offerings are not as large as Regions Bank's offerings. Wells Fargo does offer 24/7 customer service and they offer more benefits to clients who are current Wells Fargo mortgage customers.

• Bank of America: Bank of America is also widely spread, with locations in 37 states. They too do not offer interest on each of their checking accounts. They also have limited account options. Many people choose BofA just for its convenient locations and easy access to their money.

Bottom Line

Regions Bank, as the name suggests, is a regional bank. If you live in one of the states it's located in, you will find that you have many options at your disposal. Not earning interest on your checking account balances may not be the smartest choice, but if you don't keep a large balance, it may not make a large difference.

Compare your options at Regions Bank to other regional and even national banks to see which will be the most convenient while giving you the best interest rates.