Best Checking Accounts
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Up to $360 Bonus
- Checking Account
- No. Fees. Period.
- No Monthly Fee
- No Insufficient Funds Fee
- Fee-Free Overdraft Protection
- Set Up Direct Deposit & Access Funds up to 2 Days Sooner with Early Pay
- Access 60,000+ Fee-Free ATMs
- Send Money with Zelle®
- Cashback Bonus: up to $360 per yearⓘ
- Debit Card Cashback – Earn 1% Cash Back on up to $3,000 in Debit Card Purchases Each Month
- See Site for Details
On Discover's Secure Site,
Member FDIC
$400 Bonus
- Checking Account
- Visa® Debit Card
- Minimum Deposit: $50
- Overdraft Fees: $0
- $100 Negative Balance Buffer for eligible clients.
- Mobile Check Deposit
- No ATM Fees at Truist ATMs
- Earn $400 with qualifying activities. For new checking clients only.
- Use Promo Code: TRUIST25AFL400
- Offer valid through 10/29/2025.
- Terms & Conditions Applyⓘ
- See Site for Details
On Truist's Secure Site,
Member FDIC
Up to $300 Bonus
- Checking & Savings Account
- No Monthly Fees
- No Overdraft Fees
- Fee-Free Overdraft Coverage Available
- Bonus: up to $300 with Direct Depositⓘ
- Set Up Direct Deposit & Access Funds up to 2 Days Sooner with Early Pay
- Access 55,000+ Fee-Free ATMs within the Allpoint® Network
- Send Money with SoFi's Peer-to-Peer Payment System
- Earn 0.50% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on Checking Balances
- Earn up to 3.80% APY on Savings Balances with Qualifying Activities
- See Site for Details
1. Up to $300 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 during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus 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 1/31/2026. 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 3.80% 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 3.80% 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 1/24/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
2. APY disclosures
SoFi members who enroll in SoFi Plus with Eligible Direct Deposit or by paying the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee every 30 days or SoFi members with $5,000 or more in Qualifying Deposits during the 30-Day Evaluation Period can earn 3.80% 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 stated interest rate. Members without either SoFi Plus or Qualifying Deposits, during the 30-Day Evaluation Period 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 1/24/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. If you have satisfied Eligible Direct Deposit requirements for our highest APY but do not see 3.80% APY on your APY Details page the day after your Eligible Direct Deposit arrives, please contact us at 855-456-7634. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet. See the SoFi Plus Terms and Conditions at https://www.sofi.com/terms-of-use/#plus.
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 Checking & Savings 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 incurred when using out-of-network ATMs are not subject to reimbursement. 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 limited to $50 on debit card purchases only and is an account benefit available to customers with Eligible Direct Deposits of $1,000 or more during the current 30-day Evaluation Period as determined by SoFi Bank, N.A. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Members with a prior history of non-repayment of negative balances are ineligible for Overdraft Coverage.
On SoFi's Secure Site,
Member FDIC
$300 Bonus
- Checking Account
- No Monthly Maintenance Fee
- Min. Opening Deposit: $10
- Send Money with Zelle®
- KeyBank Enhanced Debit Mastercard® Offers Security & Convenience
- Deposit Checks in The Mobile App
- 24-hour access to 40,000+ KeyBank & AllPoint® ATMs Nationwide
- Earn a $300 Cash Bonus: Make the Minimum Opening Deposit of $10, Plus a Total of $1,000 or more in Eligible Direct Deposits within the First 90 Days of Account Opening.
- To be Bonus Eligible, You Must Open Your Account by October 17, 2025
- Account Must Not Be Closed at Time of Gift Payment
- Overdraft Protection Services Available
- Accounts are Subject to Approval
- Terms & Conditions Apply
- See Site for Details & Other Offers
On KeyBank's Secure Site,
Member FDIC
- Checking Account
- No Monthly Fees with Paperless Statements
- Send Money with Zelle®
- Overdraft Protection Services Available
- 40,000+ Fee-Free ATMs Nationwide
- BMO Debit Mastercard® Offers Security & Convenience with Excellent Benefits
- Earn a $400 Cash Bonus*
- To be bonus* eligible, you must open your account & complete qualifying activites between 5/5/25 - 9/8/25
- *Conditions apply. Accounts are Subject to Approval and are Available in the U.S. BMO Bank N.A., Member FDIC
- See Site for Details & Other Offers
Terms and Conditions for F25 Summer Campaign:
BMO Smart Advantage Checking or BMO Smart Money Checking $400 Cash Bonus Offer
To take advantage of the new personal checking account cash bonus offer, you must open your account between May 5, 2025 and September 8, 2025, and use the promo code. You may open your account at a BMO branch, online, or by calling 1-800-546-6101.
• To apply online for a checking account, visit bmo.com/460summer, select “OPEN IN MINUTES” for the checking account of your choice and we’ll automatically apply the promo code for you.
• To apply at a branch or by phone for a checking account, visit bmo.com/460summer, enter your information, and select “SEND MY PROMO CODE” to receive the promo code you must use when opening your account.
• If you received a direct mailer regarding this offer, please use the promo code found in the mailer.
Accounts opened online on September 8, 2025 must have their applications submitted and approved prior to 9:00 p.m. CT. If you open your account by calling 1-800-546-6101, we must receive your opening deposit and all signed account opening documents by September 8, 2025.
To receive the personal checking new account cash bonus of $400:
1. Open a new BMO Smart Money Checking or BMO Smart Advantage Checking account; and
2. Have a cumulative total of $4,000 in qualifying direct deposits post to your account within 90 days of account opening.
Business Days are Monday through Friday excluding any holiday on which the Bank and/or the Federal Reserve are closed for processing. Transactions received or occurring on a day other than a Business Day will be posted the next Business Day.
Checking cash bonus offer is limited to one per customer and account (including trustees and signers on joint accounts). Offer is not available for existing BMO personal checking customers (including trustees and signers on joint accounts) or those who have closed a BMO personal checking account within the past 12 months. Cash bonus may be reported to the IRS for tax purposes, and you are responsible for any applicable taxes. Offer can be changed or canceled without notice at any time and cannot be combined with any other offer. If your balance is zero, we may close your account. Your account must be open, in good standing and must have a balance greater than zero when the cash bonus is paid.
Qualifying direct deposits are deposits of regular income -- such as your salary, paycheck, pension payment, Social Security payment, or other government benefits payment electronically deposited into the account from an employer or similar third party -- using your account number and BMO’s routing number that you provide to them. We reserve the right to request documentation that the direct deposits qualify. Non-qualifying examples include: teller deposits, wire transfers, ATM transfers or deposits, BMO Digital Banking transfers or deposits, deposits processed as a debit card credit, transfers from any bank or brokerage account, and Account to Account or Peer to Peer (e.g. Zelle®, Venmo) transfers.
You are only eligible for one checking account cash bonus; you cannot open multiple checking accounts and receive multiple cash bonuses. The promo code is applied to the first checking account that is opened between May 5, 2025 and September 8, 2025. Day 1 is the day you open your account andbegins the tracking period. If you open your account on a day other than a Business Day, Day 1 is the next Business Day. Your account must be Smart Money Checking or Smart Advantage Checking when the cash bonus is paid into the checking account approximately 100 days after account opening.
Zelle® and the Zelle® related marks are wholly owned by Early Warning Services, LLC and are used herein under license.
Accounts are subject to approval and are provided in the United States by BMO Bank N.A. Member FDIC
On BMO's Secure Site,
Member FDIC
- Checking Account
- Chip Enabled Debit Card
- Minimum Deposit: $100
- No Monthly Fees
- Deposit Checks via Mobile App
- Earn up to 0.25% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) with $25,000 Minimum Balance
- Terms & Conditions Apply
- See Site for Details
On CIT Bank's Secure Site,
Member FDIC
To recap our recommendations.
Best Checking Accounts According To CompareAccounts™
Discover® Bank Cashback Debit: Best for Online Banking Experience + Customer Service
Truist One Checking Account: Best For: $400 Bonus From a Top 10 Bank
SoFi® Checking and Savings: Best For: Bonus + Annual Percentage Yield
Key Smart Checking® Account: Best For: Mobile Banking + Bonus
BMO Smart Advantage Checking Account: Best For: No Monthly Fees + Bonus*
CIT Bank® eChecking Account: Best For ATM Rebates
What to Look for in a Checking Account
It’s always wise to compare your options when opening a new checking account.
Here are the top features to look for and compare:
1. Ease of Setting Up
Your checking account should be where you setup your direct deposit and where you pay bills from. Because of this, it needs to be easy to open an account, set up your direct deposit, and set up payees to pay bills.
All of the checking accounts we recommend have these features.
2. Monthly Fees
Monthly fees can eat into your paycheck fast. You should avoid them as much as possible. That’s why we recommend you focus on no monthly fee checking accounts to keep as much as your pay check as possible.
3. Required Initial Deposit
Does the bank require a large initial deposit? Are you comfortable depositing that much right away? These days, most banks will allow you to open an account with as little as $1 or even $0 dollars.
Some banks may offer a higher yield with a higher initial deposit. You’ll just need to decide whether that higher initial deposit will be worth any increase in yield.
4. Minimum Balance Required
Minimum balance required to maintain your account is another feature to keep a close eye on.
Most of the banks we recommend do not have large minimum balance requirements, if any minimum balance requirement at all.
The accounts we do recommend that have a higher minimum required balance are usually CD accounts, which you don’t want to open unless you want to lock up your money for 6 months, 12 months or longer.
5. Accessing Your Money
Accessing your money is very important with any checking account.
Almost all of the checking accounts we recommend come with a mobile app that gives you 24/7 access to your accounts.
Additionally, banks will issue a debit card for your checking account, that you can use physically, virtually, or contactless payments through your wallet app.
6. Transferring Your Money
As important as it is to access your accounts, you’ll likely need to transfer money in and out of your checking account often.
That’s why its important to pay attention to features like transfer or peer to peer payments with Zelle®.
7. Mobile Check Deposit
If you can’t set up direct deposit, or if sometimes you get paper checks having mobile check deposit will allow you to deposit checks into your account from anywhere.
Most checking accounts we recommend comes with mobile check deposit.
8. Overdraft Fees
Things happen. Sometimes we pay a bill or make a purchase that is more than the money in our accounts. Normally, this would incur an overdraft fee, usually these fees range betwen $25 – $50.
Most of the checking accounts we recommend do not have overdraft fees, because the last thing you need when you don’t have enough money in your account is another fee to pay.
With the above in mind, now you’re more confident to choose the right checking account for you.