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Cheese Rewards Checking review

A digital bank dedicated to helping Asian-Americans rake in the cheddar through rewards and up to 10% cash back.

finder.com’s rating: 4.0 / 5.0

★★★★★

The Cheese Rewards Checking account is a digital bank account and social cause platform designed for Asian-Americans and immigrants in the US. The account earns up to 10% cash back on purchases and up to 0% on your account balance. Plus, Cheese has pledged to donate $100,000 to Asian-owned businesses and communities.

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$0 per month

Fee

N/A

APY

$0

Minimum deposit to open

Details

APYN/A
Fee$0 per month
Minimum deposit to open$0
Intro or bonus offerGet up to 10% cash back at 10K+ stores and Asian-owned businesses and restaurants.
No clicks, no activation, straight cash, all automatic.
ATMsover 33,000 MoneyPass ATMs
ATM transaction fee$0
Out-of-network ATM fee$0
Avatar

Review by


Cassidy Horton is a freelance copywriter and journalist, specializing in personal finance. Her writing and analysis has been featured in Forbes Advisor, Money, The Balance, Money Under 30, Insure.com and other top digital publishers. She holds a BS in public relations and an MBA from Georgia Southern University.

Expert review

Cheese banking is best for those looking to earn cashback rewards for banking and use their dollars to support Asian and immigrant communities. The account has a long list of interesting perks, including no fees, up to 10% cash back on over 10,000 brands and up to 0% APY on account balances. Cheese’s customer service team is fluent in both English and Chinese and the company has pledged to donate $100,000 to Asian businesses and communities.

But the account is mobile-only and there’s no Android app yet. And if you need to speak with customer support, your only option is to contact them through email.

How do I open a Cheese banking account?

Open a Cheese Rewards Checking account in minutes using these steps.

  1. Go to the provider’s site and follow the steps to apply.
  2. From the provider website, enter your mobile number and select Join Now & Get $5.
  3. Open the text on your phone and download the Cheese app.
  4. Launch the app and choose Get Started.
  5. Enter your phone number and hit Text Me.
  6. Enter your name and email address and select Next.
  7. Follow the prompts to finish creating your account.

You’ll get access to a virtual debit card as soon as Cheese approves your account. Your physical card will come in the mail within 10 business days.

Eligibility

Open an account when you meet these requirements.

  • At least 18 years old
  • Valid Social Security number
  • US residential address

Required information

Cheese will ask for this information when you open your account.

  • Full name
  • Valid US residential street address
  • Phone number
  • Email
  • Social Security number
  • Date of birth

What are the benefits of a Cheese banking account?

Cheese banking is FDIC insured up to $250,000 through Coastal Community Bank and receives paychecks up to two days earlier than traditional banks. It also has these benefits.
  • Cheese Giveback Fund. Cheese has pledged to donate $100,000 to Asian charities and nonprofit organizations.
  • Cashback rewards. Earn a flat 0.25% cash back on all purchases, up to $10 in rewards per day, plus up to 10% cash back at over 10,000 stores, including DoorDash, Chewy, Nike and more. View a complete list of offers in the app.
  • Competitive interest. Earn a base rate of 0.0% APY on your total balance, plus a boosted rate of 0% APY for 30 days when you refer someone to Cheese and they join and fund the account with $50.
  • No fees. This Cheese Rewards Checking account has no monthly fees and no minimum balance requirements.
  • Bilingual support. Cheese‘s customer support team speaks fluent English and Chinese, with other languages coming soon.

What should I look out for?

As with most digital accounts, Cheese banking doesn’t accept cash deposits or come with check-writing privileges. It also has these potential drawbacks.

  • Not available on Android. Cheese banking is only available to iOS and iPhone users. But will become available to Android users by May 2021.
  • No joint accounts. You can’t open a Cheese Rewards Checking account with a partner or family member.
  • No foreign deposits. Cheese doesn’t accept deposits in foreign funds or checks from banks outside the US, but you can still send and receive international wires.
  • Limited support options. Reach customer support only by emailing support@earncheese.com.

If you don’t have an iPhone, explore other rewards checking accounts to find the one that’s right for you.

Cheese‘s ATM network and fees

Use your Cheese Mastercard debit card at over 33,000 MoneyPass ATMs nationwide for free. Use the mobile app to find the ATM nearest to you. Cheese doesn’t charge fees for out-of-network ATMs, but the operator might.

Compare Cheese banking with other checking accounts

See how Cheese‘s features and fees compare to other digital checking accounts.

Name Product Fee Minimum deposit to open Annual Percentage Yield (APY) Offer
US Bank Smartly Checking
Finder Rating: 2.6 / 5: ★★★★★
Bonus
US Bank Smartly Checking
$6.95 per month
$25
N/A
New offer: Earn up to $600 when you open a new U.S. Bank Smartlyâ„¢ checking account and complete qualifying activities. Subject to certain terms and limitations. Offer valid through April 11, 2023. Member FDIC
Take control of your spending with integrated tools such as automated budgeting, upcoming due date alerts, low balance alerts and more, available in the US Bank Smartly Checking mobile app. Easily send and receive funds via Zelle. Waive overdraft fees by depositing money before the forgiveness deadline. Member FDIC.
Chime Checking account
Finder Rating: 4.7 / 5: ★★★★★
Chime Checking account
$0 per month
$0
N/A
Save easily and access your paycheck up to 2 days early with direct deposit. Pay $0 monthly fees, and no minimum balance is required. Access 24/7 support and get daily balance and transaction alerts. FDIC insured.
Chase Total Checking
Finder Rating: 3 / 5: ★★★★★
Bonus
Chase Total Checking
$12 per month
$0
N/A
New Chase checking customers enjoy a $200 bonus when you open a new Chase Total Checking® account and set up direct deposit.
Chase Total Checking is easy to use and gives you access to 16,000 ATMs and more than 4,700 branches. It offers a $200 signup bonus to new Chase customers. Member FDIC.
Upgrade Rewards Checking
Finder Rating: 4.3 / 5: ★★★★★
Upgrade Rewards Checking
$0 per month
$0
N/A
Earn up to 2% cashback rewards on everyday purchases. Pay $0 fees for overdraft, domestic wire transfer and monthly maintenance. Pair with Upgrade’s savings account to earn 3.75% APY. Get up to 20% discounts on Upgrade loans and credit lines. Member FDIC.
Albert Cash
Finder Rating: 4.5 / 5: ★★★★★
Albert Cash
From $0 per month
$0
0.10%
30-day free trial for Albert Genius
Albert Saving helps you set money aside for the future, whether your purchasing goals are big or small. Paid Genius subscription members enjoy perks like automated savings and annual cash bonuses. FDIC-insured through their partner banks.
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How do I deposit or withdraw my money?

Access money in your Cheese Rewards Checking account using these methods.

Deposits

  • Direct deposit
  • Check deposit in the mobile app
  • Transfer from a linked account
  • Domestic or international wire transfer

Withdrawals

  • At an ATM
  • Transfer to a linked account
  • Domestic or international wire transfer

How to contact Cheese Rewards Checking customer service?

Cheese’s customer support is fluent in both English and Chinese. Contact them by email at support@earncheese.com.

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Read the full methodology of how we rate checking accounts.

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