Western Alliance Bank review: How do its basic and premium banking products compare?

If you're looking for a bank that makes your money work harder, Western Alliance Bank offers a range of financial products tailored to your needs. The Western Alliance High-Yield Savings Account offers one of the highest rates among our top picks, and with their other solid offerings among their products, you can manage all your banking in one place. Here's what you need to know.

• Western Alliance checking accounts
• Western Alliance high-yield savings accounts 
• Western Alliance CDs 
• How does Western Alliance Bank compare?

A Western Alliance checking account and interest checking account share many features, including a monthly service fee you can avoid by maintaining a minimum daily balance.

While that's less ideal than a no-fee checking account, the bank's high-yield savings account is one of the best we've seen. If you choose Western Alliance for your savings, you may find maintaining a minimum balance that's more than attainable is worth the convenience of having your checking and savings accounts under one (digital) roof. Plus, as the name suggests, the Personal Interest Checking account allows you to earn some money on your balance, which is always welcome.

Here's how these checking accounts compare: 

Personal checking

• $100 opening deposit requirement  
• A monthly service fee of $5, with the option to waive by maintaining a daily balance of at least $500 or a monthly recurring direct deposit
• Does not earn interest  

Interest checking 

• $100 opening deposit requirement  
• A monthly service fee of $10 with the option to waive by maintaining a daily balance of at least $1,500 or being 55 or older
• Tiered interest rates (contact institution for details)

Western Alliance offers both a traditional savings account and a high-yield savings account. The APY on the Western Alliance Personal Savings Account is available upon account opening, so you'd have to contact the institution for further details.

On the other hand, the Western Alliance HYSA (offered through online savings platform Raisin) boasts one of the highest rates on the market. There's no cap on the balance that earns the APY, and you can make unlimited withdrawals.

Another nice feature of this account is its lack of fees. You won't deal with any overdraft or monthly maintenance fees, and you only need a minimum deposit of $1 to open the account.   

It's worth noting that this account is operated through Raisin, a savings platform that handles your deposits and withdrawals, bank statements, and customer service. Your funds remain FDIC-insured, and according to Raisin's website, the platform employs security measures like encryption and multi-factor authentication to safeguard your money. 

Also powered by Raisin, Western Alliance high-yield CDs offer terms of three months to one year, with a minimum opening deposit of $1 and an early withdrawal penalty equal to 90 days' simple interest.  

Western Alliance Bank is great for its diverse banking options but it's not for everyone. Other banks also offer a plethora of banking services like Western Alliance with different features included. 

If you're looking for an interest-bearing checking account, the Happen Bank LevelUp Checking account offers 1% unlimited cash back on qualified purchases with your debit card. The account requires a minimum opening deposit of only $25 and doesn't charge any overdraft or maintenance fees. In return you get 0.10% APY for balances between $2,500.00 and $99,999.99; and 0.15% APY for balances of $100,000.00 or more. The Happen Bank LevelUp Savings account also offers a high APY with just a $100 opening deposit requirement and no monthly fees.

SoFi Bank also offers a SoFi Checking and Savings Account that's worth a look, especially if you already have monthly direct deposits of $5,000 or more. New account holders (or current account holders without direct deposit set up) may also qualify for a bonus of $50 or $400 by meeting specific direct deposit requirements. You'll receive the full $400 bonus* by direct depositing at least $5,000 during the direct deposit bonus period. Even depositing between $1,000 and $4,999.99 earns you a $50 bonus. 

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every banking review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of banking products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best banking products.

Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of credit cards, banking and money, and follow us on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.

*New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more) OR $400 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more). Cash bonus amount will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 5/15/2026 and will be available through 12/31/2026. Full terms at sofi.com/banking. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC. SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit can earn 3.30% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 3.30% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Eligible Direct Deposit will earn 0.80% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 9/23/26. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet. *SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per depositor per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC's regulations. Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $3M through participation in the program. See full terms at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms. See list of participating banks at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks. *Earn up to 4.20% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on one SoFi Savings account with a 0.90% APY Boost (added to the 3.30% APY as of 9/23/26) for up to 6 months. Open your first SoFi Checking and Savings account and receive eligible direct deposits OR qualifying deposits of $5,000 every 31 days by 12/31/26. Rates are variable, subject to change. Terms apply at sofi.com/banking#4. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.