Best Online Joint Bank Accounts

You don’t need to be married (or even dating) to open a joint bank account. Married and unmarried couples alike can open a joint bank account, and a shared account can make financial management easier as a couple. But lovebirds aren’t the only people who can open joint accounts: roommates, business partners, and parents and their kids can open joint accounts together, too. We’ve researched and analyzed over 400 joint accounts, and here are eight of the best.

7 best online joint bank accounts

• Best overall: SoFi Checking and Savings
• Best for whole family: Greenlight
• Best joint business account: Relay
• Best for couples: Zeta
• Best for joint checking: Ally Bank Spending Account
• Best joint credit card: Discover it® Secured
• Best for roommates: Quontic Cash Rewards Checking

Finder Score	Fee	Minimum deposit to open	Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
Best overall
Finder score 9 Excellent SoFi Checking and Savings	Finder score 9 Excellent	$0 per month	$0	Up to 3.30%	Earn up to 4.00% 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. T&Cs apply.	Go to site View details Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it SoFi Checking and Savings all-in-one online account takes the top spot for best overall joint bank account. An additional owner can easily be added with an online application that's directly sent to them. There are no monthly fees, overdraft fees or opening deposit requirements. Automatically, you earn 1.00% APY on savings, and 0.50% on checking. You can earn up to 3.30% on savings if set up direct deposit to become a Plus member, or deposit at least $5,000 per month. Alternatively, you can pay $10 per month to become a Plus member to get the highest savings rate. SoFi® also offers optional FDIC insurance up to $250,000. However, many users report issues connecting their bank to fund their SoFi account if their existing bank isn't compatible with Plaid. Pros & cons Pros Allows one additional joint owner No monthly or overdraft fees Up to 3.30% APY on savings Cons No physical branches Must be Plus member for best perks
Best for whole family
Finder score 9.2 Excellent Greenlight Finder Award	Finder score 9.2 Excellent	From $5.99 per month	$0	6.00% on balances of $0 to $5,000	Go to site View details Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it Greenlight is a top kids' banking app offering families four plans to choose from, but with no age restrictions on cards, it's also great for caregivers of elderly family members or anyone else who wants a card. Each plan offers up to five debit cards and an app with granular spending controls that allow you to set store- and category-level spending limits. There are no reload fees, make chores and send allowances, play money games, and test out tools for spending, saving and earning. Greenlight's new Family Shield plan is heavily geared toward caregivers, offering extra senior protections such as identity theft coverage, deceptive transfer coverage and suspicious activity alerts. One of the only downsides with Greenlight is that you'll pay a monthly fee of at least $5.99 per month. Pros & cons Pros Up to five kids per plan Strong parental controls Optional investing platform and credit card Money games and educational content Cons Unavoidable monthly fee
Best joint business account
Finder score 9.6 Excellent Relay	Finder score 9.6 Excellent	$0 per month	$0	2.68% on balances of $0+ 1.55% on balances of $0+ 0.91% on balances of $0+	Go to site View details Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it Relay wins our best pick for a joint business bank account. With three plans to choose from - Starter, Grow and Scale - this business checking account lets you create up 20 or 50 customizable checking accounts for your team or specific expenses, and assign up to 50 debit cards to employees with daily spending and ATM withdrawal limits. The base plan, Starter, has no monthly fees or Allpoint ATM fees for cash deposits. Create up to two savings accounts and earn between 0.91% (Starter) to 2.68% APY (Scale). On the downside, Relay doesn't offer checkwriting Pros & cons Pros No monthly fee for basic plan No foreign or ATM fees Up to 20 or 50 checking accounts Up to 50 debit cards for employees Cons Best APY requires most expensive plan
Best for couples
Finder score 8.6 Great Zeta	Finder score 8.6 Great	From $0 per month	$0	2.20% on balances of $0+	View details Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it Zeta stands out for its joint accounts for married and unmarried couples alike. There are no monthly or overdraft fees and no balance requirements. When you sign up, you get one joint bank account and two debit cards. The mobile app is bursting with couple-friendly features like an in-app chat function to discuss finances, auto-bill pay, envelope system budgeting, virtual cards, savings goals and more. You and your partner can set up weekly or monthly spending trackers to stay on budget. Also earn up to 2.2% APY on your checking balance with VIP status by depositing at least $1,000 per month or holding a minimum balance of at least $5,000. You can also link your credit cards to the Zeta joint account, so the app can set aside money for you to easily pay off the balance. However, app reviews frequently mention the app has some technical issues. Pros & cons Pros No monthly fees or balance requirements Up to 2.43% APY with VIP status In-app chat function Budgeting, savings goals and auto bill pay Cons Must obtain VIP status for APY Reviews point out buggy app No separate savings account
Best for joint checking
Finder score 9.6 Excellent Ally Bank Spending Account	Finder score 9.6 Excellent	$0 per month	$0	0.25% on balances of $15,000+ 0.10% on balances of to $15,000	View details Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it Ally Bank's Spending Account is a top account for singletons and couples alike. You can add up to four joint owners who each get their own login, and there are no monthly fees or balance requirements. It's full of hard-to-beat perks, including $10 in monthly out-of-network ATM reimbursements, free checks, online bill pay, savings roundups, and early direct deposit. You can also create up to 30 spending buckets, which function like digital envelopes for budgeting. Earn up to 0.10% APY on balances under $15,000 and up to 0.25% APY on balances over $15,000 on your spending account and buckets. Even if you can't earn the highest APY, the 0.10% rate is still higher than the national average of 0.07%. However, as an online bank, you'll get no physical branches, and you can't make cash deposits. Pros & cons Pros Allows up to four joint owners No monthly or overdraft fees Create up to 30 spending buckets Earn 0.10% to 0.25% APY on balance Cons No cash deposits Best APY requires a $15,000 balance
Best joint credit card
Finder score 8.8 Great Discover it® Secured	Finder score 8.8 Great	$0 per year	$0	N/A	View details Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it Discover It Secured is a highly rated credit card with no annual fee. Discover credit cards allow up to five authorized users. There's no minimum credit score requirement, so it's great for young couples or families looking to build credit together. You can earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants up to $1,000 each quarter and unlimited 1% everywhere else. Plus, Discover matches all the cash back you earned in the first year of card ownership automatically with no limits. After seven months, Discover reviews your account to see if you can upgrade to an unsecured card and earn your deposit back. Like other secured credit cards, there's an APR, and you'll need to make an opening deposit of at least $200. Pros & cons Pros Up to five authorized users No annual fee No minimum credit score requirement Cashback and match program Cons Minimum deposit of $200 Starting 27.24% purchase APR
Best for roommates
Finder score Not scored yet Quontic Cash Rewards Checking	Finder score Not scored yet	$0 per month	$100	N/A	View details Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it Quontic Cash Rewards Checking accepts one primary owner with up to four other joint owners, with no monthly fees. And, as the name suggests, there's cash back to be earned: 1% cash back on all signature-based purchases up to $50 per month. Quontic also offers a unique product called Pay Ring, which is a wearable ring that works like a contactless debit card that's tied to your Quontic checking account. It's free to get, doesn't need to be charged, is water- and scratch-resistant and can easily be turned on and off from the Quontic app. Each joint owner can also get a free Pay Ring. This cashback checking account has a $100 opening deposit requirement, but after that, there are no minimum balance requirements. Pros & cons Pros Up to five joint owners No monthly fees 1% cash back up to $50 per month Free Pay Ring for contactless payments Cons $100 opening deposit

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Methodology

Finder’s banking experts research over 400 bank accounts to find the best online joint account options. We compare checking, saving, business and kids’ bank accounts to find the best in the current market and update our best picks regularly. We also favor accounts with no monthly fees, no opening deposit requirements, and accounts with joint-specific features such as in-app chats, shared savings goals and budgeting.

• See all factors considered

  • Nationwide availability
  • Monthly fee at or below $6
  • Must accept more than one account holder
  • Opening deposits:
    • At or below $100 for savings and checking
    • At or below $200 for credit cards
  • Reasonable requirements to earn APY on savings, such as a direct deposit requirement

How do joint bank accounts work?

Joint bank accounts work just like regular bank accounts — the main difference is that two or more people share the account.

Here are some other key differences between how single accounts and joint bank accounts work:

• Double insured. Deposit insurance is $250,000 per depositor, per FDIC- or NCUA-insured institution, per ownership category. Since joint accounts have at least two depositors, a joint account has at least $500,000 in federal deposit insurance.
• Two cards. Each owner can get their own debit or credit card for joint accounts.
• Share responsibility. Both owners are responsible for fees incurred, like overdraft charges, so you should only open a joint bank account with someone you trust.
• Customize access. Most joint accounts give owners equal access, but some banks allow you to add restrictions. For example, it’s common for joint business bank accounts to require dual signatures for withdrawals or closures.
• May be able to add more. Although joint bank accounts usually refer to two account holders, some providers allow three or more people.

How to open a joint bank account

The application process for a joint bank account is nearly the same as opening an account on your own. Follow these steps to open a joint bank account:

1. Choose the account. Compare fees, accessibility, perks and so on.
2. Supply information. You and the other intended owner(s) need to show proof of identity and address, provide other contact information and meet deposit requirements, if applicable. Some traditional banks might require you to visit a branch, and some children’s bank accounts may also require a visit to fully apply.
3. Wait for the decision. Online accounts may offer a decision within the same day, while more traditional banks may take a few days to send approval or denial.
4. Fund the account. If approved, you can fund the account, request cards to be mailed, set up direct deposit, create logins for mobile banking and so on.

While online banks require fully online applications, some more traditional banks might require you to visit a branch to verify the person you’re adding to the account, such as Chase or Wells Fargo.

Are joint accounts a good idea?

Joint bank accounts can be a great way for couples, roommates or family members to manage shared expenses and stay aligned financially. Both account holders have equal access to the funds, can deposit or withdraw money and track transactions in real time.

With two people involved, it’s easier to stay on top of spending, budgeting and bill payments. Joint accounts aren’t just for married couples, either. Joint accounts can be great for unmarried partners, parents and teens, roommates or even caregivers helping manage someone’s finances.

Whoever you choose to get a joint account with, trust is key — co-owners of a joint bank account have equal access to the funds unless set up otherwise. That said, trust is essential. Typically, both co-owners have full access to the account. And even if you’re married, you can’t access your spouse’s separate account without permission; only joint accounts give shared access.

Before opening a joint account, talk through expectations with your co-owner and review your bank’s terms so you’re both on the same page.

Our expert says: How FDIC insurance works with joint accounts

"Each co-owner of a joint account is insured up to $250,000 for the combined amount of their funds in all joint accounts at the same institution, according to the FDIC. Simply put, this means you and each joint owner are individually insured up to $250,000. Insurance covers the depositor (you), not the account. If you and one co-owner pool over $500,000 in one bank, consider spreading out funds for full deposit insurance coverage."

Bethany Hickey

Banking editor

Bottom line

Joint bank accounts are great for couples and can also help anyone looking to share or manage expenses with multiple people. Regardless of where you open your joint checking or savings account, be sure you and the co-owner trust each other.

Frequently asked questions

Do you have to be married to have a joint bank account?

No, being married is not a requirement to open a joint bank account. You don’t even have to be related to open a joint bank account — both owners just must consent to opening the account and meet the account’s requirements to apply.

Can you open a joint bank account online?

Usually, yes, you can open a joint bank account online. SoFi, for example, is an entirely online bank, so the only way to apply for a single or joint account is online. However, some more traditional banks like Chase require visiting a branch to finalize a joint bank account application.

Can I open a joint account with my child?

Yes, there are plenty of kids’ bank accounts, and opening a joint account for a minor does require an adult as a joint owner. Many banks offer teen checking or kids’ savings account, sometimes with age requirements, but a few online options like Greenlight and Modak Makers have no age restrictions for kiddos.

To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Alexa Serrano Cruz as part of our fact-checking process.

Written by

Bethany Hickey

Banking editor

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

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