SunTrust Bank has recently updated their site by creating an open, inviting web portal. The design is crisp and clean and best of all easy to navigate and in the world of online banks that is not an easy combination to find.

The Atlanta-based bank boasts $172.9 billion in assets at the close of 2010. Its market share includes much of the Atlantic coast as well as other selected markets and its online banking division. If having an established brick and mortar bank with a strong online presence is important to you, SunTrust Bank should be one for you to consider.

SunTrust's website is easy to navigate and simple. They also have presence in Twitter and Facebook.

Additionally, for first-time online bank users the website is equipped with a short but through and informative video demonstration. I was surprised to find options for both online and mobile banking applications. Of all the banks I have reviewed I found the demonstration a wonderful addition to the website.

Online Checking Accounts—Lots of Options From Which to Choose

Sometimes the mere prospect of opening an online checking account is overwhelming simply because there are so many different types of accounts but SunTrust has made picking which account fits your needs literally as easy as a mouse click with clear and simple descriptions and then opening the account is just as easy. Options include basic and student accounts as well as high interest rate checking accounts. Performing a side-by-side comparison of all their accounts is also a one-click process.

My online disappointment is the interest rate schedule could be impossible to find for the novice user. But for the highest interest checking account pays out at .15% APY as of July 23, 2011 which is on-par with most other online banks. Where SunTrust excels is the long list of free services and benefits which come with every account including free online bill pay, check safekeeping and exceptional discounts on the interest rates of other financial products.

Short and Long Term Savings—Excellent Interest Rates for You

SunTrust Bank offers everything from your basic online savings account to high yield money market accounts and high interest rate certificates of deposit. No matter what your savings goals are SunTrust Bank has a product to fit your needs and unique to the bank is the Live Solid Savings (service mark) account. This account is an automatic-transfer savings program to help you build your nest egg.

The Live Solid Savings product offers you a one–time anniversary bonus to help you achieve your financial goals.

While SunTrust Bank seems to have all the bases covered when it comes to offering a wide variety of the best online savings account again they receive low marks in prominently placing the online savings account interest rate schedule. In contrast, the APY for certificates of deposit and IRAs are super easy to find and the schedule is straightforward and understandable. Unfortunately SunTrust Bank does not offer too much flexibility in the terms of these locked-in savings accounts compared to many other online banks. But the high yield cd rates beat some other online banks so if you can let your money ride for more than two years it will be hard to beat these rates.

More Bells and Whistles—Additional Products and Features

In addition to some of the best online checking accounts, savings accounts and some of the highest yield certificates of deposit, SunTrust Bank also offers a full range of financial services from credit cards to asset management right at your fingertips. As you click through each of the options, the same crisp, clean and generally easy-to-understand information greets you. And in a departure from many of the best online banks, SunTrust Bank is fully available in Spanish online.

A Quick Overview of SunTrust Bank

As far as online banking goes the website is one of the best in that it is uncluttered and the information is easy to find. The audiovisual introduction to mobile and online banking is very useful and reassuring for the novice computer user and/or for those new to the world of online banking.

And if the website fails to answer all your questions, customer service is available through an online chat or by phone. In addition to the excepted cache of online checking and savings accounts, high interest money market accounts and certificates of deposit the bank also offers a full range of financial services. The only real drawback is the interest rates are buried or nearly impossible to find without contacting customer service.

If you need help, the good old customer service is ready to assist you as always.