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Best joint bank accounts

Compare the best joint accounts for people with shared financial goals.

While 80% of Americans report having a joint bank account with their significant other, you don’t need to be married (or even dating) to get use out of a joint bank account. A joint checking or savings account can make financial management easier with your spouse, roommate, business partner and even your kids. We’ve researched and analyzed over 400 joint accounts, and here are eight of the best.

Best overall

SoFi Checking and Savings

4.5
★★★★★

Finder score

Get up to $300 cash bonus with qualifying direct deposit. Terms apply. This offer is available until June 30, 2024.
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SoFi's Checking & Savings all-in-one online account takes the top spot for best overall joint bank account. An additional owner can easily be added to your account with a simple online application that's directly sent to them. There are no monthly or overdraft fees or an opening deposit requirement. The checking and savings both earn APY: 0.50% for checking and up to 4.60% for savings. To earn the highest APY on savings, set up direct deposit, which also gives you access to no-fee overdraft coverage up to $50. If you don't do direct deposit, you can still earn 4.60% APY on savings by depositing at least $5,000 per month. If you don't meet either deposit requirement, your savings still earns 1.20% APY. SoFi also offers optional FDIC insurance up to $2 million. However, many users report issues connecting their bank to fund their SoFi account if their existing bank isn't compatible with Plaid.

Best for kids

Finder Award Greenlight

4.6
★★★★★

Finder score

Get the first 30 days for free. After your one-month trial, plans start at just $4.99/month for the whole family. Includes up to five kids.
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Greenlight is a top kids' account offering parents three plans to choose from. Each plan offers up to five kids' debit cards and an app with granular parental controls that allow you to set store- and category-level spending limits. There are no reload fees, and you and your kid will get access to chore and allowance features, money games, and tools for spending, saving and earning. Greenlight also offers a credit card that's currently waitlisted called the Family Cash Card that accepts kids as authorized users so they can start building credit history. One of the only downsides with Greenlight is that you'll pay a monthly fee of at least $4.99 per month.

Best joint business account

Relay

4.3
★★★★★

Finder score

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Relay wins our best pick for a joint business bank account. This business checking account lets you create up to 20 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. There are also no monthly fees, foreign transaction or ATM fees. Its savings account also offers 1% to 3% APY, depending on your balance. On the downside, Relay doesn't offer checkwriting, and you'll need a balance of at least $1 million to earn the 3% APY on the savings account.

Best for couples

Zeta

4.3
★★★★★

Finder score

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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 2.43% 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.

Best for joint savings

Ivella

4.6
★★★★★

Finder score

on Ivella's secure site
Ivella features a joint savings account that's heavily designed for engaged or married couples. It offers a very high 5.15% APY with direct deposit, or by subscribing to Pods+. When you open the Ivella checking account, you get up to two pods for free. With its Pods+ membership costing $5 per month (and a free 30-day trial), you can create up to 500 savings pods to separate your custom savings goals for things like a honeymoon, college savings, vacations, emergencies — you name it. Each savings pod has its own account and routing number, so it's like having 500 savings accounts in one. You also get virtual cards that can be assigned to individual pods for easy budgeting. Set savings goals you can track in the app with your partner, and have peace of mind with up to $500,000 on FDIC insurance. Just keep in mind that if you don't set up some form of direct deposit or get Pods+, the APY drops to 1%.

Best for joint checking

Ally Bank Spending Account

4.3
★★★★★

Finder score

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.

Best joint credit card

Discover it® Secured

4.4
★★★★★

Finder score

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.

Best for roommates

Quontic Cash Rewards Checking

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.

Methodology

Finder’s banking experts research over 400 bank accounts to find the best 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.

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. For joint checking, each owner gets their own debit card and can access the funds. Both owners are responsible for fees incurred, like overdraft charges, so you should only open a joint bank account with someone you trust.

Although they typically allow up to two account holders, some providers allow three or more people. Most joint accounts give owners equal access, but some banks allow you to add restrictions, such as requiring dual signatures for withdrawals or closures — a particularly common restriction with joint business bank accounts.

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. However, some banks don’t allow you to open a joint account unless you already have an account with them. Some traditional banks might require you to visit a branch to verify the person you’re adding to the account.

To apply for a joint bank account, 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 banks review your bank account history through ChexSystems when you apply.

Are joint accounts a good idea?

Joint bank accounts are a great way for spouses and life partners to manage expenses and get on the same page financially.

Both owners can see transactions, pay bills, keep track of spending and their budget. Joint accounts can also be great for roommates, business partners and family members who share expenses, or caregivers who manage someone else’s finances.

Whoever you choose to get a joint account with, trust is key — co-owners will likely have equal access to the funds unless set up otherwise.

Joint accounts for kids

Joint accounts are also a great idea for parents, as they can open a joint bank account with their kids to monitor their spending and teach them how to manage their money. Parents can also open a shared savings account to set their child up for later.

A photo of bethanyhickey

Expert tip: 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, Writer, Banking and Loans.

Compare joint accounts

Narrow down top joint bank accounts by monthly fees, APYs and features. For a better comparison of offerings, tick the Compare box on multiple options to see their benefits side by side.

$
Name Product Account type Annual Percentage Yield (APY) FDIC or NCUA insured amount Minimum balance to earn interest Minimum deposit to open Offer Estimated total balance
CIT Bank Savings Builder
Finder Rating: 3.3 / 5: ★★★★★
CIT Bank Savings Builder
Traditional savings

1.00%

0.40%

Up to $250,000
$0
$100
$1,010
Discover® Online Savings Account
Finder Rating: 4.6 / 5: ★★★★★
Discover® Online Savings Account
Traditional savings,Custodial account

4.25%

Up to $250,000
$0
$0
$1,042.50
Discover® Money Market
Finder Rating: 3.9 / 5: ★★★★★
Discover® Money Market
Money market

4.05%

4.00%

Up to $250,000
$1
$2,500
$1,040.50
Wealthfront Cash Account
Finder Rating: 4.6 / 5: ★★★★★
Wealthfront Cash Account
Cash management account

5.00%

Up to $8M FDIC insurance
$1
$1
$1,050
CIT Savings Connect
Finder Rating: 4.3 / 5: ★★★★★
CIT Savings Connect
Traditional savings,Custodial account

4.65%

Up to $250,000
$0
$100
$1,046.50
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Name Product Fee Minimum deposit to open Annual Percentage Yield (APY) Offer
Discover® Cashback Debit
Finder Rating: 4.8 / 5: ★★★★★
Discover® Cashback Debit
$0 per month
$0
N/A
The Discover® Cashback Debit account earns 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month.
SoFi Checking and Savings
Finder Rating: 4.5 / 5: ★★★★★
Bonus
SoFi Checking and Savings
$0 per month
$0
4.60% on balances of $0+
0.50% on balances of $0+
1.20% on balances of $0+
Get up to $300 cash bonus with qualifying direct deposit. Terms apply. This offer is available until June 30, 2024.
Earn up to 4.60% APY on savings by meeting deposit requirements, and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Members without deposit requirements will earn 0.50% APY on both savings and checking balances. Turn on automatic savings or use the Roundups feature to help you reach your savings goals faster. Get up to $2M of additional FDIC insurance through a network of participating banks.
Axos Bank Rewards Checking
Finder Rating: 4.2 / 5: ★★★★★
Bonus
Axos Bank Rewards Checking
$0 per month
$50
3.30% on balances of $0 to $50,000
Use promo code AXOS300 and apply by June 30th, 2024, to earn up to $300 bonus, $50 each month you meet requirements: Make direct deposits of $5,000+ each month for the first 7 months and maintain an average balance of $7,000.
Earn up to 3.3% APY after meeting deposit and spending requirements. Get ATM free reimbursements at all domestic ATMs. Pay $0 monthly or overdraft fees. FDIC insured.
Axos Bank Essential Checking
Finder Rating: 5 / 5: ★★★★★
Axos Bank Essential Checking
$0 per month
$0
N/A
Pay $0 monthly and overdraft fees, and get reimbursed for domestic ATM fees. No opening deposit or minimum balance requirement. Get your paycheck up to 2 days early with direct deposit. FDIC insured.
Lili
Finder Rating: 4.6 / 5: ★★★★★
Bonus
Lili
From $0 per month
$0
4.15%
30 day free trial for Lili Pro, Lili Smart, and Lili Premium
Get paid up to two days early with direct deposit, automated savings, and no monthly fees with Lili Basic. Other packages include cashback rewards, 4.15% APY for savings, smart bookkeeping and financial reports, etc. FDIC insured.
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Name Product 6-month APY 1-year APY 5-year APY Minimum deposit to open
CIT Bank Term CDs
Finder Rating: 3.5 / 5: ★★★★★
CIT Bank Term CDs
5.00%
0.30%
0.50%
$1,000
Lock up to a 5% APY with a 6-month CD from CIT Bank, a division of First Citizens Bank with 125 years of experience. $1,000 minimum to open. FDIC insured.
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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.

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32 Responses

    Default Gravatar
    AJMarch 11, 2020

    Can I direct deposit my checks to a joint checking account?

      Default Gravatar
      AshMarch 13, 2020

      Hi AJ,

      Thank you for contacting Finder.

      Yes, you may deposit a personal check named to a single individual to a joint account. Kindly take note that once deposited to the joint account, both of the account holders will have equal rights to the total amount on the account.

      I hope this helps.

      Cheers,
      Ash

    Default Gravatar
    SudeysiJuly 9, 2019

    I am going to add another person to my account what happens that day, what information is given to them, what documentation do they have to sign does it take a long time to do?

      Default Gravatar
      nikkiangcoJuly 9, 2019

      Hi Sudeysi,

      Thanks for getting in touch with Finder!

      If you plan to add another person to your account, the information shared with the person is any and all details of your account unless otherwise it can be requested with your bank to share limited information. Bank process and documentation will depend on the bank you choose.

      Hope this helps! For any further questions, feel free to reach out to us again, we’re here to help.

      Cheers,
      Nikki

    Default Gravatar
    LauraMay 23, 2019

    Hi, I have a joint account with my partner. If he was to get a loan through our bank account would the bank need to ask my permission first or can he get loans without my consent?

      AvatarFinder
      BellaMay 24, 2019Finder

      Hi Laura,

      Thanks for your inquiry.

      Since it is a joint account, both parties have access towards the funds unless there is a policy advised that the account could only be accessed with both parties consent. You may need to contact your bank to check if this policy is activated with your joint account.

      I hope this helps.

      Kind regards,
      Bella

    Default Gravatar
    DianeMay 6, 2019

    For joint accounts is there only one password.

      AvatarFinder
      JeniMay 6, 2019Finder

      Hi Diane,

      Thank you for getting in touch with Finder.

      Since the joint account has only one online account then it has only one password. If you haven’t opened a joint account and considering to open one, please have your queries listed and ask them all to your chosen bank.

      I hope this helps.

      Thank you and have a wonderful day!

      Cheers,
      Jeni

    Default Gravatar
    MichaelMarch 7, 2019

    Can I open a new joint account with a person living another state?

      AvatarFinder
      JeniMarch 9, 2019Finder

      Hi Michael,

      Thank you for getting in touch with Finder.

      That might be possible as most banks would open joint accounts for unrelated individuals, who may be living from different states. As per this page you’re looking at, so long that both of you and your partner met the eligibility requirements, know the rules, consequences, anything on having a joint account then it is fine if you don’t live under one roof. Please note that the key to a successful joint bank accounts is trust.

      I hope this helps.

      Thank you and have a wonderful day!

      Cheers,
      Jeni

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