Western State Bank Review
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At a glance
Overview
Western State Bank is ideal for those in North Dakota or Arizona looking for a wide choice of checking accounts with unique perks and no fees or easy-to-avoid fees. The bank also offers access to thousands of ATMs through the MoneyPass ATM network.
Highlights:
ATM Fee Refunds Free CheckingHighlights:
CDs
Checking
Savings
MMA
Offers featured here have been sponsored which impacts how, where, and in what order the products appear. Not all offers are displayed on this page.
These are sponsored offers rated highly by us for competitive rates, fees, and minimums.
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
Bankrate Savings rating = 5/5
Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Our scoring formula weighs several factors consumers should consider when choosing financial products and services.
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
Bankrate Savings rating = 4.4/5
Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Our scoring formula weighs several factors consumers should consider when choosing financial products and services.
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
Bankrate Savings rating = 4.6/5
Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Our scoring formula weighs several factors consumers should consider when choosing financial products and services.
Offers featured here have been sponsored which impacts how, where, and in what order the products appear. Not all offers are displayed on this page.
Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Our scoring formula weighs several factors consumers should consider when choosing financial products and services.
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Our scoring formula weighs several factors consumers should consider when choosing financial products and services.
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Our scoring formula weighs several factors consumers should consider when choosing financial products and services.
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Our scoring formula weighs several factors consumers should consider when choosing financial products and services.
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Our scoring formula weighs several factors consumers should consider when choosing financial products and services.
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
Overall
Western State Bank is a well-established, federally-insured bank based in North Dakota that offers deposit and loan products for individuals and businesses in North Dakota and Arizona. While it doesn’t offer very exciting rates, its accounts generally require little to open and come with perks, such as ATM fee refunds.
Pros
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Western State Bank offers a selection of checking accounts with lots of perks and minimal fees.
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Customers have access to the vast MoneyPass ATM network.
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It offers digital banking tools.
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The bank prioritizes community involvement and offers benefits to service members.
Cons
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You can only apply for a checking or savings account if you’re a resident of North Dakota, Arizona or Minnesota.
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APYs on deposit products tend to be low compared with top national offers.
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Information on products is not readily available, since its website doesn’t post APYs or CD terms.
Western State Bank banking products
Western State Bank savings overview
Pros
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The minimum deposit required to open an account and the balance needed to earn the APY are very low.
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The $5 monthly service fee is waived for balances of at least $100.
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Customers can make unlimited free debits.
Cons
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The account's APY is very low.
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The bank doesn’t post its savings APY on its website.
Western State Bank CD overview
Pros
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The bank offers a range of CD terms, enabling depositors to build a CD ladder.
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One specialty CD is offered with a competitive yield.
Cons
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CDs are not advertised on the bank website and must be opened in a branch.
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Rates on non-specialty CDs are low.
Western State Bank money market overview
Pros
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It’s possible to earn a very competitive rate with the High Yield Money Market account.
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There’s no monthly fee.
Cons
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The High Yield Money Market account requires a high minimum of $5,000 to open.
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It can only be opened online
Western State Bank checking overview
Pros
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The bank offers a range of checking accounts to fit customers’ needs.
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Customers get $20 in monthly ATM fee refunds.
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Checking customers get free Western State Bank checks.
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The $50 opening deposit is reasonable.
Cons
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To earn interest, customers will need to open a VIP Checking or VIP Plus Checking account, which have higher minimum balances and monthly fees.
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APYs on interest-bearing accounts are not posted on the website.
Bank fees
| Fees | Charges |
|---|---|
| Overdraft fee | $35 |
| Checking maintenance fee | $0 |
| Savings maintenance fee | $5 if balance falls below $100 |
| Money market maintenance fee | $10 if balance falls below $1,000 |
| Excessive transaction fee | $5 for each transaction after the first 10 per month (for money market accounts) |
Customer experience
24/7 support is available. Customers can email the bank through its Contact Us page on its website. There’s also an emergency phone line for lost or stolen debit, credit and ATM cards, which is available outside of branch business hours.
Resources provided for customers and community. One unique service for customers is the bank’s “Move-on-Over Kit,” which provides helpful resources to assist new customers transitioning from another bank. The bank also sponsors the Cause in Your Community program, providing financial support to local nonprofits, and donates regularly to local schools.
Digital experience
Moderate to high app ratings. Western State Bank’s mobile app has an average rating of 4.8 stars on the Apple app store and 4.1 stars from Google Play.
Limited access to other payment services. The bank doesn’t offer Zelle, one of the most popular peer-to-peer (P2P) payment services.
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Review methodology
We assign a score to each type of account and its features, weigh them carefully based on importance to account holders and determine an overall score. Read our full review methodology.
