Our pick of the best checking accounts with no monthly fees, no opening deposits and perks.
Up to $3,500 Bonus:
HSBC Premier Checking
FINDER'S PICK
7
Great
Earn up to $3,500 by opening the HSBC Premier account with three different bonus offers after completing qualifying activities by December 31, 2025, and maintain the New Deposits through March 31, 2026. T&Cs apply.
$500 bonus with qualifying direct deposits
Up to $3,000 bonus with qualifying deposits and other actions
Earn up to $3,500 by opening the HSBC Premier account with three different bonus offers after completing qualifying activities by December 31, 2025, and maintain the New Deposits through March 31, 2026. T&Cs apply.
Up to 3.60% APY:
SoFi Checking and Savings
9
Excellent
Earn up to 4.30% APY on savings and $50 or $300 with direct deposit. Open a new SoFi Checking and Savings account by 31 January 2026, set up eligible direct deposit within 60 days, and maintain direct deposit for six months. T&Cs apply.
0.50% APY on checking balance
Up to 3.60% APY on savings
$0 account or overdraft fees
Earn $50 or $300 when you sign up and set up eligible direct deposit
Earn up to 4.30% APY on savings and $50 or $300 with direct deposit. Open a new SoFi Checking and Savings account by 31 January 2026, set up eligible direct deposit within 60 days, and maintain direct deposit for six months. T&Cs apply.
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 Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.
SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit can earn 3.60% 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 3.60% 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 11/12/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
Annual percentage yield (APY) is variable and subject to change at any time. Rates are current as of 11/12/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional rates and information can be found at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet
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 Bank 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 may be incurred when using out-of-network ATMs. 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 a feature automatically offered to SoFi Checking and Savings account holders who receive at least $1,000 or more in Eligible Direct Deposits within a rolling 31 calendar day period on a recurring basis. Eligible Direct Deposit is defined on the SoFi Bank Rate Sheet, available at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet. Members enrolled in Overdraft Coverage may be covered for up to $50 in negative balances on SoFi Bank debit card purchases only. Overdraft Coverage does not apply to P2P transfers, bill payments, checks, or other non-debit card transactions. Members with a prior history of unpaid negative balances are not eligible for Overdraft Coverage. Eligibility for Overdraft Coverage is determined by SoFi Bank in its sole discretion. Members can check their enrollment status, if eligible, at any time by logging into their account through the SoFi app or on the SoFi website.
Earn up to 4.30% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.60% APY as of 11/12/25) for up to 6 months. Enroll in SoFi Plus between 9/18/25 and 1/31/26. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at sofi.com/sofi-plus SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.
Cashback & up to 3.75% APY:
OnePay Cash
9.6
Excellent
For a limited time, earn 10% cash back at Walmart on your first purchase made within your first month, on up to $200 spent. T&Cs apply.
$0 monthly fee and overdraft fee
Earn 3.35% APY on Savings with eligible deposits
Earn cashback on debit card purchases at Walmart and other brands
For a limited time, earn 10% cash back at Walmart on your first purchase made within your first month, on up to $200 spent. OnePay is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Coastal Community Bank or Lead Bank, Members FDIC. 10% cash back at Walmart: Only available to customers who initiate their account application through certain channels from 3/21/25 - 1/31/26. Cash back earned as OnePay Points. See terms at onepay.com/10percent. 3% cash back at Walmart: Cash back is earned as OnePay Points, redeemable into a OnePay Cash account or other available options. Only available to customers who unlock OnePay Cash+ with eligible deposits. Customers can choose to earn on gas instead of at Walmart. Spend cap applies to your total spend across the cash back categories you selected during the month. See OnePay Rewards Terms. Early Pay: Get paid up to 2 days early. Direct Deposit is required. Funds may be available up to 2 days in advance, depending on when your employer sends paycheck data. 3.35% APY on Savings with eligible deposits: 3.35% annual percentage yield (APY) applies to the Savings balance of OnePay Cash accounts that have either (i) received $500+ of Direct Deposit in the current or previous month or (ii) have a balance of $5,000+ at the end of the previous month. 3.35% APY is also earned on Pay Autosave balances without deposit or balance requirements. 3.35% APY is limited to a total Savings balance of up to $250,000. All other Savings balances will earn 1.00% APY. APYs are as of 10/7/2025, but may change at any time before or after account opening. ATM: Only applies to OnePay Cash accounts that have either (i) received Direct Deposit totaling $500+ in the current or previous month, or (ii) have a balance of $5,000+ at the end of the previous month. For all other ATM transactions the OnePay ATM Fee will apply and third-party ATM fees may be incurred. Fee-Free Overdraft: Fee-Free Overdraft is available to OnePay Cash accounts that have either (i) received Direct Deposits totaling $500+ in the current or previous month, or (ii) have a balance of $5,000+ at the end of the previous month. You must be 18 or older. When on, Savings Backup will be used before Fee-Free Overdraft. Overdraft balance is due right away. Eligible transactions are at the discretion of OnePay and may exclude certain transactions (e.g., bill pay, global transfers). See details.
1.75% APY:
NBKC Everything Account
9.2
Excellent
Earn 1.75% APY for all balance
$0 monthly fee
All of your finances in one place
Up to $12/mo in out-of-network ATM fee reimbursements
Get a $100 referral bonus by inviting your friends to join Current. Once the person receives the invite link, applies your unique referral code, and makes qualifying Eligible Payroll Deposits of at least $200 within 45 days of opening the account, you and the referred friend each earn $100. T&Cs apply.
Get a $100 referral bonus by inviting your friends to join Current. Once the person receives the invite link, applies your unique referral code, and makes qualifying Eligible Payroll Deposits of at least $200 within 45 days of opening the account, you and the referred friend each earn $100. T&Cs apply.
:
Bank of America Advantage SafeBalance Banking®
9
Excellent
Bank of America Advantage Banking Up To $500 Cash Offer. See offer page for more details. Bank of America, N.A. Member FDIC. T&Cs apply.
Bank of America Advantage Banking Up To $500 Cash Offer. See offer page for more details. Bank of America, N.A. Member FDIC. T&Cs apply.
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.
Rewards checking accounts — Rewarding accounts come with cashback rewards, sometimes in the form of actual cash, redeemable points or discounts on future purchases.
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.
Checking accounts for international travel — For the frequent traveler, there are also checking accounts that skip foreign fees, like currency exchange or ATM fees.
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.
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.
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.
Student 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.
Teen checking accounts — Typically for ages 13 to 17, teen checking accounts are managed by a parent or guardian and often come with spending limits.
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:
Name and contact information
Social Security Number or ITIN
Government-issued ID, such as driver’s license
Proof of address
Opening deposit, if required
Should I have more than one checking account?
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 married. 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.
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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