Updated September 28, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
Ally Bank vs Empower Personal Dashboard
Empower Personal Dashboard
Ally Bank
Higher score in this comparison
What sets them apart
| Compare | Ally BankReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | Empower Personal DashboardReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Funds, BondsCovers more | Stocks, ETFs, Funds |
| Account types | Joint, IRA, Roth IRACovers more | IRA |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Regulators | SEC, FINRA, FDIC | Not confirmed |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to USD 500,000 | Not confirmed |
| Options contract fee | $0.50 | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Minimum deposit ($0), Stock trade fee ($0), Account fee ($0).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings. Partners with a live offer in your country come first, then every other brand by score.
Key differences
- Ally Bank scores higher overall: 9.6 vs 9.3.
- Founded is lower at Ally Bank: 1919 vs 2014.
- Markets: only Ally Bank offers Options, Bonds.
- Account types: only Ally Bank offers Joint, Roth IRA.
- Support channels: only Ally Bank offers Chat.
- Pricing model: only Empower Personal Dashboard offers Low fees.
Our verdict on each
Ally Bank
Ally Bank suits US savers who want easy-access cash and self-directed investing in one place. Savings pay 3.1% at a variable rate, the brokerage side covers stocks, etfs and options, and the trading platform is ranked 1 of 166 brands on what a trade costs.
Empower Personal Dashboard
Empower Personal Dashboard suits US households that want cash and investments in one place, paying a variable headline rate of 3.5% and asking for a minimum deposit of $0. Deposits sit under FDIC up to USD 250,000, and the dashboard moves money with the ease of a checking account.
Score breakdown
| Area | Ally Bank | Empower Personal Dashboard |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.4Account fee $0, inactivity fee $0 and stock trade fee $0, with savings paying 3.1%. | 10.0HigherManagement fee 0%, account fee $0, stock trade fee $0, minimum investment $0. |
| Offer | 9.6Higher | 8.7 |
| Trust | 9.8Higher | 9.0 |
What each covers
| Markets | Ally Bank | Empower Personal Dashboard |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | No |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Account types | Ally Bank | Empower Personal Dashboard |
|---|---|---|
| IRA | Yes | Yes |
| Roth IRA | Yes | No |
| Joint | Yes | No |
Pick Ally Bank if, pick Empower Personal Dashboard if
Pick Ally Bank if offer, trust, markets, and account types matter most.
Pick Empower Personal Dashboard if cost matter most.
Availability and regulation
| Country | Ally Bank | Empower Personal Dashboard |
|---|---|---|
| United States | FINRA 136131 FDIC FDIC cert 57803 | Not confirmed |
Available in 1 country for both.
How they place
| Ranking | Ally Bank | Empower Personal Dashboard |
|---|---|---|
| Savings | 65 of 1492 | 18 of 1492 |
| Savings accounts | 47 of 658 | 11 of 658 |
| Investing | 53 of 654 | 22 of 654 |
| Stock and ETF brokers | 31 of 358 | 13 of 358 |
| Robo-advisors | 8 of 154 | 2 of 154 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Ally Bank | Empower Personal Dashboard |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Not confirmed | Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free, Low feesCovers more |
| Legal entity | Ally Bank | Empower Advisory Group, LLC |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 1919Lower | 2014 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more | Email, Phone, Help centre |
Savings
| Fact | Ally Bank | Empower Personal Dashboard |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | 3.1% | 3.5%Higher |
| Rate type | Variable | Variable |
| Deposit protection | FDIC insured (certificate 57803) | FDIC up to USD 250,000 |
| Access terms | 10 limited withdrawals and transfers per statement cycle | Easy access like a checking account; deposit and withdraw through the Empower Dashboard via website and mobile app |
| Monthly fee | $0 | $0 |
| Account kind | Easy access | Cash management |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Ally Bank | Empower Personal Dashboard |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0% to 0.3% | 0% |
| Minimum investment | $100 | $0Lower |
| Portfolio types | ETF, ESG, CashCovers more | ETF, Cash |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Ally Bank | Empower Personal Dashboard | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0below the median | $0below the median | $23.50 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Account fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Options contract fee | $0.50below the median | Not confirmed | $0.65 |
Median across 138 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Ally Bank
Pros
- Savings pay 3.1% at a variable rate, a little above the site median of 3%.
- Trading covers stocks, etfs and options with a commission free model and a minimum deposit of $0.
- Cash is FDIC insured (certificate 57803), and investments are covered by SIPC up to USD 500,000.
Cons
- Savings access stops at 10 limited withdrawals and transfers per statement cycle, so a large emergency fund is awkward to hold here.
- Options are the exception to commission free trading, with a charge of $0.50.
- Robo portfolios charge a management fee of 0% to 0.3% and start at $100.
Empower Personal Dashboard
Pros
- Support runs on email, phone and help centre, so help is a phone call or an email away.
- The cash side sits under FDIC up to USD 250,000.
- Access suits everyday money: deposits and withdrawals run through the dashboard itself.
Cons
- The rate type is variable, so the 3.5% headline can move rather than being fixed for a term.
- Markets are limited to stocks, etfs and funds, with no foreign exchange, crypto or bond trading listed.
- Investing money carries risk: the share of retail accounts that lose money is 70.15%.
Who each suits
Ally Bank
Who it suits
- US households, since the bank is headquartered in the United States and its savings pay 3.1%.
- First-time investors, who can start trading at $0 on a commission free model.
- Retirement savers, who can hold joint, IRA and Roth IRA accounts.
Who should look elsewhere
- CFI, for readers who want forex, contracts for difference or crypto: its markets are stocks, etfs and forex, against stocks, etfs and options here.
- bunq, for euro savers who prefer an account in euros, since its minimum deposit is set at €10.
- Fiesta Credito MX, for readers in Mexico who want a lender regulated by CONDUSEF rather than SEC, FINRA and FDIC.
Empower Personal Dashboard
Who it suits
- US households who want a cash balance alongside a ira account in one place.
- Investors comfortable with a focused list of stocks, etfs and funds held in etf and cash.
- People who value phone and email help, since support runs on email, phone and help centre.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers after a UK or European savings account: Empower is headquartered in the United States, and PiggyVest quotes its minimum investment as NGN 5,000 in another currency.
- Anyone who wants a stated entry floor before investing: eToro asks $500 and Axos Invest $100, against $0 here.
- People trading forex, crypto or bonds: the market list here is stocks, etfs and funds, so eToro or Axos Invest are the comparisons to read for wider classes.
Country by country
| Country | Ally Bank | Empower Personal Dashboard |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
Ally Bank
What does it cost to keep an account open?+
The brokerage account fee is $0 and the online savings account carries a monthly fee of $0. The inactivity fee is also $0, so an unused account is not quietly charged. The one regular trading charge is on options, at $0.50.
Is there a minimum deposit to start?+
Self-directed trading opens at a minimum deposit of $0, and Ally Bank ranks 1 of 218 brands on that measure. Automated investing is the exception, with a minimum investment of $100 before the first purchase.
Empower Personal Dashboard
What does Empower Personal Dashboard charge?+
None of the listed fees apply. The management fee is 0%, the account fee $0, the monthly fee $0 and a stock trade costs $0. The pricing model is commission free and low fees, so the charge does not scale with the size of the holding.
Is the money in my account protected?+
The cash side is covered by FDIC up to USD 250,000, which applies to deposits rather than investments. Anything in the investment account carries market risk, and across the site the share of retail accounts that lose money sits at 70.15%. Keep emergency cash in the deposit account.
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Empower Personal Dashboard
Ally Bank