In no particular order, here are our picks for the best checking account. Make a short list of your favorites to see which banks work best for you.
Paying for unauthorized purchases doesn’t happen when you’ve got Zero Liability Protection from Chase. This service reimburses you for fraudulent purchases as long as you promptly report them. There’s no need to enroll in Zero Liability Protection, as it comes standard with the Chase Total Checking account.
Other standard features on this checking account from Chase include the ability to manage your money, from depositing checks to paying bills with the Chase Mobile app. Take advantage of over 15,000 ATMs and nearly 5,000 physical branches you can visit. Chase also offers the chance to send money with Zelle and set up account alerts to notify you of any activity.
If you’re looking for how to improve your credit score, you might check out Chase Credit Journey. This feature lets you see your free credit score, which is updated twice a month to reflect your changing balances. You can also use Chase QuickDeposit to deposit checks through the Mobile app. Chase also offers Overdraft Assist and the ability to lock and unlock your debit and credit cards.
Chase charges a $12 monthly fee that you can waive if you complete one of the following for the month:
- Deposit $500 or more from a payroll source, government benefits, ACH network, Real Time Payment network, or a third-party service that uses the Visa or MasterCard network.
- Have a minimum balance of $1,500 each day
- Have an average beginning balance of $5,000 or more across your linked accounts (including investments)
For most checking account holders, it’s easy to meet these requirements.
$300 bonus (offer expires 4/16/25)
Chase Total Checking®
5.0
- Access 15,000+ fee-free ATMs and 4,700 branches
- Earn a $300 bonus with qualifying direct deposits
- Easy mobile banking with secure online access
- Free debit card with contactless payments
- Get paid up to 2 days early with direct deposit
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As more banks move away from physical branches, ATMs are disappearing as well. However, with an Axos Rewards Checking account, you’ll have access to over 91,000 ATMs. Plus, any ATM fees you rack up at other machines are automatically reimbursed so you never have to worry about whether or not a machine will charge you.
There is no initial deposit requirement to open an Axos Rewards Checking account, which is nice. And, you can earn up to 3.30% APY on balances up to $50,000, though there are some hoops to jump through for this high of an APY.
You’ll need to direct deposit $1,500 or more on a monthly basis and use your Visa debit card for at least 10 transactions per month. At the same time, you can earn up to a $300 sign-up bonus when you open an account with qualifying direct deposits. There are no monthly maintenance or overdraft fees to worry about either.
Axos provides a convenient dashboard for members to set up automatic payments and they never charge for non-sufficient funds (NSF) fees. However, any balances over $50,000 do not accrue interest. Keep this in mind if you plan on depositing more than $50K into your new Axos Rewards Checking account.
Don’t miss out on 3.30% APY
Axos Bank Rewards Checking
5.0
- No monthly fees, overdraft fees, or ATM withdrawal fees
- Earn up to 3.30% APY on your balance
- Cashback rewards on debit card purchases
- No credit check required to open an account
- Unlimited free mobile deposits, FDIC-insured up to $250,000
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SoFi is an online-only bank that lets you save and invest as well. Get paid up to two days early and no overdraft fees. From the mobile app, you can freeze and unfreeze your card, set up real-time alerts, deposit checks, change your PIN, and more.
Checking & Savings accounts are insured up to $2M through SoFi and a network of partner banks through the SoFi Insured Deposit Program.
When you open a new SoFi Checking and Savings account, you won’t need to fund it right away and SoFi does offer up to 3.80% APY.
Members will be able to unlock the highest savings rate with direct deposit or by depositing $5,000 or more every 30 days.
Moreover, there are over 55,000 ATMs within the Allpoint® Network within the All to choose from across the nation and plenty of cashback offers to take advantage of as well.
Bonus: Don't miss out on the chance to earn up to $300! Simply set up a qualifying direct deposit and you'll be eligible for this amazing offer. But hurry – this deal is only available through this link.
Earn $325 bonus
SoFi Checking & Savings
4.5
Offers up to 3.80% APY, no fees, and a $325 bonus with direct deposit—perfect for boosting your savings!
- No monthly fees, minimum balance requirements, or overdraft fees
- Earn up to 3.80% APY on savings and 0.50% APY on checking
- Get paid up to 2 days early with direct deposit
- Access over 55,000 fee-free ATMs
- Deposits are insured up to $2M
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There are no physical branches to visit to open a CIT Bank Checking Account, which requires a $100 minimum deposit. Signing up for an account doesn’t come with a bonus, but you won’t pay any monthly fees as a trade-off. CIT Bank also allows you to use any ATM without incurring charges, as you’ll get reimbursed up to $30 per month for any ATM fees you rack up.
As long as you have a balance over $25,000, you can earn up to 0.25% APY. Any balances less than that still earn you 0.1% APY. CIT Bank has a mobile app that makes it easy to manage your account, including depositing checks and transferring funds. You can also make payments with Zelle, Apple Pay, Bill Pay, and Samsung Pay.
CIT eChecking
3.9
Online and mobile banking is easy and convenient with an eChecking account. CIT customers can access checking accounts 24 hours a day online or through the mobile app. Checking accounts can be opened with a $100 minimum opening deposit.
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5. Current – Best for Building Credit
We’ve named Current one of the best digital banks, but it’s also recognized for banking that builds your credit. They made credit building easier by offering a Build Card where you can get credit for every swipe. There are no monthly fees or annual fees either.
You can reach customer support through email, chat, or call 24/7, 365 days a year. With a Current checking account, you’ll also have the chance to get paid up to two days early with qualifying direct deposits. You should get Current because you can build your credit safely, get paid 2 days faster, and earn up to 4.00% APY and all with no fees.
$50 bonus
Current
4.9
- Revolutionary mobile banking app that's reshaping the future of banking
- Access your paycheck early—up to $750 before payday
- Claim your $50 bonus today by setting up direct deposit ($200+) with code WELCOME50
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The quest to find out how to avoid bank fees is over with Acorns Checking. With this account, you won’t pay for overdrafting your account. There are no hidden fees or minimum balances to meet. Choose from over 55,000 ATMs to visit with an Acorns account. Acorns doesn’t require you to have any balance to open an account but does reward you with a $10 sign-up bonus.
Acorns doesn’t pay you any interest on your checking account balance. However, you can automatically invest a portion of your paycheck and even invest as you spend. Plus, you can get paid up to two days early with direct deposits. All of this costs only $3 per month, and you can link your checking, investment, and retirement accounts in one place.
Acorns Checking
4.0
Acorns Checking provides a checking account with no minimum balance or overdraft fees and access to 55,000+ fee-free ATMs. Get hip to online banking that automatically saves & invests for you. Plus, no hidden fees — ever.
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To qualify for up to 1.1% APY with Quontic, you’ll need to make 10 qualifying transactions with your new debit card of $10 or more each. If you don’t do this each month, you can still earn 0.1% APY. Both compound daily, giving you the best return on your money. Quontic allows you to apply for an account online and offers FDIC insurance for your funds.
You’ll need at least $100 to fund your new Quontic High-Interest Checking account. With this new account, you can sign up for Mobile Banking, Online Banking, and a debit card. This debit card allows you to access over 90,000 ATMs. There are no monthly fees to pay with a Quontic High-Interest Checking account and is one of the few banks that lets you overdraft without fees.
Did you know that you can purchase a Quontic Pay Ring to pay for things without having to use your debit card? Quontic also offers bill pay, account transfers, receipt tracking, and remote check deposit. Plus, advanced security monitoring protects your account from hackers.
Quontic Bank High-Interest Checking Account
4.0
Earn 1.10% APY on all balance tiers when you make at least 10 qualifying debit card point of sale transactions of $10 or more per statement cycle. Open an account online in just 3 minutes and with only $100 opening deposit.
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NorthOne is an online-only bank that has been named one of the best banks for freelancers. Their Business Banking is the only account you can open, but it allows you to make unlimited transactions as well as generate and pay invoices. The $10 monthly maintenance fee cannot be waived, but NorthOne is offering a $20 sign-up bonus for new account holders.
You’ll need at least $50 to open a NorthOne Business Banking account. Balances don’t earn interest but there is no monthly balance requirement to worry about either. NorthOne offers several tools to help you manage your business, including mobile check deposits and integration with Stripe, QuickBooks, Shopify, and Square. However, NorthOne doesn’t allow you to send or receive international wires.
Our Pick
NorthOne
5.0
- A digital banking app for small businesses, freelancers, and startups
- Send payments, deposit checks, and access funds easily
- Smart money management – Budget with envelopes, integrate with tools like PayPal and Stripe, and get real-time insights
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How to Choose a Checking Account
As you look through the checking accounts above, here are a few characteristics you’ll want to pay attention to. These features can help you pick the best checking account for your situation:
- Monthly maintenance fees: Most checking accounts come with a wide range of monthly fees to maintain the account. However, the best checking accounts give you the option of waiving that fee by completing various tasks.
- Account minimums: Consider minimum balances to open the account, as well as to maintain the account. Some banks will charge you if your balance falls below a specific amount.
- Interest rates: Obviously finding the highest annual percentage yield (APY) is the goal. However, the best checking accounts let you earn interest on your balance, even if it’s just a few percentage points.
- Customer service: Contacting customer service through chat, email, and phone can set the best banks apart from the rest. Sometimes paying a bit more for a checking account that has superior customer service is worth it.
- Digital experience: User-friendly mobile apps help make checking accounts easy to access and navigate. The best checking accounts are those you can access on the go with a dashboard that has everything you need.
- Safety: Depending on the type of bank (credit unions vs. banks), your funds will either be insured by the FDIC or the NCUA. The best checking accounts reimburse you for unauthorized purchases and let you freeze and unfreeze accounts and cards to prevent fraud.
Depending on what you’re looking for, you may even seek a checking account that offers brokerage account access as well. That way, you can have all your accounts in one place for easier navigation.
Is Online Banking Safe?
When it comes to online banking, unfortunately, the most popular news is often bad news. You’ve likely heard horror stories about online banking, but the truth of the matter is that it’s like anything else. As long as you do your due diligence, chances are you and your money will survive.
The thing to remember when wondering, “is online banking safe?” is that these banks do not have physical locations you can visit. That means any time you need assistance, you’re going to have to call the bank, chat with them online, or send them an email. The aim of online banks is to make banking easier, and the best online banks streamline their processes to integrate seamlessly into the lives of their customers.
Check Out These Checking Accounts of 2025
Opening a checking account can be an exciting experience. This is especially true if you find a bank that rewards you for banking with them. We hope our list of the best checking accounts of 2025 has helped you compare banks to find the best value for you. Whether you’re looking to link several other accounts with the same bank or just want a simple checking account you can depend on, there’s a checking account out there for you. All you need now is to fill up that checking account to achieve your financial goals.
