6 Best Banks for Real Estate Investors for 2021

The best banks for real estate investors offer a wide variety of commercial and noncommercial investment property loan options, as well as business checking and savings accounts, that make managing real estate finances easier. In this article, we have listed the top real estate investor-friendly banks based on the products and services offered, fees, rates, and other features.

The best banks for real estate investors are:

• Chase: Best overall for real estate loans and full-service banking
• Bank of America: Best for discounted funding with a relationship rewards program
• U.S. Bank: Best for short-term property investors
• Wells Fargo: Best for real estate banking without lender closing costs
• First Internet Bank: Best for a variety of real estate projects
• Capital One: Best for unlimited free monthly transactions

What Makes a Real Estate Investor-friendly Bank

A bank can be considered real estate investor-friendly if it provides the financial resources you need to support your investment goals and secure your funds. A good real estate bank should offer a selection of account and financing options, including checking and savings accounts, short-term mortgages, and portfolio loans for multiple properties. Furthermore, it should also provide an easily accessible banking platform that’s ideal for busy investors.

How to Choose the Best Real Estate Bank

It’s a good idea to look for real estate investment banking that offers more than mortgage and property lending. Most real estate investors need full-service banking and multiple account options, including personal and business checking and savings accounts. It’s also important to choose a bank that offers reasonable account terms and charges minimal fees.

Other essential features to consider are payment options like bill payment and funds accessibility through electronic transfers, ATM networks, and availability of physical branches. Some real estate banks offer introductory bonuses for opening a new account, so it’s an opportunity to get extra cash that you can put toward your savings or real estate investment.

Chase: Overall Best Bank for Real Estate Investors

Chase is one of the best banks for small businesses as well as for real estate investors. Chase is an excellent option for real estate investors who want to keep both business and personal finances in one bank. With Chase, you can open almost any account you need for your business or personal transactions easily, either online or in person.

Who it’s best for: Real estate investors who need business banking services like bill payment and easy access to funds through electronic transfers and ATMs.

Fees & Terms

• Monthly fee: $15; waived if you meet one of the following criteria:
  • Maintain a minimum daily balance of $2,000
  • Spend at least $2,000 in purchases (minus returns or refunds) using your Chase Ink® Business Card
  • Deposit $2,000 into your Chase checking account from your QuickAccept℠ and/or other eligible Chase Merchant Services transactions at least one business day prior to the last day of your bank account statement period
  • Maintain a linked Chase Private Client Checking℠ account
• Transaction fee: 40 cents per transaction after your first 20 transactions made with a teller, incoming wires, and all debits each month; no charge for electronic deposits and deposited items made via ATM, automated clearing house (ACH), and Chase QuickDeposit
• Cash deposit fees: $2.50 per $1,000 after the first $5,000 in cash deposited each month
• ATM fee: No charge at more than 16,000 in-network ATMs nationwide; $2.50 per non-Chase ATM transactions
• Minimum deposit to open: None
• Minimum balance requirement: None to maintain the account

Why We Like It

We like Chase Bank because it has several branch locations and a large ATM network across the country, making it a good choice for real estate investors who are always on the go. It also allows you to earn $300 when you open a Chase Business Complete Checking account and complete five qualifying transactions. Additionally, it offers a wide selection of real estate investment loan options that will help you with your financing needs.

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Bank of America: Best for Discounted Funding With Relationship Rewards Program

Aside from its variety of banking products, Bank of America also offers loyalty program benefits, making it an excellent bank option for real estate investors. The Preferred Rewards for Business program incentivizes relationship-building account holders with lower interest rates on related products, including credit cards and real estate investment loans. Bank of America also offers an opportunity to earn introductory rewards with a new Business Advantage Banking account and business credit card.

Who it’s best for: Real estate investors looking to receive discounted funding through the relationship program.

Fees & Terms

• Monthly fee: $13 to $18, depending on the state in which your business account has been opened; waived if you meet one of the following criteria during each checking statement cycle:
  • Spend $250 on new net purchases with your Bank of America business debit card, credit card, or charge card
  • Maintain at least $5,000 combined average monthly balance
  • Become a member of Preferred Rewards for Business
• Transaction fees: No fee for the first 200, then 45 cents per item
  • No excess transaction fee for ACH, debit card transactions, online bill pay, electronic debits, and checks deposited through remote deposit online
• Cash deposit fees: Free for the first $7,500, then 30 cents per $100 thereafter
• ATM fee: No charge for in-network ATMs nationwide, $2.50 per non-Bank of America ATM transaction
• Minimum initial deposit: $100
• Minimum balance requirement: None to maintain the account

Why We Like It

We like Bank of America because it offers a wide variety of real estate financing options as well as options for business checking and savings accounts. It also allows you to earn up to a $500 introductory bonus when you complete the qualifying transactions.

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U.S. Bank: Best for Short-term Property Investors

U.S. Bank is another heavy hitter on our list, offering commercial real estate loans, multiple locations nationwide, and full-service banking. U.S. Bank offers five-year loans, making it a terrific option for those who are looking for short-term financing. Furthermore, with the Silver Business Checking account, you’ll get business banking without the monthly service fee that comes with most business checking accounts.

Who it’s best for: Real estate professionals looking for solid business banking with access to short-term investment property loans.

Fees & Terms

• Monthly fee: None
• Transaction fees: 50 cents per transaction after the first 125 transactions each month
• Cash deposit fees: Free for the first $2,500 cash deposit
• ATM fee: No charge for in-network or out-of-network ATMs
• Minimum initial deposit: $100
• Minimum balance requirement: None to maintain the account

Why We Like It

U.S. Bank offers a basic business checking account with no monthly fee, which makes it an excellent choice for new investors who are just starting with their real estate venture. Another great thing about U.S. Bank is that it offers investment property loans with terms ranging from five to 25 years, which should meet the needs of most real estate investors.

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Wells Fargo: Best for Real Estate Banking Without Lender Closing Costs

Wells Fargo is a solid conventional bank that offers a variety of deposit accounts to meet all of your banking needs. Real estate investors will find Wells Fargo most appealing because it does not charge fees for lender closing costs, appraisals, loan origination, or locking in interest rates on its commercial real estate loans.

Who it’s best for: Real estate investors looking for easy bank access and real estate investment loans without lender closing costs.

Fees & Terms

• Monthly fee: $10, unless you maintain a minimum daily balance of $500
• Transaction fees: Free for the first 100 transactions each month; otherwise, it’s 50 cents per transaction thereafter
• Cash deposit fees: Free for the first $5,000 per month; 30 cents per $100 thereafter
• ATM fee: No charge for in-network ATMs nationwide, $2.50 per out-of-network ATM transactions
• Minimum initial deposit: $25
• Minimum balance requirement: None to maintain the account

Why We Like It

We like Wells Fargo because it offers no closing, appraisal, and origination fees on commercial real estate loans, which can help real estate investors save on financing costs. It also has several branch locations across the country, making it easy to withdraw funds and to get the loan assistance you need.

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First Internet Bank: Best for a Variety of Real Estate Projects

First Internet Bank prides itself on having a professional commercial real estate lending team that can help real estate investors get on the right track when it comes to their investment. First Internet Bank provides financing for a variety of projects, including residential construction, offices, multifamily, retail, and industrial projects. Additionally, First Internet Bank offers counseling, debt structuring, and underwriting services as well as banking products like checking and savings accounts.

Who it’s best for: Experienced real estate investors looking for a digital bank that provides real estate investment loans for a variety of projects, up to $25 million.

Fees & Terms

• Monthly fee: None
• Transaction fees: None, offers unlimited transactions
• Cash deposit fees: Not available
• ATM fee: None, reimburses ATM fees charged by other banks up to $10 per month
• Minimum initial deposit: $100
• Minimum balance requirement: None to maintain the account

Why We Like It

We like First Internet Bank because it offers a variety of bank account options that provide real estate investors with an opportunity to earn interest from their savings. With no monthly fees, you’ll never have to worry about meeting waiver requirements. It also provides commercial real estate loans up to $25 million, making it an excellent option for experienced investors who need to finance a larger project.

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Capital One: Best for Unlimited Free Monthly Transactions

Capital One is among the few banks that offer checking accounts with unlimited free transactions, which makes it a great option for investors who need to make more than 200 transactions each month. Capital One also offers custom commercial real estate lending solutions designed to meet every investor’s unique project needs.

Who it’s best for: Real estate investors that need to make unlimited monthly transactions and are looking for an expert team that can help with their real estate financing needs.

Fees & Terms

• Monthly fee: $15, waived if you maintain a $2,000 minimum 30- or 90-day average balance or have two other Capital One accounts
• Transaction fees: None, offers unlimited free transactions
• Cash deposit fees: Up to $5,000 per month free; $1 for every $1,000 after that
• ATM fee: None at more than 39,000 Allpoint ATMs nationwide
• Minimum initial deposit: $250
• Minimum balance requirement: None to maintain the account

Why We Like It

Aside from its checking account with unlimited free monthly transactions, Capital One made it to our list of best banks for real estate investors because it offers a wide array of commercial real estate funding products. It is an approved lender with Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and FHA and also offers institutional specialty solutions like real estate investment trusts (REITs) and real estate investment funds (REIFs).

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Honorable Mention: BlueVine Business Checking

BlueVine is another great real estate investor-friendly bank option for managing your business funds. With no monthly fees and no transaction fees, it’s a great place to open multiple accounts for your multiple properties. BlueVine Business Checking account earns a high annual percentage yield (APY) on all balances, so you’ll earn money on your deposits.

Who it’s best for: Real estate investors with multiple investment properties who need more than one account to manage them.

Fees & Terms

• Monthly fee: None
• Transaction fees: None
• Cash deposit fees: Cash deposits aren’t available.
• ATM fee: No charge for in-network ATMs nationwide (38,000 ATMs)
• Minimum deposit to open: None
• Minimum balance requirement: None to maintain the account
• Ongoing APY: 1% on balances up to $100,000

Why We Like It

BlueVine offers fee-free banking as well as business lending products that can help real estate investors with their funding needs. It also offers 1% APY on balances up to $100,000, making this a terrific choice for investors who want to earn interest from their deposit.

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How We Evaluated Real Estate Banks

For this article, we specifically looked for banks that offer a selection of real estate investment products to support investment property businesses. We prioritized financing, such as investment property loans and considered business products that investors might need like checking and savings accounts.

Bottom Line

Real estate banking provides access to property loans, but real estate investor-friendly banks offer more than just financing. The best banks for real estate investors also offer deposit accounts and business products that support your business. Make sure to find a bank that offers the real estate investment services and other banking products that will work best for you.