The best checking accounts offer convenience, rewards and low fees. But finding a checking account that fits your lifestyle comes down to identifying which features matter the most to you. From cashback rewards to high yields, compare top checking accounts for your financial situation and needs.
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SoFi®'s hybrid Checking and Savings account has no monthly fees or deposit requirements. You get two accounts in one, up to $3 million in FDIC insurance, savings round-ups, Vaults to organize savings goals, it works with Zelle and has speedy mobile check deposits. SoFi Plus members earn up to 3.80% APY on savings and up to 0.50% APY on checking, get early direct deposit and exclusive rewards. Qualify for Plus by setting up direct deposit, or pay $10/month. Without Plus, you’ll still earn up to 1.00% APY on savings and up to 0.50% on checking. However, SoFi is online-only and cash deposits at Green Dot ATMs cost $4.95.
APY
Up to 3.80%
Fee
$0 per month
Minimum deposit to open
$0
SoFi®'s hybrid Checking and Savings account has no monthly fees or deposit requirements. You get two accounts in one, up to $3 million in FDIC insurance, savings round-ups, Vaults to organize savings goals, it works with Zelle and has speedy mobile check deposits. SoFi Plus members earn up to 3.80% APY on savings and up to 0.50% APY on checking, get early direct deposit and exclusive rewards. Qualify for Plus by setting up direct deposit, or pay $10/month. Without Plus, you’ll still earn up to 1.00% APY on savings and up to 0.50% on checking. However, SoFi is online-only and cash deposits at Green Dot ATMs cost $4.95.
Pros
No monthly fees and $0 opening deposit
Earn up to 3.80% APY on savings and 0.50% APY on checking
Earn up to $300 in signup bonus
Additional FDIC coverage up to $3 million
Cons
Online only
Requirements for best APYs
$4.95 fee for cash deposits
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
Up to 3.80%
Intro or bonus offer
Get up to $300 cash bonus with qualifying direct deposit. Terms apply. This offer is available until January 31, 2026.
Rewards
Get up to $300 cash bonus with qualifying direct deposit. Terms apply. This offer is available until January 31, 2026.
Fee
$0 per month
ATM transaction fee
$0
Overdraft fee
$0
Foreign transaction fee
0%
New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 1/31/2026. Full terms at sofi.com/banking. SoFi Checking and Savingsis offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC. SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit can earn 3.80% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults)and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 3.80% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Eligible Direct Deposit will earn 1.00%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 1/24/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
SoFi members who enroll in SoFi Plus with Eligible Direct Deposit or by paying the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee every 30 days or SoFi members with $5,000 or more in Qualifying Deposits during the 30-Day Evaluation Period can earn 3.80% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. Members without either SoFi Plus or Qualifying Deposits, during the 30-Day Evaluation Period will earn 1.00% 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 1/24/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. If you have satisfied Eligible Direct Deposit requirements for our highest APY but do not see 3.80% APY on your APY Details page the day after your Eligible Direct Deposit arrives, please contact us at 855-456-7634. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet. See the SoFi Plus Terms and Conditions at https://www.sofi.com/terms-of-use/#plus.
We do not charge any account, service or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. We do charge a transaction fee to process each outgoing wire transfer. SoFi does not charge a fee for incoming wire transfers, however the sending bank may charge a fee. Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Checking & Savings Fee Sheet for details at sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/.
SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per depositor 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 $3M through participation in the program. See full terms at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms. See list of participating banks at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks.
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.
Overdraft Coverage is limited to $50 on debit card purchases only and is an account benefit available to customers with Eligible Direct Deposits of $1,000 or more during the current 30-day Evaluation Period as determined by SoFi Bank, N.A. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Members with a prior history of non-repayment of negative balances are ineligible for Overdraft Coverage.
Varo has one of the highest cashback rates we've seen, offering up to 6% on select purchases with your debit card. Earn up to $50 in cashback rewards per month. There are also no monthly fees or overdraft fees, view which stores offer cash back right in the Varo app, access the large and free ATM network, and check out Varo's savings account with a high 5% APY. But some downsides with Varo include a possible $5.95 cash deposit fee, no checkwriting privileges and no wire transfers.
Fee
$0 per month
Minimum deposit to open
$0
Varo has one of the highest cashback rates we've seen, offering up to 6% on select purchases with your debit card. Earn up to $50 in cashback rewards per month. There are also no monthly fees or overdraft fees, view which stores offer cash back right in the Varo app, access the large and free ATM network, and check out Varo's savings account with a high 5% APY. But some downsides with Varo include a possible $5.95 cash deposit fee, no checkwriting privileges and no wire transfers.
Pros
High 6% cashback rate
No monthly fees or opening deposit
40,000 fee-free Allpoint ATMs
High-APY savings account
Cons
$5.95 cash deposit fee
No wire transfers
No checkwriting privileges
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
N/A
Intro or bonus offer
Existing and new customers get a $25 referral bonus when signing up for a Varo Bank account. T&C apply.
Bluevine offers three business checking plans: Standard ($0), Plus ($30) and Premier ($95). All plans include unlimited transactions, no overdraft fees, no foreign transaction fees and some free checks. The free Standard plan earns up to 1.5% APY if you spend $500 or receive $2,500 monthly, while paid plans earn earn either 2.7% or 3.7% APY with no requirements — and the monthly fees on paid plans can be waived. It integrates with tools like QuickBooks, Square and Xero, and offers up to $3 million in FDIC insurance. Just watch for fees on cash deposits and a 2.9% fee for credit card bill payments.
APY
Up to 3.70%
Fee
From $0 per month
Minimum deposit to open
$0
Bluevine offers three business checking plans: Standard ($0), Plus ($30) and Premier ($95). All plans include unlimited transactions, no overdraft fees, no foreign transaction fees and some free checks. The free Standard plan earns up to 1.5% APY if you spend $500 or receive $2,500 monthly, while paid plans earn earn either 2.7% or 3.7% APY with no requirements — and the monthly fees on paid plans can be waived. It integrates with tools like QuickBooks, Square and Xero, and offers up to $3 million in FDIC insurance. Just watch for fees on cash deposits and a 2.9% fee for credit card bill payments.
Pros
Free standard plan and few fees
High 1.5% APY by meeting activity requirements
High 2.7% or 3.7% APY with paid plans
Unlimited transactions
8+ software integrations for a smooth workflow
Cons
2.9% fee for bill pay with credit card
Green Dot $4.95 cash deposit fee
Allpoint cash deposit fee of $1 plus 0.5%
Highest APY requires paid plan
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
3.70% on balances of $0 to $3,000,000 2.70% on balances of $0 to $250,000 1.50% on balances of $0 to $250,000
Intro or bonus offer
You can earn $300 when you open a new Bluevine Business Checking account and meet eligibility requirements. Apply with referral code CA300.
Step is a frontrunner amongst no-fee accounts. The Step card has a lot of great features, including no monthly fees, high savings rewards, cashback points, credit-building and more. The Step card is a secured card, and you can only make purchases up to the amount in your Step deposit account. Each month, Step uses the funds in your deposit account to pay off the card's balance without charging any interest. Credit history is submitted to the three credit bureaus to build a credit history. However, Step doesn’t have a direct customer phone line, and it’s an online-only account.
APY
4.00%
Fee
$0 per month
Minimum deposit to open
$0
Step is a frontrunner amongst no-fee accounts. The Step card has a lot of great features, including no monthly fees, high savings rewards, cashback points, credit-building and more. The Step card is a secured card, and you can only make purchases up to the amount in your Step deposit account. Each month, Step uses the funds in your deposit account to pay off the card's balance without charging any interest. Credit history is submitted to the three credit bureaus to build a credit history. However, Step doesn’t have a direct customer phone line, and it’s an online-only account.
Chime is a great option for those with a less-than-perfect banking history. Chime doesn't use ChexSystems when you apply for an account, so your past banking history isn't considered. There's also no monthly fee or minimum balance requirements. A standout perk is the SpotMe® feature, which is a fee-free overdraft service that 'spots' you up to $200 if you overdraft. On top of all that, Chime also has over 60,000 ATMs in its network, no foreign transaction fees, a free federal and state tax filing service, the Pay Anyone feature to send cash to anyone with a debit card, and the MyPay line of credit borrowing option. But as an online banking service, Chime has no physical branches and doesn't support joint accounts.
Fee
$0 per month
Minimum deposit to open
$0
Chime is a great option for those with a less-than-perfect banking history. Chime doesn't use ChexSystems when you apply for an account, so your past banking history isn't considered. There's also no monthly fee or minimum balance requirements. A standout perk is the SpotMe® feature, which is a fee-free overdraft service that 'spots' you up to $200 if you overdraft. On top of all that, Chime also has over 60,000 ATMs in its network, no foreign transaction fees, a free federal and state tax filing service, the Pay Anyone feature to send cash to anyone with a debit card, and the MyPay line of credit borrowing option. But as an online banking service, Chime has no physical branches and doesn't support joint accounts.
Pros
Does not use ChexSystems
No monthly fees or opening deposit
No foreign transaction fees
SpotMe®, MyPay and Pay Anyone
Tax filing
Cons
No physical branches
Doesn't support joint accounts
Some features require direct deposit
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%
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. 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 28 May 2025. 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: To apply for Credit Builder, you must have an active Chime® Checking Account. SpotMe: SpotMe® for Credit Builder is an optional, no interest/no fee overdraft line of credit tied to the Secured Deposit Account; SpotMe on Debit is an optional, no fee service attached to your Chime Checking Account (individually or collectively, “SpotMe”). Eligibility for SpotMe requires $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits to your Chime Checking Account each month. Qualifying members will be allowed to overdraw their Chime Checking Account and/or their Secured Deposit Account up to $20 in total, but may be later eligible for a higher combined 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 SpotMe Limit will be displayed to you within the Chime mobile app. You will receive notice of any changes to your SpotMe Limit. SpotMe for Credit Builder and SpotMe on Debit share a single SpotMe limit. Your SpotMe Limit may change at any time, at Chime or its banking partners’ discretion. Although there are no overdraft fees, there may be out-of-network or third party fees associated with ATM transactions or OTC cash withdrawal fees at retailers. SpotMe won't cover non card transactions, including ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, or Chime Checkbook transactions. SpotMe Terms and Conditions. Federal Tax Return Direct Deposit: Chime members may choose to direct deposit their state and/or federal tax refunds with Chime. They may choose to direct deposit no matter what tax preparer they choose. They do not need to file through Chime in order to direct deposit their refund. If a member does direct deposit their federal refund they may receive the refund up to 6 days early. This only applies to federal refunds, not state. When marketing the speed of the tax refund it must always include the following elements: federal tax refund, up to 6 days early, with direct deposit. MyPay®: MyPay® is only offered in select states. To be eligible for MyPay, you must receive Qualifying MyPay Direct Deposits to your Chime Checking Account as set forth in the MyPay Agreement. A Qualifying MyPay Direct Deposit is a deposit from an employer, payroll provider, gig economy payer, government benefits payer, or other permitted source of income by Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) or Original Credit Transaction (“OCT”). Your MyPay Credit Limit and Available Advance Amount may change at any time. MyPay is a line of credit and available limits are based on estimated income and risk-based criteria. Eligible members may be offered a $20 - $500 Credit Limit per pay period. Your Credit Limit and Maximum Available Advance will be displayed to you within the Chime app. MyPay is currently only available to eligible Chime members in certain states. Other restrictions may apply. See Bancorp MyPay Agreement or Stride MyPay Agreement for details. To be eligible for MyPay, you must receive Qualifying MyPay Direct Deposits to your Chime Checking Account as set forth in the MyPay Agreement. A Qualifying MyPay Direct Deposit is a deposit from an employer, payroll provider, gig economy payer, government benefits payer, or other permitted source of income by Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) or Original Credit Transaction (“OCT”). Your MyPay Credit Limit and Available Advance Amount may change at any time. MyPay is a line of credit and available limits are based on estimated income and risk-based criteria. Eligible members may be offered a $20 - $500 Credit Limit per pay period. Your Credit Limit and Maximum Available Advance will be displayed to you within the Chime app. MyPay is currently only available to eligible Chime members in certain states. Other restrictions may apply. See Bancorp MyPay Agreement or https://www.chime.com/policies/stride/mypay/ for details.
New Chase checking customers enjoy a $300 bonus when you open a Chase Total Checking® account and make direct deposits totaling $500 or more within 90 days of coupon enrollment.
One of the largest banks in the country, Chase offers a $300 signup bonus for new customers who open a Chase Total Checking account. To earn the bonus, you must open the account and set up direct deposit within 90 days. The Chase Total Checking also has no opening deposit requirements, offers an overdraft protection program and a large ATM network. There is a monthly fee of $12 per month, but you can waive it by depositing at least $500 per month or maintaining a balance of at least $1,500. However, Chase doesn’t have the best savings APYs out there, and if you can’t waive that $12 fee, this is one of the priciest accounts on our list.
APY
N/A
Fee
$12 per month
Minimum deposit to open
$0
One of the largest banks in the country, Chase offers a $300 signup bonus for new customers who open a Chase Total Checking account. To earn the bonus, you must open the account and set up direct deposit within 90 days. The Chase Total Checking also has no opening deposit requirements, offers an overdraft protection program and a large ATM network. There is a monthly fee of $12 per month, but you can waive it by depositing at least $500 per month or maintaining a balance of at least $1,500. However, Chase doesn’t have the best savings APYs out there, and if you can’t waive that $12 fee, this is one of the priciest accounts on our list.
Pros
Easy-to-earn $300 bonus
No opening deposit
Overdraft Assist program
Works with Zelle
Large ATM and branch network
Cons
$12 avoidable monthly fee
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
N/A
Intro or bonus offer
New Chase checking customers enjoy a $300 bonus when you open a Chase Total Checking® account and make direct deposits totaling $500 or more within 90 days of coupon enrollment.
Fee
$12 per month
To waive the fee
Do any ONE of the following: • Set up monthly direct deposits of $500 or more • OR have a $1,500 balance or more each morning • OR have a combined balance of $5,000 or more in your Total Checking account and any other linked qualifying Chase accounts or investments
The Capital One TEEN Money Checking account has no monthly fees, is available for ages 8 and up, and does not require parents to be Cap One customers. There are also no opening deposits or overdraft fees. Teens 13 and up can also use Zelle with adult consent and registration, earn up to 0.1% APY on all balances, play around with savings tools, parents get controls and can lower spending limits, and you can withdraw cash with no fees at over 70,000 ATMs nationwide. While parents don't have to be Cap One customers to get this account, there still must be an adult co-owner. One of the only downsides is this account doesn't have chore or allowance features, as that feature usually requires a paid kids' debit card.
Savings
0.10%
Fee
$0 per month
Age requirements
8 to 17 years old
The Capital One TEEN Money Checking account has no monthly fees, is available for ages 8 and up, and does not require parents to be Cap One customers. There are also no opening deposits or overdraft fees. Teens 13 and up can also use Zelle with adult consent and registration, earn up to 0.1% APY on all balances, play around with savings tools, parents get controls and can lower spending limits, and you can withdraw cash with no fees at over 70,000 ATMs nationwide. While parents don't have to be Cap One customers to get this account, there still must be an adult co-owner. One of the only downsides is this account doesn't have chore or allowance features, as that feature usually requires a paid kids' debit card.
Discover's debit and credit cards don't have any foreign transaction fees, making the Discover® Cashback Debit account one of the best for traveling internationally. There are no monthly fees, and you can earn up to 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in monthly debit card purchases. Additionally, Discover has a map of which countries accept its card before you travel, and it's integrated with Zelle. However, Discover is an online-only bank, which isn’t ideal if you prefer in-person support in the US or overseas.
Fee
$0 per month
Minimum deposit to open
$0
Discover's debit and credit cards don't have any foreign transaction fees, making the Discover® Cashback Debit account one of the best for traveling internationally. There are no monthly fees, and you can earn up to 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in monthly debit card purchases. Additionally, Discover has a map of which countries accept its card before you travel, and it's integrated with Zelle. However, Discover is an online-only bank, which isn’t ideal if you prefer in-person support in the US or overseas.
Pros
No monthly fees
No foreign transaction fees
Works with Zelle
$0 international ATM fee
Cons
No cash deposits
Online only
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
N/A
Rewards
Earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month. .
Fee
$0 per month
Nonsufficient funds fee
$0
ATM transaction fee
$0
Overdraft fee
$0
Foreign transaction fee
0%
Paper statement fee
$0
Earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month. See website for details.
Methodology: How we choose the best checking accounts
Finder’s banking experts analyze more than 165 checking accounts before narrowing down the best. We factor in the following criteria:
$0 monthly fee, or option to waive the monthly fee
$0 minimum opening deposit
No strict membership requirements
Nationwide availability
7 common types of checking accounts
There are many different types of checking accounts, though most come with a standard set of features like the ability to set up direct deposit, write checks and transfer funds to other accounts.
1. Rewards checking accounts Rewarding accounts come with cashback rewards, sometimes in the form of actual cash, redeemable points or discounts on future purchases.
2. Interest-bearing checking accounts Similar to savings accounts, there are checking accounts with APYs that pay you for holding a balance, often coming with balance, direct deposit or transaction requirements.
3. Checking accounts for international travel For the frequent traveler, there are also checking accounts that skip foreign fees, like currency exchange or ATM fees.
4. Second-chance checking accounts Made for those with less-than-ideal banking histories, these second-chance checking accounts typically skip reviewing your ChexSystems report, which keeps track of your banking history. However, these accounts tend to come with more fees than their traditional counterparts.
5. Free checking accounts As the name suggests, free checking accounts often skip many of the fees you’d find with other accounts. Most lack monthly maintenance fees, paper statement fees and ATM fees.
6. Business checking accounts Business accounts are made for business owners who want to separate their personal and business expenses, most often for convenience and tax purposes.
7. Student or teen checking accounts Often for college students, student checking accounts skip monthly maintenance fees and are made to ease a young adult into learning how to manage their money. There are also plently of kid and teen checking accounts, which are co-owned by a parent or guardian and often come with spending limits.
Checking account pros
FDIC insured. Most banks insure your stored funds for up to $250,000.
Direct deposit. Most checking accounts allow for automatic deposit of work checks into your account. This removes the need to cash a check or go to the bank in person.
Online functionality. You can access and manage your checking account online or through the bank’s mobile app if they offer one.
Convenience. A checking account and debit card make it less necessary to carry cash in your wallet.
Cons
Fees. Checking accounts typically come with assorted fees, such as overdraft fees, ATM withdrawal fees and more.
Doesn’t improve credit. Spending on your debit card doesn’t improve your credit, as you aren’t borrowing money.
What do I need to open a checking account?
In most cases, you’ll need the following information and documentation to apply for a checking account online or in person:
It’s not usually necessary for most people, but there’s no limit to how many checking accounts you can have. If you do decide to have more than one, just watch out for monthly fees. And if you don’t have at least two checking accounts, it may be a good idea to open another in these situations:
You’re storing more than $250,000. Banks are typically FDIC-insured for up to $250,000 per account. If you have more funds than that and you want to protect it, you’ll want to open a second checking account with another bank.
Budgeting. It may be helpful to have separate debit cards for budgeting purposes. For example, one debit card can be used for food and family essentials and another for entertainment purchases.
To separate spending goals. While you could have multiple checking accounts to keep your spending goals separate, a high-yield savings account might be a more ideal option as your money can accrue over time with the power of compound interest.
You’re hitched. It’s common for spouses or life parents to each have their own checking account, and a shared, joint account. This allows spouses to share finances, but also keep some money separate.
What if I’m denied a checking account?
If you apply for a checking account and you’re rejected, you have a few options.
First, find out why you were rejected and see if you can provide additional information or verification so that the bank approves you. If you were rejected due to your Chexsystems report, which tracks your negative banking history such as unpaid fees or overdrafts, paying off your unpaid fees can help clean up your record. Your other option is to apply at a different bank or open a second-chance account. Second-chance accounts typically skip reviewing your banking history, so you may have a better chance of qualifying.
4 checking account alternatives
A checking account may not be the best fit if you’re looking to grow your money. If you’re thinking a checking account may not be right for you, here are a few alternatives to consider:
Money market accounts. A money market account is like a checking account. It comes with a debit card and check-writing privileges. But it has features that encourage you to save. For example, the Discover® Money Market offers a higher interest rate at up to 3.55%, which is much higher than the rates you’d find with a checking account.
Digital bank accounts. Most digital banks offer all-in-one accounts designed for saving and spending. Many, such as
Varo, come with additional perks like early deposits and cashback rewards.
Cash management accounts. A cash management account offers a lot of the same functionality of a traditional bank account, though they’re linked to brokerages.
Prepaid debit cards. Similar to a second-chance checking account, many prepaid cards support direct deposit and ATM withdrawals and may be a good option if you can’t open a regular checking account. But they usually come with hefty or unavoidable fees.
Narrow down top checking accounts by rates and minimum opening deposit to find the best for your budget and financial goals. Select Compare for up to four products to see their benefits side by side. And if you want a broader look at your options, compare checking accounts with multiple providers.
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What is the Finder Score?
The Finder Score crunches over 300 checking accounts from hundreds of financial institutions. It takes into account the product's monthly fees, overdraft fees, opening deposit, customer support options, ATM network and features — this gives you a simple score out of 10.
To provide a Score, Finder’s banking experts analyze hundreds of checking accounts against what we consider is the best option: no monthly fees, no overdraft fees, a large ATM network of 50,000 or more, additional features outside of typical banking services, and the optional perk of earning interest. Accounts that are nearly free to maintain and use are scored the highest, while accounts with costly fees and few features are scored the lowest.
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 455 Finder guides across topics including:
If you’ve fallen victim to debit card fraud, you may be eligible to receive a refund.
Advertiser disclosure
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 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 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.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
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