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Holding a checking account is a great way to keep your money safe yet easily accessible to you. Most checking accounts also come with a debit card, allow you to take cash out of an ATM, and can be managed online or from your smartphone.
If you’re just getting started with a checking account, the options can be overwhelming. That’s why we’ve created a list of the best checking accounts available and provided a guide for how to choose the right checking account for you.
Featured checking account offers for March 2023
CHECKING
$2,000
Cash Bonus
No Citi Fees at non-Citi ATMs
Special offer:
Earn up to a $2,000 Cash Bonus with required activities
Earn up to a $2,000 Cash Bonus with required activities when you open a Citi® Priority Account. You'll also get preferred
banking and travel benefits.
70,000+ fee-free ATMs & mobile banking
Preferred banking and travel benefits
$30 monthly service fee waived when you maintain a combined average monthly balance of $30,000+ in eligible linked deposit, retirement and investment accounts
Offers fee-free overdraft protection to qualifying members
Not all members are eligible for mobile check deposit
Potential early access to paychecks
If you tend to carry a low balance and cut it a little tight with spending (really, who doesn’t from time to time?), then the Chime checking account could be the best fit for you. Like some of the other accounts on this list, Chime offers the ability for you to get your paycheck up to two days early. But on top of that, Chime SpotMe® overdraft protection covers any accidental overdrafts up to $200 so your purchases aren’t declined, and it won’t charge you an overdraft fee either
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If you’re thinking you’d like to get started investing in the stock market, Stash could be the best fit for you. To get a Stash debit card, you first need to open a Stash Invest account. Then you can earn Stock-Back rewards from your Stash debit card purchases. That means you could grow your stock market investments just by going shopping.
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Best checking account for earning interest: Axos Rewards Checking
Pros
Cons
Earn interest on your checking account
To earn the maximum amount of interest, you must have investment accounts and a loan with Axos Bank
No overdraft or NSF fees
Unlimited ATM fee reimbursements
Axos Rewards Checking offers you the opportunity to earn rewards for using your account in a variety of ways. You can earn interest on your balance by completing certain activities like monthly direct deposits totaling $1,500 or more and using your Axos Visa debit card for 10 transactions per month. Altogether you have the opportunity to earn up to 3.30% (as of Mar. 7, 2023) APY on your account balance. Given that checking accounts rarely pay interest at all, this is a pretty high interest rate.
In addition, this rewards checking account is mostly fee-free, which is a nice perk. It does not charge overdraft or insufficient fund fees. There are also no maintenance fees or minimum balance requirements. Plus, you only need $50 to open the account.
Best checking account for getting paid faster: Lending Club Rewards Checking
Pros
Cons
Unlimited cash back on certain transactions
$100 minimum to open an account
May be able to access direct deposits early
Nobody wants to wait for their checks to clear. But with Lending Club Rewards Checking, you can get your direct deposits up to two days faster. On top of that, you can earn 1% cash back on certain transactions when you use your Lending Club debit card, and Lending Club pays interest on your checking balance as well.
Between your interest rate, your early paycheck, and your cashback rewards, this checking account could be a real money maker.
Best checking account for customer service: Current
Pros
Cons
Potential early access to direct deposits
Overdraft protection only available to members with qualifying direct deposits
No minimum balance requirements
For the ability to communicate with customer service at all times of the day and in a variety of ways, a Current checking account could be the right account for you. Current customer support is available 24/7 and 365 days per year.
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With Current, you also have the ability to communicate with customer service via email, phone, and chat. Only one other checking account on our list offers those same three methods of communication, and that account has some fees as well as a minimum deposit to open. Current has neither of these.
In addition, this checking account offers the ability to overdraft up to $200 for free with their Overdrive service, the ability to earn points, and mobile check deposit.
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Best checking account with no fees: Varo Online Checking
Pros
Cons
No minimum balance requirement
Out-of-network ATM withdrawal fees
Early access to paychecks
Instantly lock debit card in the Varo app
The Varo Online Checking Account is a great fit if you’re looking to avoid as many banking fees as possible. It has no monthly maintenance fee, no minimum balance fee, no foreign transaction fee, no overdraft fee, and no ATM withdrawal fee for in-network use.
The Varo Online Checking Account also offers both mobile check deposit and the ability to issue checks from your account, making it a convenient banking experience.
1% cash back on up to $3,000 in qualifying debit card purchases each month
No cash deposits
Early access to paychecks
No NSF fee or minimum balance requirement
Discover’s checking account offers an impressive 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in qualifying debit card transactions each month. This is in addition to standard checking features such as no minimum balance requirements and early access to paychecks. It also has an extensive ATM network and a fee-free overdraft protection service.
One drawback to Discover’s checking account is that you can’t make cash deposits. You can make electronic deposits by transferring money from another institution, however.
Note: Discover is not accepting new applicants for its checking account as of March 15, 2023.
Best checking account from a credit union: Alliant
Pros
Cons
ATM fee rebates of up to $20 per month
No in-person branches
Earn interest
No overdraft fees or minimum balance requirements
Alliant is a digital credit union that pays interest on your checking account balance if you meet two requirements: you opt to receive electronic statements and you have at least one monthly electronic deposit to your checking account. ATM deposits, mobile deposits, and transfers from other financial institutions all count toward this requirement.
Alliant Credit Union also reimburses ATM fees and offers free overdraft protection transfers from an Alliant savings account. It could be a good fit if you're comfortable with a completely online bank account.
Best checking account for travel: Betterment Checking
Pros
Cons
No overdraft fees, ATM fees, or foreign fees
Complicated cashback rewards
Cell phone insurance
Betterment is not a bank
Joint accounts available
For easy access to your money while you travel domestically or internationally, Betterment Checking could be the best fit for you. With Betterment Checking you get a debit card equipped to swipe or to use tap-to-pay. And your ATM and foreign transaction fees will all be reimbursed. It also offers cell phone insurance if you pay your phone bill with your Betterment debit card
Plus, this cash management account offers no minimum deposit and no minimum balance requirements, so if you’re expecting to travel in the future, this could be a good account for you to open now.
May have a monthly service fee if you don't meet the requirements for it to be waived
Large ATM network
In-person branches available
Citi has a wide variety of account options ranging from its primarily online access account to its high-end Citigold Private client account. While many of its accounts have monthly service fees, those fees can be waived by maintaining certain account balances or other activities. There's no minimum opening deposit required, and Citi also has an extensive fee-free ATM network as well as in-person branch locations.
Citi also offers options for overdraft protection, including Safety Check, which automatically transfers available funds to your checking account from your savings to pay overdrafts.
How to pick the best checking account for you
As you compare the best checking accounts available, you’ll still need to consider what’s important to you to pick the right one for your goals and lifestyle. Here's what to look at as you research account options:
Account fees
According to the Federal Reserve, customers spend an average of $250 annually on bank fees. Many banks charge account maintenance fees. The largest percentage of fees come from overdraft or non-sufficient fund fees, which occur when a customer tries to complete a transaction without the actual money to do so. Meaning, you write a check for more than you have in the bank. But even some of the best banks also charge monthly maintenance fees or minimum balance fees on top of ATM and check fees.
When choosing a new account, consider what you’re willing to pay for the conveniences offered. There are many free checking accounts and low fee options without any maintenance or overdraft fees. So there’s really no reason to pay any fees at all for your checking account. If you currently have a checking account where you are forking over money to your bank each statement cycle, you’re probably getting a bad deal.
ATM access
Some checking accounts charge ATM fees, while others have a large network of fee-free ATMs. For instance, there are over 55,000 surcharge-free ATMs in the Allpoint ATM network. MoneyPass is another large ATM network.
A checking account that doesn’t provide easy and free access to cash might be a huge hassle for you. Sometimes, it’s not about the number of ATMs in a bank’s network, but more about which bank has a free ATM near you. Then again, you might not care if you generally write checks or use other payment options besides cash.
If you regularly use ATMs, make sure you pick a bank that doesn't charge in-network ATM fees on ATM transactions. Some banks will also provide out-of-network ATM fee rebates, also called ATM fee reimbursements or refunds. This means if you use an out-of-network ATM, they may reimburse you for the extra fees you pay.
Minimum deposit
Different banks have different opening deposit requirements for checking accounts, so you’ll need to consider how much cash you have on hand if you want to become an account holder at that particular financial institution. You should also make sure you can maintain the minimum balance needed to avoid any fees (if one is required).
Direct deposit
If you receive income via direct deposit, it’s important to consider how much time these deposits will take before the money becomes accessible to you. Some banks get your funds to you earlier than others, which can be helpful if you’re living paycheck to paycheck or have an unpredictable schedule that causes cash flow issues. Or, getting your earnings a couple of days early might not matter to you at all. Consider your needs when choosing the best checking account for you.
APY
APY stands for annual percentage yield. It is the money you earn in interest on your account balance. While most traditional banks offer little to no interest on a checking account, there are online banks that offer high-interest checking accounts. This might not be a huge selling point, since you can likely earn more if you deposit money into a high-yield savings account, but it’s something to consider if you want to keep your cash accessible while also earning some interest.
Online vs. in-person banking
If you find it annoying to wait in line at a traditional bank, you’ll probably be better served by online banking rather than a bank with physical locations. Online-only banks also typically have lower fees, as well as apps and websites that provide you with all the financial assistance you could need.
But if it’s important for you to be able to speak to a banker in-person, you should consider a bank with physical branches. More and more traditional banks are offering mobile banking, though, so you can change your mind on how you want to bank on any given day.
Availability of other products
Some people don't mind having a credit card with one bank and a checking account with another. But you might prefer to have more of your financial products with one institution. In that case, you may want to look for a bank or credit union that not only has checking accounts, but also offers other deposit accounts like money market accounts or savings accounts. Some banks even offer brokerage accounts.
Tip
Some banks offer account bonuses to new customers opening a checking account. You typically need to meet certain requirements like having a certain amount of qualifying direct deposits.
Checking vs. savings accounts
Checking accounts
Savings accounts
Designed for day-to-day spending
Designed for longer-term goals
Unlimited withdrawals
May have limits on withdrawals and transfers
Pay not pay interest
Typically pay interest
Checking and savings accounts are designed for different goals, but they often work well together. Savings accounts typically pay higher interest rates than checking accounts and are designed for saving up for longer-term goals. Checking accounts are designed for day-to-day spending and don’t typically limit withdrawals. When you’re ready to spend the money in your savings, you can transfer the funds to your checking account.
Additionally, many banks allow you to use your savings account as overdraft protection for your checking account. If you happen to overdraw your checking account, the bank will move money from your savings account to your checking account to cover the overdraft. Some banks do this for free, while others charge a fee.
Our methodology
Companies on this list were evaluated according to a set of criteria, and then we used editorial judgment to determine what use or user each account would be best for. We did not evaluate all companies in the market.
FinanceBuzz evaluation criteria include:
FDIC insurance or NCUA insurance: To make our list, a checking account must be FDIC insured or National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) insured in the case of credit unions.
Account minimums: All listed accounts have no minimum balance requirement or average daily balance requirement to remain open without incurring fees. Some also have no minimum deposit required to open.
Fees: A variety of bank account fees were considered in our assessment. Fees evaluated include monthly maintenance, ATM, minimum balance, foreign transaction, and overdraft fees.
Account features: Checking accounts were evaluated on the availability of certain features such as paper checks, online bill pay, mobile deposits, rewards on spending, and whether the account is interest bearing.
Customer experience: Accounts were evaluated based on how the customer can access and manage the account (mobile app and/or web-based portal), as well as customer support accessibility.
FAQs about checking accounts
What is required to open a new checking account?
Requirements vary by bank, but you’ll typically need to be at least 18 years old and have a valid Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. You’ll also need to submit photo identification and provide proof of your current address.
How many checking accounts should I have?
There’s no magic number; it’s totally okay to have one or multiple checking accounts in your name. Sometimes, having more than one checking account can make money management and budgeting easier. For example, you might want a separate checking account for spending on your kids, or a business checking account for your business expenses.
How much should I keep in checking?
You should keep at least the minimum balance in your checking account and ensure you have enough to cover all your monthly bills. It’s a good idea to have a cushion to protect yourself from accidental overdrafts, but you shouldn’t keep too much money in your checking account if you could earn a better APY by moving some of that money into a savings account.
Is it better to have more money in checking or savings?
There’s no real need to choose between a checking vs savings account — it’s good to have both when it comes to handling your personal finances. Since it’s easier to access money in your checking account, you’ll want to ensure you keep enough in checking to cover your expenses. But any money you want to set aside for future financial goals may be best kept in a savings account.
Disclaimer: All rates and fees are accurate as of Jan. 9, 2023.
Becca Borawski Jenkins
Becca is the Director of Editorial Strategy for FinanceBuzz. She spent five years living and traveling full-time in an RV. Her journey into finance was facilitated by her passions for minimalism, travel, and geographic arbitrage. She loves to write about saving money, saving for retirement, and cashback credit cards.
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