E*TRADE Max-Rate Checking Account Review
E*TRADE Max-Rate Checking Account isn't available on Finder right now.
- Fee
- $0 per month
- APY
- Up to 2.00%
- Minimum deposit to open
- $0
Our verdict
A fee-free online checking account that pays up to 2% APY on balances of $10,000 or more.
E*TRADE’s Checking account is best for day traders that already use the E*TRADE platform for investing. The account's most noteworthy perk is the APY. Account holders with a balance of at least $10,000 can earn up to 2% APY, and balances under $10,000 earn up to 0.05%. The account also has no monthly fees, and reimburses ATM fees in the US. But as a digital account, you'll have to be ok with no branch access.
Best for: Existing E*TRADE customers who want an interest-bearing checking account.
Pros
-
No monthly fees
-
Earns interest
-
No ATM fees
Cons
-
Best APY requires high balance
-
Online only
What we like about the E*TRADE Checking Account
E*TRADE’s Checking account is best for day traders who already use the E*TRADE platform for investing. One of its best perks is the ability to move between your checking and brokerage accounts — and the funds are available instantly. Plus, as a brokerage customer, you’ll be keeping all your bank and investment accounts in one place.
No monthly fees
There’s no monthly account fee, no minimum balance to maintain, and no minimum deposit required just to open the account — you simply need to fund it within 90 days to keep it open.
E*TRADE also waives what it calls “transaction and nuisance fees,” meaning fees like outgoing wires and stop payments. Not too shabby!
High APY
The interest-earning potential is another highlight (well, for people who can keep a healthy balance in the account).
Balances of $10,000 or more earn up to 2% APY, a rate that’s competitive for a checking account. Most interest-bearing checking accounts don’t offer rates that high, as we often see rates around 0.10% to 0.50% APY.
No ATM fees in the US
E*TRADE refunds ATM fees charged anywhere in the world.
Also, the account refunds foreign ATM withdrawal charges and foreign transaction fees incurred when using the debit card abroad, which makes this a genuinely useful account for frequent travelers who don’t want to think about which ATM they’re using.
What could be better
The most notable drawback is how steep the drop-off is for smaller balances: account with balances under $10,000 earn just 0.05% APY.
It’s also worth noting that while ATM withdrawal fees are refunded worldwide, currency conversion isn’t entirely free. Non-US currency debit card transactions still carry a 1% currency conversion fee.
Compare E*TRADE with other checking accounts
Compare checking accounts by their features, APYs and initial opening deposits, then choose Go to site when you’re ready to apply for an account.
We currently don't have that product, but here are others to consider:
How we picked theseWhat 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.
E*TRADE customer ratings and reviews
| BBB accredited | No |
|---|---|
| BBB rating | D- |
| BBB customer reviews | 1.07 out of 5 stars, based on 46 customer reviews |
| Trustpilot score | 1.2 out of 5 stars, based on 747 customer reviews |
| Customer reviews verified as of | 25 August 2026 |
E*TRADE has been in business for 40 years, and gets high ratings from customers using the app. Customers like the user-friendly app that lets them research stocks, buy them and track their portfolio. Some customers report issues with the app not loading changes in the market or other glitches like not working when logged on multiple devices.
However, E*TRADE receives a low rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) for not resolving complaints filed against the business. On Trustpilot, most reviews lean negative as well. Multiple users report having problems looking at their charts to see trading data. A few also report that it’s hard to get in touch with customer service. Positive reviews say that the platform works smoothly for them and that they’ve had no trouble with getting customer service.
Your reviews
Amy Finder
Writer
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