Finder makes money from featured partners, but editorial opinions are our own. Advertiser disclosure

Best Checking Accounts

Explore top checking accounts with no monthly fees, no opening deposits and perks.

Bethany Hickey's headshot

By

Bethany Hickey

Edited by

Holly Jennings

Updated

Fact checked

Start comparing

The best checking accounts offer convenience, rewards and low fees. But finding a checking account that fits your lifestyle comes down to identifying which features matter the most to you. From cashback rewards to high yields, compare top checking accounts for your financial situation and needs.

Why trust Finder?

  • 300+ banks and credit unions reviewed
  • 190+ checking accounts analyzed and rated by our team of experts
  • Evaluated under our unbiased rating system covering 8 categories
  • 20+ years of combined experience covering financial topics

We're big on editorial independence. That means our content, reviews and ratings are fair, accurate and trustworthy. We don't let advertisers or partners sway our opinions. Our financial experts put in the hard work, spending hours researching and analyzing hundreds of products based on data-driven methodologies to find the best accounts and providers for you. Explore our editorial guidelines to see how we work.

9 best checking accounts

Best overall

SoFi Checking and Savings

9 Excellent

Get up to $300 cash bonus with qualifying direct deposit. Terms apply. This offer is available until January 31, 2026.
Go to site
on SoFi's secure site
Read review
With no monthly fees and no deposit requirements, SoFi®'s hybrid Checking and Savings account takes the top spot. Setting up direct deposit makes you a SoFi Plus member, and Plus members can get up to 3.80% APY on savings, early direct deposit, higher cashback rewards on SoFi credit cards, overdraft protection and more. Without direct deposit, you could still earn the highest saving APY by either depositing at least $5,000 per month, or by paying a $10 monthly subscription fee. And even without meeting deposit or paying the monthly fee, you can still earn up to 1.00% APY on your savings and 0.50% APY on your checking balance. This account also offers additional FDIC insurance coverage up to $3 million. But as an online bank, SoFi doesn't have any branches, though it does accept cash deposits at Green Dot ATMs for a $4.95 fee.
APYUp to 3.80%
Fee$0 per month
Minimum deposit to open$0

Best for rewards

Varo

9.6 Excellent

Existing and new customers get a $25 referral bonus when signing up for a Varo Bank account. T&C apply.
Go to site
on Varo's secure site
Read review
Also offering no monthly fees or overdraft fees, Varo has one of the highest cashback rates we've seen, offering up to 6% on purchases with your debit card. You can view which stores offer cash back right in the Varo app and earn up to $50 in cashback rewards per month. While it doesn't seem like that high for max earnings, you'll only have to spend around $850 per month to get the most out of Varo's cashback rate. Other competitors require you to spend much more to make the most of the max cashback earnings. Varo also has a large, free ATM network. With Varo, you also become eligible to open Varo's savings account which offers a high 5% APY. But some downsides with Varo include a possible $5.95 cash deposit fee and no checkwriting privileges or wire transfers.
Fee$0 per month
Minimum deposit to open$0

Best for teens

Step Visa Card

9.4 Excellent

Go to site
on Step's secure site
Read review
Step is a frontrunner amongst teen checking accounts: It's full of great features, including savings rewards, cashback points and more. It stands out for its lack of monthly fees and its credit-building feature. Unlike a traditional credit card, teens can only make purchases up to the amount in their account. Each month, Step uses the funds in their account to pay off the card's balance without charging any interest. Once they turn 18, their credit history is submitted to the three credit bureaus. Step also features an optional investing account, 4% in savings bonuses and time-sensitive cashback rewards from select merchants. However, Step's customer service is limited as there's no customer service phone number.
APY4.00%
Fee$0 per month
Minimum deposit to open$0

Best for small businesses

Bluevine Business Checking

9 Excellent

You can earn $300 when you open a new Bluevine Business Checking account and meet eligibility requirements. Apply with referral code CA300.
Go to site Read review
Bluevine's Business Checking offers three plans: Standard for $0 per month, Plus for $30 per month, or Premier for $95 per month. All plans offer unlimited transactions, no overdraft fees, no foreign transaction fees and some free checks. With the free Standard plan, you can earn a high 1.5% APY on balances up to $250,000 by spending at least $500 per month or receiving at least $2,500 per month. If you go with a paid plan, you can earn either 2.7% or 3.7% APY on your balance with no requirements, and your plan's monthly fee can get waived. Bluevine also supports many software integrations, including Quickbooks, Square, Cash App and Xero. Enjoy the high FDIC insurance up to $3 million through its bank partner Coastal Community Bank and a network of program banks. But there's a 2.9% fee for bill pay with a credit card, and there are fees for cash deposits at Green Dot ATMs or Allpoint ATMs.
APYUp to 3.70%
FeeFrom $0 per month
Minimum deposit to open$0

Best for second-chance checking

Chime® Checking Account

9.6 Excellent

Go to site
on Chime's secure site
Read review
Chime is a great option for those with a less-than-perfect banking history. Chime doesn't use ChexSystems when you apply for an account, meaning your past banking history isn't factored into your account application. Plus, unlike other second-chance checking accounts, there's no monthly fee and no minimum balance requirements. There's also SpotMe®, a fee-free overdraft service that 'spots' you up to $200 if you overdraft — the spotted amount is automatically repaid with your next direct deposit. On top of all that, Chime also has over 60,000 ATMs in its network, no foreign transaction fees, a free federal and state tax filing service, the Pay Anyone feature to send cash to anyone with a debit card, and the MyPay line of credit borrowing option. But as an online banking service, Chime has no physical branches and doesn't support joint accounts.
Fee$0 per month
Minimum deposit to open$0

Best for signup bonus

Chase Total Checking®

6 Standard

New Chase checking customers enjoy a $300 bonus when you open a Chase Total Checking® account and make direct deposits totaling $500 or more within 90 days of coupon enrollment.
Go to site
on Chase's secure site
Read review
Chase took another win with its easy-to-earn $300 signup bonus, available to new Chase customers. To earn the bonus, you must open the account and set up direct deposit within 90 days. Most other signup bonuses offered by other banks require many more specific requirements, so in comparison, this one's easy to attain. Aside from the bonus, Chase Total Checking has no opening deposit requirements, offers an overdraft protection program and a large ATM network. There is a monthly fee of $12 per month, but you can waive it by depositing at least $500 per month or maintaining a balance of at least $1,500. But if you frequently do wire transfers, look elsewhere because all incoming or outgoing domestic and international wire transfers incur a fee between $15 to $50.
APYN/A
Fee$12 per month
Minimum deposit to open$0

Best for no fees

Upgrade Rewards Checking Plus

8.6 Great

Read review
The Upgrade Rewards Checking Plus wins for best for no fees, as it doesn't charge anything for monthly maintenance or overdrafts. You'll also get one free domestic wire transfer per month, with additional transfers costing $20 each. Upgrade also offers cashback rewards that we typically see with credit cards, allowing you to earn 0.5% to 2% cash back on everyday purchases. The best cashback rewards rates require an active membership, meaning you must deposit at least $1,000 in direct deposits each month. Active users can earn up to 2% in cashback rewards, capped at $500 per year, and the 1% cashback rewards are unlimited. Without direct deposit, you'll earn 1% on select purchases and 0.5% on all other purchases. Upgrade doesn't have many negatives, but most stem from being an online banking service. There are no physical branches. However, it offers a fee-free network of 55,000 ATMs nationwide.
Fee$0 per month
Minimum deposit to open$0

Best for kids

Chase First Banking

8.6 Great

Read review
Powered by the popular kids banking service Greenlight, Chase First Banking has no monthly fees and requires no opening deposit. Children ages six to 17 can open it with a parent, and a parent must have an existing Chase checking account before applying. Parents can customize spending limits and ATM withdrawals, use chore and allowance features, and kids can request money transfers from parents for free. Also, unlike other kids' checking accounts, this one doesn't mature into a traditional account once the child turns 18, so they can continue using the account if they want. However, only one parent can manage the account, and kids can't deposit checks remotely.
APYN/A
Fee$0 per month
Minimum deposit to open$0

Best for international travel

Capital One 360 Checking

9.2 Excellent

Earn $250 bonus when you use code CHECKING250 and set up at least 2 qualifying direct deposits each of $500 or more to your 360 Checking account within 75 days of account opening. Terms Apply.
Read review
Best suited for the frequent globetrotter, Capital One's 360 Checking account has no monthly fee, foreign transaction fees, foreign ATM fees or currency transaction fees. Capital One also features a large free network of 70,000 ATMs. This account is also interest-bearing, and while small, it offers 0.1% APY on any balance. You can also choose between three overdraft protection options. But you'll face a large $30 outgoing domestic wire transfer fee and a $9 nonsufficent funds fee.
APY0.10%
Fee$0 per month
Minimum deposit to open$0

Methodology: How we choose the best checking accounts

Finder’s banking experts analyze more than 165 checking accounts before narrowing down the best. We factor in the following criteria:

  • $0 monthly fee, or option to waive the monthly fee
  • $0 minimum opening deposit
  • No strict membership requirements
  • Nationwide availability

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.

Checking account pros

  • FDIC insured. Most banks insure your stored funds for up to $250,000.
  • Direct deposit. Most checking accounts allow for automatic deposit of work checks into your account. This removes the need to cash a check or go to the bank in person.
  • Online functionality. You can access and manage your checking account online or through the bank’s mobile app if they offer one.
  • Convenience. A checking account and debit card make it less necessary to carry cash in your wallet.

Cons

  • Fees. Checking accounts typically come with assorted fees, such as overdraft fees, ATM withdrawal fees and more.
  • Doesn’t improve credit. Spending on your debit card doesn’t improve your credit, as you aren’t borrowing money.

3 experts weigh in on what makes the best checking account

We asked three experts to share their take on which features make a checking account “the best.” Here’s what they had to say:

Financial advice – Ricardo Flores

profile pic

Ricardo Flores
Financial Advisor at The Product Analyst

Here’s my guide to clients on what makes a good checking account:

  1. Low fees. Always take a close look at the fees and whether it’s a reasonable spending. Avoid checking accounts with too much charge and those that don’t allow you to waive fees. Keep in mind that you’re choosing a checking account for convenience, and having to spend so much on fees, isn’t strategic for spending wisely.
  2. Accessibility. It’s best to find a checking account with a bank that offers a mobile app or online banking. Also check whether that bank has nearby ATMs for when you need cash. Consider your bank’s accessibility as this is a handy criteria for when errors or glitches happen. You wouldn’t want to travel miles just to fix a bank error.

Financial advice – Ben Premo

profile pic

Ben Premo
Founder & CEO of TrueFees

There are a number of things that make a good checking account: high interest, digital features and low-cost. All checking accounts serve the same general purpose — to help manage your money while keeping it safe. In my opinion the best accounts are free of monthly fees and do not require a minimum balance.

Financial advice – Andrew Thake

profile pic

Andrew Thake
Mortgage Broker at andrewthake.com

When evaluating what makes the “best” checking account, there are a few features that need to be considered based on your needs and other basic banking requirements.

First, you’ll want to verify what fees your financial institution charges you. Many banks will charge you a monthly fee if your balance is below a certain amount, so be sure to check the minimum balance requirements and how much they would charge if you would consider opening an account.

Then there are the ATM fees when accessing your money at an ATM that is not part of your bank. There are also overdraft fees. Many banks charge an overdraft fee once you’ve exceeded your limit. This is something else to be cautious about and understand your financial institution’s policy regarding this.

Finally, an essential feature that needs to be highly considered is whether the financial institution offers high-interest rates. However, most banks that have high rates will have a high minimum balance fee.

Therefore, if you would like, you can have your money split across several bank accounts. This can allow you to save in one account with high-interest rates while having regular access to your money with the other where the minimum monthly balance fee is low.

Read more →

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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. You’re hitched. 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.

4 checking account alternatives

A checking account may not be the best fit if you’re looking to grow your money. If you’re thinking a checking account may not be right for you, here are a few alternatives to consider:

  1. Money market accounts. A money market account is like a checking account. It comes with a debit card and check-writing privileges. But it has features that encourage you to save. For example, the Discover® Money Market offers a higher interest rate at up to 3.55%, which is much higher than the rates you’d find with a checking account.
  2. Digital bank accounts. Most digital banks offer all-in-one accounts designed for saving and spending. Many, such as Varo, come with additional perks like early deposits and cashback rewards.
  3. Cash management accounts. A cash management account offers a lot of the same functionality of a traditional bank account, though they’re linked to brokerages.
  4. Prepaid debit cards. Similar to a second-chance checking account, many prepaid cards support direct deposit and ATM withdrawals and may be a good option if you can’t open a regular checking account. But they usually come with hefty or unavoidable fees.

Recap: Best checking accounts

Compare other checking accounts

Narrow down top checking accounts by rates and minimum opening deposit to find the best for your budget and financial goals. Select Compare for up to four products to see their benefits side by side. And if you want a broader look at your options, compare checking accounts with multiple providers.

1 - 5 of 20
Product Finder Score Fee Minimum deposit to open Annual Percentage Yield (APY) Bonus offer
SoFi Checking and Savings
SoFi logo
Finder score
9 Excellent
$0 per month
$0
Up to 3.80%
Get up to $300 cash bonus with qualifying direct deposit. Terms apply. This offer is available until January 31, 2026.
Go to siteView details
Step Black Card
Step logo
Finder score
8.6 Great
From $0 per month
$0
4.00% on balances of $0 to $1,000,000
Go to siteView details
Acorns Checking
Acorns logo
Finder score
7.2 Great
From $3 per month
$0
N/A
Go to siteView details
Current
Current logo
Finder score
9.2 Excellent
$0 per month
$0
4.00% on balances of $0.01 to $2,000
Get a $50 referral bonus by inviting your friends to join Current. Once the person receives the invite link and makes qualifying deposits of at least $200 within 45 days of opening the account, you and the referred friend each earn $50
Go to siteView details
BCU PowerPlus™ Checking
BCU logo
Finder score
8.8 Great
$0 per month
$0
8.00% on balances of $1 to $15,000
Go to siteView details
loading

What 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.

Read the full Finder Score breakdown

Holly Jennings's headshot
To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Holly Jennings as part of our fact-checking process.
Bethany Hickey's headshot
Written by

Banking editor

Bethany Hickey is the banking editor and personal finance expert at Finder, specializing in banking, lending, insurance, and crypto. Bethany’s expertise in personal finance has garnered recognition from esteemed media outlets, such as Nasdaq, MSN, Yahoo Finance, GOBankingRates, SuperMoney, AOL and Newsweek. Her articles offer practical financial strategies to Americans, empowering them to make decisions that meet their financial goals. Her past work includes articles on generational spending and saving habits, lending, budgeting and managing debt. Before joining Finder, she was a content manager where she wrote hundreds of articles and news pieces on auto financing and credit repair for CarsDirect, Auto Credit Express and The Car Connection, among others. Bethany holds a BA in English from the University of Michigan-Flint, and was poetry editor for the university’s Qua Literary and Fine Arts Magazine. See full bio

Bethany's expertise
Bethany has written 441 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Personal finance
  • Banking
  • Auto loans
  • Insurance
  • Cryptocurrency and NFTs
More resources on Finder

Ask a question

Finder.com provides guides and information on a range of products and services. Because our content is not financial advice, we suggest talking with a professional before you make any decision.

By submitting your comment or question, you agree to our Privacy and Cookies Policy and finder.com Terms of Use.

Questions and responses on finder.com are not provided, paid for or otherwise endorsed by any bank or brand. These banks and brands are not responsible for ensuring that comments are answered or accurate.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

More guides on Finder

Go to site