NBKC Bank review 2023

Launched in 1999, NBKC is an FDIC-member bank offering checking, savings, money market, and CD accounts, plus home loans and credit cards (our NBKC review focuses on the bank’s deposit accounts). NBKC is primarily an online bank but operates four brick-and-mortar branches in the Kansas City metropolitan area. 

The best banks have low fees, and NBKC comes out on top with free access to a network of 37,000+ MoneyPass ATMs nationwide (and reimbursements up to $12/month for fees charged by other ATMs) plus zero fees for monthly maintenance, overdrafts, returned items, cashier’s checks, money orders, and stop payments. 

The top banks also offer competitive rates, and NBKC CDs earn as much as 5.40% APY — about three times higher than the national average rate. Still, as other NBKC Bank reviews point out, you can find better savings account interest rates elsewhere: NBKC’s savings account earns 1.50% APY, but the best savings accounts offer 5.00% APY right now.

• Competitive yields on some deposit accounts
• No monthly service or overdraft fees
• Up to $12 of ATM reimbursements per month
• Money market account comes with a debit card and paper checks

• Hybrid checking and savings account that pays 1.50% APY on all balances.
• $0 minimum deposit to open an account, plus no monthly service or overdraft fees. 

NBKC’s interest-bearing Everything Account combines the features of a checking account with customizable savings tools to help you set goals and stay on track. You’ll have access to a network of 37,000+ fee-free ATMs, plus convenient access to your money via debit card, transfers, online bill pay, mobile deposit, and popular money-sending services like Venmo, Apple Pay, and Cash App. Another plus is that you can deposit cash at NBKC-owned ATMs, a feature not all banks offer.

• $250 to $1,000 minimum opening deposit, depending on the term.
• 0.10% to 5.40% APY, with interest compounded daily and credited quarterly. 

NBKC offers CDs ranging from six months to five years. The seven-, 11-, and 15-month CDs offer NBKC’s top rate of 5.40% APY, with lower (but still competitive) rates on everything else. For reference, the best CD rates available today are around 5.75% APY. 

There’s a $1,000 minimum to open CDs with terms of 15 months or less and a $250 minimum for longer maturities. NBKC also offers IRA CDs, but the rates are poor (0.10% to 0.55% APY) compared to what you can find elsewhere. 

Like most CDs, an early withdrawal penalty applies if you need cash before the CD matures. The penalties are higher than some banks and range from 90 to 540 days of interest, depending on the CD term. (NBKC doesn’t disclose much information about CDs on its website, so we contacted a customer service rep for details about the penalties.)

• 2.50% APY on all account balances with a $0 minimum opening deposit. 
• The account comes with a debit card and paper checks. 

NBKC doesn’t offer a dedicated savings account — its Everything Account is a hybrid checking/savings account. However, you can park your cash in a Personal Money Market account that earns 2.50% APY. Like the Everything Account, there are no monthly service or overdraft fees and zero minimum balance requirements to open the account or earn the APY. The account comes with a debit card and paper checks, providing easy access to your cash. 

NBKC offers a range of other financial products, including:

• Credit cards (secured and unsecured options)
• Mortgages
• Bridge loans
• Home equity loans
• Home equity lines of credit (HELOCs)
• Home construction loans (for Kansas City metro area borrowers only)
• Personal loans (for Kansas City metro area borrowers only)
• Auto, boat, and RV loans (for Kansas City metro area borrowers only)

If you live in the Kansas City metro area, you can stop by one of NBKC’s branches. Otherwise, you can reach customer service for general account support on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST and on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. for deposit account support. You can call anytime (24/7/365) to report a lost or stolen card. 

Many online banks have eliminated fees, and NBKC is no exception. There are no monthly service charges or ATM fees when you use a MoneyPass ATM, nor are there fees for overdrafts, returned items, cashier’s checks, money orders, or stop payments. Still, there are a couple of situations where NBKC charges a fee, including: 

• $5 for outgoing domestic wire transfers
• $45 for incoming or outgoing international wire transfers 

NBKC only has a handful of branch locations, so most customers access their accounts via desktop or the bank’s mobile app. The app has 4.4 out of 5 stars in the Apple App Store and 4.1 out of 5 stars in the Google Play store. There are ample convenient ways to access your cash, including by ATM, debit card, electronic transfer, online bill pay, mobile check deposit, and money-sending apps like Venmo and PayPal. NBKC also offers an extensive network of fee-free ATMs where you can withdraw money and deposit cash.

NBKC is a good option if you prioritize low fees and are comfortable with online banking (or live in the Kansas City metro area). It’s also worth considering if you like the idea of a hybrid checking/savings account, are looking for a competitive CD rate, or want a money market account that offers both a debit card and paper checks (not all money market accounts do). 

NBKC’s hybrid checking/savings account offers a 1.50% APY, which is significantly lower than the best savings account rates available now. And while its money market account offers the convenience of paper checks and a debit card, the 2.50% APY is lower than some banks offer. You should look elsewhere if getting competitive savings rates is a priority — or if you live outside the Kansas City metro area and want access to in-person banking. 

NBKC doesn’t have the best savings rates, but it offers low fees and a range of financial products, enabling you to have numerous financial accounts under one roof. Another perk is that it provides multiple options for moving your money around, including online bill pay, mobile check deposit, and sending and receiving money through popular apps like Venmo. NBKC may be a solid option for your personal banking needs if you like its flexibility and don’t need the highest savings rates.  

NBKC is an FDIC-member bank, so your deposits are federally insured up to $250,000 per depositor, per account ownership type. 

Editorial Disclosure: All articles are prepared by editorial staff and contributors. Opinions expressed therein are solely those of the editorial team and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including rates and fees, presented in this article is accurate as of the date of the publish. Check the lender’s website for the most current information.

This article was originally published on SFGate.com and reviewed by Lauren Williamson, who serves as Financial and Home Services Editor for the Hearst E-Commerce team. Email her at [email protected].