Charles Schwab High Yield Investor Checking account review
- Fee
- $0 per month
- APY
- 0.45%
- Minimum deposit to open
- $0.01
Our verdict
Enjoy free global ATM access and no foreign transaction fees -- but only if you open and link a brokerage account.
The Charles Schwab High Yield Investor Checking account is best for travelers. This interest-bearing checking account has no monthly and foreign transaction fees, and no minimum balance requirements. You'll get free ATM access and rebates on out-of-network ATM fees.
But you'll need to open a linked brokerage account to get started.
Pros
-
Earn interest
-
Free ATM access
-
No monthly fee
-
No minimum balance
-
Few transaction fees
-
Free overdraft transfers
Cons
-
Hard pull
-
Brokerage account
-
Long processing times
-
Online only
-
Limited simple banking products
-
No foreign wire transfers
How do I open Charles Schwab High Yield Investor Checking account?
This account can only be opened online. Here’s how:
- Go to the provider’s site and follow the steps to apply.
- From the Charles Schwab website, hover over What we offer and click Checking.
- Click Open a checking account, choose an account type and click Continue.
- If you already have an account with Charles Schwab, proceed to log in. Otherwise, click No, I’m new to Schwab.
- Enter your personal information and click Next.
- Create an account and password, then click Next.
- Select your account features and agree to the terms and conditions. Click Next.
- Verify all information, fund your account and submit your application.
Eligibility
- Be at least 18 years old
- Possess a Social Security number or taxpayer ID
- Have a valid state-issued ID
- Have a permanent US address
- Open a Charles Schwab brokerage account
- Make an initial deposit of at least one cent
Required information
- Name and date of birth
- Address
- Social Security number or taxpayer ID
- Email address
- Bank information to fund your account
What are the benefits of the Charles Schwab High Yield Investor Checking account?
Besides FDIC deposit insurance and convenient mobile access, this account comes with a handful of features that could improve your banking experience.
- Earn interest. Earn 0.45% APY on your total balance.
- Free ATM access. Use any Charles Schwab ATM for free and get rebates on any fees charged when using other ATMs.
- No monthly fee. There’s no monthly fee to keep this account open.
- No minimum balance. Open this account with as little as one cent.
- Few transaction fees. This account doesn’t charge fees for foreign transactions, checks, stop payments, ETF transfers and copies of checks or statements.
- Free overdraft transfers. Get free overdraft coverage when you transfer funds from a linked account.
What should I look out for?
This low-fee checking account stands out from similar options, but it’s not perfect. Here’s what to look out for:
- Hard pull. Charles Schwab will perform a hard pull on your credit report when you apply for this account.
- Brokerage account. In order to open an account, you’ll also need to open a Charles Schwab brokerage account.
- Long processing times. During the first 30 days after opening this account, checks will be held for five days before funds become available. Mobile check deposits may also be subject to the five business day waiting period.
- Online only. Even though Charles Schwab has physical branches, you’ll need to do all of your banking online and at ATMs, which can make depositing cash difficult.
- Limited simple banking products. This bank only offers a checking and a savings account, so you’ll need to visit another institution if you’re looking for CDs or similar products.
- No foreign wire transfers. Charles Schwab won’t send or receive wire transfers from institutions outside of the US.
If you’re looking for a standalone checking account, you’ll want to keep looking. As always, compare your options when choosing a checking account.
Case study: Michael’s experience – May 2019
Michael Koh
Data Analyst
In fact, I’d never heard of Charles Schwab until a company I worked for set up my IRA with them. That’s when I started familiarizing myself with its products, which led to closing my Bank of America checking account and moving my money into a High Yield Investor Checking Account.
The beauty of a checking account at Charles Schwab is quickly transferring money between your brokerage and checking accounts. The only caveat is that you must open a brokerage account, but you don’t even need to fund it. Then again, you might be tempted to stash your extra money into index funds managed by Schwab!
Let’s not forget that at the end of every month, Schwab refunds ATM fees charged when withdrawing money, and they provide mobile deposits for convenience. You also earn monthly interest on your checking account, and it’s nice to see the balance boost — their interest is higher than many savings accounts at other banks.
Schwab customer support is helpful, and they try to solve any issues you might have so that you’re satisfied. For example, Schwab accidentally withdrew money from my account twice using the same check — which happens rarely — and customer support rectified it immediately by phone. Speaking of checks, they give them to you for free!
The only drawback I’ve had with Schwab is that I can’t deposit cash. But that’s why we all use Venmo, right?
Case study: Megan’s experience – May 2019
Megan Horner
Assistant Publisher
I love the Charles Schwab debit card! I recommend it to everyone. Its biggest selling point for me is no ATM fees, which is especially useful if you’re traveling abroad. Before I had this debit card, I would take out as much cash as possible each time I used an international ATM to minimize the fees. Now I take out cash as needed without worrying.
No ATM fees has been useful in my hometown as well. I’ll find myself at festivals or concerts, where there’s only a weird ATM charging a $10 fee. No worries with this debit card, though! I love seeing the ATM refund in my account. After a big trip, it’s easy to see quantify how substantially this card saves you.
Charles Schwab has amazing customer service too. I was in Hong Kong when I realized I’d forgotten my PIN for the card. The customer service rep helped me through the process of resetting the PIN, which was complicated, because I wasn’t in the US. They did what they could to speed up the process, including waiving the fee for expediting a letter to me with my PIN number.
Still, I don’t take full advantage of the money accounts connected to this debit card. Charles Schwab sets you up with checking and brokerage accounts. But if you’re not interested in those, it’s worth it for the debit card alone.
Charles Schwab ATM network and fees
The Charles Schwab High Yield Investor Checking account comes with a contactless Visa platinum debit card that allows you to swipe or tap your card at any contactless ATM or reader. You can use any Charles Schwab ATM without incurring any fees, and the bank will refund any ATM fees charged when using out-of-network ATMs.
- Domestic ATM fee. $0
- Foreign ATM fee. $0
Compare to top checking accounts
How do I deposit or withdraw money?
You can access your money several ways, but you won’t be able to deposit or withdraw funds from a Charles Schwab branch.
Deposits
- At an ATM
- Mobile check deposit
- Direct deposit
- Online or via wire transfer within the US
Frequently asked questions
Checking account ratings
★★★★★ — Excellent
★★★★★ — Good
★★★★★ — Average
★★★★★ — Subpar
★★★★★ — Poor
We analyze top checking accounts and rate them one to five stars based on factors that are most important to you. These factors include: monthly fees, the ease at which monthly fees can be waived, the breadth of ATM access, ATM and overdraft fees, and customer service.
Charles Schwab High Yield Investor Checking is not currently available on Finder
Have you considered SoFi Checking and Savings?
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.
- 0.50% APY on checking balance
- Up to 4.60% APY on savings
- $0 account or overdraft fees
- Get a $300 bonus with direct deposits of $5,000 or more
Your reviews
Peter Finder
Writer
Hi there, looking for more information? Ask us a question.
You are about to post a question on finder.com:
- Do not enter personal information (eg. surname, phone number, bank details) as your question will be made public
- finder.com is a financial comparison and information service, not a bank or product provider
- We cannot provide you with personal advice or recommendations
- Your answer might already be waiting – check previous questions below to see if yours has already been asked
Finder only provides general advice and factual information, so consider your own circumstances, or seek advice before you decide to act on our content. By submitting a question, you're accepting our finder.com Terms of Use and Privacy and Cookies Policy.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.