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Best Checking Accounts for Online Banking
By: Conor Keenan | Last updated: April 01, 2026
Conor Keenan, AWMA®, is the Co-Founder of CompareAccounts. An Accredited Wealth Management Advisor with over a decade of experience covering consumer banking and investing trends, his work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, and Yahoo Finance.
Editorial Independence: Our opinions, reviews, and recommendations are our own. Partner commissions keep our site free, but our content remains independent.
Right now, banks are offering some of the best checking deals in decades. It’s your time to cash in on these online banking offers.
Up to $400 Bonus
On SoFi's Secure Site,
Member FDIC
Best For: Bonus + Annual Percentage Yield
SoFi redefines banking with a commitment to no fees—no monthly fees, no overdraft fees, and no account minimums.
Bonus: up to $400 with direct deposit.ⓘ
In addition to the bonus, you'll enjoy a limited time offer: New account holders earn +0.70% boost to 4.00% on their Savings APY for up to 6 months with eligible direct deposit and 0.50% APY on checking balances, fee-free overdraft coverage up to $50 and access your direct deposit funds up to two days early, giving you greater financial flexibility. Terms apply.ⓘ
Withdraw cash without fees using your SoFi Debit Mastercard® from a network of 55,000+ ATMs, and make transactions seamless with SoFi’s intuitive, mobile-first banking. Use the app to transfer money, pay bills, deposit checks, or track your savings—all at your fingertips.
Your deposits are FDIC-insured up to $250,000 per depositor, ensuring your money stays safe and secure. Earn a $50 or $400 bonus with direct deposit, terms apply.
1. Up to $400 Bonus Tiered Disclosure
Up to $400 Bonus Tiered Disclosure 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 within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more) OR $400 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more). Cash bonus amount 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 12/31/2026. 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 3.30% 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 3.30% 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 12/23/25 There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
2. APY disclosures
Annual percentage yield (APY) is variable and subject to change at any time. Rates are current as of 12/23/25. 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
3. Fee Policy
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/.
4. Additional FDIC Insurance
SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance 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 $2M through participation in the program. See full terms at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/terms See list of participating banks at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/receivingbanks
5. ATM Access
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.
6. Early Access to Direct Deposit Funds
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.
7. Overdraft Coverage
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.
8. 0.70% Savings APY Boost
Earn up to 4.00% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.30% APY as of 12/23/25) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking and Savings account and pay the $10 SoFi Plus subscription every 30 days OR receive eligible direct deposits OR qualifying deposits of $5,000 every 31 days by 3/30/26. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at sofi.com/banking#2. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.
Offer Ends Soon
On U.S. Bank National Association's
Secure Site, Member FDIC
Best For: New Customer Bonus + Branch Access
U.S. Bank has over 2,000 branch locations in more than half of the United States.
New customers can earn up to $450 when you open a U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking account and complete qualifying direct deposits. Simply check your local eligibility, apply online, and get started with an initial deposit of $25 within 30 days.
(Offer valid through April 1, 2026. Member FDIC. Subject to standard account approval based in part on your banking history along with a valid U.S. ID and verifiable physical address required.)
In addition to the bonus, this account comes with "24-Hour Banking" meaning a customer service representative is available 24/7, a U.S. Bank Visa® Debit Card that has no ATM fees at U.S. Bank ATMs, and the ability to deposit checks and send money with Zelle® via a mobile app.
Direct Deposit Switch makes it easier than ever to set up or switch your payroll to meet your bonus requirements.
Subject to certain terms and limitations.
See U.S. Bank's Secure Site For More Details.
$400 Bonus
On Truist's Secure Site,
Member FDIC
Best For: $400 Bonus From a Top 10 Bank
Plan for about 10-15 minutes. Truist may require a mobile identity verification (photo ID + selfie) to finish your application.
Earn $400 when you 0pen a new Truist One Checking account online from 3/26/26 through 7/09/26, and receive at least 2 qualifying Direct Deposits* totaling $2,000 or more and complete at least 20 qualifying debit card purchases within 120 days of account opening. The reward will be deposited to the new checking account within 4 weeks after the qualification requirements have been met and verified.
For new checking clients only. Terms & conditions apply.ⓘ
Use Promo Code: AFL400TR1Q226
Truist provides 24-hour automated assistance and if you need to talk to someone, customer service is available Monday through Friday, 8 am to 8 pm ET, Saturday, 8 am to 5 pm ET, closed Sunday.
To top it off, this account has $0 overdraft fees, $0 ATM fees at Truist ATMs, a Balance Buffer2 if you meet the requirements, and only requires a $50 minimum deposit to open today.
See The Truist One Offer Page For More Details.
Terms and Conditions for Truist One Checking Affiliate $400 Online Offer Q2 2026: AFL400TR1Q226
Offer Information: Open a new Truist One Checking account online from 3/26/26 through 7/9/26, complete the following activities within 120 days of the account opening and earn $400. You must open the account online and enter the promo code to be eligible to participate in the promotion.
- Receive at least two qualifying direct deposits* totaling $2,000 or more AND
- Complete at least 20 qualifying debit card purchases** within 120 days of account opening. All debit purchases must be posted to your account to qualify.
Account must be opened online. Enrollment in the promotion is required at the time of account opening using promo code AFL400TR1Q226. Please refer to the Account Opening and Enrollment section below for full instructions.
*A qualifying direct deposit is an electronic credit (greater than $5.00) deposited into your new checking account via ACH. Person to person payments (such as Zelle®), Real Time Payments (RTP), pre-authorized transfers made from one account to another, or deposits made via a branch, ATM, online transfer, mobile device, debit/prepaid card number or the mail are not eligible direct deposits.
**Qualifying debit card purchases include any purchase made with a Truist debit card and posted to the new checking account within 120 days of account opening. ATM withdrawals using your debit card are not qualifying transactions. Zelle® transactions are not qualifying transactions. Bank fees are not included.
Offer Eligibility: Clients that are the primary account holder on an existing personal checking account with Truist or who have closed a personal checking account with Truist on or after 3/26/25 are not eligible to participate. Offer valid for Truist One Checking accounts only. Primary account holder must be 18 or older at the time of account opening. Truist employees, Directors, Officers, and Local Boards/Advisors are not eligible. Offer available only to US residents with a valid US taxpayer identification number. The qualifying checking account must be opened online and have a physical address in: AL, AR, FL, GA, IN, KY, MD, MS, NC, NJ, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV or DC.
Reward Processing: The reward will be deposited to the new checking account within 4 weeks after the qualification requirements have been met and verified. Promotion is only applicable once per checking account and per client. Truist may report the value of any offer reward received to the IRS as required by law. Any applicable taxes are the responsibility of the recipient.
Reward Forfeiture: Reward forfeiture will occur if: (1) the new checking account is changed to an account type not included in this client offer (2) the new checking account has a $0.00 or negative available balance or is restricted at the time Truist verifies the qualification requirements have been met or (3) the new checking account is closed at the time of payout. An account is considered restricted if it has a temporary or permanent block that prevents credits from posting to the account. Truist verification will occur one time after the qualification requirements are initially met.
Other Terms: Minimum opening deposit is $50. The offer is non-transferable, may not be combined with any other checking offers, is subject to change, and may be discontinued at any time. Truist reserves the right, in its sole discretion: 1) to prohibit a reward payout for any offers claimed through third-party websites with no affiliation or prior authorization from Truist; and 2) to disqualify any account if Truist suspects accounts are being opened for the purpose of exploiting this promotional offer. All standard account terms and conditions apply.
Account Opening & Enrollment Instructions: To open and enroll your new account in the promotion, visit the offer website and click on “Open an account online.” Enter AFL400TR1Q226 into the promo code field provided, review the offer Terms and Conditions, and then select “Accept this offer”. Accounts opened without the promo code applied will not be eligible to participate in the offer. Once enrolled in the promotion, clients may receive promotional updates via the email address provided or by calling 800.709.8700.
Version 3 02182026 AFL400TR1Q226
2 The Balance Buffer is only available with Truist One Checking and allows clients to overdraw their account up to $100. There is no decision required as this feature is automatically available when a client qualifies.
To INITIALLY QUALIFY for the Balance Buffer, the requirements below must be met:
- Account must be opened for a minimum of 35 calendar days
- Account must be funded with a positive balance
- A single direct deposit of at least $100 made within the last 35 calendar days
To REMAIN QUALIFIED for the Balance Buffer, the requirement below must be met:
- A single direct deposit of at least $100 made within the last 35 calendar days. After qualifying, if 35 calendar days pass without a Direct Deposit of at least $100, you will no longer have access to the Balance Buffer.
For accounts that qualify for the Balance Buffer, once the account is overdrawn by $100, additional transactions will typically be declined or returned.
For accounts that qualify for the Balance Buffer and also have Overdraft Protection, Truist will use the Balance Buffer first. If the account has neither, transactions that exceed the account balance will typically be declined or returned.
3 The Monthly Maintenance Fee (MMF) can be waived for the Truist One Checking account for each statement cycle by any one of the following:
Maintenance fees are waived for primary account owners under the age of 25 or age 62 and older.
Making $500 or more in total qualifying Direct Deposits per statement cycle. A qualifying direct deposit is an electronic credit via ACH deposited to your account during the current statement cycle. Pre-authorized transfers made from one account to another or deposits made via a branch, ATM, online transfer, mobile device, debit card/prepaid card number or the mail are not eligible to meet this requirement.
Maintain a total combined ledger balance of $500 or more in your Truist related accounts. Related accounts automatically include all applicable accounts associated with primary and secondary account owners. Your total combined ledger balance is the sum of the actual balances of all your Truist related accounts across personal deposit accounts (checking, savings, money market, CD, or IRA) and brokerage accounts introduced through Truist Investment Services, Inc. (TIS) including TIS accounts managed by Truist Advisory Services, Inc., as reflected on the business day before your statement cycle end date (the actual balance in your account does not reflect any holds or pending transactions). Truist HSA is excluded from total combined ledger balance.
Having a personal Truist credit card, mortgage or consumer loan, including LightStream®.
Having a linked Small Business Checking Account. Eligible Small Business account types include: Truist Dynamic Checking, Business Interest Checking, Simple Business Checking and Business Value 200.
Primary account owner is a student. The waiver for a student requires they are listed as the primary account owner and they provide their anticipated graduation date. The waiver expires on the provided graduation date. On this date, the account is subject to the Monthly Maintenance Fee unless at least one waiver criterion is satisfied.
Truist Bank, Member FDIC. © 2026 Truist Financial Corporation. Truist, the Truist logo, Truist Purple, Truist One, Truist Marquee, LightStream, and the LightStream logo are service marks of Truist Financial Corporation.
$300 Bonus
On KeyBank's Secure Site,
Member FDIC
Best For: Mobile Banking + Bonus
New Key Smart Checking® customers can earn a $300 Cash Bonus when you make the minimum opening deposit of $10 and a total of $2,000 or more in eligible direct deposits within the first 90 days of account opening. To be bonus eligible, you need to open your account online by May 22, 2026. Account must not be closed at time of gift payment.
This account offers no monthly maintenance fee, available overdraft protection services & access to 40,000+ fee-free ATMs nationwide with your KeyBank Debit Mastercard®.
Additionally, this account offers relationship benefits like better interest rates on savings and money market accounts, more cash back, loan discounts and more.
Early Pay means you could get paid up to two days early with eligible direct deposits to a KeyBank account.
With secure online & mobile banking you can deposit checks in the mobile app, pay bills, send money, lock/unlock cards and more.
The KeyBank Enhanced Debit Mastercard® offers chip security, Tap & Go technology and all the benefits of Mastercard.
Easy direct deposit set up can have your paychecks or other recurring payments automatically deposited to your KeyBank account quickly and securely.
Accounts are subject to approval. Terms and conditions apply.
Overall, this is an excellent account from a respected bank with over $187 Billion in assets.
See KeyBank's Secure Site For More Details & Other Offers.
Compare With
Not Recommended
Not Recommended. Shown For Comparison Purposes Only.
Wells Fargo is one of the largest banks in the United States and also offers a one of the worst checking accounts.
They require a minimum monthly balance of $20,000 to avoid a $25 monthly maintenance fee and will charge you $35 per overdraft item up to 3 fees per day.
One of the few benefits of this account is Wells Fargo will reimburse the ATM fee for any non-Wells Fargo ATM, albeit only once per period in the US.
Because of the high fees with almost no benefits, we don't recommend you opening a checking account with Wells Fargo.
Direct Deposit Benefits
On Chime's Secure Site,
FDIC Insured
Best For: Direct Deposit Benefits
The Chime® Online Checking Account is designed to maximize the benefits of direct deposit and empower your financial journey.
- Early Pay Access: Set up direct deposit with Chime and receive your paycheck up to two days earlier, giving you quicker access to your hard-earned money.
- Fee-Free Overdraft Protection: Qualify for SpotMe®, allowing you to overdraw your account by up to $200 on debit card purchases without incurring any fees.
- MyPay® Access1: Enjoy financial flexibility with MyPay®, enabling you to access up to $5002 of your pay before the scheduled payday. Note: Only offered in select states.
- Extensive Fee-Free ATM Network: Access over 47,000 fee-free ATMs nationwide, stores like Walgreens®, 7-Eleven®, CVS Pharmacy® & more, ensuring you can withdraw cash conveniently without additional charges.
- Fee Free Banking: Enjoy banking with no monthly maintenance fees, no minimum balance requirements, and no overdraft fees, allowing you to keep more of your money.
Customer service is available offering 24/7 live support with a real human.
Open your account for free in 2 minutes or less. Terms & conditions apply to the features of this account.ⓘ
See Chime's Secure Site For More Details.
Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services and debit card provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A.; Members FDIC.
SpotMe Disclosure: SpotMe® on Debit is an optional service that provides fee-free overdraft if a member meets certain qualification criteria. Chime SpotMe enables members to draw their Chime Checking Account negative for debit card transactions, ATM withdrawals, cash back transactions or “over the counter” or OTC withdrawals (“Qualifying Transactions”) up to a specified amount (the “Limit”). This Limit is determined by Chime in its sole discretion based on the history of any Chime-branded accounts you have, direct deposit history and direct deposit amounts, spending activity and other risk-based factors. SpotMe on Debit is not a credit product, cash advance, a loan, or overdraft protection. Comparing SpotMe to any of these other products is not accurate and would diminish integrity of the product's structure.
SpotMe® on Credit is an optional, no interest / no fee overdraft line of credit tied to the Secured Deposit Account available to qualifying members with an active Chime Card Account. To qualify for the SpotMe on Chime Card service, you must receive $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits to your Chime® Checking Account each month and have activated your physical secured Chime Visa® Credit Card or Chime Visa® Debit Card.
Qualifying members will be allowed to overdraw their Secured Deposit Account up to $20, but may later be eligible for a higher limit of up to $200 or more based on Chime account history, direct deposit frequency and amount, spending activity and other risk-based factors. The SpotMe on Chime Card Limit will be displayed within the Chime mobile app and is subject to change at any time, at Chime’s or its banking partners’ discretion. Although Chime does not charge any overdraft fees for SpotMe on Chime Card, there may be out-of-network or third-party fees associated with ATM transactions and fees associated with OTC cash withdrawals. SpotMe on Chime Card won’t cover non-card transactions. SpotMe on Chime Card Terms and Conditions apply.
Chime ATM Disclosure: Out-of-network ATM withdrawal and over the counter advance fees may apply except at MoneyPass ATMs in a 7-Eleven, or any Allpoint or Visa Plus Alliance ATM.
Chime Early Pay Disclosure: Early access to direct deposit funds depends on the timing of the submission of the payment file from the payer. We generally make these funds available on the day the payment file is received, which may be up to 2 days earlier than the scheduled payment date.
Chime MyPay® Disclosure: MyPay® line of credit provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A. MyPay services provided by Chime Capital, LLC (NMLS 2316451).
To be eligible for MyPay, you must receive qualifying direct deposits to your Chime Checking Account as set forth in the MyPay Agreement. A qualifying direct deposit is a deposit from an employer, payroll provider, gig economy payer, government benefits payer, or other permitted source of income by Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) or Original Credit Transaction (“OCT”). Your MyPay Credit Limit and Maximum Available Advance may change at any time. MyPay is a line of credit and available limits are based on estimated income and risk-based criteria. Eligible members may be offered a $20 - $500 Credit Limit per pay period. Your Credit Limit and Maximum Available Advance will be displayed to you within the Chime app. MyPay is only offered in select states and is currently only available to eligible Chime members in certain states. Other restrictions may apply. See Bancorp MyPay Agreement or Stride MyPay Agreement for details.
MyPay®: MyPay is a line of credit that allows members to get up to $500 of their pay anytime before payday with no interest, no credit check, and no mandatory fees. Most members’ credit limits start between $50 and $100, and can increase over time up to $500 depending on factors such as length and amount of your direct deposit activity. Members can get funds for free within 24 hours, or instantly for a fee of 3% of the advance amount ($2 minimum, $5 maximum) per advance. See Bancorp MyPay Agreement or Stride MyPay Agreement for details. MyPay is not an earned wage access product.
State Eligibility: You must live in one of the following states or the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.) to be eligible for MyPay: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.), Georgia, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia. Please see the MyPay Agreement for the most up-to-date state eligibility.
Optional services and products may have fees or charges, such as outbound instant transfers, out-of-network transactions, and credit products.
$500 Bonus
On KeyBank's Secure Site,
Member FDIC
Best For: Mobile Banking + Big Bonus
New Key Select Checking® customers can earn a $500 Cash Bonus when you make the minimum opening deposit of $50 and a total of $5,000 or more in eligible direct deposits within the first 90 days of account opening. To be bonus eligible, you need to open your account online by May 22, 2026. Account must not be closed at time of gift payment.
This account offers an additional $100 cash bonus year after year with qualifying activities, available overdraft protection services & access to Free KeyBank and Allpoint® ATM access nationwide with your KeyBank Debit Mastercard®.
This account also offers relationship benefits like better interest rates on savings and money market accounts, more cash back, loan discounts and more.
Early Pay means you could get paid up to two days early with eligible direct deposits to a KeyBank account.
With secure online & mobile banking you can deposit checks in the mobile app, pay bills, send money, lock/unlock cards and more.
Easy direct deposit set up can have your paychecks or other recurring payments automatically deposited to your KeyBank account quickly and securely.
Accounts are subject to approval. Terms and conditions apply.
Overall, this is an excellent account from a respected bank with over $187 Billion in assets.
See KeyBank's Secure Site For More Details & Other Offers.
Compare With
Not Recommended
Not Recommended. Shown For Comparison Purposes Only.
Although they offer some benefits like Zelle® and mobile deposits, they'll charge you a $12 monthly maintenance fee and a $10 over draft fee per item that can outweigh the benefits.
You can avoid the monthly fee by having a daily average balance of $1,500 or being a Preferred Rewards member, but you need a balance of $20,000 or more to be in the lowest tier of their Preferred Rewards program.
Because there are better options on this page to avoid fees from trusted banks, we don't recommend you opening a checking account with Bank of America.
To recap our recommendations.
Best Checking Accounts According To CompareAccounts™
SoFi® Checking and Savings: 4.00% APY & Earn up to $400 with qualifying activities
U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking Account: Best For: Bonus + Branch Access
Truist One Checking Account: Best For: $400 Bonus From a Top 10 Bank
Key Smart Checking® Account: Best For: Mobile Banking + Bonus
Chime® Online Checking Account Details: Best For: Direct Deposit Benefits
Key Select Checking® Account: Best For: Mobile Banking + Big Bonus
Top choice for bonus + APY
Bonus: up to $300 with Direct Depositⓘ
Limited Time Offer: +0.70% Boost to 4.00% APY for up to 6 Months on New Accounts with Eligible Direct Deposit.
On SoFi's Secure Site,
Member FDIC
Customers Also Viewed These High-Yield Savings Accounts
Best For: High APY Interest Rates
Western Alliance Bank was founded in 1994, has over $80 billion in assets and is consistently ranked among the top banks.
They were ranked #1 Top-Performing Large Bank with Assets $50 billion and Above in 2021, 2022, & 2023 by American Banker. They were ranked again by American Banker and Bank Director as a top U.S. bank in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
Western Alliance Bank offers 3.80% APY exclusively through the Raisin Platform.
This APY is substantially higher than what you’ll find at most brick-and-mortar banks and even most online banks.
In addition to this high APY, Western Alliance offers $0 monthly maintenance fees, unlimited withdrawals, and is insured by the FDIC for up to $250,000 per depositor.
U.S. based customer service is available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET Monday - Friday. You'll have online access to your funds 24/7.
See Raisin's Secure Site for Western Alliance Bank For More Details.
Up to $400 Bonus
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
4.00% APY
with qualifying activities
On SoFi®'s Secure Site,
Member FDIC
Best For: Bonus Seekers + Large Deposits
SoFi redefines banking with a commitment to no fees—no monthly fees, no overdraft fees, and no account minimums.
Bonus: up to $400 with direct deposit.ⓘ
In addition to the bonus, you'll enjoy up to 4.00% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances with qualifying activities and 0.50% APY on checking balances, fee-free overdraft coverage up to $50 and access your direct deposit funds up to two days early, giving you greater financial flexibility. Terms applyⓘ.
The current savings APY without direct deposit or $5,000+ in qualifying deposits during the 31-day evaluation period is 1.00%. Although this is still higher than the national average, if you don't plan on setting up direct deposit or depositing $5,000+, you should look at the other offers on this list.
Your deposits are FDIC-insured up to $250,000 per depositor and you can also access up to $3,000,000 of additional FDIC insurance through a network of participating banks. Ensuring your money stays safe and secure. Earn a $50 or $400 bonus with direct deposit, terms apply.
Limited Time Offer: New account holders earn +0.70% boost to 4.00% on their Savings APY for up to 6 months with eligible direct deposit. Terms apply.
1. Up to $400 Bonus Tiered Disclosure
Up to $400 Bonus Tiered Disclosure 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 within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more) OR $400 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more). Cash bonus amount 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 12/31/2026. 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 3.30% 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 3.30% 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 12/23/25 There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
2. APY disclosures
Annual percentage yield (APY) is variable and subject to change at any time. Rates are current as of 12/23/25. 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
3. Fee Policy
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/.
4. Additional FDIC Insurance
SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance 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 $2M through participation in the program. See full terms at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/terms See list of participating banks at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/receivingbanks
5. ATM Access
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.
6. Early Access to Direct Deposit Funds
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.
7. Overdraft Coverage
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.
8. 0.70% Savings APY Boost
Earn up to 4.00% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.30% APY as of 12/23/25) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking and Savings account and pay the $10 SoFi Plus subscription every 30 days OR receive eligible direct deposits OR qualifying deposits of $5,000 every 31 days by 3/30/26. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at sofi.com/banking#2. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.
What to Look for in a Checking Account
It’s always wise to compare your options when opening a new checking account.
Small differences in interest rates and fees can quickly add up over time.
Here are the top features to look for and compare:
Affordability: One should prioritize checking accounts with minimal or no fees. Regular monthly charges, transaction fees, and ATM fees can add up, making no-cost or low-cost banking an appealing feature.
Accessibility: A good checking account offers easy access to funds. This includes a vast ATM network, convenient online transfers, and comprehensive mobile banking options.
Digital Banking Experience: In today’s digital age, a top-tier online and mobile banking platform is essential. One should look for intuitive interfaces, secure transactions, and a variety of digital features.
Robust Security: The safety of funds should be a priority. Prospective account holders should ensure that the bank has stringent security measures and offers protection against unauthorized transactions.
Overdraft Solutions: Overdraft protection can be a lifesaver for many. It’s beneficial to find accounts that offer features to prevent hefty overdraft charges or provide low-cost alternatives to cover accidental overdraws.
Competitive Interest Rates: While not common for all checking accounts, some do provide interest on the balances. Even modest interest rates can be a welcome perk.
Customer Support: Stellar customer service can make all the difference. Whether it’s a quick query or an urgent issue, efficient, friendly, and accessible customer support can be invaluable.
Account Perks: Some checking accounts offer additional benefits. These can range from cashback rewards to discounts with partnering businesses. It’s worth exploring these added bonuses.
Minimum Balance Clauses: An ideal checking account should have lenient or no minimum balance requirements. This ensures that account holders aren’t penalized or restricted due to their account balance.
Transparency: Finally, the terms and conditions governing the account should be clear and understandable. Potential account holders should steer clear of accounts with hidden clauses or ambiguous language, seeking instead those institutions that prioritize clarity and transparency.
While the perfect checking account might vary based on individual preferences, this guide offers a roadmap for anyone looking to make an informed choice.
*National Savings Rate Average as published by FDIC