We have a great selection of used, old, and reconditioned safes, perfect for the individual looking for a safe on a budget. Take a look at all of our discounted safes. All our used safes are closely inspected and reconditioned by our experts to insure you are not losing any security when it comes to buying a safe. The Safe Deposit Specialists’ Safe Deposit Report Card lists 30 questions to ask your bank before signing up for a safe deposit box. Opting out of both safe deposit boxes and home safes?
A bank vault is a secure space where money, valuables, records, and documents are stored. It is intended to protect their contents from theft, unauthorized use, fire, natural disasters, and other threats, much like a safe. Unlike safes, vaults are an integral part of the building within which they are built, using armored walls and a tightly fashioned door closed with a complex lock.
Historically, strongrooms were built in the basements of banks where the ceilings were vaulted, hence the name. Modern bank vaults typically contain many safe deposit boxes, as well as places for teller cash drawers and other valuable assets of the bank or its customers. They are also common in other buildings where valuables are kept such as post offices, grand hotels, rare book libraries and certain government ministries.
Vault technology developed in a type of arms race with bank robbers. As burglars came up with new ways to break into vaults, vault makers found new ways to foil them. Modern vaults may be armed with a wide array of alarms and anti-theft devices. Some 19th and early 20th century vaults were built so well that today they are difficult to destroy.[1] These older vaults were typically made with steel-reinforced concrete. The walls were usually at least 1 ft (0.3 m) thick, and the door itself was typically 3.5 ft (1.1 m) thick. Total weight ran into the hundreds of tons (see the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland). Today vaults are made with thinner, lighter materials that, while still secure, are easier to dismantle than their earlier counterparts.
History[edit]
The need for secure storage stretches far back in time. The earliest known locks were made by the Egyptians. Ancient Romans used a more sophisticated locking system, called warded locks. Warded locks had special notches and grooves that made picking them more difficult. Lock technology advanced independently in ancient India, Russia, and China, where the combination lock is thought to have originated. In the United States, most banks relied on small iron safes fitted with a key lock up until the middle of the nineteenth century. After the Gold Rush of 1849, unsuccessful prospectors turned to robbing banks. The prospectors would often break into the bank using a pickaxe and hammer. The safe was usually small enough that the thief could get it out a window, and take it to a secluded spot to break it open.
Banks demanded more protection and safe makers responded by designing larger, heavier safes. Safes with a key lock were still vulnerable through the key hole, and bank robbers soon learned to blast off the door by pouring explosives in this opening. In 1861, inventor Linus Yale Jr. introduced the modern combination lock. Bankers quickly adopted Yale's lock for their safes, but bank robbers came up with several ways to get past the new invention. It was possible to use force to punch the combination lock through the door. Other experienced burglars learned to drill holes into the lock case and use mirrors to view the slots in the combination wheels inside the mechanism. A more direct approach was to simply kidnap the bank manager and force him to reveal the combination.
After the inventions of the combination lock, James Sargent—an employee of Yale—developed the 'theft proof lock.' This was a combination lock that worked on a timer. The vault or safe door could only be opened after a set number of hours had passed, thus a kidnapped bank employee could not open the lock in the middle of the night even under force. Time locks became widespread at banks in the 1870s. This reduced the kidnappings, but set bank robbers to work again at prying or blasting open vaults. Thieves developed tools for forcing open a tiny crack between the vault door and frame. As the crack widened, the thieves levered the door open or poured in gunpowder and blasted it off. Vault makers responded with a series of stair-stepped grooves in the door frame so the door could not be levered open. But these grooves proved ideal for a new weapon: liquid nitroglycerin. Professional bank robbers learned to boil dynamite in a kettle of water and skim the nitroglycerin off the top. They could drip this volatile liquid into the door grooves and destroy the door. Vault makers subsequently redesigned their doors so they closed with a thick, smooth, tapered plug. The plug fit so tightly that there was no room for the nitroglycerin.
By the 1920s, most banks avoided using safes and instead turned to gigantic, heavy vaults with walls and doors several feet thick. These were meant to withstand not only robbers but also angry mobs and natural disasters. Despite the new security measures, these vaults were still vulnerable to yet another new invention, the cutting torch. Burning oxygen and acetylene gas at about 6,000 °F (3,300 °C), the torch could easily cut through steel. It was in use as early as 1907, but became widespread with World War I. Robbers used cutting torches in over 200 bank robberies in 1924 alone. Manufacturers learned to sandwich a copper alloy into vault doors. If heated, the high thermal conductivity of copper dissipates the heat to prevent melting or burning. After this design improvement, bank burglaries fell off and were far less common at the end of the 1920s than at the beginning of the decade.
Technology continues in the race with bank robbers, coming up with new devices such as heat sensors, motion detectors, and alarms. Bank robbers have in turn developed even more technological tools to find ways around these systems. Although the number of bank robberies has been cut dramatically, they are still attempted.
Materials used in vaults and vault doors have changed as well. The earlier vaults had steel doors, but because these could easily be cut by torches, different materials were tried. Massive cast iron doors had more resistance to acetylene torches than steel. The modern preferred vault door material is the same concrete as used in the vault wall panels. It is usually clad in steel for cosmetic reasons.
Design[edit]
Bank vaults are built as custom orders. The vault is usually the first aspect of a new bank building to be designed and built. The manufacturing process begins with the design of the vault, and the rest of the bank is built around it. The vault manufacturer consults with the customer to determine factors such as the total vault size, desired shape, and location of the door. After the customer signs off on the design, the manufacturer configures the equipment to make the vault panels and door. The customer usually orders the vault to be delivered and installed. That is, the vault manufacturer not only makes the vault parts, but brings the parts to the construction site and puts them together.
Bank vaults are typically made with steel-reinforced concrete. This material was not substantially different from that used in construction work. It relied on its immense thickness for strength. An ordinary vault from the middle of the 20th century might have been 18 in (45.72 cm) thick and was quite heavy and difficult to remove or remodel around. Modern bank vaults are now typically made of modular concrete panels using a special proprietary blend of concrete and additives for extreme strength. The concrete has been engineered for maximum crush resistance. A panel of this material, though only 3 in (7.62 cm) thick, may be up to 10 times as strong as an 18 in-thick (45.72-cm) panel of regular formula concrete.
There are at least two public examples of vaults withstanding a nuclear blast. The most famous is the Teikoku Bank in Hiroshima whose two Mosler Safe Company vaults survived the atomic blast with all contents intact. The bank manager wrote a congratulatory note to Mosler.[2][3] A second is a vault at the Nevada National Security Site (formerly the Nevada Test Site) in which an above ground Mosler vault was one of many structures specifically constructed to be exposed to an atomic blast.[4][5]
Manufacturing process[edit]
Panels[edit]
The wall panels are molded first using a special reinforced concrete mix. In addition to the usual cement powder, stone, etc., additional materials such as metal shavings or abrasive materials may be added to resist drilling penetration of the slab. Unlike regular concrete used in construction, the concrete for bank vaults is so thick that it cannot be poured. The consistency of concrete is measured by its 'slump'. Vault concrete has zero slump. It also sets very quickly, curing in only six to 12 hours, instead of the three to four days needed for most concrete.[6][7]
- A network of reinforcing steel rods are manually placed into the damp mix.
- The molds are vibrated for several hours. The vibration settles the material and eliminates air pockets.
- The edges are smoothed with a trowel, and the concrete is allowed to harden.
- The panels are removed from the mold and placed on a truck for transport to the customer's construction site.
Door[edit]
The vault door is also molded of special concrete used to make the panels, but it can be made in several ways. The door mold differs from the panel molds because there is a hole for the lock and the door will be clad in stainless steel. Some manufacturers use the steel cladding as the mold and pour the concrete directly into it. Other manufacturers use a regular mold and screw the steel on after the panel is dry.
Round vault doors were popular in the early 20th century and are iconic images for a bank's high security. They fell out of favor due to manufacturing complexities, maintenance issues (door sag due to weight) and cost, but a few examples are still available.[8][9]
A day gate is a second door inside the main vault door frame used for limited vault protection while the main door is open. It is often made of open metal mesh or glass and is intended to keep a casual visitor out rather than to provide true security.[10]
Lock[edit]
A vault door, much like the smaller burglary safe door, is secured with numerous massive metal bolts (cylinders) extending from the door into the surrounding frame. Holding those bolts in place is some sort of lock. The lock is invariably mounted on the inside (behind) of the difficult to penetrate door and is usually very modest in size and strength, but very difficult to gain access to from the outside. There are many types of lock mechanisms in use:
- A combination lock similar in principle to that of a padlock or safe door is very common. This is usually a mechanical device but products incorporating both mechanical and electronic mechanisms are available, making certain safe cracking techniques very difficult.[11]
- High security key locks are used in a few vault doors.[12]
- A dual control (dual custody) combination lock has two dials controlling two locking mechanisms for the door. They are usually configured so that both locks must be dialed open at the same time for the door to be unlocked. No single person is given both combinations, requiring two people to cooperate to open the door. Some doors may be configured so that either dial will unlock the door, trading off increased convenience for lessened security.
- A time lock is a clock that prevents the vault's door from opening until a specified number of hours have passed. This is still the 'theft proof' lock system that Sargent invented in the late nineteenth century. Such locks are manufactured by only a few companies worldwide. The locking system is supplied to the vault manufacturer preassembled.
- Many safe-cracking techniques also apply to the locking mechanism of the vault door. They may be complicated by the sheer thickness and strength of the door and panel.
Installation[edit]
- The finished vault panels, door, and lock assembly are transported to the bank construction site. The vault manufacturer's workers then place the panels enclosed in steel at the designated spots and weld them together. The vault manufacturer may also supply an alarm system, which is installed at the same time. While older vaults employed various weapons against burglars, such as blasts of steam or tear gas, modern vaults instead use technological countermeasures. They can be wired with a listening device that picks up unusual sounds, or observed with a camera. An alarm is often present to alert local police if the door or lock is tampered with.
US Resistance Standards[edit]
Quality control for much of the world's vault industry is overseen by Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL), in Northbrook, Illinois. Until 1991, the United States government also regulated the vault industry. The government set minimum standards for the thickness of vault walls, but advances in concrete technology made thickness an arbitrary measure of strength. Thin panels of new materials were far stronger than the thicker, poured concrete walls. Now the effectiveness of the vault is measured by how well it performs against a mock break-in. Manufacturers also do their own testing designing a new product to make sure it is likely to succeed in UL trials.[13] Key points include:
- It is based on using 'common hand tools, picking tools, mechanical or portable electric tools, grinding points carbide drills, pressure applying devices or mechanisms, abrasive cutting wheels, power saws, coring tools, impact tools, fluxing rods, and oxy-fuel gas cutting torches'.
- A breach is a hole in the door or wall of at least 96 square inches (6 × 16 in (15.24 × 40.64 cm)) or breaking locking bolts to allow the door to open.
- Considers only the time actually spent working (excludes setup, rests, etc.)
- Does not cover attacks with a thermal lance or explosives.
- UL-608 makes no claims as to the fire resistance of the vault.
- Applies to the door and all sides.
- The lock, ventilation, alarms, etc. are covered by other UL standards.
| Rating | Time to Breach Vault |
|---|---|
| Class M | 15 minutes |
| Class I | 30 minutes |
| Class II | 60 minutes |
| Class III | 120 minutes |
European Resistance Standards[edit]
As with the US, Europe has agreed a series of test standards to assure a common view of penetrative resistance to forcible attack.[14] The testing regime is covered under the auspices of Euronorm 1143-1:2012 (also known as BS EN 1143-1: 2012),[15] which can be purchased from approved European standards agencies.[16][17]
Key points include:
- Standard covers burglary resistance tests against free-standing safes and ATMs, as well as strongrooms and doors
- Tests are undertaken to arrive at a grade (0 to XIII) with two extra resistance qualifiers (one for the use of explosives the other for core drills)
- Test attack tools fall into five categories with increasing penetrative capability, i.e. Categories A–D and S
- Penetration success is measured as partial (125mm diameter hole) or full (350mm diameter hole)
- Considers only the time actually spent working (excludes setup, rests, etc.)
- EN 1143-1 makes no claims as to the fire resistance of the vault
- EN 1300 covers high security locks, i.e. four lock classes (A, B, C and D)[18]
- Applies to the door and all vault sides.
| Resistance Grade | Resistance Value to Breach Vault | Lock Quantity | Explosive Rating Possible | Core Drill Rating Possible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 30 | One | No | No |
| I | 50 | One | No | No |
| II | 80 | One | Yes | No |
| III | 120 | One | Yes | No |
| IV | 180 | Two | Yes | No |
| V | 270 | Two | Yes | No |
| VI | 400 | Two | Yes | No |
| VII | 600 | Two | Yes | No |
| VIII | 825 | Two | Yes | Yes |
| IX | 1050 | Two | Yes | Yes |
| X | 1350 | Two | Yes | Yes |
| XI | 2000 | Two or Three | Yes | Yes |
| XII | 3000 | Two or Three | Yes | Yes |
| XIII | 4500 | Two or Three | Yes | Yes |
Byproducts/waste[edit]
The manufacturing process itself has no unusual waste or byproducts, but getting rid of old bank vaults can be a problem. Newer, modular bank vaults can be moved if a bank closes or relocates. They can also be enlarged if a bank needs to change. Older bank vaults are quite difficult to demolish. If an old bank building is to be renovated for another use, in most cases a specialty contractor has to be called in to demolish the vault. A vault's demolition requires massive wrecking equipment and may take months of work at a large expense. At least one company in the United States refurbishes old vault doors that are then resold.
In some cases, the new owner of a former bank building will opt to use the vault. There are cases where, for example, a bank building was renovated into a pub, which then used the vault as a secure storeroom for its liquor supply.[citation needed]
Future[edit]
Bank vault technology changed rapidly in the 1980s and 1990s with the development of improved concrete material. Bank burglaries are also no longer the substantial problem they were in the late 19th century up through the 1930s, but vault makers continue to alter their products to counter new break-in methods.
An issue in the 21st century is the thermal lance. Burning iron rods in pure oxygen ignited by an oxyacetylene torch, it can produce temperatures of 6,600–8,000 °F (3,650–4,430 °C). The thermal lance user bores a series of small holes that can eventually be linked to form a gap. Vault manufacturers work closely with the banking industry and law enforcement in order to keep up with such advances in burglary.
References[edit]
- ^http://www.mankatofreepress.com/news/local_news/demolition-crew-cracks-the-old-u-s-bank-vault/article_40b8808c-c42c-11e4-8929-a3b126a0fa7a.html
- ^'Letters of Note: Your Products are Stronger than the Atomic Bomb'. Archived from the original on 19 September 2010. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
- ^'Unbreakable: Hiroshima and the Mosler Safe Company'. CONELRAD Adjacent. Retrieved 26 August 2010.
- ^'A Nuclear Family Vacation'. Slate Magazine. Archived from the original on 13 July 2005. Retrieved 11 July 2005.
- ^'Slate's Well-Traveled: A Nuclear Family Vacation'. NPR. Retrieved 15 July 2005.
- ^'Discovery Channel (UK) How Do They Do It? (Season 3 / Episode 7 / Part 2) Diebold Vault Construction (YouTube)'. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
- ^'Hercvlite Vault Panels'. Archived from the original on 17 December 2010. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
- ^'Vault Structure Inc. Round Vault Doors'. Archived from the original on 11 April 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
- ^'VSI 360 Round Vault Door'(PDF). Archived from the original(PDF) on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
- ^'Installation Instructions for Overly GSA Class 5 Vault Door'(PDF). Overly Door Company. Archived from the original(PDF) on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
- ^'Kaba-MAS X-09 and CDX-09 High Security Locks'(PDF). December 2010. p. 8.
- ^'The Untold Story of the World's Biggest Diamond Heist'. Wired Magazine. 12 March 2009. Archived from the original on 8 November 2009. Retrieved 3 December 2009.
- ^'UL 608 Burglary Resistant Vault Doors and Modular Panels'. Underwriter's Laboratories. Archived from the original on 21 April 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
- ^'Requirements on strongrooms in cast in-situ and/or pre-fabricated construction ECB-S R03'(PDF). ECB-S. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
- ^'Red Book Live, Part 4, Section 2'(PDF). LPCB. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
- ^'BS EN 1143-1:2012 - Secure storage units. Requirements, classification and methods of test for resistance to burglary. Safes, ATM safes,strongroom doors and strongrooms'. shop.bsigroup.com. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
- ^Standards, European. 'EN 1143-1'. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
- ^'EN 1300 Locks'. www.ecb-s.com. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
Further reading[edit]
Books[edit]
- Steele, Sean P., Heists: Swindles, Stickups, and Robberies that Shocked the World. New York: Metrobooks, 1995. ISBN1-56799-170-X.
- Tchudi, Stephen, Lock & Key: The Secrets of Locking Things Up, In, and Out. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1993. ISBN0-684-19363-9.
Periodicals[edit]
- Chiles, James R., 'Age-Old Battle to Keep Safes Safe from 'Creepers, Soup Men and Yeggs'. Smithsonian (July 1984): 35–44.
- Merrick, Amy, 'Immovable Objects, If They're Bank Vaults, Make Nice Restaurants'. The Wall Street Journal (5 February 2001): Al.
External links[edit]
| Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bank vaults. |
- Bank Vault Anatomy at the Wayback Machine (archived 3 March 2016) - A semi-technical guide to bank vaults built in the early 1900s; includes Remote Combination Viewer Vault information
- '15 Most Impenetrable Bank Vaults', accessed 28 December 2010.
- 'Bank Vault (madehow.com)', accessed 28 December 2010.
- 'AR 380-5 Chapter V Safekeeping and Storage', U.S. DOD standard for secret material storage displayed by Federation of American Scientists, accessed 28 December 2010.
- 'Operating Instruction for the X-09 Type 1F High Security Electronic Lock', U.S. Naval Facilities Engineering Command, accessed 28 December 2010.
Ally Bank offers good interest rates and no account minimums. But is this popular online bank good for you? Learn the benefits (and drawbacks) here.
Overall Score | 4.4 |
Savings | 4.0 |
Checking | 4.0 |
Money Market | 4.0 |
Customer Service | 5.0 |
Mobile App | 5.0 |
Pros and Cons
- CD options
- No account minimums
- Good customer service
Most Secure Banks In America
- Low Checking APY for lower balance customers
Bottom Line
Solid online bank with a great user-friendly website and customer service
Ally Bank is a full-service online bank with very competitive rates. Their banking products have no minimum balance requirements or service fees.
Ally was previously known as GMAC (the finance sector for General Motors). In 2010, it was rebranded as Ally Bank, an online bank built on a principle of providing better rates and service to customers.
So does Ally Bank deliver its promises? Read on for a detailed review.
Deposit Rates
Ally Bank offers competitive interest rates when compared to other online banks -- and higher rates than most brick and mortar ones.
Keep reading to check out Ally's wide range of banking services that satisfy basic checking and savings needs:
- Savings
- Checking
- Money Market
- CD Rates
Yes, Ally Bank is FDIC insured and safe. Though it doesn't have physical locations like traditional banks, Ally follows the same rules and legal regulations.The FDIC insures your savings, checking, and CD accounts up to $250,000 (per depositor), just like the 'old-fashioned banks.'
Online Savings
Ally Bank offers a very competitive APY for their savings account. It has no minimum deposit and no service fees.
You can open as many savings accounts as you want. This is great if you are saving for multiple goals.
For example, you can have one account as the emergency fund, one for a future vacation, one for a house down payment, etc.
Online Savings Account - 0.50% APY
$0 minimum opening deposit. No minimum balance requirement. No fees to open or maintain account.
Keep in mind: In accordance with federal law, you can only make 6 withdrawals a month. If you exceed that, you'll be charged a fee of $10 per transfer.If you need more access to your money, the Money Market account gives you unlimited ATM withdrawals.
The Savings Account is also available as an IRA with the same great interest rate. It's available for Roth, Traditional, or SEP IRAs.
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Online Savings Account - Earn 0.40% APY
- No fees
- No minimum opening deposit
- No minimum balance required
Interest Checking
Ally's checking account offers two interest tiers based on your balance. The rate is low, but it's still a nice perk compared to traditional checking accounts without any interest.
You can use any Allpoint® ATMs without fees. There are over 55,000 Allpoint® ATMs worldwide, so you're never far from cash.
In the US, Allpoint® ATMs can be found in popular stores like Target, Costco, Speedway, Walgreens, CVS, and Safeway. And if you do go out of network, Ally will reimburse ATM fees up to $10 per statement cycle.
Interest Checking
- 0.10% APY for daily balances less than $15,000
- 0.25% APY for daily balance over $15,000
- Be reimbursed $10/month for ATMs outside of Ally Network
- $0 Minimum Opening Deposit
- No Fees to Open or Maintain Account
- FDIC insured
- Daily Compounding Interest
With Ally's checking account, you can also:
- Get free debit MasterCard, standard checks, and postage-paid deposit envelopes.
- Set up direct deposits.
- Deposit checks from anywhere with Ally eCheck Deposit by snapping a photo.
- Make one-time or recurring payments with free online bill pay.
- Send or receive money to/from any U.S. bank account with Zelle, using just an U.S. email address or U.S. mobile number.
- Transfer money between Ally account or to/from other banks.
- Get account information and make transfers using Amazon Alexa.
- Make secure payments using Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, Masterpass, or Microsoft Wallet.
Money Market
The Money Market account is a combination of a checking and savings account that allows easier access to your money.
You'll get a debit card and free checks. The APY isn't as high as the Savings account, but you do get more flexibility in how you can use and access your money.
Did you know: Ally's home loan services include mortgage loans and refinancing. You can choose between a fixed rate between 10 to 30 years or adjustable rate, which will fluctuate based on current market rates.Ally has a Price Match Guarantee if you find better pricing at another lender. That rate must be the same loan term and be dated within the past 5 business days.
CDs
Ally has 3 different CD options with no minimum deposit.
- High Yield CD: Choose from terms of 3 months to 5 years. The APY differs based on your opening deposit amount.
Ally offers excellent rates for short term CDs. Even for a 6-month CD, you can get higher rates than with the Savings account.
- Raise Your Rate CD: Choose between a 2-year or 4-year term. Usually, you're locked into your rate for the entire term of the CD.
But Ally's Raise your Rate CD gives you a chance to increase it if rates go up during the term. You can boost your rate once over the 2-year term or twice over the 4-year term.
- No Penalty CD: This CD has a fixed term of 11 months. It allows you to withdraw your full balance and interest any time without penalty (after the first 6 days of account funding). This option gives you the flexibility to remove your money if you suddenly need it.
Term CDs
- Up to 0.85% APY
- $0 Minimum Opening Deposit
- Up to 5 years
- No monthly maintenance fee
- FDIC insured
- Daily Compounding Interest
Raise Your Rate CDs
- 0.60% APY
- 2 or 4-Year Terms
- Opportunity to increase your rate once over the 2-year term or twice over the 4-year term
- $0 Minimum Opening Deposit
- No monthly maintenance fee
- FDIC insured
- Daily Compounding Interest
No Penalty CD
- Withdraw Full Balance and Interest After 6 Days of CD Funding Date Without Penalty
- 0.50% APY
- 11 Months
- No monthly maintenance fee
- FDIC insured
- Daily Compounding Interest
IRAs
You can also choose from 3 IRAs:
- IRA High-Yield CD (3 months to 5 years)
- IRA Raise Your Rate CD (2 or 4 years)
- IRA Online Savings
IRA accounts may offer tax benefits. You can choose between a Traditional, Roth, and SEP IRA.
The returns are lower than what you could get with a brokerage IRA account. This works best for those who want stability (for example, older people who don't want to risk their investments).
Bank Safe Deposit Box Cost
Reasons We Like Ally Bank
Online Savings Account - 0.50% APY
$0 minimum opening deposit. No minimum balance requirement. No fees to open or maintain account.
- No minimum deposit and no maintenance fee. Many banks require a minimum deposit to open an account. And then you have to maintain a certain balance or you'll be charged a monthly fee. But Ally Bank has no fees or minimums for their banking accounts.
You can open an account with as little as you want and start earning interest right away. If you open a savings account with no deposit, you must fund it within 30 days of account opening.
- Customer service support by phone and live chat. Completely web-based banking may make some people nervous because you lose the personal touch. But rest assured that Ally has a real human person who can help you.Ally Bank phone numbers:
- Within the U.S.: 1-877-247-2559
- Outside the U.S.: +1 757-247-2559
- Hearing impaired: 1-877-320-2559
- Within the U.S.: 1-877-247-2559
- Deposit checks by phone. Got a check deposit? It's easy to move it straight into your Ally savings account. Just take a picture on your phone and send it through the mobile app.
- User friendly web interface. Ally consistently earns high user ratings for its easy-to-use website. They are also completely transparent on their rates, so you won't be blindsided.
- Bank on the go. Ally's mobile app has high ratings as well. You can make check deposits, transfer money, pay bills, search recent transactions, view statements, find nearby ATMs, set debit card controls, and more all on the go. The mobile app is completely free to use.
You can download the mobile app for Android and iOS.
- You want a one-stop shop for all your financial needs. Ally acquired TradeKing in 2016 and recently launched Ally Invest. Ally Invest charges some of the lowest fees among online brokerages.
It offers a wide variety of products including ETFs, mutual funds, options, futures, and Forex. Their extensive research and tools rival even the largest brokerages.
The platform is free to anyone who opens an account. It's best for somewhat experienced traders who don't need a lot of guidance.
- FDIC insured. Security is an extremely important factor when you're talking about storing your hard-earned money. Ally Bank is FDIC insured.
That means if the bank defaults, the government will pay you every cent you had in the account (up to the FDIC maximum of $250,000).
For Ally credit card login, you'll need to select 'credit card login', and you'll be redirected to login at Credit Card Servicing.
Reasons to Look Elsewhere
Here are some reasons why Ally Bank may not be right for you:
- No physical locations. Even though Ally offers live help, some people may still prefer in-person bank transactions. All transactions must take place online, via ATM, wire transfer, or by phone.Search here to find an Ally ATM near you. There are over 43,000 Allpoint® fee-free ATMs in the U.S.
- Checking Fees: If you want to use Ally for checking as well, the fees do seem to be rising lately.
It used to be that Ally offered unlimited ATM reimbursement (for the checking account), but now it's $10 a month. The overdraft fee is $25.
- No ATM card for savings account. This may be a downside for some. The savings account doesn't come with an ATM card, so you can't make quick withdrawals at ATM machines.
Instead, if you need some funds, you'd have to do an online transfer (or by wire, telephone, or check), which may take a few days.
Is Ally Bank Right For You?
Ally Bank is an online-only bank. Is it right for you? Here are the pros and cons.
Pros:
- Lower fees. Because it's online-only, it doesn't have the physical overhead costs like traditional banks. Ally can pass those savings right to customers. There are no service fees on any of Ally's deposit accounts.
- Easy to open accounts. It's super easy and fast to open an account from the comfort of your home. You don't need to sit down with a banker and fill out tons of paperwork.
- Convenience. It's easy to do all your banking online. You don't have to worry about getting to a bank during banking hours. You can bank from anywhere, including depositing checks by phone.
Cons:
- No in-person service. You may uncomfortable knowing you can't just walk into a branch and get help from a real person. You can only get customer service help by phone, which often means long wait times.
- Large deposits or withdrawals. If you need to deposit or withdraw a large amount, you may feel safer doing so at a physical branch. For example, if you need a few crisp $100 bills for a trip abroad, you can't just get that from an ATM.
- No bank relationship. Often times, loyal customers can get extra perks at physical branches where they have a good relationship with the bank manager.
For example, you can get a better loan term or get a fee removed. You won't get that from an online bank.
Ally is headquartered at 500 Woodward Ave, Detroit, Michigan, and 200 West Civic Center Dr, Sandy, Utah. It has corporate offices in several other cities across America. You can reach Ally customer service by phone and live chat.
If you need cash, you can withdraw cash surcharge-free at any of the 43,000+ Allpoint® ATMs. In the US, Allpoint® ATMs can be found in popular stores like Target, Costco, Speedway, Safeway, and drugstores.
How It Compares
Picking a place to park your money deserves some thought. You should compare a couple different options. Let's take a look at how Ally measures up to other online savings accounts.
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Ally Bank vs Capital One 360:
Capital One 360's savings rates aren't as high, but their 1-year CD rate is better. It's also has the same rate for all balance tiers, so smaller investors will see more returns.
Another plus: Capital One 360's Interest Checking account has overdraft options in cases of accidental withdrawal.
Ally Bank | Capital One | |
|---|---|---|
Online Savings Account - 0.50% APY - | 360 Checking Account - | |
Benefits and Features | ||
| Savings | ||
| CD | 0.20% to 0.85% APY. Terms of 3 months to 5 years. 12-month CD APY of 0.60% | 0.20% to 0.40% APY. Terms of 6 months to 5 years. 12-month CD APY of 0.20% |
| Checking | 0.10% APY under $15,000; 0.25% APY $15,000 or more | |
| Customer Service | ||
| ATMs | Over 43,000 no-fee Allpoint ATMs | Over 40,000 no-fee Capital One & Allpoint ATMs |
| Locations | ||
Ally Bank: Pricing information from published website as of 2/25/2021. Capital One: Pricing information from published website as of 3/05/2021. | ||
If you want a savings account with an ATM card:
High Yield Savings - 0.50% APY
$0 minimum opening deposit. No minimum balance requirement. No fees to open or maintain account.
Synchrony (which used to be part of General Electric) also doesn't require a minimum deposit or a minimum balance. And there's no monthly service fee either.
The biggest plus is that Synchrony comes with an ATM card. You can withdraw money quickly (up to 6 per statement cycle) instead of having to wait a few days for the transfer to be completed.
On the downside, Synchrony doesn't offer real human customer service 24/7. If you need help in the middle of the night or on a Sunday, you may be out of luck.
If you have $5,000 to save:
Plus Savings Account
- 0.55% APY
- $5,000 Minimum Opening Deposit
- $4 monthly service fee; waived with a daily minimum balance of $500
- Daily Compounding Interest
- FDIC Insured
The Popular Direct Savings Account offers one of the highest interest rates. However, the minimum deposit is a whopping $5,000.
And you must maintain a $500 balance in the account or else you'll be charged a monthly fee. If you close the account within 180 days, there's an early closing fee of $25.
This option is better for those who have more to save and don't need to move money around too often.
You might also consider:
CIT Savings Builder - Earn 0.40% APY
Earn up to 0.40% APY. Here's how it works: Maintain a minimum balance of $25k OR make at least a $100 minimum deposit every month. Member FDIC
Citi Account Packages - Up to $1,500 Bonus
Open a new eligible checking account and savings account in the same account package for Citigold, Citi Priority, and Citi Account Package. Within 30 days of account opening, fund your new checking and/or savings account with the required minimum deposit. Maintain the required minimum balance in the account/s for 60 consecutive calendar days to earn corresponding cash bonus.
| Account Package | Minimum Deposit and Minimum Balance | Cash Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| Citigold Package | $200,000 | $1,500 |
| Citi Priority Account Package | $50,000 | $700 |
| Citibank Account Package | $15,000 | $300 |
Citi Savings Account - Up to $3,000 Bonus
Open a new eligible Citi Savings account. If you open a Citi Priority Account Package, Citigold Account Package or Citigold Private Client, you must have or open a checking account in the same package. Client must enroll in this offer at the same time they open the eligible Citi Savings account. You may enroll online or by contacting a Citibank representative by phone or in a branch and asking them to enroll you in this offer. Deposit qualifying new-to-Citibank funds within 30 days of opening savings account. Multiple deposits allowed. Maintain the qualifying balance in the account for 60 consecutive days from the date the minimum deposit is reached to receive corresponding cash bonus. Offer available in NY, CT, MD, VA, DC, CA, NV, NJ, or select markets in FL or IL.
| Minimum Deposit and Minimum Balance | Cash Bonus |
|---|---|
| $25,000 - $49,999 | $75 |
| $50,000 - $99,999 | $150 |
| $100,000 - $249,999 | $300 |
| $250,000 - $499,999 | $750 |
| $500,000 - $999,999 | $1,500 |
| $1,000,000+ | $3,000 |
If you go with Ally, you can choose between buying and leasing. If you're not sure, the Buyer's Choice option allows you to decide at the 4th year mark if you want to keep the car or sell it back to Ally. The last option is to pay smaller monthly payments with one larger payment at the end.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Ally a safe bank?
Yes. Ally is FDIC insured for up to $250,000 per account. This means if Ally Bank defaults, the federal government guarantees the balance in your deposit accounts, up to $250,000 per account. - Are online banks safe to use in general?
If the bank is FDIC insured, you can be confident that your money is safe. Online banks still must follow the same rules and regulations as brick-and-mortar banks. They just don't have physical locations.As far as conducting banking business online, that is generally safe, too. Banks use layers of security to protect your information.
Ally has anti-virus protection, firewalls, and encryption, as well as a 2-step authentication procedure to protect its customers.
Miguel A. Suro, a personal finance blogger for The Rich Miser, is devoted to Ally Bank and says he 'never plans to return to a brick-and-mortar bank.' He offers these as the pros and cons of Ally Bank:The main benefits:
- ATM fee reimbursements
- Free checks
- High interest rates
- After-hours customer service by phone
The main drawbacks:
- Inability to deposit cash
- No personal relationship with a banker
- Can't walk to a branch if you need same-day service
- ATM fee reimbursements
- Are CDs worth it?
CDs are a secure vehicle to park your money and grow some interest. You are guaranteed interest. When you sign up, you know exactly how much interest you will earn on your deposit.It will not change for the entire term. If you are sure you won't need the money for a specific amount of time, then CDs are great to grow your money a little safely.
- Is Ally Bank only online?
Ally is an online bank only, so there are no physical branches. It has a couple of headquarters offices in Detroit, Michigan and Sandy, Utah. There are also several other corporate offices across the U.S. - Is Ally Bank American owned?
Yes. Ally Bank was originally known as GMAC (the finance sector for General Motors). In 2010, it was rebranded as Ally Bank. It is headquartered in Detroit, MI and Sandy, UT.
Bottom Line
Bank Safe Deposit Box
Ally Bank is one of the most reputable online banks in the industry.
We love that Ally has no minimum deposit, no account minimum, and no maintenance fees. It's also great that the bank offers so many options, allowing you more flexibility.
Bank Safe Boxes
The interest rates are pretty solid for today's standards. And you may feel at ease knowing you can reach a real person at any hour of any day.
There's no real downside to opening an Ally Bank account, since there are no maintenance fees.
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