Written by Jessica Merritt | Edited by Rebecca Stropoli | Published on 1/24/2025
Associated Bank is based in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and serves more than 100 communities in Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota. The bank offers financial products including checking, savings and money market accounts, as well as certificates of deposit (CDs) and loans. It operates loan production offices in Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Ohio and Texas.
If you value product variety, Associated Bank provides many options — nine total — for checking accounts. That even includes accounts with sports and entertainment-related discounts. Find choices with no monthly maintenance fees, or fees that can be waived, and interest-bearing accounts.
All checking accounts offer an overdraft “grace zone” if your account is overdrawn by $50 or less and early payday access for direct deposits, plus access to more than 30,000 surcharge-free ATMs.
Associated Bank also provides a healthy variety of savings accounts, including high-yield savings, money market and specialized savings plans, such as health savings accounts (HSAs). However, rates on savings and money market accounts are low; the Relationship Savings account requires a minimum balance of $100,000 along with other qualifiers to earn an annual percentage yield (APY) of 2.00%.
Regular CD terms range from three to 60 months, and the fixed-rate add-on CD allows you to make deposits throughout a 12-month term. This allows for more flexibility than the typical CD.
The bank has a user-friendly digital platform with robust mobile banking options. Using the Associated Bank Digital mobile app, customers can manage accounts, deposit checks, pay bills and transfer funds.
Customer service is accessible through multiple channels, including phone support, online assistance and in-branch consultation. Call 800-236-8866 for live support from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Central time Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT Saturday.
Customers can use the website or mobile app to schedule appointments with banking specialists. Digital and automated telephone banking is available 24/7.
Associated Bank pros and cons:
Pros:
• Overdraft “grace zone” of up to $50 with most checking accounts, meaning the bank won’t charge an overdraft fee if your account is overdrawn up to that amount
• Add-on 12-month CD that lets you make deposits throughout the term
• Large variety checking accounts, including fee-free and interest-bearing options
Cons:
• Branches limited to three Midwestern states
• Low rates on deposit accounts, except for promotional CD
• Some checking and savings accounts charge maintenance fees, though waivers are available
As Awful As Everyone Said
Been a customer for around 15 years. Not my primary bank anymore but I kept it around for security and because they have ok biz checking options. Opened a new biz checking account recently, made one debit card purchase during startup. No overdrafts, no problems. Right before I start getting money in, I get a letter stating they're closing the account. No reason given other than their agreement says they can. Tried calling customer service, VP says they're closing and can't give any more reason beyond what's on the letter, and nobody else to talk to about it. Avoid unless you want your bank to pull the rug out from under you.
Loan For Imrovements On Rental Prop
Callled to find out what loan options I had for financing some major improvements on a rental property. I was told someone would call me tomorrow. At 9:30 the next day someone calls asking for me. I I'd myself and he apologizes because our appointment was for 10 am. Huh? I wasn't given a specific time. I told him it was OK to talk now. No, he says, "I have an appointment with someone else now. I'm thinking, OK, stuff happens. The phone rings at 10 am. It is the same number that rang at 9:30 am. The voice at the other end is stammering and it is readily apparent he has no idea who he called! I identify myself and he apologizes for HIS confusion. He proceeds to offer options that are not even close to being competitive. I thanked him and said it was less expensive to put my planned improvements on my credit card.
Given how unorganized and confused this man was, I had no confidence in what he was telling me nor did I have confidence in the quality of their products. He was the 4th lender I called so I indeed had timely comparisons and he wasn't even in the ballpark!
What A Terrible Bank! Avoid At All Costs!
I applied for an account online and my account was "under review" for over 5 weeks. I called several times and they could never tell me why it was under review or how long that review would take. Finally I got a letter in the mail saying my account was closed due to suspicious activity but all I did was open the account, deposit money and set up a direct deposit. I'm sure they just wanted to close my account to avoid paying a sign up bonus they were offering. What a terrible bank! Avoid at all costs!
Associated Bank
After 37 years as a good customer, Associated Bank has informed my wife and me that it is unilaterally closing my accounts, along with those of my son, daughter and grandson. The bank has been unwilling to provided any explanation for why it is doing this. We have done nothing fraudulent; we have simply been normal banking customers for 37 years. We have a savings account with a large balance (mid six-figures) for many years.
I believe that ordinary business practices, along with common decency, would suggest that any reputable organization would provide an explanation to a long time customer for ending a long time relationship.
I have tried to speak with customer relations personnel several times to no avail.
TERRIBLE BANK!
Data as of Q1 2025
Learn why bank health mattersHealth Grade Components
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| FDIC Certificate # | 5296 |
| Year Established | 1874 |
| Employees | 3989 |
| Primary Regulator | OCC |
| Profit Margin | |
|---|---|
| Return on Assets - YTD | 0.97% |
| Return on Equity - YTD | 9.26% |
| Annual Interest Income | $525.8MM |
| Assets and Liabilities | ||
|---|---|---|
| Assets | Q1 2025vs Q1 2024 | $43.25B$41.09B |
| Loans | Q1 2025vs Q1 2024 | $29.98B$29.19B |
| Deposits | Q1 2025vs Q1 2024 | $35.23B$33.73B |
| Equity Capital | Q1 2025vs Q1 2024 | $4.55B$4.12B |
| Loan Loss Allowance | Q1 2025vs Q1 2024 | $371.3MM$356MM |
| Unbacked Noncurrent Loans | Q1 2025vs Q1 2024 | $137MM$180.6MM |
| Real Estate Owned | Q1 2025vs Q1 2024 | $23.5MM$8.4MM |
