Northeast · MA

Banks in Massachusetts

Massachusetts is a major financial centre with a dense bank and credit union market. Boston hosts large regional banks as well as national operations.

How to use this page. Information is compiled from state banking departments, the FDIC and the NCUA. Banking rules and product availability change — always confirm details with the bank itself before acting. This is educational information, not a recommendation of any provider.

ItemDetail
StateMassachusetts (MA)
CapitalBoston
RegionNortheast
State regulatorMassachusetts Division of Banks
Deposit protection250,000 USD per depositor, per insured bank (FDIC) or credit union (NCUA)
Identity neededSSN or ITIN, plus government photo ID

Banks based in or prominent in Massachusetts

These institutions have a meaningful presence in the state, whether headquartered there or operating a substantial branch network.

Eastern Bank

State presence

A US bank headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, and one of the largest banks based in New England. It is FDIC insured. Eastern combines commercial and consumer banking with a long-standing community commitment, and converted from a mutual holding company structure to a stock holding company in 2024. Deposits are protected up to 250,000 USD per depositor, per insured bank through the FDIC.

Citizens Bank

State presence

Citizens Bank is a commercial bank in the United States, with head-office locations recorded in Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. It is supervised by the federal banking agencies and by the state regulator of its home state, and it is FDIC insured. Deposits are protected up to 250,000 USD per depositor, per insured bank through the FDIC. Our directory indexes it under Delaware, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, part of 5 US states indexed in total. It operates as a commercial bank, taking deposits and lending to consumers and businesses.

Santander Bank

State presence

Santander Bank is a commercial bank in the United States. Our directory records its head office in Massachusetts. Deposits are protected up to 250,000 USD per depositor, per insured bank through the FDIC. It operates as a commercial bank, taking deposits and lending to consumers and businesses. It is supervised by Massachusetts Division of Banks at state level and by the federal banking agencies, and it is FDIC insured.

Rockland Trust

State presence

Rockland Trust is a commercial bank in the United States. Our directory records its head office in Massachusetts. It operates as a commercial bank, taking deposits and lending to consumers and businesses. It is supervised by Massachusetts Division of Banks at state level and by the federal banking agencies, and it is FDIC insured. Deposits are protected up to 250,000 USD per depositor, per insured bank through the FDIC.

Berkshire Bank

State presence

A US regional bank headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. It is FDIC insured. Berkshire operates branches across New England and upstate New York, focused on consumer banking, small-business lending and commercial banking, and is deliberately weighted towards lending in the communities where it has branches. Deposits are protected up to 250,000 USD per depositor, per insured bank through the FDIC.

Credit unions in Massachusetts

Credit unions are member-owned and not-for-profit, which usually means higher savings rates and lower fees. Membership eligibility varies, so check before applying.

Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU)

Credit union

A federally chartered credit union headquartered in Marlborough, Massachusetts, commonly known as DCU. Member deposits are protected by the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund. It was originally formed to serve Digital Equipment Corporation employees and now serves a broad field of membership, offering current accounts, savings, vehicle loans and mortgages nationally. Our directory indexes it under Massachusetts.

Metro Credit Union

Credit union

Metro Credit Union is a credit union operating in the United States. Our directory indexes it under Massachusetts. It is owned by its members rather than by outside shareholders, so earnings are returned to members through rates, fees or dividends. Federally insured credit unions are supervised by the National Credit Union Administration. Member deposits are protected up to 250,000 USD per member, per insured credit union through the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (NCUA).

Available in Massachusetts from anywhere

National banks and digital banks operate in every state, so your location does not restrict access to them.

National banks

Chase

National bank

The consumer and commercial banking division of JPMorgan Chase, headquartered in New York City. It is the largest US bank by assets, holds a national charter supervised by the OCC, and is FDIC insured. Chase runs one of the widest branch networks in the country and offers current accounts, savings, credit cards, mortgages and business banking under one brand.

Bank of America

National bank

One of the largest banks in the United States by assets, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. The bank covers consumer and small-business banking, mortgage lending, wealth management through Merrill, and corporate and investment banking. It operates a nationwide branch network and one of the largest US mobile banking platforms. It holds a national charter supervised by the OCC and is FDIC insured.

Wells Fargo

National bank

One of the largest US banks by assets, headquartered in San Francisco, California. Wells Fargo is one of the few American banks with a genuinely coast-to-coast branch network, and combines consumer banking, mortgages, auto lending, wealth management and commercial banking. It has operated under regulatory consent orders since 2016. It holds a national charter supervised by the OCC and is FDIC insured.

Citibank

National bank

The consumer banking arm of Citigroup, headquartered in New York City. It holds a national bank charter supervised by the OCC and is FDIC insured. Unlike the other national banks, Citibank concentrates its US retail branches in a limited number of metropolitan areas, while its parent operates a much broader institutional and cross-border banking franchise.

Capital One

National bank

A US bank holding company headquartered in McLean, Virginia, best known for credit cards and consumer lending. Capital One runs a smaller branch network than the traditional national banks and has built its model around data-driven underwriting and digital servicing. It also operates a sizeable auto lending business. It holds a national bank charter supervised by the OCC and is FDIC insured.

Digital banks

Chime

Digital

A US financial technology company, not a bank. Chime is headquartered in San Francisco and provides current accounts and a secured credit-building card through partner institutions — historically The Bancorp Bank and Stride Bank — which hold the deposits and provide FDIC insurance. Because Chime is not chartered, protection depends on the partner bank, and that distinction matters when comparing it with a chartered digital bank.

SoFi

Digital

A US digital financial services company headquartered in San Francisco. Its banking subsidiary, SoFi Bank, holds a national bank charter granted in 2022 and is FDIC insured, which lets it take deposits directly rather than routing them through a partner. SoFi began in student loan refinancing and now offers current accounts, savings, personal loans, investing and brokerage within one app.

Ally Bank

Digital

The online-only banking subsidiary of Ally Financial, headquartered in Sandy, Utah, with its parent based in Detroit. Ally Bank holds a US bank charter and is FDIC insured, but runs no branches — deposits and servicing are handled online, by app and by telephone. It is best known for competitive high-yield savings accounts and for charging no monthly maintenance fees on its main accounts.

Discover

Digital

A US consumer bank headquartered in Greenwood, Delaware, historically best known for its credit card franchise and for pioneering cash-back rewards. Discover Bank is FDIC insured. The business was acquired by Capital One in 2025, so its branding and product line are in the process of being folded into the larger group. It offers online savings accounts, certificates of deposit and personal loans with no branch network.

Varo

Digital

A US digital bank headquartered in San Francisco. It offers a fee-light current account and savings product, with no branch network and no minimum balance requirement. The charter means Varo takes deposits directly rather than relying on a partner bank. Varo Bank received a national bank charter in 2020, becoming the first US consumer fintech to obtain one, and deposits are FDIC insured.

Opening a bank account in Massachusetts

The process is similar across the country, but the documents you need are strict. Work through these in order.

  1. 1
    Provide a Massachusetts driver licence, state ID or passport.
  2. 2
    Supply your SSN or ITIN.
  3. 3
    Give a Massachusetts residential address.
  4. 4
    Apply online or in branch; some banks require in-person for first accounts.
  5. 5
    Fund the account to activate it.

Massachusetts banking rules worth knowing

  • The Massachusetts Division of Banks supervises state-chartered banks and credit unions.
  • Massachusetts has a specific small-loan rate statute that caps interest on certain consumer loans.
  • State law addresses dormant account escheat timelines — accounts inactive for three years can be transferred to the state.

Other things to keep in mind

  • Boston has unusually strong competition among banks, which helps on rates and fees.
  • Dormant accounts can be escheated to the state after three years — keep accounts active.
  • Federally insured by the NCUA up to 250,000 USD per member, separate from FDIC coverage.

Frequently asked questions

Which agency regulates banks in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts state-chartered banks are supervised by the Massachusetts Division of Banks. Banks with a national charter are supervised federally by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency instead, regardless of which state they operate in.
How do I open a bank account in Massachusetts?
Provide a Massachusetts driver licence, state ID or passport. Supply your SSN or ITIN. Give a Massachusetts residential address. Apply online or in branch; some banks require in-person for first accounts. Fund the account to activate it.
Are my deposits protected if a bank in Massachusetts fails?
Yes, up to a limit. Banks in Massachusetts that are insured by the FDIC carry 250,000 US dollars of protection per depositor, per insured bank, per ownership category. Federally insured credit unions have the same limit through the NCUA. Protection is attached to the institution, not to each account, so two accounts at one bank share a single limit.
Do I need to live in Massachusetts to open an account there?
For national and digital banks, no. Those operate in every state and usually only require an SSN or ITIN and a US address. For a regional bank headquartered in Massachusetts, residency in the state or a nearby area is often expected and can make in-branch verification simpler.

Sources and verification

The regulatory details on this page come from the bodies that publish them, not from secondary summaries. Each was checked in September 2026.

Banking rules and product availability change. Always confirm details with the institution itself before acting. This page is educational information, not a recommendation of any provider. Last reviewed: September 2026.

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