Varo is an online FDIC-insured bank offering a checking and savings account with a ton of features, including cashback rewards, a high APY and barely any fees. It also offers a secured credit card called Varo Believe that doesn’t have an APR or annual fees and allows you to set the spending limit. But Varo doesn’t offer joint accounts or wire transfers, and to earn the highest APY on savings, you must meet deposit requirements.
As more fintechs and online banks enter the space, competition is fierce. Here are eight alternative online banks like Varo with their own unique strengths.
Refer a friend to Chime using your referral link, and if they complete a $200 direct deposit within 45 days of opening their new account, you both get $100.
When it comes to hassle-free checking, Chime takes the cake. It's a fintech company with banking services backed by its bank partners. Chime offers one checking account, a savings account and a secured credit card. Its checking account has no monthly fees, no opening deposit requirement, no foreign transaction fees, and fee-free overdraft. In addition, with direct deposit set up, you may qualify for Chime SpotMe, its unique overdraft service that covers purchases up to $200 with no fees. However, similar to Varo, it doesn't offer cashback rewards, accept cash deposits or allow joint owners.
Fee
$0 per month
Minimum deposit to open
$0
When it comes to hassle-free checking, Chime takes the cake. It's a fintech company with banking services backed by its bank partners. Chime offers one checking account, a savings account and a secured credit card. Its checking account has no monthly fees, no opening deposit requirement, no foreign transaction fees, and fee-free overdraft. In addition, with direct deposit set up, you may qualify for Chime SpotMe, its unique overdraft service that covers purchases up to $200 with no fees. However, similar to Varo, it doesn't offer cashback rewards, accept cash deposits or allow joint owners.
Pros
No monthly fees and no opening deposit
Overdraft service Chime SpotMe
Secured credit card for credit building
Up to 2% APY on savings
Cons
No cashback rewards
No cash deposits
No joint accounts
APY
N/A
Intro or bonus offer
Refer a friend to Chime using your referral link, and if they complete a $200 direct deposit within 45 days of opening their new account, you both get $100.
Rewards
Cash back offers on everyday purchases through the app
Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services and debit card provided by The Bancorp Bank N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. ATMs: Out-of-network ATM withdrawal fees may apply except at MoneyPass ATMs in a 7-Eleven, or any Allpoint or Visa Plus Alliance ATM. Deposit: Once the retailer accepts your cash, the funds will be transferred to your Chime Checking Account. Cash deposit fees may apply if using a retailer other than Walgreens and Duane Reade. Mobile Deposit: Mobile Check Deposit eligibility is determined by Chime in its sole discretion and may be granted based on various factors including, but not limited to, a member's direct deposit enrollment status. Chime Savings Account: Chime Checking Account is required to be eligible for a Savings Account. APY: The Annual Percentage Yield (“APY”) is variable and may change at any time. The disclosed APY is accurate as of May 22, 2023. No minimum balance required. Must have $0.01 in savings to earn interest. Get Paid Early: Early access to direct deposit funds depends on the timing of the submission of the payment file from the payer. We generally make these funds available on the day the payment file is received, which may be up to 2 days earlier than the scheduled payment date. Credit Builder: The secured Chime Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card is issued by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa credit cards are accepted. Please see the back of your card for its issuing bank. To apply for Credit Builder, you must have received a single qualifying direct deposit of $200 or more to your Checking Account. The qualifying direct deposit must be from your employer, payroll provider, gig economy payer, or benefits payer by Automated Clearing House (ACH) deposit OR Original Credit Transaction (OCT). Bank ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, verification or trial deposits from financial institutions, peer to peer transfers from services such as PayPal, Cash App, or Venmo, mobile check deposits, cash loads or deposits, one-time direct deposits, such as tax refunds and other similar transactions, and any deposit to which Chime deems to not be a qualifying direct deposit are not qualifying direct deposits. SpotMe: Chime SpotMe is an optional, no fee service that requires a single deposit of $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits to the Chime Checking Account each at least once every 34 days. All qualifying members will be allowed to overdraw their account up to $20 on debit card purchases and cash withdrawals initially, but may be later eligible for a higher limit of up to $200 or more based on member’s Chime Account history, direct deposit frequency and amount, spending activity and other risk-based factors. Your limit will be displayed to you within the Chime mobile app. You will receive notice of any changes to your limit. Your limit may change at any time, at Chime’s discretion. Although there are no overdraft fees, there may be out-of-network or third party fees associated with ATM transactions. SpotMe won’t cover non-debit card transactions, including ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, or Chime Checkbook transactions. See Terms and Conditions.
Just like Varo, SoFi is an online bank that's directly FDIC-insured. SoFi has a long list of products and services, including its all-in-one Checking and Savings account with no monthly fees, opening deposit requirement, overdraft fees or foreign transaction fees. If you set up direct deposit, you can earn up to 4.60% APY on your savings balance and up to 0.50% on your checking. You can also enjoy high FDIC insurance of up to $2 million. Alongside its banking products, SoFi offers personal loans, mortgages, student loan refinancing, credit cards, investing and much more. Similar to Varo, SoFi accepts cash deposits at Green Dot locations for a $4.95 fee.
APY
Up to 4.60%
Fee
$0 per month
Minimum deposit to open
$0
Just like Varo, SoFi is an online bank that's directly FDIC-insured. SoFi has a long list of products and services, including its all-in-one Checking and Savings account with no monthly fees, opening deposit requirement, overdraft fees or foreign transaction fees. If you set up direct deposit, you can earn up to 4.60% APY on your savings balance and up to 0.50% on your checking. You can also enjoy high FDIC insurance of up to $2 million. Alongside its banking products, SoFi offers personal loans, mortgages, student loan refinancing, credit cards, investing and much more. Similar to Varo, SoFi accepts cash deposits at Green Dot locations for a $4.95 fee.
Pros
Hybrid bank account with no fees
Variety of products and services
High FDIC insurance up to $2 million
Up to 4.60% APY on savings
Cons
No international wire transfers
APY
4.60% on balances of $0+ 0.50% on balances of $0 to 1.20% on balances of $0+
Intro or bonus offer
Get up to $300 cash bonus with qualifying direct deposit. Terms apply. This offer is available until December 31, 2024.
Rewards
Get up to $300 cash bonus with qualifying direct deposit. Terms apply. This offer is available until December 31, 2024.
New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus when they set up Direct Deposit of at least $1,000 during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period. Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 12/31/24. Full terms at sofi.com/banking. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC. SoFi members with Direct Deposit can earn 4.60% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 4.60% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Direct Deposit will earn 1.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 10/24/2023. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet. Our account fee policy is subject to change at any time. SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations. Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $2M through participation in the program. See full terms at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/terms See list of participating banks at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/receivingbanks We’ve partnered with Allpoint to provide you with ATM access at any of the 55,000+ ATMs within the Allpoint network. You will not be charged a fee when using an in-network ATM, however, third-party fees incurred when using out-of-network ATMs are not subject to reimbursement. SoFi’s ATM policies are subject to change at our discretion at any time Early access to direct deposit funds is based on the timing in which we receive notice of impending payment from the Federal Reserve, which is typically up to two days before the scheduled payment date, but may vary.
New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus when they set up Direct Deposit of at least $1,000 during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period. Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 12/31/24. Full terms at sofi.com/banking. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC. SoFi members with Direct Deposit can earn 4.60% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 4.60% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Direct Deposit will earn 1.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 10/24/2023. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet. Our account fee policy is subject to change at any time. SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations. Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $2M through participation in the program. See full terms at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/terms See list of participating banks at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/receivingbanks We’ve partnered with Allpoint to provide you with ATM access at any of the 55,000+ ATMs within the Allpoint network. You will not be charged a fee when using an in-network ATM, however, third-party fees incurred when using out-of-network ATMs are not subject to reimbursement. SoFi’s ATM policies are subject to change at our discretion at any time Early access to direct deposit funds is based on the timing in which we receive notice of impending payment from the Federal Reserve, which is typically up to two days before the scheduled payment date, but may vary.
Alternative for credit building
Current
4.6
★★★★★
Finder score
Get a $50 referral bonus by inviting your friends to join Current. Once the person receives the invite link and makes qualifying deposits of at least $200 within 45 days of opening the account, you and the referred friend each earn $50
Current is a fintech company that offers an all-in-one checking and savings account with no monthly fees, overdraft fees or opening deposit requirement. You can create three savings pods to keep your goals separate and earn up to 4% bonus on up to $2,000 within each pod. You can also earn cashback points with select merchants, and eligible users can apply for paycheck advances with no credit check or fees. On top of that, Current offers a secured card that's very similar card to Varo's Believe card — the Current Build card has no interest charges, annual fees or credit check, and it's backed by your Current account which sets the spending limit. However, both Varo and Current don't offer joint accounts.
APY
4.00%
Fee
$0 per month
Minimum deposit to open
$0
Current is a fintech company that offers an all-in-one checking and savings account with no monthly fees, overdraft fees or opening deposit requirement. You can create three savings pods to keep your goals separate and earn up to 4% bonus on up to $2,000 within each pod. You can also earn cashback points with select merchants, and eligible users can apply for paycheck advances with no credit check or fees. On top of that, Current offers a secured card that's very similar card to Varo's Believe card — the Current Build card has no interest charges, annual fees or credit check, and it's backed by your Current account which sets the spending limit. However, both Varo and Current don't offer joint accounts.
Pros
No monthly fees and $0 opening deposit
Current Build card with 0% APR
Earn up to 4% bonus on savings
Accepts cash deposits at select retail locations
No fee Paycheck Advance feature
Cons
No joint accounts
$3 plus 3% on international ATM withdrawals
APY
4.00% on balances of $0.01 to $2,000 Up to 4.00% bonus. The disclosed rate is effective as of August 1, 2023. Must have $0.01 in Savings Pods to earn a Boost rate of either 0.25% or 4.00% annually on the portion of balances up to $2000 per Savings Pod, up to $6000 total. The remaining balance earns 0.00%. A qualifying direct deposit of $200 or more is required for 4.00%. No minimum balance required. For more information, please refer to Current Boost Terms and Conditions..
Intro or bonus offer
Get a $50 referral bonus by inviting your friends to join Current. Once the person receives the invite link and makes qualifying deposits of at least $200 within 45 days of opening the account, you and the referred friend each earn $50
Rewards
Earn up to 15x the points when you use your debit card at one of 14,000+ participating merchants
Designed for college students but available to anyone 18 and up, Fizz offers a unique card that can build credit. With no credit check, no APR or monthly fees, and reporting to all three credit bureaus, it can help young adults start building a better credit history. Fizz requires users to have an external account with at least $150 in it and be at least 18 years old. Fizz's card offers very high cashback rewards from 25% to 100%, with merchants frequently found around college campuses, such as Starbucks, Chick-fil-A and Einstein Bros. Bagels. Varo has a similar product, but Varo's Believe card requires you to have the Varo account to qualify and for you to manually add funds to the Believe card to use it. But unlike Varo, you can't earn any APY with Fizz, since it's not a deposit account.
APY
N/A
Fee
$0 per month
Minimum deposit to open
$150
Designed for college students but available to anyone 18 and up, Fizz offers a unique card that can build credit. With no credit check, no APR or monthly fees, and reporting to all three credit bureaus, it can help young adults start building a better credit history. Fizz requires users to have an external account with at least $150 in it and be at least 18 years old. Fizz's card offers very high cashback rewards from 25% to 100%, with merchants frequently found around college campuses, such as Starbucks, Chick-fil-A and Einstein Bros. Bagels. Varo has a similar product, but Varo's Believe card requires you to have the Varo account to qualify and for you to manually add funds to the Believe card to use it. But unlike Varo, you can't earn any APY with Fizz, since it's not a deposit account.
Pros
0% APR and no annual fees
No credit check
High cashback rewards with rotating offers
Reports to all three credit bureaus
Cons
No overdraft services
No APY
Requires external bank account
APY
N/A
Intro or bonus offer
Earn 1,000 points ($10 value) when you download the Fizz app and enter code FINDER.
Rewards
Earn 1,000 points ($10 value) when you download the Fizz app and enter code FINDER
Dave is a mobile banking app chock full of great features, including its very high 4% APY available on its Spend account — as long as you meet direct deposit requirements. It's just barely lower than Varo's 5% APY. Dave also offers cash advances, credit monitoring, budgeting features and cashback rewards of up to 15%. However, Dave costs $1 per month, while Varo doesn't have a monthly fee. Like Varo, Dave doesn't offer joint accounts but accepts cash deposits at Walgreens and CVS locations for a $4.95 fee.
APY
4.00%
Fee
From $1 per month
Minimum deposit to open
$0
Dave is a mobile banking app chock full of great features, including its very high 4% APY available on its Spend account — as long as you meet direct deposit requirements. It's just barely lower than Varo's 5% APY. Dave also offers cash advances, credit monitoring, budgeting features and cashback rewards of up to 15%. However, Dave costs $1 per month, while Varo doesn't have a monthly fee. Like Varo, Dave doesn't offer joint accounts but accepts cash deposits at Walgreens and CVS locations for a $4.95 fee.
Earn 10% cash back at Walmart, up to $20, on your first purchase. Limited time offer. Get 3% cash back on future purchases up to an additional $50 every year with eligible deposits
Varo and One are very similar digital banking options, though One is a fintech with banking partners. Just like Varo, One offers a 5% APY on savings by meeting direct deposit or balance requirements. However, One's requirements are slightly easier to meet, only requiring direct deposit of $500 per month, or an average balance of $5,000. Varo requires a balance of at least $5,000 and direct deposit of at least $1,000 per month. Neither account has monthly fees or opening deposit requirements, and One also offers cashback rewards, though they're not as robust as Varo's 6%. Both Varo and One both lack the ability to support joint accounts.
APY
Up to 5.00%
Fee
$0 per month
Minimum deposit to open
$0
Varo and One are very similar digital banking options, though One is a fintech with banking partners. Just like Varo, One offers a 5% APY on savings by meeting direct deposit or balance requirements. However, One's requirements are slightly easier to meet, only requiring direct deposit of $500 per month, or an average balance of $5,000. Varo requires a balance of at least $5,000 and direct deposit of at least $1,000 per month. Neither account has monthly fees or opening deposit requirements, and One also offers cashback rewards, though they're not as robust as Varo's 6%. Both Varo and One both lack the ability to support joint accounts.
Pros
No monthly fees
All-one-account digital account
High 5% APY on savings
Easier deposit requirements than Varo
Cons
No joint accounts
Cashback not as good as Varo
APY
5.00% on balances of $0 to $250,000 with $500+ direct deposit in previous month or $5,000+ daily balance. See details below 1.00% on balances of $250,000.01+
Intro or bonus offer
Earn 10% cash back at Walmart, up to $20, on your first purchase. Limited time offer. Get 3% cash back on future purchases up to an additional $50 every year with eligible deposits
Rewards
Earn 3% cash back at Walmart, up to $50 annually, with eligible deposits
One is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Coastal Community Bank, Member FDIC. Debit card rewards: ● Earn 10% cash back at Walmart, up to $20, on your first purchase. Limited time offer¹ ● Get 3% cash back on future purchases, up to an additional $50 every year, with eligible deposits² ● Earn up to 5% cash back on select brands³ Early Pay: Get paid up to 2 days early. Direct deposit may be available up to 2 days in advance, but depends on when your employer sends paycheck data. 5.00% APY on Savings with eligible deposits: 5.00% annual percentage yield (APY) applies to the total Savings balance of customers who either (i) received $500 or more of eligible direct deposits in the previous month or (ii) have a total daily account balance of $5,000 or more. Customers can also earn 5.00% APY on Pay Autosave balances without these deposit or balance requirements. In all instances 5.00% APY is limited to a total Savings balance of up to $250,000. All other Savings balances will earn 1.00% APY. APYs are as of 4/17/2024, but may change at any time before or after account opening. ¹Only available to consumers who open an account through Walmart.com, the Walmart app, one.app, or the One app from 6/10/24 - 8/31/24. Terms apply. ²To receive 3% cash back, eligible customers (at the time their purchase settles) must (i) have received $500 or more of eligible direct deposits in the previous month, or (ii) have a total account balance of $5,000 or more. 3% cash back is limited to up to $50 per year and applies only to purchases made at U.S. Walmart locations and on Walmart.com. This promotion may not be combined with other One promotions that offer cash back on purchases at Walmart. Terms apply. ³Cash back can be earned through the Debit Rewards Program. Individual offer details can be found in the One app. Terms apply.
Based in the UK, Revolut is a fintech company with banking services. Revolut is designed for globetrotters as it's a multi-currency account. You can in spend over 150 currencies and enjoy free exchange for over 25 currencies with monthly allowances. You can also earn between 3.25% and 4.25% APY on your savings balance, depending on your membership tier. Revolut is free to open, but its paid plans called Premium and Metal offer more international perks and cost between $9.99 to $16.99 per month. Revolut supports wire transfers, a perk Varo lacks, and the paid plans offer discounts on international wire transfers. However, just watch out for withdrawal limitations at out-of-network ATMs, as that can lead to extra fees.
APY
Up to 4.25%
Fee
From $0 per month
Minimum deposit to open
$0
Based in the UK, Revolut is a fintech company with banking services. Revolut is designed for globetrotters as it's a multi-currency account. You can in spend over 150 currencies and enjoy free exchange for over 25 currencies with monthly allowances. You can also earn between 3.25% and 4.25% APY on your savings balance, depending on your membership tier. Revolut is free to open, but its paid plans called Premium and Metal offer more international perks and cost between $9.99 to $16.99 per month. Revolut supports wire transfers, a perk Varo lacks, and the paid plans offer discounts on international wire transfers. However, just watch out for withdrawal limitations at out-of-network ATMs, as that can lead to extra fees.
Pros
Free and paid plans available
Earn 3.25% to 4.25% APY on savings
Spend in over 150 currencies
Discounts on travel and wire transfers with paid plans
Cons
$10 to send or receive domestic wire transfer
May incur extra withdrawal fees with out-of-network ATMs
APY
4.25% on balances of $0+ 3.25% on balances of $0 to
Intro or bonus offer
Get a $10 cash reward when you first use you card on a qualifying $1+ transaction. Terms & Conditions apply.
Fee
From $0 per month
To waive the fee
Open a Standard plan with $0 monthly fee. Paid plans: • $9.99 monthly fee for Premium plan • $16.99 monthly fee for Metal plan
Money loaded on your prepaid card is held at Metropolitan Commercial Bank and money in your Savings Vaults is held at Sutton Bank. Money at each bank is FDIC insured up to $250,000 in the event of Metropolitan Commercial Bank's or Sutton Bank's failure. Securities products are not FDIC Insured, not bank guaranteed and may lose value.
*The Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is a variable rate and may change at any time. These APYs are accurate as of 16 March 2023. Monthly fees apply for Premium and Metal plans. Terms and Conditions Apply. Standard customers can earn up to 3.25%, while Premium and Metal customers can earn up to 4.25%. No minimum amount required. Savings Vault services provided by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC.
MUST READ: New account creation paused Juno is experiencing issues with its banking service provider, and has paused new account creation for the time being
Finder Award
Juno
4.8
★★★★★
Finder score
Spend with the Juno debit card and earn 5% back on your favorite brands. Be it shopping on Amazon or ordering with Doordash, you decide.
Varo and Juno are neck-in-neck when it comes to rewards. With Juno's checking account, you can earn up to 5% cash back at five merchants you choose from its list of partners up to $500 to $6,000 per year, depending on your membership tier: Basic or Metal. Both tiers offer 3% to 5% savings rewards on your balance, ATM reimbursements and access to the Allpoint and MoneyPass ATM networks, which means a network of over 85,000 ATMs nationwide. However, like Varo, Juno doesn't support joint accounts or wire transfers.
APY
Up to 5.00%
Fee
$0 per month
Minimum deposit to open
$0
Varo and Juno are neck-in-neck when it comes to rewards. With Juno's checking account, you can earn up to 5% cash back at five merchants you choose from its list of partners up to $500 to $6,000 per year, depending on your membership tier: Basic or Metal. Both tiers offer 3% to 5% savings rewards on your balance, ATM reimbursements and access to the Allpoint and MoneyPass ATM networks, which means a network of over 85,000 ATMs nationwide. However, like Varo, Juno doesn't support joint accounts or wire transfers.
Pros
Up to 5% cash back at brands you pick
No monthly fees or opening deposit
Earn 3% to 5% savings rewards
Large ATM network
Cons
No joint accounts
No wire transfers
Requires direct deposit for best earnings
APY
5.00% on balances of $20,000 to $250,000 3.00% on balances of $0 to $20,000
Intro or bonus offer
Spend with the Juno debit card and earn 5% back on your favorite brands. Be it shopping on Amazon or ordering with Doordash, you decide.
Rewards
5% cashback when you pay with cash or crypto, on total annual spends of $500 with the basic plan or $6000 of the total spend with the Metal plan
Honeydue is a fintech company with a banking app specially designed for couples. The Honeydue app allows you to link external bank accounts and create a separate joint account called the Joint Cash account. You and your partner can customize the visibility of balances and transactions and even choose to hide certain transactions — such as that anniversary gift you don't want your partner to know you got. But besides its transparency feature, you can't earn APY on your balance or get cashback rewards like you can with Varo.
APY
N/A
Fee
$0 per month
Minimum deposit to open
$0
Honeydue is a fintech company with a banking app specially designed for couples. The Honeydue app allows you to link external bank accounts and create a separate joint account called the Joint Cash account. You and your partner can customize the visibility of balances and transactions and even choose to hide certain transactions — such as that anniversary gift you don't want your partner to know you got. But besides its transparency feature, you can't earn APY on your balance or get cashback rewards like you can with Varo.
Pros
Designed to be a joint account
No monthly fees or overdraft fees
Connect external bank accounts to app
Custom visibility on transactions and balances
Cons
No cashback rewards
No savings interest
No cash deposits
APY
N/A
Fee
$0 per month
APY
N/A
Fee
$0 per month
Minimum deposit to open
$0
How Varo compares
Varo is a top banking option, and unlike many other online accounts, Varo is directly insured by the FDIC. You’ll find most online accounts such as Chime, Current and Honeydue all have banking partners that insure and back the accounts, which can limit what products they offer, though insurance coverage is typically the same.
Overall, Varo’s account has a strong cashback rewards program and a 5% high APY on the savings account when you meet direct deposit requirements. For balances under $5,000, you can earn 5% APY, and for those over $5,000, you’ll earn 3% if you direct deposit at least $1,000 per month. The Visa Varo Believe card is a debit-credit card that can build credit history, but you’ll need a Varo account and must manually transfer money to the Varo Believe card to use it. Overall, Varo is a competitive product but not the best choice if you need a joint account or a bank with physical locations.
Bethany Hickey is the banking editor and personal finance expert at Finder, specializing in banking, lending, insurance, and crypto.
Bethany’s expertise in personal finance has garnered recognition from esteemed media outlets, such as Nasdaq, MSN, Yahoo Finance, GOBankingRates, SuperMoney, AOL and Newsweek. Her articles offer practical financial strategies to Americans, empowering them to make decisions that meet their financial goals. Her past work includes articles on generational spending and saving habits, lending, budgeting and managing debt.
Before joining Finder, she was a content manager where she wrote hundreds of articles and news pieces on auto financing and credit repair for CarsDirect, Auto Credit Express and The Car Connection, among others.
Bethany holds a BA in English from the University of Michigan-Flint, and was poetry editor for the university’s Qua Literary and Fine Arts Magazine. See full bio
Bethany's expertise
Bethany has written 401 Finder guides across topics including:
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finder.com is an independent comparison platform and information service that aims to provide you with the tools you need to make better decisions. While we are independent, the offers that appear on this site are from companies from which finder.com receives compensation. We may receive compensation from our partners for placement of their products or services. We may also receive compensation if you click on certain links posted on our site. While compensation arrangements may affect the order, position or placement of product information, it doesn't influence our assessment of those products. Please don't interpret the order in which products appear on our Site as any endorsement or recommendation from us. finder.com compares a wide range of products, providers and services but we don't provide information on all available products, providers or services. Please appreciate that there may be other options available to you than the products, providers or services covered by our service.
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