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• Elon Musk reportedly blocked Ukraine from using Starlink for an attack on Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.
• The SpaceX CEO was concerned about nuclear war, according to biographer Walter Isaacson.
• SpaceX has admitted to limiting Ukraine’s use of Starlink satellites for offensive military operations.

Elon Musk, expressing concerns about nuclear war following conversations with Russian government officials, personally intervened to block Ukraine from carrying out a drone strike on Moscow’s Black Sea Fleet, according to a biographer who spoke with the CEO of SpaceX.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine’s military has heavily relied on the satellite communications network known as Starlink, crediting it with allowing front-line troops to stay in contact with their commanders. The system is owned by SpaceX, which — with the help of private donations and US taxpayer funding — has provided Ukraine with thousands of Starlink terminals since February 2022.

But according to journalist Walter Isaacson, author of an upcoming biography on the SpaceX founder, the militarization of Starlink has made Musk deeply uncomfortable.

“How am I in this war?” Musk asked Isaacson during an interview, according to an excerpt from the book reported on by CNN. “Starlink was not meant to be involved in wars. It was so people can watch Netflix and chill and get online for school and do good peaceful things, not drone strikes.”

It has previously been reported — and admitted by SpaceX leadership — that steps have been taken to prevent Ukraine from using the Starlink system for certain attacks. Last fall, Ukrainian forces reported “catastrophic” outages in areas that had previously been occupied by Russia, suggesting the system had been deliberately deactivated there, possibly to deny Russian access (Musk, at the time, said information regarding Starlink’s use on the battlefield was “classified”).

In July, The New York Times, citing “two people familiar with the discussions,” reported that Musk had personally denied a Ukrainian request to allow Starlink to be used for a maritime drone attack near Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014. Ukraine has carried out multiple such attacks using remotely operated vessels loaded with explosives to ram into Russian ships.

According to Isaacson, Musk himself ordered Starlink engineers to deactivate the system along the coast of Crimea, thwarting a Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian fleet (the drones “lost connectivity and washed ashore”). He then rejected a direct appeal from a top Ukrainian official to enable the system for future such attacks, per Isaacson.

It is not clear whether Musk had the system deactivated to thwart a specific attack or whether, more generally, he was concerned about Ukrainian actions near Crimea. But last year, political analyst Ian Bremmer, after speaking with Musk, said the billionaire had rejected Ukrainian requests to activate the system near the Russian-occupied territory, citing concerns about nuclear war.

Indeed, Musk has publicly cited concerns that Ukrainian efforts to reclaim the peninsula could prompt a nuclear response from Russia, a fear that, according to Isaacson, was heightened by conversations he had with senior Russian officials.

The Kremlin has repeatedly hinted at the potential use of nuclear weapons, a tactic meant to dissuade Western governments from supporting Ukraine militarily, according to experts.

SpaceX did not respond to a request for comment. But the company’s president and chief operating officer, Gwynne Shotwell, has previously admitted taking steps to limit Ukraine’s ability to use Starlink for offensive purposes.

The system was “never meant to be weaponized,” Shotwell said earlier this year, citing Ukraine’s use of Starlink for drone reconnaissance and attacks. “There are things that we can do to limit their ability to do that,” she said. “There are things that we can do, and have done.”

Have a news tip? Email this reporter: cdavis@insider.com

• Ukrainian forces are making steady territorial gains in the southern Zaporizhzhia region. 
• They recently liberated the village of Robotyne and are pushing just outside nearby Verbove.
• In doing so, Kyiv’s troops have fought against the formidable Surovikin Line. Here’s what that is.

Ukraine is fighting to get past Russia’s tough defenses, specifically a line of fortifications named after a fearsome Russian general — the Surovikin Line. It’s a nasty fight, but its forces are gaining ground.

An area where Ukrainian offensive operations are gaining momentum is just south of Orikhiv, a city in the southern Zaporizhzhia region. Kyiv’s forces have managed to liberate a pocket of territory just below the city, and the goal is to eventually drive all the way down to the Sea of Azov, split Russian-held land in half, and sever ground lines of communication between occupied Kherson and Crimea in the south and the eastern Donbas region.

Ukraine liberated Robotyne, a small village in the pocket, in late August and has since pushed to the northwest corner of Verbove, a settlement just a few miles east. As they approach Verbove, Kyiv’s troops have are pushing against the main part of the so-called “Surovikin Line.”

The Surovikin Line is a complex system of defensive fortifications and obstacles across Russian-occupied territory in southern and eastern Ukraine. Contrary to what its name suggests, the Surovikin Line is not one single line stretching across the land but is actually multiple lines that connect and intertwine. 

But as the name implies, it is named after Russian Army Gen. Sergey Surovikin, who oversaw the construction of these defenses when he was Russia’s overall theater commander last fall. They were constructed as a reaction to Ukraine’s lightning-fast counteroffensive operations in the northeastern Kharkiv region at the end of summer 2022. 

Once a celebrated general, known by as “General Armageddon” among supporters, Surovikin’s career took a nosedive when he was replaced by Gen. Valery Gerasimov in January. He was detained in the wake of the Wagner Group’s late-June mutiny for his ties to the mercenary organization, and although there are indications he was recently released, his military career is suspected to be all but over. Nevertheless, his defensive legacy lives on in Ukraine. 

A graphic of the Surovikin Line published by the Institute from the Study of War (ISW), a Washington-based think tank, shows just how intricate it is, and an interactive map reveals its layers, depth, and connectivity. 

The Surovikin Line has a visible main defensive line consisting of three layers of various obstacles and fighting positions, George Barros, a Russia analyst at ISW, told Insider in an email. These defensive positions have been the target of Ukrainian advances in recent days outside Verbove. 

To even reach the main line, Kyiv’s soldiers have had to move through sprawling minefields — which has proven to be a slow and painstaking process.

The first actual layer of the Surovikin Line is an anti-vehicle ditch that’s designed to prevent tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, and other heavy armor from advancing. Beyond that is the second layer, a row of dragon’s teeth, which are concrete spikes further intended to stop vehicles. The third layer consists of trenches manned with Russian soldiers who can observe the ditches and the dragon’s teeth from their fighting positions. Barros said it is likely that there are mines between each of the layers as well. 

“Ukrainian forces are using light infantry to maneuver and fight through tree lines and hedgerows to outmaneuver the field fortifications. We’ve seen Ukrainian infantry slip past the ditch and the dragon’s teeth and even reach the final row of the fighting positions,” Barros explained.

He cautioned, though, that Ukraine has yet to actually breach the lines and create a big enough opening to allow for heavy armor or additional personnel to move through. The telltale indicator is that the ditches and dragon’s teeth are still there.  

Not far south of Robotyne and Verbove is the city of Tokmak, a heavily fortified important rail and road hub for the Russians. The direction of the apparent main axis of the Ukrainian advance is one of the most well-defended areas, war experts Rob Lee and Michael Kofman wrote in a recent analysis of the counteroffensive. 

That said, Ukrainian military officials have suggested that it could be easier for Ukraine’s soldiers to pierce the next line of defensive obstacles because Russia’s network of fortifications isn’t as strong as the initial one, which is where Russia put the bulk of its effort in order to blunt the Ukrainian offensive.

Barros said Russia’s fortifications beyond the main line are less formidable because they aren’t as well-manned as the area where fighting is currently taking place. Moscow put more emphasis on defending the forward lines and lacks the personnel to spread itself across all the lines. 

“A Ukrainian breakthrough in one portion of the line could shatter the Russian defense if Russian forces caught in the breakthrough are not able to withdraw in good order to the next prepared positions,” he said. 

Our experts answer readers’ banking questions and write unbiased product reviews (here’s how we assess banking products). In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners; however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page.

TD Bank: Overall Bank Rating

For our TD Bank review, we rate bank products and services using a variety of methodologies. Learn more about our how we review products below:

TD Bank: Pros and Cons

Compare Today’s Savings Rates

TD Bank Personal Bank Accounts

TD Simple Savings Account

TD Signature Savings

TD Bank (Member FDIC) has two savings accounts: TD Signature Savings and the TD Simple Savings Account.

The TD Simple Savings Account makes it easy to waive monthly service fees during the first year — just make a recurring deposit of at least $25 each month. After that, you’ll need to maintain a minimum daily balance of $300 or meet certain age-specific requirements. 

TD Signature Savings generally offers more competitive interest rates than TD Simple Savings Account for most account balances. However, you’ll need to be mindful of a $15 monthly service fee. To waive the monthly fee you must maintain a $10,000 minimum balance, link to a TD Beyond Checking Account, or open an IRA.

If you qualify for a relationship rate, you’ll also earn a higher interest rate on TD Signature Savings, especially on higher balances. To qualify for a relationship rate, you must link a savings account to a TD Bank personal checking account, small business checking account, credit card, mortgage, or home equity loan.

See Insider’s TD Bank savings rates review.

TD Bank Simple Checking Account

TD Bank Convenience Checking Account

TD Bank Beyond Checking Account

TD Bank offers a variety of checking accounts. You don’t need a minimum deposit to open any TD Bank checking account. However, all of the accounts have monthly service fees. You can waive monthly service fees on some TD Bank checking accounts by meeting certain minimum balance requirements or if you fit a specific age group.

See Insider’s TD Bank Checking Account review.

TD Bank Choice Promotional CD

TD Bank No-Catch CD

TD Bank Step Rate CD

TD Bank CD rates are relatively low overall, with the exception of a few terms. It also has a no-penalty CD and a step-up CD, though, so TD is a good choice if you want a variety of options.

TD Bank Auto Loans

TD Bank is an indirect lender, so you won’t be able to get an auto loan directly from the financial institution. Information about auto loans term, rates, and fees isn’t available online. You’ll have to find a dealership partner to learn more about TD Bank auto loans.

See Insider’s TD Bank auto loans review.

TD Bank Personal Loans

TD Bank has unsecured personal loans called Fit Loans. You may qualify for a Fit Loan if you live in a state that has a TD branch. Loan amounts range from $2,000 to $50,000.

See Insider’s TD Bank personal loans review.

TD Bank Mortgages

TD Bank may be a solid choice if you’re looking for a variety of home loans. The bank has conforming loans, FHA loans, VA loans, construction loans, jumbo loans, Medical Professional mortgages, TD Right Step mortgages, TD Home Access mortgages, home equity loans, and HELOCs.

See Insider’s TD Bank mortgage review.

TD Bank Credit Cards

TD Bank also offers several types of credit cards, including secured credit cards, travel credit cards, and cash back credit cards.

The TD Double Up℠ Visa Credit Card is notably listed in our guide for the best 2% cash back credit cards as a top pick for TD Bank customers.

How TD Bank Works

TD Bank is a brick-and-mortar financial institution on the East Coast with over 1,100 branches and 2,600 free ATMs. Branches are accessible in the following states:

• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Florida
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New York
• North Carolina
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington, DC

Customer service is available 24/7 over the phone. Branches are open on weekdays, some are also open on Saturdays, and others are open seven days per week.

The bank’s mobile app has received 4.8 out of 5 stars in the Apple store and 4.2 out of 5 stars in the Google Play Store. 

TD Bank is FDIC-insured, which means you may safely keep up to $250,000 in an individual bank account. 

Is TD Bank Trustworthy?

In our TD Bank review, we including ratings from the Better Business Bureau. The BBB grades companies based on how they deal with customer issues.

TD Bank has an A+ rating from the BBB. Bear in mind a good BBB rating isn’t necessarily the be-all and end-all. Consider talking to current customers or reading online customer reviews to get a well-rounded perspective of TD Bank.

TD Bank has been involved in one recent public controversy. In 2020, the US Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection required TD Bank to pay $122 million in a settlement that accused the bank of charging customers a Debit Card Advance service without their permission.

TD Bank Review vs. Citizens Bank Review

Citizens Bank has more than 1,200 branches and 3,300 ATMs along the East Coast and Midwest. It has locations in Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington, DC. 

You might prefer Citizens Bank over TD Bank if you’re searching for more savings account options. Citizens Bank has a personal money market account while TD Bank doesn’t.

Citizens also might be worth considering for auto loans if you live in Connecticut, Massachusetts, or Rhode Island. The bank is piloting an auto loan program in these areas right now.

TD Bank may be a better choice if you’re searching for more options for home loans. For example, TD Bank offers a physician home loan.

TD Bank Review vs. Bank of America Review

Bank of America has 4,200 branches in 37 states and DC, while TD Bank has around 1,100 branches in 15 states and DC. Bank of America could be a better option if you want a larger branch network.

You might prefer TD Bank if you’re looking for more options for home loans. Bank of America doesn’t have home equity loans or construction loans.

TD Bank: Frequently Asked Questions

• The federal government has a $22 million surveillance clothing program, according to The Intercept.
• The initiative will develop shirts, pants, socks, and underwear that can record audio and video. 
• If viable, the washable garments will be used by US intelligence employees or those in high-stress environments. 

Wearable technology is quickly evolving beyond Fitbits, Apple Watches, and Oura Rings. 

The federal government is reportedly funneling $22 million into developing ready-to-wear clothing that can record audio, video, and geolocation data through something its calling The Smart Electrically Powered and Networked Textile Systems program, or SMART ePANTS, for short, according to The Intercept. Garments slated for the production include shirts, pants, socks, and underwear, all of which are intended to be washable, The Intercept reported. 

The program “represents the largest single investment to develop Active Smart Textiles (AST) that feel, move, and function like any garment,” according to an August 22 press release from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. 

SMART ePANTS is being developed under the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity, an agency that describes itself on its website as investing in “high-risk, high-payoff research programs to tackle some of the most difficult challenges of the agencies and disciplines in the Intelligence Community (IC).” In other words, funding moonshots like underwear that’s as stretchable and washable as normal underwear, but can also record your every move.  

If successful, though, the garments could significantly improve the capabilities of those working government agencies like the Department of Defense, first responders at the Department of Homeland Security, those in the Intelligence Community, or others working in high-stress environments like crime scenes and arms control, Dr. Dawson Cagle, the program manager for SMART ePANTS, explained in a press release from the IARPA. 

Cagle, who was previously a weapons instructor with the United Nation according to his LinkedIn page, said in the IARPA’s release, “as a former weapons inspector myself, I know how much hand-carried electronics can interfere with my situational awareness at inspection sites.” 

He added, “in unknown environments, I’d rather have my hands free to grab ladders and handrails more firmly and keep from hitting my head than holding some device.”

Some are worried, though, that the SMART ePANTS program could lay the groundwork for more invasive forms of surveillance. 

Annie Jacobsen, an investigative journalist and author of The Pentagon’s Brain, told The Intercept, “they’re now in a position of serious authority over you. In TSA, they can swab your hands for explosives.” 

She added, “now suppose SMART ePANTS detects a chemical on your skin — imagine where that can lead.” 

While the IARPA did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for a comment, a spokesperson for the agency told The Intercept, “IARPA programs are designed and executed in accordance with, and adhere to, strict civil liberties and privacy protection protocols. Further, IARPA performs civil liberties and privacy protection compliance reviews throughout our research efforts.”

• An ape skull found in Turkey may challenge the belief that human and ape ancestors came from Africa.
• The discovery suggests that hominins may have first evolved in Europe.
• Not all scientists are convinced by the theory, however.

The discovery of an ancient ape skull may challenge the long-held belief that the ancestors of apes and humans came from Africa, a controversial new study says.

The partial skull of the ape, called an Anadoluvius turkae, was found in Cankiri, Turkey, and appears to date back to 8.7 million years ago, Live Science reported.

Meanwhile early hominins, which include humans, the African apes, and their fossil ancestors, are not seen in Africa until around seven million years ago.

The discovery challenges the widely-held view that the ancestors of African apes and humans originated exclusively in Africa.

Researchers say that this suggests that hominins might have first evolved in Europe before migrating to Africa.

“Our findings further suggest that hominins not only evolved in western and central Europe but spent over five million years evolving there and spreading to the eastern Mediterranean before eventually dispersing into Africa, probably as a consequence of changing environments and diminishing forests,” said Professor David Begun, a paleoanthropologist from the University of Toronto and co-senior author of the study, per The Telegraph.

“This new evidence supports the hypothesis that hominins originated in Europe and dispersed into Africa along with many other mammals between nine and seven million years ago, though it does not definitively prove it,” he said.

In order to prove this, more fossils from Europe and Africa would need to be found from between seven and eight million years ago to try and find a link between the two groups, he added.

The finding suggested that the ape would have weighed around 110 to 130 pounds, possibly lived in a dry forest, and likely spent a lot of time on the ground.

The skull was found in 2015 but its significance was discussed in research recently published in the journal Communications Biology.

Other researchers have said that the findings do not challenge our understanding of the origins of humans.

“This has been a long-running debate regarding great ape and our origins,” said Professor Chris Stringer, research leader in human evolution at the Natural History Museum in London, The Telegraph reported.

“I don’t think this find changes much from the discussions (in a recent paper in the journal Science) which concluded: ‘Current evidence suggests that hominins originated in Africa from Miocene ape ancestors unlike any living species.’”

• One of Russia’s richest men, Andrey Melnichenko, said the Ukraine war had made him a “pariah.”
• Melnichenko now lives in the UAE, where his $300 million Motor Yacht A is moored.
• His $578 million Sailing Yacht A was seized by Italian authorities shortly after he was sanctioned.

One of Russia’s richest individuals said he’d become a “pariah” in the United Arab Emirates where he fled after being sanctioned.

In an extensive interview with the Financial Times, Andrey Melnichenko decried the effects of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on his personal life, while also saying there were “war crimes from both sides” in the conflict.

Melnichenko was sanctioned in March last year after attending a roundtable of Russian business figures hosted by Vladimir Putin in February.

The businessman, who made his money from coal and fertilizers, previously said that he only found out he had been sanctioned when he read about it in the news.

“I don’t make weapons for the war. I make food for people and energy for power stations all over the world. I don’t promote the war. I’m not involved in politics. What’s the point?” Melnichenko told the FT.

Melnichenko berthed his $300 million Motor Yacht A in the UAE last year. His $578 million Sailing Yacht A was seized by Italian authorities shortly after he was sanctioned.

His net worth more than doubled to about $25 billion after the invasion and subsequent sanctions on Russia forced a spike in fertilizer prices, per Forbes.

Sanctions against Russian oligarchs have changed the lives of several influential billionaires who previously spent much of their time in the West.

Former Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich, for example, was forced to sell the club and now resides in Israel, per Le Monde.

Oligarchs had a collective $95 billion wiped off their net worth last year, according to Guardian analysis of Bloomberg Billionaires Index data.

Last week, the FT reported that tech billionaire Arkady Volozh had appealed sanctions placed on him by the EU, just days after he first criticized the war.

Oleg Tinkov managed to get sanctions against him in the UK lifted after slamming Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and getting the backing of British business tycoon Richard Branson.

Our experts answer readers’ investing questions and write unbiased product reviews (here’s how we assess investing products). Paid non-client promotion: In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners. Our opinions are always our own.

Online financial advisors are more accessible, and often cheaper, than human advisors who actively manage investment portfolios. They’re a good option for beginner investors and hands-off investors at any wealth level.

For this list, we didn’t consider companies that match clients and advisors for comprehensive financial planning services, such as Zoe Financial or Facet Wealth. Instead, we focused on tech-driven firms where you can access an automated and personalized portfolio and consult a professional for advice when you need it.

Best Online Financial Advisors

Compare the Best Online Financial Advisors

Online Financial Advisors Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Best for Low Fees 

SoFi Automated Investing

Investment account types: Individual and joint taxable brokerage, traditional IRA, Roth IRA, and SEP IRA.

What stands out: 

• Zero advisory fees
• Free one-on-one consultations with CFPs, a service that isn’t offered by some robo-advisors that charge an annual fee
• Portfolios invest in both SoFi ETFs and non-SOFI ETFs
• Account includes portfolio rebalancing and goal planning
• Investors get to choose between five portfolios: moderate, moderately conservative, conservative, moderately aggressive, and aggressive
• Additional SoFi membership perks include loan discounts and career counseling
• 4.1/5 Google Play store rating
• 4.8/5 Apple App store rating 

SoFi Invest review

What to look out for: 

• No tax-loss harvesting
• Portfolios, while broadly diversified, are limited to 10 options

Best for Diversified Investing

Betterment Investing

Investment account types: Individual and joint taxable brokerage, traditional IRA, Roth IRA, SEP IRA, inherited IRA, and trust.

What stands out: 

• Premium plans come with unlimited access via phone and email to Betterment CFPs
• Open an FDIC-insured cash account*
• Invest in socially responsible portfolios; cryptocurrency portfolios available
• Get free checking and cash reserve accounts (nice feature for recurring deposits into investments)
• Use goal-setting, advice, and retirement planning tools
• Link various accounts to clear and easy-to-use financial dashboard
• Buy one-off financial advice packages at standard industry rates
• Automatic rebalancing and tax-loss harvesting
• 4.5/5 Google Play store rating
• 4.7/5 Apple App store rating 

*Cash Reserve is only available to clients of Betterment LLC, which is not a bank, and cash transfers to program banks are conducted through the clients’ brokerage accounts at Betterment Securities. Learn more.

What to look out for: 

• Accounts with a $100,000 balance can upgrade to get advisor access, but the annual fee increases from 0.25% (an industry low) to 0.40%

Betterment review

Best for 529 Plans

Wealthfront Investing

Investment account types: Individual and joint taxable brokerage, traditional IRA, Roth IRA, SEP IRA, trust, and 529 college savings plan.

What stands out: 

• Only top online advisor to offer 529 plans
• Invest in cryptocurrency trusts
• Borrow up to 30% of your investment balance at a low interest rate with a portfolio line of credit
• Open an FDIC-insured bank account
• Invest in socially responsible portfolios
• Get personalized recommendations with smart financial planning software 
• 4.5/5 Google Play app rating
• 4.8/5 Apple App store rating

What to look out for: 

• On-staff financial advisors don’t offer personalized advice

Wealthfront review

Best for Financial Planning and Personal Development

Ellevest

Investment account types: Individual taxable brokerage, traditional IRA, Roth IRA, and SEP IRA (all held at Folio Investments).

What stands out: 

• Get an investment strategy built around women’s unique needs and challenges
• Access an extensive library of content and advisor-led workshops
• Invest in socially responsible portfolios
• Get monthly progress reports
• 4.3/5 Google Play app rating
• 4.7/5 Apple App store rating

What to look out for: 

• Financial coaching costs extra (but members get 30%-50% off)
• Upgrade required for access to retirement account management

Ellevest review

Best for Retirement Saving

Ameriprise Financial Investments

Investment account types: Three managed account options that can be opened as an individual brokerage account, traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, Simple IRAs, SEP IRAs, 401(k)s, 403(b)s, 529 plans, and Coverdell education savings accounts (CESA). 

What stands out:

• Best for experienced investors looking for advanced charting and investing features
• Access to fiduciary financial advisors to consult or manage your account
• Trade through online brokerage, over the phone, or with a registered service representative from Ameriprise’s client service center
• Offers stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, UITs, structured notes, options, and multiple alternative investments
• One of the largest registered investment advisors (RIAs) in the US
• 4.1/5 Google Play app rating
• 3.2 Apple App store rating

What to look out for: 

• High account minimums (varies by managed account option)
• Hard to navigate website
• Complex fee structure 

Ameriprise Financial Services review

Other Online Financial Advisors We Considered

• Vanguard Digital Advisor: You can think of Vanguard Digital Advisor as Vanguard’s second robo-advisor offering. The difference between Vanguard Digital Advisor and Vanguard Personal Advisor Services comes down to fees and human advisor access. Though you’ll pay less for Vanguard Digital Advisor ($3,000 minimum deposit and a 0.20% annual fee), you won’t be able to utilize personalized support from a professional financial planner.
• Empower Personal Dashboard™: Empower offers competitive robo-advisor services. The investment app also gives you access to human financial advisors, and it offers account features like tax-loss harvesting, single stock diversification, Retirement Planner, and more. The biggest drawback is cost. You’ll need a minimum balance of $100,000 to get started, and you’ll pay between 0.49% and 0.89% in management fees.
• Charles Schwab Intelligent Portfolios: This advisor offers several attractive features, least of which is a $0 advisory fee. But you’ll need at least $5,000 to get started, and you won’t have access to Financial Planners (though you will have access to professionals who can answer customer service and investing/portfolio questions) unless you upgrade to the premium service, which requires a balance of $25,000, a one-time planning fee of $300, and a monthly fee of $30.
• Fidelity Go: Created as Fidelity Investments’ robo-advisor offering, Fidelity Go provides low-cost automated investment management and expense ratio-free funds but doesn’t offer tax-loss harvesting. There’s a tiered pricing structure that charges 0.35% for balances above $50,000. And you won’t be able to consult human advisors unless you upgrade to Fidelity Personalized Planning & Advice, which requires a $25,000 minimum and 0.50% annual fee.
• E-Trade Core Portfolios: E-Trade’s robo-advisor charges a reasonable annual fee of 0.30% on all balances (with a $500 minimum), but doesn’t offer tax-loss harvesting. While E-Trade Core Portfolios’ customer service is strong, investors have no access to human financial advisors. 

Find a Financial Advisor Online

How to Find an In-person Financial Advisor

You can also meet with an expert in person for financial guidance. So if you prefer to meet face-to-face, here are some tools to find some in your area:

Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed The Best Online Financial Advisors

We compared a long list of Registered Investment advisors (RIAs), weighing the following five categories equally:

Fees: What are the costs (i.e., expense ratios, trading fees, advisor fees)? Are they justified when considering the services offered? What is the minimum balance for an investment account? Is it accessible for beginners?

Investment selection: What is included for the cost? Is there a good variety of investments to choose from? What else do you get working with this company (e.g. savings or checking accounts, budgeting tools, financial advice)?

Access: Who can use the service? How easy is it to navigate the platform, and are educational resources and/or human advisors available? Is it limited to a certain geographic location or available nationwide? Can you access your account via mobile app? 

Ethics: Are the experts Certified Financial Planners and/or fiduciaries? Does the company have any disciplinary history over the past three years? What is the company’s investing philosophy? How is its legal standing, and how does the Better Business Bureau rate it (if its BBB profile exists)?

Customer service: Which forms of customer support does each platform offer? Is phone support available? Does it offer 24/7 service? Is live chat available, and can you use any other quick methods of getting in touch?

See our complete methodology for rating financial platforms »

Our experts answer readers’ insurance questions and write unbiased product reviews (here’s how we assess insurance products). In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners; however, our opinions are our own.

• Hurricanes can cause flooding and wind damage to homes, and one inch of water can cost $20,000.
• Your mortgage company may require you to have hurricane and flood insurance, depending on your location.
• Licensed insurance agents can help you select the right coverage to protect your home and family.

According to the National Hurricane Center, on the Atlantic coast, hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. It runs on the eastern Pacific coast from May 15 to November 30.

Hurricanes cause flooding and high winds that can damage homes. But even the best homeowners insurance policies usually won’t cover repairs. If you have a mortgage, your lender will require hurricane-specific coverage in certain states. If you pay cash for your home, an insurance professional can help you build a plan that meets your needs. After all, nobody wants to be stuck paying for six-figure home repairs alone.

For hurricane-vulnerable homes, there are two factors: wind damage and flooding. Either could destroy your home or require significant repairs. Unfortunately, if you don’t also have flood insurance, you could be left with a large bill unless FEMA steps in.

“Flooding is one of the most common and costly natural disasters in the US, and given we are in the midst of an above-average hurricane season, consumers need to ensure that they will not be left exposed if their homes are hit hard by a storm,” says Ralph Blust, CEO of the National Flood Services. NFS administers flood insurance for FEMA and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

What is hurricane insurance?

Hurricane insurance refers to the coverage necessary to cover hurricane damage. A hurricane has to be a declared event dictated by an announcement from the National Hurricane Center.

As a major natural disaster, hurricanes can do a lot of damage in select areas. Hurricane insurance offers protection in these isolated events. The coverages may mirror your homeowners insurance policy. However, keep in mind, if you don’t buy coverage for things like personal property, it would not be covered if the damage was caused by a hurricane insurance peril, even if you have extensive personal property coverage on your regular policy.

Where do homeowners need hurricane protection?

Wind and hail are commonly excluded from coverage with most homeowners policies as part of the hurricane exclusion. However, hurricane winds can be in excess of 200 miles per hour. “Most insurers require an additional high-coverage windstorm rider and separate deductible if you live near coastal areas,” according to Steve Wilson, Director of Technical Underwriting at Hippo Insurance.

Wilson says windstorm coverage is regional, usually along the gulf coast and east coast from Florida to New York. However, island residents like those in Puerto Rico or Hawaii may also be required to buy. Premiums will vary geographically.

States that may require additional windstorm coverage include:

• Alabama
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Mississippi
• New Jersey
• New York
• North Carolina
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• Texas
• Virginia

How is flood insurance different from home insurance and hurricane insurance?

Homeowners insurance offers protection for homeowners’ belongings and for the home itself. Unlike car insurance, homeowners insurance is not required by state law. However, your mortgage lender will require homeowners insurance to protect its investment. 

Flood, hurricane, and home insurance protect your home after different perils. It’s critical to know the difference to ensure you’re filing with the right company. However, if you work with a licensed insurance agent, they can help you with the paperwork and policy management.

Below, you’ll see when flood insurance would apply and when your homeowners insurance would kick in (with the proper riders).

• Flood insurance is available through the NFIP and approved insurers.
• Flood insurance claims are processed and paid by the NFIP.
• Flood insurance may not be required unless you live in designated flood zones.

How much does hurricane insurance cost?

Homeowners required to buy hurricane coverage may have a few options:

• Add a rider to your homeowners insurance policy with its own deductible.
• Buy a separate hurricane policy to cover hurricane-related events (often through a specialty company).
• If you live in a condo, verify if your master insurance policy has hurricane protection built in.

It may be easier to buy a rider if your homeowners insurer offers it. Then any claims can be filed with one company. However, if you’re working with a licensed insurance agent, you can get quotes from specialty hurricane insurance providers without any more work on your end. If you have a mortgage, your premiums will be paid through your mortgage provider in most cases. Most importantly, your insurance agent can help you file claims as necessary. 

Many times, separate hurricane policies may be cheaper and more effective than homeowners riders. However, we recommend working with an insurance professional to compare quotes.

If you live in a condo, you may still want a small policy to cover your personal property. However, in hurricane prone areas, your HOA will buy hurricane coverage as part of its master insurance policy (which covers any repairs or rebuilding of the building you live in).

Will hurricane policies cover relocation costs?

“Loss of use” coverage, also known as “additional living expenses” or ALE, is included in most homeowners and renters insurance policies and provides reimbursement for temporary housing when a peril causes damage to your property or belongings that makes your home or rental unit inhabitable. It can also be included in hurricane protection. Like your personal property coverage, it is tied to each policy in an all or nothing fashion. In short, if you file a hurricane claim, you’ll only get the benefits of your hurricane policy. Your homeowners insurance coverage will only kick in if the damage was caused by a covered peril.

As such, it may be cheaper to eliminate things like loss of use coverage on the hurricane side. Some homeowners do exactly that assuming a hurricane will never happen in their neighborhood. Unfortunately, this can be a costly mistake.

If you’re unsure of what constitutes “uninhabitable” or “loss of use,” we recommend speaking with your insurance agent.

Tips to prepare your home in the event of a hurricane

Hippo Homeowners Insurance‘s Wilson recommends taking the following steps:

1. Review your homeowners insurance annually with your carrier to ensure proper coverage for your region.
2. Have an evacuation plan on where to meet and what time ahead of a disaster and communicate that with family members.
3. Have a small bag with medication, flashlight, and batteries for three days.
4. Have temporary repair equipment available like a tarp.
5. Contact your insurance agent who manages your hurricane policy (they may also manage homeowners coverage).
6. In between hurricane season, prevent damage by doing home maintenance looking for weak points — under sinks, gutters, shingles, debris around the foundation — and signs of wear and tear.

What to do if you experience hurricane damage

After experiencing a disaster, Wilson recommends staying in touch with your hurricane insurance company to let them know what’s going on at your home and take the following steps when submitting insurance claims:

1. Contact the insurance carrier to file a claim in a timely manner. For homeowners, your carrier may provide a list of contractors and offer advice on do-it-yourself tips to prevent further damage. If you’re a renter, you should also inform your landlord or property management company.
2. Take pictures of the damage before disposal and cleanup.
3. Beware of price-gouging contractors and door-to-door scammers. Ask contractors for their license and insurance credentials to avoid fraud. If you’re a renter, your landlord is responsible for the building and structure.
4. Prevent further damage to your property.
5. Don’t do something you’re not comfortable with/that doesn’t look safe. Homeowners insurance has a condition to prevent further loss. Focus on a temporary fix instead of something long-term so insurance can properly access a permanent fix by a professional.

Our experts answer readers’ banking questions and write unbiased product reviews (here’s how we assess banking products). In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners; however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page.

Many of us grew up making the journey to a brick-and-mortar bank to hand a paper check to a teller. But now, with online banking, you can bank without leaving your home. Many online banks even offer perks that in-person banks don’t, like high savings interest rates and no monthly fees.

Best Online Banks

Below, you’ll find our best online banking picks right now. We know “best” means something different for everyone, so we’ve listed each bank’s strengths, as well as its limitations. These online banks have stayed as our top picks for the last few months because they continue to stand out for minimal fees, variety of bank account options, and unique features. You can also refer to our best banks guide if you’d like to learn about brick-and-mortar options as well. 

Compare the Best Online Banks

Best Online Banks FAQs

Best Online Bank Reviews

Ally Bank

Ally doesn’t have minimum opening deposits for any of its accounts, so you can start online banking with any amount.

The Ally Savings Account makes it especially easy for you to save. You can set up separate savings buckets for different goals, such as Emergency Savings or Travel Fund. The Surprise Savings feature assesses your checking account balance three times per week to determine how much you can afford to save, then transfers money into your savings account.

You can contact Ally customer support 24/7, either over the phone or via live online chat.

What to look out for: The Ally Spending Account is a solid account, but it doesn’t come with any special features, such as cash back or a competitive interest rate. If you want a rewards checking account, you may want to go with one of the other banks on this list.

Capital One 360

Capital One ranks as No. 1 on the J.D. Power US National Banking Satisfaction Survey. This study evaluates customers’ experiences with banks and measures factors such as trust, handling problems and complaints, and saving time and money.

Capital One doesn’t require any minimum opening deposits. It also has branches and Capital One cafes sprinkled around the US, so it’s a good option if you like online banking but want the option to speak with a banker face-to-face.

What to look out for: You can use your debit card at over 70,000 ATMs nationwide for free, but unlike many online banks, Capital One doesn’t reimburse any fees charged by out-of-network ATM providers.

Discover Bank

Discover is a good option for people who want to do all their banking, investing, and borrowing with one institution. Discover has a strong cash back checking account that lets you earn 1% back on up to $3,000 of purchases each month, as well as Discover credit cards.

What to look out for: While you don’t need to place an initial deposit for a checking or savings account, you’ll need at least $2,500 to open a money market account or CD. Some of our other options do not require a minimum opening deposit.

Axos Bank

Axos Bank has savings, checking, CD, and money market accounts, so it’s a great option if you want to open all of your accounts with one bank. It’s one of the best banks for avoiding overdraft fees. Its high-yield checking account doesn’t charge overdraft or non-sufficient funds fees, and it offers free overdraft protection that links your checking account to a savings account. You also may be eligible for a bank account cash bonus. Earn up to $300 welcome bonus when you use the promo code SUNNYBONUS to apply for a Rewards Checking account and have qualifying direct deposit(s) by 12/31/23.

Axos pays higher rates on its accounts than most brick-and-mortar banks, especially on its high-yield checking account. However, you can still earn higher rates at other online banks.

SoFi

If you’d like to manage your money in one account, SoFi Checking and Savings is a great online banking option. It’s a hybrid bank account that combines checking and savings features.

You can earn a competitive interest rate that’s higher than what many traditional and high-yield savings accounts pay if you set up direct deposits. It also offers up to $250 cash bonus through December 31, 2023 if you meet certain requirements.

SoFi Checking and Savings is also a strong online banking choice if you don’t want to deal with monthly service fees, overdraft fees, or out-of-network ATM fees. It also comes with a debit card. 

What to look out for: The account is a hybrid savings/checking account, so you’ll need to keep that in mind to get the most out of the account. If you deposit cash, you also might need to pay a fee.

Online Banks That Didn’t Make the Cut and Why

• Chime: Chime has good free checking and savings accounts, but other online banks offer higher interest rates on savings accounts right now. Chime also doesn’t let you open a joint bank account or a savings account by itself. 
• LendingClub: This could be a good online banking fit if you can keep $2,500 in your checking account, because then you’ll qualify for 1% cash back on an unlimited number of purchases.
• American Express: American Express pays a competitive APY on savings account balances. Its checking account is currently only available to Consumer Card Members who have had a card account for at least three months.  
• Barclays: Barclays offers solid interest rates on savings accounts but doesn’t provide a checking account. 
• Bank5 Connect: Bank5 Connect has decent checking and savings account. But it doesn’t have a money market account, and you can find higher interest rates at other online banks.
• CIBC Bank USA: This online bank offers a variety of checking and savings accounts, but most require a minimum opening deposit or charge a fee if your balance falls below a certain amount. The checking account is also only available to residents in Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, or Washington.
• Salem Five Direct: Salem Five Direct pays a competitive interest rate on a savings account, but its CDs have high minimum opening deposits.
• HSBC Bank: HSBC might be appealing if you qualify for a premier bank account. You might like HSBC if you can keep $75,000 in bank/investment accounts, receive $5,000 in direct deposits each month, or take out a mortgage of at least $500,000. 
• Marcus by Goldman Sachs: Even though Marcus by Goldman Sachs is a good online banking option overall, it doesn’t offer a checking account. 
• Quontic Bank: You have plenty of bank account options to choose from with Quontic Bank — but you need to make 15 debit card transactions per month to earn the competitive APY on its high-yield checking account.
• TIAA Bank: TIAA Bank offers respectable rates, but our top picks have more impressive features such as higher interest rates or robust savings tools. 
• Vio Bank: This online bank pays one of the highest savings rates in the industry (which is always subject to change), but it doesn’t offer a checking account.
• CIT Bank: This is a solid online bank, but you’ll need between $100 and $1,000 to open bank accounts, and it doesn’t have an ATM network. 
• Synchrony Bank: This online bank pays a competitive rate with no minimum balance on savings accounts, but you can’t open a checking account. 
• NBKC Bank: NBKC is a good bank overall, but you can find higher interest rates at other banks.
• FNBO Direct: This is a respectable online bank, but its overdraft fees are pretty steep.
• BrioDirect: Although BrioDirect doesn’t have some of the advanced features of our top picks, it is a strong online bank overall. It refunds up to $20 per month in out-of-network ATM fees.
• USAA Bank: This could be a good online bank for military members and families, and new recruits can get paid a day early; however, USAA’s rates are low.
• Charles Schwab: Charles Schwab provides unlimited out-of-network ATM fee reimbursements and doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, but its rates are low. 

Online Banking Trustworthiness and BBB Ratings

None of our top picks have any recent public scandals.

Here are the Better Business Bureau  scores for all the banks on our list:

The Better Business Bureau measures businesses by examining responses to customer complaints, honesty in advertising, and transparency about business practices.

Ally received an A rating from the BBB rather than an A+ because it has a few unresolved complaints.

Something to keep in mind is that a good BBB rating won’t guarantee that your interactions with the bank will be great. Consider speaking to current customers or reading online customer reviews to see if one of these banks may be suitable for you. 

Capital One has been involved in a recent public controversies. 

In 2020, The Office of the Comptroller of Currency required Capital One to pay $80 million in a settlement that said the bank had inefficient security practices, which comprised personal information of bank credit cardholders.

Why You Should Trust Us: Our Expert Panel for the Best Online Banks

To learn more about what makes a good online banking experience and how to choose the best fit, four experts weighed in:

We’re focusing on what will make an online bank most useful, including customer service, fees, rates, and more. Here’s what they had to say about banking online. (Some text may be lightly edited for clarity.)

How can someone determine whether a bank is the right fit for them?

Tania Brown, certified financial planner at SaverLife:

“Obviously, you want to make sure it’s FDIC insured. Also, your banking experience — do you like walking into a bank? Well, then you need someone local. Do you just not care if you ever see your bank? Then you’re okay online. Do you write checks? Do you not write checks? So it’s thinking through how your experience with it is going to be before you make that decision.”

Sophia Acevedo, certified educator in personal finance, banking reporter, Personal Finance Insider:

“I would create a list of what I prioritize most in a bank account. For example, some banks have accounts that charge monthly service fees. I would look to see what the requirements are for waiving the monthly service fee and whether I think I could feasibly meet those requirements each month. If I’m searching for an interest-earning bank account I’ll pay attention to interest rates. I would make sure the account pays a higher interest rate than the average bank account.”

What should someone look for in an online bank?

Tania Brown, CFP:

“With an online bank, absolutely online customer service, because you do not have the advantage of walking inside and talking to a human being. How often are you able to get them? What are their hours?”

Roger Ma, certified financial planner with lifelaidout® and author of “Work Your Money, Not Your Life”:

“How onerous the transfer process is, transferring money in and transferring money out. Is it same day, next day? Is it pretty easy to sync a brick-and-mortar checking account to this particular high-yield savings account?”

Mykail James, MBA, certified financial education instructor, BoujieBudgets.com:

“When it comes to online banks, you want to be a little bit more strict about what type of interest rates they’re providing. That’s the biggest thing, because online banks are supposed to have the higher interest rate because they don’t have the overhead of the brick-and-mortar. You want to make sure that it’s well above the national average. What type of securities do they provide? Do they have two-factor identification? If it’s an online bank, they should definitely have — at the bare minimum — two-factor authentication in how easy it is to change your passwords and things like that, because you want to be a little more hypersensitive about the cyber security for a strictly online bank.”

Our Methodology: How We Chose the Best Online Banks

Personal Finance Insider’s mission is to help smart people make the best decisions with their money. We understand that “best” is often subjective, so in addition to highlighting the clear benefits of a financial product or account — a high APY, for example — we outline the limitations, too. We spent hours comparing and contrasting the features and fine print of various products so you don’t have to.

While interest rates are an important aspect of any online banking account, several offer the same annual percentage yields (APYs). To differentiate between them, we considered how much you’ll need to open an account, balance requirements, fees, ATM access, mobile apps, and other standout features.

We also took customer service into account, because with an online bank, you don’t have the option of walking into a branch to speak with a representative.

We reviewed over two dozen institutions to identify the strongest options. To learn more about how we rate and review products, visit our editorial standards page.

See our full ratings methodology for checking, business checking, savings, and money market accounts »