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Q

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We believe everyone should have free access to information in order to make smarter financial decisions. Although our site doesn’t showcase every company or financial product available in the market today, we're confident in our recommendations, many of which are from our advertising partners, to help guide you on your financial journey. Free of charge for you.

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This article and the comparison table are not personal financial advice. While we provide information resources and educational pieces, the content here is not a substitute for personal financial guidance from a registered financial advisor.

Best Online Checking Accounts

Conor Keenan Author Bio By: Conor Keenan  Last updated May 23, 2025
Conor Keenan, co-founder of CompareAccounts, is a notable personal finance expert with work seen in Wall Street Journal, CNN, Fox News, MSN & Yahoo Finance.

Editorial Independence: Our opinions, reviews, and recommendations are our own and not influenced by financial institutions or partners. Partner commissions keep our site free, but our content remains independent and is not commissioned by any partner or financial institution.

Up to $360 Bonus

Discover Bank Logo

5.0

CompareAccounts™ Score

  • 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

 

Up to $300 Bonus

SoFi-Logo

5.0

CompareAccounts™ Score

  • 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
Q

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

 

 $400 Bonus 

Truist Bank & Online Banking Logo

5.0

CompareAccounts™ Score

  • 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

 Compare With 

Bank of America Logo

1.0

CompareAccounts™ Score

  • Checking Account
  • Out of Network ATM Fee: $2.50 in US
  • Monthly Fee: $12 - Waived with Qualifying Activities
  • Overdraft Fee: $10 per item
  • International Transaction Fee: 3%
  • Check Image Service Fee: $3 per Statement
  • No ATM Fee Reimbursements
  • Option to Pay for Paper Checks
  • If You're Not Careful, This Checking Account's Fees Cost You More Than Its Worth

 Not Recommended 

Not Recommended. Shown For Comparison Purposes Only.

 $300 Bonus 

 KeyBank Checking Account Logo

4.0

CompareAccounts™ Score

  • 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

 

BMO Logo

4.5

CompareAccounts™ Score

  • 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

Q

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

 

 Compare With 

Wells Fargo Logo

1.0

CompareAccounts™ Score

  • Checking Account
  • Min. Opening Deposit: $25
  • Monthly Fee: $25 - Waived with Minimum Monthly Balance of $20,000
  • Overdraft Fee: $35 per item, up to 3 Fees per Day
  • International Transaction Fee: 3%
  • 1 ATM Fee Reimbursements per period
  • Discount on Safety Deposit Box Rental
  • If You Want to Avoid Overdraft Fees, We Recommend a Different Checking Account

 Not Recommended 

Not Recommended. Shown For Comparison Purposes Only.

To recap our recommendations.

Best Checking Accounts According To CompareAccounts™

Discover® Bank Cashback Debit: Best for Online Banking Experience + Customer Service

SoFi® Checking and Savings: Best For: Bonus + Annual Percentage Yield

Truist One Checking Account: Best For: $400 Bonus From a Top 10 Bank

Key Smart Checking® Account: Best For: Mobile Banking + Bonus

BMO Smart Advantage Checking Account: Best For: No Monthly Fees + Bonus*

Up to $360 Bonus

Discover Bank Logo

5.0

CompareAccounts™ Score

On Discover's Secure Site,
Member FDIC

Best For: Online Banking Experience + Customer Service

Unleash the power of no-fee banking combined with rewards!

Discover is one of the first online focused banks to offer no monthly fees and what they call "No. Fees. Period." That means you won’t pay a monthly fee, regardless of your monthly balance. You’ll enjoy fee-free overdraft protection, and you won’t pay a fee for insuffiecient funds.

Cashback Bonus: up to $360 per year.

Earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases monthly, all while protecting your money with comprehensive tools and features to prevent fraud, like the ability to freeze your debit card.

Pair your free debit card with digital wallets like Apple Pay® to enjoy seemless transactions and gain access to over 60,000 fee-free ATMs nationwide.

Experience mobile-first banking with the Discover App, make quick transfers using Zelle®, find a nearby ATM, deposit checks and much more, all from your phone.

Best of all, your deposits are FDIC-insured up to $250,000 per depositor for peace of mind. And remember, Discover has US-based customer service available 24/7.

See Discover's Secure Site For More Details.

Up to $300 Bonus

SoFi Logo

5.0

CompareAccounts™ Score

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 $300 with direct deposit.

In addition to the bonus, you'll enjoy 3.80% 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.

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.

See SoFi's Secure Site For More Details.

Q

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.

 $400 Bonus 

Truist Bank & Online Banking Logo

5.0

CompareAccounts™ Score

On Truist's Secure Site,
Member FDIC

Best For: $400 Bonus From a Top 10 Bank

Truist is ranked among the top 10 largest banks in the United States with over $500 Billion in assets and with more than 2,000 financial centers spread throughout the South, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest regions, in short, its a great choice for your checking account.

Earn $400 when you 0pen a new Truist One Checking account online from 5/1/25 through 10/29/25, and receive at least 2 qualifying Direct Deposits* totaling $1,000 or more within 120 days of account opening. For new checking clients only. Terms & conditions apply.

Use Promo Code: TRUIST25AFL400

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.

This account comes with FDIC insurance up to the amount allowable by law, mobile check deposit and more via their mobile app.

To top it off, this account has $0 overdraft fees, $0 ATM fees at Truist ATMs, a $100 Negative Balance Buffer if you meet the requirements, and only requires a $50 minimum deposit to open today.

See The Truist One Offer Page For More Details.

Q

Terms and Conditions for Truist One Checking $400 Affiliate Offer 2025: TRUIST25AFL400

Offer Information:  Open a new Truist One Checking account online from 5/1/25 through 10/29/25, receive at least 2 qualifying Direct Deposits* totaling $1,000 or more within 120 days of account opening and earn $400.

Account must be opened online. Enrollment in the promotion is required at the time of account opening using promo code TRUIST25AFL400. 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) of your salary, pension, Social Security or other regular monthly income deposited into your new checking account by your employer or outside agency via ACH. Person to person payments (such as Zelle®) or deposits made via a branch, ATM, online transfer, mobile device, debit/prepaid card number or the mail are not eligible direct deposits.

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 5/1/24 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 mailing 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. In order to receive the reward, the new checking account must be open, not restricted, and in good standing with a balance of at least $0.01 at the time of Truist verification and 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. Promotion is only applicable once per client and for one new qualifying checking account. 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 prior to payout, (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 or restricted at the time of payout.

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 promotional payouts will be processed no later than 7/31/26 at which point this promotion (and any related disbursements) will be considered final, and no further disbursements will be made.

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 TRUIST25AFL400 into the promo code field provided, review the offer Terms and Conditions, and then select “Accept 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 2 03262025 TRUIST25AFL400

2. Negative Balance Buffer Eligibility: The $100 Negative 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 $100 Negative 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 per month must be made for two (2) consecutive months

To REMAIN QUALIFIED for the $100 Negative Balance Buffer, the requirement below must be met:

  • A recurring direct deposit of at least $100 per month

For accounts that qualify for the $100 Negative Balance Buffer and also have Overdraft Protection, Truist will use the $100 Negative Balance Buffer first. If the account has neither, transactions that exceed the account balance will typically be declined or returned.

Truist Bank, Member FDIC. ©2025, Truist Financial Corporation. Truist, Truist Purple and the Truist Logo are service marks of Truist Financial Corporation.

 $300 Bonus 

 KeyBank Checking Account Logo

4.0

CompareAccounts™ Score

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, 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 need to open your account online by October 17, 2025. 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.

BMO Logo

4.5

CompareAccounts™ Score

On BMO's Secure Site,
Member FDIC

 

Best For: No Monthly Fees + Bonus*

New BMO Smart Advantage Checking customers can earn a $400 Cash Bonus* when you have a cumulative total of $4,000 in qualifying direct deposits within 90 days of account opening between 5/5/25 - 9/8/25.

This account offers no monthly fees with paperless statements, available overdraft protection services & access to 40,000+ fee-free ATMs nationwide.

You can easily transfer money using Zelle®, locate a nearby ATM, deposit checks & more with the BMO Digital Banking app.

The BMO Debit Mastercard® offers security & convenience with benefits like satisfaction guarantee, Mastercard Global Service® & more.

Open your account today and set up direct deposit to help you unlock this bonus.

*Conditions apply. Accounts are subject to approval and available in the U.S. BMO Bank N.A., Member FDIC.

See BMO Bank's Secure Site For More Details & Other Offers.

Q

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

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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.