Forbright Bank Review 2025
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At a glance
Best eco-friendly bank
Overview
Forbright Bank can be a convenient option if you prefer in-person banking and live in the areas of Maryland and Virginia where there are two branches and three service hubs. Accounts that can be opened online include the Growth Savings account and certificates of deposit (CDs). For accounts that include ATM access, customers receive unlimited fee refunds for withdrawals from non-Forbright ATMs. Some accounts earn solid yields and charge low-to-no monthly service fees.
Highlights:
High APY ATM Fee Refunds Free CheckingHighlights:
CDs
Checking
Savings
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These are sponsored offers rated highly by us for competitive rates, fees, and minimums.
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
Bankrate Savings rating = 4.7/5
Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Our scoring formula weighs several factors consumers should consider when choosing financial products and services.
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
Bankrate Savings rating = 4.2/5
Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Our scoring formula weighs several factors consumers should consider when choosing financial products and services.
Offers featured here have been sponsored which impacts how, where, and in what order the products appear. Not all offers are displayed on this page.
Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Our scoring formula weighs several factors consumers should consider when choosing financial products and services.
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Our scoring formula weighs several factors consumers should consider when choosing financial products and services.
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Our scoring formula weighs several factors consumers should consider when choosing financial products and services.
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Our scoring formula weighs several factors consumers should consider when choosing financial products and services.
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
Overall
Forbright Bank offers a full range of personal bank accounts as well as credit cards and loans. While CDs and the Growth Savings account can be opened online, all other deposit accounts need to be opened at a branch.
Pros
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All Forbright CDs come with a solid yield.
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The Growth Savings account offers a stellar yield.
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The checking account charges no service fees and earns very high interest when balance requirements are met.
Cons
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Forbright Bank only offers two full-service branches in Virginia, and three hubs in Virginia and Maryland.
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CDs and one savings account can be opened online, but you’ll need to visit a branch to open any other deposit account.
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Forbright Bank banking products
Forbright Growth Savings account
Pros
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The Growth Savings account earns a solid annual percentage yield (APY), which you can earn on any balance.
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There’s no minimum opening deposit requirement.
Cons
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The Growth Savings account does not come with ATM access.
Forbright’s Growth Savings account earns a respectable annual percentage yield (APY) and doesn’t require any minimum opening deposit. It also earns interest on any balance. The one minor drawback is that ATM access is not provided for this account, which means you won't be able to pull from savings on the go.
Forbright also offers Bright Savings and Sprout Savings accounts, both of which need to be opened in a branch. Bright Savings has a tiered structure, with a competitive APY for balances of at least $250,000. Sprout Savings, open to those younger than 18 years of age, pays a competitive APY on balances up to $10,000. Both of these accounts provide ATM access and unlimited reimbursement of surcharges for using non-Forbright ATMs.
Rate history for Forbright's Savings account
See how rates for this account have changed over time. Interact with the trend lines to view APY by date.
Forbright Bank certificates of deposit (CDs)
Pros
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All Forbright CDs offer solid yields that are above the national average.
Cons
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Only a handful of CD terms are available.
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While relatively standard, Forbright’s minimum opening deposit requirement is higher than other online banks require.
Forbright Bank offers five terms for its online Growth CDs that range from nine months to five years. The yields for all five CDs are well above the national average, but you can find higher yields at other banks. A minimum deposit of $1,000 is required to open a CD — higher than what you may find at other banks.
Rate history for Forbright's CD accounts
See how rates for this account have changed over time. Select the CD term length from the dropdown and interact with the trend lines to view APY by date.
Forbright Bright Checking account
Pros
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The Bright Checking account earns a highly competitive APY when you meet balance requirements.
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The account’s minimum opening deposit requirement is low.
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No monthly fees are charged.
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Forbright refunds all surcharges from banks when non-Forbright ATMs are used.
Cons
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You must visit a branch to open a Bright Checking account.
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No interest is earned on balances of less than $2,500.
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A balance of at least $250,000 is required to earn the highest yield.
The Bright Checking account from Forbright Bank earns a high yield for a checking account, although you’ll need a balance of at least $2,500 to earn any interest.
The account charges no monthly maintenance fee and requires a minimum of just $25 to open. It comes with free checks — when ordered within a year of opening — and a debit card. A stand-out benefit it provides is unlimited refunds for surcharges imposed by other banks when you use non-Forbright ATMs. Typically these fees are limited to a certain amount.
How Forbright Bank compares to other banks
Compare different account types offered by Forbright. Annual percentage yields (APYs) shown were updated between Oct. 22, 2025 and Oct. 28, 2025.
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Selected bank
Forbright Bank savings account
Bankrate score
4.4
Bankrate Savings rating = 4.4/5 Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Annual percentage yields (APYs), minimum opening deposit requirements and minimum balances to avoid monthly service fees are some of the things that make up Bankrate’s score. |
Most comparable
Ally Bank savings account
Bankrate score
4.4
Bankrate Savings rating = 4.4/5 Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Annual percentage yields (APYs), minimum opening deposit requirements and minimum balances to avoid monthly service fees are some of the things that make up Bankrate’s score. |
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Bankrate score
Bankrate Savings rating Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Annual percentage yields (APYs), minimum opening deposit requirements and minimum balances to avoid monthly service fees are some of the things that make up Bankrate’s score. |
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APY
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account. APY includes the effects of compounding interest. APYs last updated between Oct. 22, 2025 and Oct. 28, 2025.
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| 4.00% | 3.40% | |
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Minimum balance for APY
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| $0.00 | $0.00 | |
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Estimated earnings
Interest earned calculation based on a $50,000 deposit amount for a period of 1 year and is rounded to the nearest dollar. Exact earnings are dependent on calendar year, balance, and compounding frequency. Minimum deposit rules may apply.
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| $2,000 | $1,700 | |
| Forbright Bank’s Growth Savings account earns a highly competitive yield, without requiring a minimum opening deposit or charging monthly service fees. | Ally Bank consistently offers a competitive yield on its Online Savings Account. The online bank doesn’t have the absolute highest yield, but it offers a competitive one and doesn’t have a minimum balance requirement or a monthly service fee. The bank offers mobile deposit, but you’ll need to transfer money to the Ally checking account or money market account if you want to access money in your savings from an ATM. | |
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Bank fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Overdraft fee | None |
| Non-sufficient funds fee | None |
| Monthly maintenance fee | None |
| Out-of-network ATM fee | None |
| Excessive transaction fee | None |
Customer experience
Physical presence. Forbright Bank operates two full-service branches in Maryland and four hubs across Maryland and Virginia. Forbright has a handful of accounts that must be opened online, including the Bright Checking account.
Customer support. Customer service for branch banking can be reached over the phone Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. Digital banking customer service is available weekdays between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET.
Digital experience. The bank offers a basic mobile app through which Android and Apple users can check balances, deposit checks, pay bills and transfer money between accounts. While user reviews for the mobile app are generally positive, keep in mind that not many users have rated the app.
Review methodology
We assign a score to each type of account and its features, weigh them carefully based on importance to account holders and determine an overall score. Read our full review methodology.
