Becoming one of the best banks in Atlanta, Georgia is no five-finger exercise. As easy-going as people may be, they won’t warm up to you by handing over their hard-earned money to you on a platter.
Something has to give; in this case, it is hard work. In celestial mechanics, there is a term called “escape velocity,” which is the minimum amount of energy needed to escape the influence of a massive body.
The same happens when trying to become a good or best “anything.” Hard work has to be put in to escape the drag that gravitationally pulls down things in any sphere of life and business.
Stephen A. Schwarzman, the Chairman, CEO, and Co-Founder of the Blackstone group, a global private equity firm, said something profound in his book titled “What It Takes: Lessons in the pursuit of excellence.”
He said, “The harder the problem is, the more limited the competition and the greater the reward for whoever can solve it.”
This line from this book is viewed as an oversimplification by some but is undeniably the core of what it takes to succeed.
This article discusses the best banks in Atlanta, their rates, account types, and minimum deposits.
Table of contents
Introduction
Banking is one profession that has refined itself and managed to stay the same at the same time. Banking and capitalism are twins because they promote each other.
Railroads, automobiles, telephones, airplanes, oil companies, and technology firms came after banks.
Even today, some of our biggest banks trace their roots back to the founding of the United States. Banking keeps on getting more interesting with each passing year.
The rise of the Medici family and that of Lorenzo de’ Medici moved to the bank as it was to what it currently is now. The story has not been rosy, and the influence of banks has not waned but continues to grow.
Banks have grown bigger and better in more ways than many in the 1900s would have predicted.
Atlanta
Georgia’s largest city and principal trade and transportation center of the south-eastern United States is an extensive metropolitan area with 20 counties and cities.
Atlanta, a city that played an essential part in the Civil War and the 1960s Civil Rights Movement, has a population of more than 500,000.
To function as a bank with actual branches where you meet and attend to many customers, some structures need to be in place. Among them, money and talent are significant.
Work needs to be done to offer services that match the quality of banks like Goldman Sachs, which have around $ 92.65 billion in group shareholder equity.
Lots of money will be spent purchasing tens of thousands of computers and servers.
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Millions of square feet of space in office space all around the globe or within a region that the bank is interested in, and fuel to run for as long as it takes to get the deals you need.
There is also the need for manpower – the people doing the run around, as it is practically impossible for a few people to do all the running around and deal closing.
Employees in their thousands are what is needed. MDs, VPs, and other staff and their compensations and benefits.
What is a credit rating?
Investopedia defines credit rating as the “A credit rating is a quantified assessment of a borrower’s creditworthiness in general terms or concerning a particular debt or financial obligation.
A credit rating can be assigned to any entity that seeks to borrow money—an individual, a corporation, a state or provincial authority, or a sovereign government.”
The question of how it relates to banking was well answered by The Balance’s “what is a credit rating?”
It says “Bank credit ratings are estimates of how likely a bank is to default or go out of business. These grades are given by agencies such as Moody’s Investors Services.”
Best banks in Atlanta, Georgia
#1 – Ameris Bank
Ameris Bank under the bank holding company Ameris Bancorp is a public company traded as $ABCB and a component of the S&P 600 was founded in Moultrie, Georgia in 1971.
It was reformed and has since acquired many other banks that suffered from bank failure.
It moved its headquarters to Atlanta in October 2019. The company does its best to improve customer options and relations. It believes in its “Banking Beyond Convention” motto. The bank offers various services across several places, including Atlanta Georgia.
A look at its website read “Through online account opening, customers across the nation can benefit from Ameris Bank products and services.
Ameris Bank has full-service locations in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina and mortgage-only locations in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and Tennessee.”
The bank offers many accounts, most commonly checking and savings accounts.
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#2 – Wells Fargo Bank
Wells Fargo & Company is an American multinational financial services company headquartered in San Francisco, California, with executive offices throughout and overseas.
It is the world’s fourth-largest bank by market capitalization and the fourth-largest bank in the US by total assets. The bank believes in serving its customers and customers and communities.
The bank’s website says, “It doesn’t happen with one transaction, in one day on the job or in one quarter. It’s earned relationship by relationship.”
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The bank offers various account types – personal, business, and commercial accounts. It offers savings under the personal account block.
#3 – Bank of America
Founded in San Francisco, Bank of America was formed through NationsBank’s acquisition of BankAmerica in 1998.
It is the second-largest banking institution in the United States, after JPMorgan Chase, and the eighth largest bank in the world. Bank of America is one of the Big Four banking institutions of the United States.
The bank offers its customers a range of offers – checking, savings, credit cards, home loans, auto loans, small business options, investing options as well, and student banking.
The bank’s website reads “Banking, credit card, automobile loans, mortgage, and home equity products are provided by Bank of America, N.A. and affiliated banks, Members FDIC and wholly owned subsidiaries of Bank of America Corporation. Credit and collateral are subject to approval.”
#4 – Cornerstone Bank
Cornerstone Bank is unlike the other banks on this list because of how it operates and the nature of the people it serves.
The bank is local but serves the local Atlanta community to the its best abilities. Customers have good reviews, and that makes them deserving of a spot.
The bank’s website reads, “Cornerstone Bank was founded in 2001 by some of Atlanta’s top business leaders to serve small businesses, professional corporations, the real estate community, and the owners of those businesses.
Today, the Bank continues serving our communities as a leading SBA and Mortgage lender, tailoring custom solutions for our client’s banking needs.”
What is a “best banks in Atlanta, Georgia” list without attending to the business community?
The bank does not limit itself to the business class but also attends to personal banking services. The bank’s website again reads, “We understand the day-to-day pressures of running a business and working toward the future.
So you can rest assured that with Cornerstone Bank, your banking team will stand beside you, helping your business grow steadfastly and strongly.
Also, with highly trained banking center managers and staff, we can provide personal banking services to your family, employees, and fellow executives.
#5 – Chase Bank
Chase Bank, often as Chase, is a national bank headquartered in Manhattan, New York City, that constitutes the consumer and commercial banking subsidiary of the U.S. multinational banking and financial services holding company, JPMorgan Chase.
The bank was known as Chase Manhattan Bank until it merged with J.P. Morgan & Co. in 2000.
The bank offers online banking, credit cards, chase checking accounts, mortgage, and savings accounts.
#6 – Suntrust Bank
SunTrust Banks, Inc. was an American bank holding company with SunTrust Bank as its largest subsidiary and assets of US$199 billion as of March 31, 2018.
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The bank’s most direct corporate parent was established in 1891 in Atlanta, where it was headquartered. The bank’s primary businesses included deposits, lending, credit cards, and trust and investment services.
The company provided corporate and investment banking, capital market services, mortgage banking, and wealth management through its subsidiaries — with nearly 24,000 employees.
The bank offers some services that make things easier for its customers. It offers personal checking, mortgage, credit cards, investments and retirements, wealth management options, and corporate and commercial services.
#7 – Regions Bank
Regions Financial Corporation, formerly known as First Alabama Bancshares, was founded on July 13, 1971, with the merger of three Alabama banks.
These banks are the First National Bank of Montgomery, Alabama (opened 1871), Exchange Security Bank of Birmingham, Alabama (opened 1928), and First National Bank of Huntsville, Alabama (opened 1856).
The Regions bank offers checking accounts, savings accounts, credit cards, and some other business accounts and support.
#8 – PNC Bank
PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (stylized as PNC) is a bank holding company and financial services corporation based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Its banking subsidiary, PNC Bank, operates in 21 states and the District of Columbia with 2,296 branches and 9,051 ATMs.
The company also provides financial services such as asset management, wealth management, estate planning, loan servicing, and information processing.
The name “PNC” is derived from the initials of both of the bank’s two predecessor companies: Pittsburgh National Corporation and Provident National Corporation, which merged in 1983.
The bank offers some services for checking, credit cards, and savings.
#9 – Barclays Bank
Barclays is a British multinational investment bank and financial services company headquartered in London, England.
Apart from investment banking, Barclays is organized into four core businesses: personal banking, corporate banking, wealth management, and investment management.
Barclays Bank offers several products. Current accounts, savings accounts, loans, credit cards, and overdrafts.
#10 – Ally Bank
Ally Financial is a bank holding company organized in Delaware and headquartered in Detroit, Michigan.
The company provides financial services, including car finance and online banking via a direct bank. They also do corporate lending, vehicle insurance, mortgage loans, and an electronic trading platform to trade financial assets.
The bank prides itself on its ability to deliver its services. Ally Bank is involved in banking, home loans, and auto finance. They offer online savings accounts as well.
Conclusion
Ranking Bank Account Minimum deposit Interest rate
1 Ameris bank Savings $100 0.50%
2 Wells Fargo Savings $25 0.01%
3 Bank of America Savings $100 0.01%
4 Cornerstone bank Savings $5 0.01%
5 Chase bank Savings $5 0.01%
6 Suntrust bank Savings $100 0.01%
7 Regions bank Savings $50 0.01%
8 PNC bank Savings $0 0.50%
9 Barclays bank Savings $0 0.50%
10 Ally bank Savings $0 0.60%
Best banks in Atlanta
References
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