14 Bank Accounts With Budgeting Tools to Track Individual Goals

• Some financial institutions have bank accounts with special budgeting features.
• Our list covers accounts that let you separate savings into specific goals. 
• To set up goals, you’ll need to set up online or mobile banking. 
• Read more stories from Personal Finance Insider.

Saving money for personal finance goals is a tall task if you don’t know where to start. 

Some financial institutions have bank accounts with budgeting tools that you can use to separate your savings into individual goals. 

If you’re looking to open or switch to a new account that helps you maintain financial goals, we’ve put together a list of bank accounts with budgeting tools. Our list includes credit unions, online banks, and online banking platforms included in our best product guides.

1. Alliant Credit Union

How savings tool works: Alliant’s savings account offers “supplemental savings accounts,” which let you save for specific goals. Add goals by logging in to online banking. Select a new account under your existing Alliant Account. When you select “supplemental savings,” you’ll be prompted to add your savings account. 

2. Ally

How savings tool works: Ally lets you open savings buckets for different goals. Log in to online banking and create new buckets when you click on your savings account. You’ll also be able to track and set deadlines for goals.

3. Barclays

How savings tool works: Set up savings goals through the Barclays app. You’ll need to select a bank account to start a new goal.

4. Capital One

How savings tool works: Capital One’s bank accounts allow you to establish goals through the bank’s mobile app. You’ll also be able to set deadlines and monitor your progress. 

5. Chase

How savings tool works: Chase allows you to create three types of goals: safety net, custom goals, and general savings. A safety net helps you establish an emergency fund. Custom goals help save for occasions you’d like to save for — for example, vacations or birthdays. General savings is where you will keep savings that aren’t for specific occasions. 

6. Connexus Credit Union

How savings tools work: Connexus Digital Banking offers a savings goal feature. Implement the savings goal feature in online banking, so you’re able to assign target amounts.

7. LendingClub

How savings tool works: LendingClub has a special mobile feature for

checking accounts

called Goalkeeper. To access Goalkeeper, log in to

mobile banking

and create a goal for anything you’d like. 

8. NBKC Bank

How savings tool works: NBKC has a hybrid checking/savings account. Set up individual goals through the account through online and mobile banking. 

9. One

How savings tool works: One simplifies banking with a hybrid checking/savings account. You’ll be able to manage individual goals or through what are called pockets. You’ll start with three pockets: a Spend Pocket, a Save Pocket, and an Auto-Save Pocket (for automatic savings deposits). You may also add more pockets for customizable goals. 

10. Regions Bank

How savings tool works: MyGreenInsights is a unique online banking feature if you have a Regions bank account. You’ll be able to create a budget and establish goals for how much you’d like to save or spend in a certain area. 

11. Sallie Mae

How savings tool works: Through Sallie Mae’s savings accounts, you’ll be able to set up specific savings goals online and monitor them. 

12. SoFI

How savings tool works: You can set individual goals through SoFi’s Money Vaults. Create categories for Money Vaults through online or mobile banking.

13. Wealthfront

How savings tool works: Save for distinct savings goals through Wealthfront’s mobile app. You can also set up goals, so they’re completed in a specific order.

14. Wings Financial

How savings tool works: Money Tracker is a special mobile banking feature for Wings Financial Credit Union account holders. You’ll be able to create goals and track them each month. Money Tracker also lets you establish a budget and assign categories for spending. 

Frequently asked questions: 

How do you use bank budgeting tools? 

You’ll need to set up online banking and have money deposited into your account to utilize the budgeting tools for most of the accounts listed.  Once you set up an account, you can separate your savings into specific goals. 

Why are budgeting tools important?

Brian Walsh, CFP® professional and senior manager of financial planning at SoFi, says budgeting tools can play an important role in the way a person manages their finances. 

“People who use budgeting tools are actually much more likely to spend more responsibly, have an emergency, fund, pay off their credit cards, have a retirement account — all these great things when it comes to their personal finances. There is significant research that shows that using these types of tools can be very powerful for everyday people,” Walsh says.

When should you consider a bank with budgeting tools? 

Walsh says budgeting tools are helpful for people who would prefer to have a general idea of where their money is going but don’t want granular details or specifics.

“Most people, they just want a high-level overview, and they want it in the palm of their hand. So, it can help them kind of nudge them into making slightly more responsible decisions on their spending,” adds Walsh.

If you find it overwhelming to save for goals using a spreadsheet or calculator, a bank account with budgeting tools may ultimately provide a unique option worth exploring.