Earn a $250 bonus
- Earn a $250 bonus with fee-free 360 Checking
- 70,000+ fee-free ATMs
- 24/7 mobile banking with Capital One app

By
Bethany HickeyEdited by
Holly JenningsUpdated
You might also be looking for the easiest bank account to open with bad credit, so we paid special attention to accounts with no credit checks or ChexSystems reviews.
Here are our best picks for the easiest bank accounts to open online based on speed, convenience and cost.
Earn a $250 bonus
Up to 3.30% APY
Earn up to 4.00% on savings
| APY | 0.10% |
|---|---|
| Fee | $0 per month |
| Annual Percentage Yield (APY) | 0.10% on balances of $0.01+ |
|---|---|
| Intro or bonus offer | Earn a $250 bonus with a 360 Checking Account. |
| Rewards | No |
| Fee | $0 per month |
| Nonsufficient funds fee | $9 |
| ATM transaction fee | $0 |
| Overdraft fee | $0 |
| Foreign transaction fee | 0% |
| Paper statement fee | $5 |
| APY | 0.10% |
|---|---|
| Fee | $0 per month |
| APY | Up to 3.30% |
|---|---|
| Fee | $0 per month |
| Annual Percentage Yield (APY) | Up to 3.30% |
|---|---|
| Intro or bonus offer | Earn up to 4.40% APY on savings and $50 or $400 with direct deposit. Open a new SoFi Checking and Savings account by 31 December 2026, set up eligible direct deposit within 60 days, and maintain direct deposit for six months. 1.10% Boost on Savings APY to up to 4.40% for up to 6 months on new accounts. |
| Rewards | Earn $50 or $400 when you sign up and set up eligible direct deposit. Terms apply. These offers are available until December 31, 2026. |
| Fee | $0 per month |
| ATM transaction fee | $0 |
| Overdraft fee | $0 |
| Foreign transaction fee | 0% |
| APY | Up to 3.30% |
|---|---|
| Fee | $0 per month |
| Fee | $0 per month |
|---|
| Annual Percentage Yield (APY) | N/A |
|---|---|
| Fee | $0 per month |
| Nonsufficient funds fee | $0 |
| ATM transaction fee | $0 |
| Overdraft fee | $0 |
| Foreign transaction fee | 0% |
| Fee | $0 per month |
|---|
| Fee | $0 per month |
|---|
| Annual Percentage Yield (APY) | N/A |
|---|---|
| Rewards | Cash back offers on everyday purchases through the app |
| Fee | $0 per month |
| Nonsufficient funds fee | $0 |
| ATM transaction fee | $0 |
| Overdraft fee | $0 |
| Foreign transaction fee | 0% |
| Fee | $0 per month |
|---|
| APY | 3.10% |
|---|---|
| Fee | $0 |
| Minimum deposit to open | $0 |
| APY | 3.10% |
|---|---|
| Interest compounding | Daily |
| Minimum balance to earn APY | $0 |
| Monthly transaction limit | 6 |
| APY | 3.10% |
|---|---|
| Fee | $0 |
| Minimum deposit to open | $0 |
We compared dozens of online bank accounts to find the easiest to open. We considered application speeds, monthly fees, opening deposit requirements and the overall features of the accounts. We paid special attention to banks that skip a credit check and/or ChexSystems review.
To be considered on our list, the accounts must meet the minimum following criteria:
Finding the “easiest” bank account to open is a bit of a gray area, but in general, here are some things to look for:
A bank might advertise that their application speed is fast, but sometimes, the bank needs to take some extra steps to open your account. If you’re missing identity information, forget to complete something on your application or something just seems fishy to the bank, it might take a few business days to reach an approval decision or fully open the account.
In general, you’ll receive an approval decision within one to three business days after applying for a bank account. For many online banks, you might receive an approval decision immediately if all is well.
Bank account applications are rather straightforward, especially online ones. In general, expect to provide the following information to apply for a bank account online:
While most bank accounts, like checking and savings, don’t have credit score requirements, some banks may perform a soft credit score inquiry to verify your identity. Many regulations require identity verification, so be truthful in your application.
What might be “easy” to you might not be easy to the next person. However, an easy bank account to open usually means an account without hefty deposit requirements, a bank that doesn’t check your credit history, and an account you can open online in minutes.
If none of those accounts are right for you, compare more bank accounts.
In many cases, yes, you can begin using your new bank account soon after opening. For example, Chime and SoFi offer virtual cards you can add to your digital wallet right away while you wait for a physical card to arrive in the mail. After setting up your mobile app, you can usually connect to external accounts to fund your new account, set up direct deposit, set up bill pay, link to peer-to-peer apps like Cash App and so on.
No, business accounts aren't as easy to open as most personal bank accounts. Business accounts often require much more paperwork than personal account applications, such as your business' information, Employer Identification Number (EIN), business license, Articles of Organization, Articles of Incorporation and more. Learn how to open a business account.
Most major banks, such as Chase, PNC, Wells Fargo, U.S. Bank and Bank of America, allow online applications without requiring a trip to a branch. And, of course, online banks such as SoFi and Varo, only have online applications.
However, some smaller institutions, such as local credit unions or regional banks, may still require a trip to the bank to finish your application.
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
Compare the 12 best fintech apps by their monthly fees, perks and design.
The EverBank Performance Savings account has a great APY, few fees, and is overall, a top-notch account in our book.
BMO is a large bank with a variety of bonuses available, up to $1,500.
Offering up to $500 in checking bonuses, KeyBank’s bonuses are enticing. However, the bank doesn’t operate in all states.
Citizens Bank has some personal account bonus offers up for grabs; up to $3,000 if you can meet requirements.
U.S. Bank usually has some bank account bonuses on the table; compare the most recent offers up for grabs.
See how to earn up to $1,500 when you open a new Capital One savings, or up to $250 with a 360 Checking account.
One of PNC’s best bonus offers is its $400 direct deposit bonus. But if you don’t meet the criteria, there are other ways to earn cash.
SoFi offers several bonus offers, including a direct deposit bonus, welcome offers and referral bonuses.
Instant sign-up bonuses with no deposit are not typically offered. However, these bank account bonuses have easy requirements.
Finder is a comparison platform and information service designed to help you make better decisions. To keep our service free, we receive compensation from the companies whose products or services we feature on our site.
We may be paid when you click on a link, submit an application, or open an account.
Our commercial arrangements affect which products we write about, as well as the inclusion, order, position and placement of products on our site. They do not influence our independent assessments or editorial views, which are based on research and expert analysis conducted by our editorial team.
The inclusion of a provider or product in our content, or the order in which products appear in tables or lists, is not an endorsement or recommendation from us.
We compare a wide range of products, providers and services, but we don't cover the whole market. Not every company or offer available is included on our site, and other options may be available to you.
The information we provide is general in nature and is not financial, investment, tax or legal advice. Consider your own circumstances and read the provider's terms and conditions before making a decision.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.