Best Checking Accounts for Students [2026]: Smart Choices for College Budgets

Opening your first checking account is an important step toward financial independence. The right checking account can make everyday banking easier, save you on paying unnecessary fees, and maybe even put a little extra money in your pocket.

We've reviewed several student bank accounts to come up with our choices for the best checking accounts for students that offer benefits like low fees, free ATM access, overdraft protection, and convenient mobile tools. Some even pay you interest or cashback for your everyday purchases.

Limited-Time Offer

AWARD WINNER Best Online Checking

SoFi Checking and Savings

5.0

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.

Learn More on SoFi's secure website, Member FDIC

Bonus Offer

Up to $400 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 received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more. 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 5/15/2026 and will be available through 12/31/26. See full bonus and annual percentage yield (APY) terms at sofi.com/banking/checking-offer/

Minimum Opening Balance

$0

Monthly Fee

$0

Why We Like It

• Earn a $50 or $400 bonus with eligible direct deposit¹ <p>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&nbsp;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&nbsp;Deposit of $1 or more). Cash bonus amount will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in&nbsp;your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 5/15/2026 and will be available through 12/31/26. See full bonus and annual percentage yield (APY) terms at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/checking-offer/">sofi.com/banking/checking-offer/</a></p> and up to 3.80% APY² <p>Earn up to 3.80% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.10% APY) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking &amp; Savings account with Eligible Direct Deposit by 12/31/26. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/#2">sofi.com/banking#2</a>. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.</p> on your money
• Limited-Time Offer: +0.70% Boost on Savings APY to up to 3.80% for up to 6 months on new accounts. Terms apply.² <p>Earn up to 3.80% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.10% APY) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking &amp; Savings account with Eligible Direct Deposit by 12/31/26. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/#2">sofi.com/banking#2</a>. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.</p>
• No account, overdraft, or monthly fees³ <p>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 <a href="http://sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/">sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/</a>.</p>
• Get your paycheck up to two days early with direct deposit⁴ <p>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.</p>
• Access additional FDIC insurance up to $3 million⁵ <p><b style="font-family: Rubik, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, Roboto, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, sans-serif;">SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per depositor per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations.&nbsp;Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $3M through participation in the program. See full terms at&nbsp;<a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms</a>. See list of participating banks at <a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks</a>.</b></p>

Learn More on SoFi's secure website, Member FDIC

What makes a checking account great for students

Many people open their first checking account between the ages of 17 and 24, typically while enrolled in college or classes at a vocational, trade, or technical school. Checking accounts that are great for students offer features that fit their lifestyle and budget. Some of the key factors that make a checking account great for students include:

• No monthly fees
• No minimum balance requirements
• Free ATM access
• Mobile banking tools
• Overdraft protection

Compare the best checking accounts for students in May 2026

Bank	Best for …	Monthly fees/ATMs/other important features
SoFi Checking and Savings	Earning interest	No monthly fees Checking earns 0.50% APY6 <p>Annual percentage yield (APY) is variable and subject to change at any time. Rates are current as of 5/28/26. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional rates and information can be found at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet">https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet</a></p> 55,000 fee-free ATMs7 <p>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.</p>
Chime®8 <p class="">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.&nbsp;<br></p>	Building credit	No monthly fees9 <p>There’s no fee for the Chime Savings Account. Cash withdrawal and Third-party fees may apply to Chime Checking Accounts. You must have a Chime Checking Account to open a Chime Savings Account.</p> More than 47,000 fee-free ATMs10 <p>Out-of-network ATM withdrawal and over the counter advance fees may apply except at FCTI® ATMs in a 7-Eleven® or Speedway, or any Allpoint® or Visa® Plus Alliance ATM participating in the Allpoint network.</p>
U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking	Overdraft protection	No monthly fees for students aged 13-24 Requires $25 opening deposit 15,000 fee-free ATMs
Capital One MONEY Teen Checking	High School Students	No monthly or overdraft fees Over 70,000 fee-free ATMs
Chase College Checking	Brick-and-mortar locations	No monthly service fees while enrolled (up to 5 years) 5,000 branch locations

SoFi Checking and Savings

AWARD WINNER Best Online Checking

5.0

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.

• Earn a $50 or $400 bonus with eligible direct deposit¹ <p>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&nbsp;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&nbsp;Deposit of $1 or more). Cash bonus amount will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in&nbsp;your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 5/15/2026 and will be available through 12/31/26. See full bonus and annual percentage yield (APY) terms at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/checking-offer/">sofi.com/banking/checking-offer/</a></p> and up to 3.80% APY² <p>Earn up to 3.80% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.10% APY) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking &amp; Savings account with Eligible Direct Deposit by 12/31/26. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/#2">sofi.com/banking#2</a>. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.</p> on your money
• Limited-Time Offer: +0.70% Boost on Savings APY to up to 3.80% for up to 6 months on new accounts. Terms apply.² <p>Earn up to 3.80% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.10% APY) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking &amp; Savings account with Eligible Direct Deposit by 12/31/26. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/#2">sofi.com/banking#2</a>. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.</p>
• No account, overdraft, or monthly fees³ <p>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 <a href="http://sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/">sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/</a>.</p>
• Get your paycheck up to two days early with direct deposit⁴ <p>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.</p>
• Access additional FDIC insurance up to $3 million⁵ <p><b style="font-family: Rubik, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, Roboto, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, sans-serif;">SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per depositor per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations.&nbsp;Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $3M through participation in the program. See full terms at&nbsp;<a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms</a>. See list of participating banks at <a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks</a>.</b></p>

Learn More

on SoFi's secure website

If you're a student looking to make the most of your money, SoFi® offers a checking and savings combo that's hard to beat. When you open a checking account with SoFi, you automatically get a linked high-yield savings account. Both accounts earn interest. SoFi's checking account earns 0.50% APY, and the savings account earns up to 3.10% APY (with direct deposit).⁶ <p>Annual percentage yield (APY) is variable and subject to change at any time. Rates are current as of 5/28/26. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional rates and information can be found at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet">https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet</a></p>

SoFi is a great fit for students who prefer to handle their banking digitally and don't deal with cash often. While you can deposit cash into your SoFi account through various retailers, you may be charged a $4.95 fee.

With a SoFi checking account, there are no monthly fees, no minimum balance requirements, and no overdraft charges. SoFi does offer overdraft protection, but it is limited compared to other financial institutions, and you must have direct deposits of at least $1,000 monthly to qualify. ¹¹ <p>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 <a href="https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet">https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet</a>. 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.</p>  

If a digital-first experience like this sounds appealing, you could compare SoFi and Chime to see how two similar fintechs stack up. 

Member FDIC.⁵ <p><b style="font-family: Rubik, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, Roboto, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, sans-serif;">SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per depositor per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations.&nbsp;Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $3M through participation in the program. See full terms at&nbsp;<a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms</a>. See list of participating banks at <a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks</a>.</b></p>

Visit SoFi | Learn more in our SoFi review 

Chime®

2026 AWARD WINNER Best Checking for Bad or No Credit

4.9

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.

• No minimum balance, no monthly service fees⁹ <p>There’s no fee for the Chime Savings Account. Cash withdrawal and Third-party fees may apply to Chime Checking Accounts. You must have a Chime Checking Account to open a Chime Savings Account.</p>
• Get your paycheck up to 2 days earlier with direct deposit¹² <p> 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.</p>
• Eligible Members can access fee-free overdraft up to $200¹³ <p>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.</p><br> <p>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. <a href="https://www.chime.com/policies/" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">SpotMe on Chime Card Terms and Conditions</a>.</p>
• 47K+ fee-free ATMs nationwide¹⁰ <p>Out-of-network ATM withdrawal and over the counter advance fees may apply except at FCTI® ATMs in a 7-Eleven® or Speedway, or any Allpoint® or Visa® Plus Alliance ATM participating in the Allpoint network.</p>
• Automatic savings helps you grow your money faster¹⁴ <p>You can automatically transfer part of your direct deposits of $1 or more from your Checking Account into your selected Chime account(s).</p>

Learn More

on Chime's secure website

Chime isn't a traditional bank.⁸ <p class="">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.&nbsp;<br></p> It's a fintech company that offers online banking services. For students, that means no monthly fees, no overdraft fees¹³ <p>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.</p><br> <p>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. <a href="https://www.chime.com/policies/" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">SpotMe on Chime Card Terms and Conditions</a>.</p> , and no minimum balance requirements. It also provides access to over 47,000 fee-free ATMs.¹⁰ <p>Out-of-network ATM withdrawal and over the counter advance fees may apply except at FCTI® ATMs in a 7-Eleven® or Speedway, or any Allpoint® or Visa® Plus Alliance ATM participating in the Allpoint network.</p>

Everything with Chime is digital, so you can manage your checking account online or with Chime's easy-to-use mobile app. If you need to deposit cash,¹⁵ <p>Once the retailer accepts your cash, the funds will be transferred to your Chime account. Cash deposit fees may apply if using a retailer other than Walgreens and Duane Reade.&nbsp;</p> you can do it for free at any U.S. Walgreens location. You can also deposit cash for a small fee at retailers like Walmart, CVS, and 7-Eleven.

Students will also appreciate Chime's SpotMe overdraft protection,¹³ <p>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.</p><br> <p>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. <a href="https://www.chime.com/policies/" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">SpotMe on Chime Card Terms and Conditions</a>.</p> which covers up to $200 in overdraft transactions without fees. However, to take advantage of this protection, you will need to have direct deposits of at least $200 monthly.

Visit Chime | Learn more in our Chime review | Discover other online banks like Chime

U.S. Bank Smartly^® Checking

U.S. Bank's Smartly Checking account¹⁷ <p>Applicant must reside in AZ, AR, CA, CO, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NM, NC, ND, OH, OR, SD, TN, UT, WA, WI, WY to be eligible for Checking account</p> is a good option for students who want an account with strong overdraft protection. While the bank charges an overdraft fee of $36 on transactions over $5.01 that it covers on your behalf, it does offer several options to help you avoid this fee. For example, there is no fee if your account balance is overdrawn by $50 or less.

You also won't be charged a fee if you set up overdrafts to be covered from an automatic transfer from your savings, money market, or secondary checking account. You can link up to three accounts to cover your overdrafts.

With many financial institutions offering accounts with no monthly maintenance fees, U.S. Bank's $12 monthly fee may make you pause. However, this fee is waived for youth and young adults aged 13 to 24.

U.S. Bank's Smart Rewards program also offers many perks that students may appreciate. Those perks include a waiver of your first two non-U.S. Bank ATM transaction fees per statement cycle and access to digital financial tools to help you manage your money.

Visit U.S. Bank Smartly^® Checking | Learn more in our U.S. Bank Smartly^® Checking review

Capital One MONEY Teen Checking

Capital One's MONEY Teen Checking account offers one of the best teen debit card and banking experiences, hands-down. It stands out from other bank accounts for kids and teens because it doesn't use a subscription model, so it doesn't charge monthly subscription fees, yet it still offers pretty robust joint banking for parents and their high-school-aged students.

The name "MONEY Teen Checking" is actually a bit of a misnomer. The account is available to kids as young as eight, so it could be good for middle and even elementary schoolers. But we prefer it for teens over 13ish because it doesn't offer the most comprehensive features and controls compared to platforms that skew younger, like Greenlight or Acorns Early (once GoHenry). For example, while parents can set spending limits and pay an allowance, they can't assign chores in the app, pay their child interest, or block merchants.

Capital One, which acquired Discover Bank in May 2025, is one of the best banks because it combines unique perks with variety and accessibility. You can also deposit cash at any CVS or Walgreens, which further sets the online bank apart.

Learn more in our Capital One 360 review

Chase College Checking

Students who prefer to do their banking at a brick-and-mortar branch may want to consider the Chase College Checking account, which also ranks among our top bank accounts for young adults overall. Chase operates about 5,000 physical branches in 48 U.S. states.

This account is specifically designed for students aged 17-24 who are enrolled in a college or vocational, technical, or trade school. For enrolled students, Chase waives its $15 monthly service fee up to the day you graduate or for a maximum of five years, whichever comes first.

Chase rewards you with a $125 bonus just for opening an account and completing 10 qualifying transactions. If you are a student aged 18-24 with a Social Security Number, you can open an account online. However, students aged 17 or those without a Social Security Number will have to visit a physical branch location to open the account.

One drawback to the Chase College Checking account is that its overdraft coverage is limited. Chase Overdraft Assist will cover you if you are overdrawn by $50 or less by the end of the day. If you are overdrafted by more than $50, you can avoid an overdraft fee by bringing your account overdraft amount to $50 or less by the end of the next business day. Otherwise, you'll be charged an overdraft fee of $34 per transaction up to a maximum of three overdrafts per day. You can also use a Chase savings account to cover overdrafts.

Learn more in our Chase Bank review

4.3

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.

Enjoy $400 as a new Chase checking customer

When you open a new Chase Total Checking® account with qualifying activities.¹⁸ <p>Offer not available to existing Chase checking customers, or those whose accounts have been closed within 90 days or closed with a negative balance within the last 3 years. You can receive only one new checking account opening related bonus every two years from the last coupon enrollment date and only one bonus per account. Coupon is good for one-time use. To receive the bonus: 1) Open a new Chase Total Checking account, which is subject to approval; AND 2) Have your direct deposits totaling $1,000 or more made to this account within 90 days of coupon enrollment. Your direct deposit needs to be an electronic deposit of your paycheck, pension or government benefits (such as Social Security) from your employer or the government. Person to Person payments (such as Zelle®) are not considered a direct deposit. Micro-deposits do not qualify as a direct deposit for the bonus. Micro-deposits are small deposits, typically less than $1, that are sent to your account to verify it is the correct account. After you have completed all the above requirements, we'll deposit the bonus in your new account within 15 days. To receive this bonus, the enrolled account must not be closed or restricted at the time of payout. Eligibility may be limited based on account ownership. Bonus is considered interest and will be reported on IRS Form 1099-INT (or Form 1042-S, if applicable). Offer availability subject to change. Other Chase checking bonus offers may exist concurrently.</p> FDIC Insured. Offer valid through 7/15/2026.

Learn More

5.0

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.

AWARD WINNER Best Online Checking

SoFi Checking & Savings - Earn Up to $400 When You Set Up Direct Deposit

Limited-Time Offer: Earn a $50 or $400 bonus with eligible direct deposit and up to 3.80% APY on Savings (3.10% APY¹ <p>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&nbsp;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&nbsp;Deposit of $1 or more). Cash bonus amount will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in&nbsp;your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 5/15/2026 and will be available through 12/31/26. See full bonus and annual percentage yield (APY) terms at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/checking-offer/">sofi.com/banking/checking-offer/</a></p> with +0.70% APY Boost) for up to 6 Months on new accounts. Terms Apply.² <p>Earn up to 3.80% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.10% APY) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking &amp; Savings account with Eligible Direct Deposit by 12/31/26. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/#2">sofi.com/banking#2</a>. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.</p> FDIC Insured.⁵ <p><b style="font-family: Rubik, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, Roboto, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, sans-serif;">SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per depositor per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations.&nbsp;Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $3M through participation in the program. See full terms at&nbsp;<a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms</a>. See list of participating banks at <a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks</a>.</b></p>

Learn More

FAQs

Bottom line

Finding the right student checking account can make managing your money easier and more affordable while you're in school. No one likes to pay a lot of banking fees, especially students who are on limited budgets. When looking for the best student checking account for you, compare features like fees, ATM access, overdraft protection, and other perks to see which works best for your needs. The right account will enable you to focus on your studies and not your banking.

For more options, check out our list of the best banks for college students.

Learn More

5.0

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.

AWARD WINNER Best Online Checking

High APY of up to 3.80% on Savings (3.10% APY¹ <p>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&nbsp;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&nbsp;Deposit of $1 or more). Cash bonus amount will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in&nbsp;your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 5/15/2026 and will be available through 12/31/26. See full bonus and annual percentage yield (APY) terms at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/checking-offer/">sofi.com/banking/checking-offer/</a></p> with +0.70% APY Boost) for up to 6 Months on new accounts. Terms Apply.² <p>Earn up to 3.80% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.10% APY) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking &amp; Savings account with Eligible Direct Deposit by 12/31/26. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/#2">sofi.com/banking#2</a>. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.</p>

Paycheck access up to 2 days early with direct deposit⁴ <p>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.</p>

No monthly maintenance or overdraft fees³ <p>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 <a href="http://sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/">sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/</a>.</p>

Streamlined savings and savings goals with Vaults

Access to a large ATM network⁷ <p>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.</p>