Best Checking Accounts for Young Professionals [2025]: Big Benefits and Few Fees or Requirements

Young professionals need a checking account they can count on. Whether you're receiving direct deposits for the first time, trying to establish good financial habits and build credit, or just looking for an account with extra perks, you'll want an account that is both flexible and accessible.

We recommend looking for an account with few or no monthly fees, no minimum balance requirements, easy access to withdrawals and deposits, and robust digital tools to help you manage your money.

The options seem endless — we evaluated more than three dozen accounts in our selection process — but five checking accounts stand out as the best options for young professionals.

Best checking accounts for young professionals

Checking account	Best for	Monthly fees	Minimum account balance
Chase Total Checking®	In-branch access	$12 (waived with $500 in direct deposits or with minimum balance)1 <p>$12 Monthly Service Fee OR $0 with one of the following, each monthly statement period:</p> <p>Electronic deposits made into this account totaling $500 or more, such as payments from payroll providers or government benefit providers, by using (i) the ACH network, (ii) the Real Time Payment network, or (iii) third party services that facilitate payments to your debit card using the Visa® or Mastercard® network,</p> <p>OR a balance at the beginning of each day of $1,500 or more in this account,</p> <p>OR an average beginning day balance of $5,000 or more in any combination of this account and linked qualifying Chase checking, savings, and other balances.</p>	$0 (Or at least $1,500 to avoid monthly fee)
SoFi® Checking	Money management resources	None	$0
Axos Rewards Checking	ATM access	None	$0
Current	Irregular income/ building credit	None	$0
Discover® Cashback Debit	Earning rewards	None	$0

Chase Total Checking^®

Chase Total Checking®

Visit Chase Total Checking®

4.2

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• Enjoy $300 as a new Chase checking customer. Open a new Chase Total Checking® account with qualifying activities.² <p>Receive your bonus within 15 days of completing the necessary requirements. To receive the bonus: 1) Open a new Chase Total Checking account, which is subject to approval; AND 2) Have your direct deposits totaling $500 or more made to this account within 90 days of coupon enrollment.</p> FDIC Insured. Offer valid through 10/15/2025.
• $12 monthly service fee ($15, effective August 24, 2025), but you have multiple ways to waive it¹ <p>$12 Monthly Service Fee OR $0 with one of the following, each monthly statement period:</p> <p>Electronic deposits made into this account totaling $500 or more, such as payments from payroll providers or government benefit providers, by using (i) the ACH network, (ii) the Real Time Payment network, or (iii) third party services that facilitate payments to your debit card using the Visa® or Mastercard® network,</p> <p>OR a balance at the beginning of each day of $1,500 or more in this account,</p> <p>OR an average beginning day balance of $5,000 or more in any combination of this account and linked qualifying Chase checking, savings, and other balances.</p>
• Manage all your accounts from the Chase Mobile® app
• Over 4,700 in-person branches and more than 15,000 ATMs
• No overdraft fee if you’re overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the business day.³ <p>With Chase Overdraft Assist℠, we won’t charge an Overdraft Fee if you’re overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the business day OR if you’re overdrawn by more than $50 and you bring your account balance to overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the next business day (you have until 11 PM ET (8 PM PT) to make a deposit or transfer). Chase Overdraft Assist does not require enrollment and comes with eligible Chase checking accounts.</p>
• Member FDIC

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on Chase's secure website

For young professionals who want a traditional banking experience, a Chase Total Checking^® account fits the bill. Chase is the largest bank in the U.S., with over 4,700 domestic branches and 15,000 fee-free ATMs, though you will be charged a fee at non-Chase ATMs.

It's easy to avoid the $12 monthly service fee by setting up at least $500 in monthly direct deposits, maintaining a balance of at least $1,500 at the beginning of each day, or maintaining an average daily balance of $5,000 across your qualifying Chase accounts.

You can use the account to write checks, send wire transfers, pay friends and family with Zelle, set up automatic transfers to a savings account, and more. Chase charges a $34 overdraft fee, but you can avoid it if you bring your account balance to less than $50 overdrawn by the end of the day.

The Chase mobile app is highly rated and packed with digital tools like mobile check deposit and a credit check tool. Chase also offers one of the best credit cards for young professionals.

Visit Chase Total Checking® | Learn more in our Chase Total Checking review

SoFi Checking

SoFi Checking and Savings

Visit 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.

2025 award winner Best Checking and Savings Combo

• Earn up to a $300 bonus and up to 4.50% APY⁴ <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 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 <a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/">sofi.com/banking</a>. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.</p><p>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.&nbsp;Additional information can be found at <a href="http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet" >http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet</a>.</p> on your money
• Limited-Time Offer: +0.70% Boost on Savings APY for 6 months on new accounts with eligible Direct Deposit. Terms Apply.⁵ <p>Earn up to 4.50% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.80% APY as of 8/5/25) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking &amp; Savings account and enroll in SoFi Plus by 9/3/25. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at <a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/#2">sofi.com/banking#2</a>. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member&nbsp;FDIC.</p>
• No account, overdraft, or monthly fees⁶ <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 Checking & Savings 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 early⁷ <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 million⁸ <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>

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on SoFi's secure website

The SoFi Checking and Savings account features no account-related fees, a network of 55,000 fee-free ATMs¹¹ <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 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.</p> , a high 0.50% (as of 01/24/25) APY with direct deposit, and integration with a high-yield savings account⁸ <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> , and you can get paid up to two days early when you set up direct deposit⁷ <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> .

SoFi checking account holders also get access to a suite of member perks, including a free session with a financial planner, a discount on your first mortgage, local networking events, and premium travel offers. Currently, SoFi is offering a $50-$300 bonus for setting up direct deposit.⁴ <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 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 <a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/">sofi.com/banking</a>. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.</p><p>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.&nbsp;Additional information can be found at <a href="http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet" >http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet</a>.</p>

The SoFi mobile app goes above and beyond mobile banking capabilities, allowing you to make in-app P2P payments and wire transfers and providing you with free credit score monitoring, budgeting tools, automated savings features, and customized financial insights to help you reach your goals.

SoFi is an online-only with no physical branches, but the company is highly rated for customer service on Trustpilot. SoFi also made our list of the best checking accounts.

Member FDIC.⁸ <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 Checking and Savings | Learn more in our SoFi Checking and Savings review

Axos Rewards Checking

Digital nomads will appreciate the Axos Rewards Checking account. The online bank reimburses account holders for all domestic ATM fees with no monthly limit, so you can get cash anywhere.

Axos also offers several opportunities to earn a higher APY, some of which are a no-brainer: Receiving at least $1,500 in monthly direct deposits gets you 0.40% APY, and a minimum of 10 monthly debit card transactions gets you another 0.30% APY, for example.

What's more, the Axos mobile app features free credit score monitoring, bill pay, mobile check deposit, and even online investing. And the bank doesn't charge any maintenance fees, overdraft fees, non-sufficient funds fees, or minimum balance fees.

Axos doesn't have physical branches, but it's easy to deposit cash through the bank's partnership with Green Dot Network.

Learn more in our Axos Bank review.

Current

Current

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• High APYs on up to $6,000 in savings
• Online-only banking service¹³ <p><b>Current is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group, Member FDIC.</b>.</p> offering individual and teen accounts
• Get paid up to 2 days faster with direct deposit¹⁴ <p>Faster access to funds is based on comparison of traditional banking policies and deposit of paper checks from employers and government agencies versus deposits made electronically. Direct deposit and earlier availability of funds is subject to timing of payer's submission of deposits.</p>
• No monthly maintenance fees¹⁵ <p>Some fees may apply, including out of network ATM fees of $2.50 per transaction, late payment fees of 3% of any total due balance outstanding and past due for two or more billing cycles, foreign transaction fees of 3% of the full transaction amount (minimum $0.50), card replacement fees per card of $5 for regular delivery and $30 for expedited delivery, cash deposit fees of $3.50 per deposit, and third party processing fees.</p>
• FDIC Insured through Choice Financial Group

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A Current¹³ <p><b>Current is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group, Member FDIC.</b>.</p> account comes with perks that can help young professionals build a strong credit history without the risk of debt, manage cash flow issues without overdraft fees, and start trading crypto without fees¹⁷ <p>Cryptocurrency services are powered by Zero Hash LLC and Zero Hash Liquidity Services LLC, and may not be available in all states. Terms and conditions apply. When you buy or sell cryptocurrency, a difference between the current market price and the price you buy or sell that asset for is called a spread. However, unlike most other exchanges Current does not charge an additional trading fee. Cryptocurrency transactions are a form of investment, and all investments are subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested. Cryptocurrency is not insured by the FDIC or any other government-backed or third-party insurance. Your purchase of cryptocurrency is not a deposit or other obligation of, or guaranteed by, Choice Financial Group or Cross River Bank. The cryptocurrency assets in your Zero Hash account are not held at Current, Choice Financial Group, or Cross River Bank. Current, Choice Financial Group, and Cross River Bank are not responsible for the cryptocurrency assets held in any Zero Hash account. Neither Current, Choice, nor Cross River Bank is involved in the purchase, sale, exchange of fiat funds for cryptocurrency, or custody of the cryptocurrencies. Terms and Conditions apply (platform and user agreements). Crypto on Current is not currently available in HI. Licensed to engage in Virtual Currency Business Activity by the New York State Department of Financial Services. This does not constitute investment advice.</p> .

The Build Card connected to your Current account works like a secured credit card to help you build credit with on-time payments, except that the credit limit automatically adjusts to match your account balance instead of requiring a separate deposit. It also earns cash back in select spending categories.

Current also offers direct deposit up to two days faster¹⁴ <p>Faster access to funds is based on comparison of traditional banking policies and deposit of paper checks from employers and government agencies versus deposits made electronically. Direct deposit and earlier availability of funds is subject to timing of payer's submission of deposits.</p> , or you can apply for a fee-free paycheck advance without a credit check. If you receive a minimum of $200 in monthly direct deposits, you'll also get fee-free overdraft, with a 60-day period to repay negative balances.

These features are helpful for young freelancers with unpredictable income. Current also offers an earnings bonus and automatic roundups to encourage you to save money.

Visit Current | Learn more in our Current Banking review

Discover^® Cashback Debit

While most other rewards checking accounts we reviewed limit your rewards to certain spending categories or come with fees, Discover^® Cashback Debit offers 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month¹⁹ <p>Earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month. See Deposit Account Agreement for details on transaction eligibility, limitations and terms. Deposit Account Agreement can be found at <a href="https://www.discover.com/content/dam/dfs/online-banking/documents/NationalDepositAccountAgreement.pdf">https://www.discover.com/content/dam/dfs/online-banking/documents/NationalDepositAccountAgreement.pdf</a>.</p> . Discover has the largest fee-free ATM network on our list, and you can also deposit cash at any Walmart store free of charge, though the online bank does not reimburse out-of-network ATM fees.

The Discover Cashback Debit account doesn't earn interest, but Discover makes it easy to automate saving your cashback earnings in a Discover^® Online Savings account that earns 3.50% APY with no minimum balance.

The bank doesn't charge any account-related fees, and you can receive your paychecks and tax returns early. Discover won a spot on our list of the best banks for millennials.

Details about Discover Cashback Debit have been collected by FinanceBuzz editors. This information is accurate as of the date of the review and was not reviewed or approved by the issuer. FinanceBuzz does not receive commission for this product.

Learn more in our Discover Checking review.

What's the difference between a checking account and a savings account?

Banks and credit unions typically offer two types of deposit accounts: checking and savings accounts.

Savings accounts are designed to hold money for the long term, so financial institutions may impose limits on withdrawals. Savings accounts are also more likely to earn interest than checking accounts. While the average earnings rate is only 0.38% (as of 7/21/25) APY, some high-yield savings accounts offer up to 4.00% APY or greater.

Checking accounts offer more flexibility. Most financial institutions offer a connected debit card that you can use to make purchases or withdraw cash from your account. You can often write checks, pay bills, and initiate transfers from your account as well. Some checking accounts don't earn interest, and those that do have relatively low APYs.

Some checking accounts offer a high APY or debit card rewards. While these are great perks, especially for young professionals who are just beginning their financial journey, you can get more bang for your buck if you also maintain a high-yield savings account and use a rewards credit card.

FAQs

Accounts that didn't make our list

A couple of checking accounts didn't make the cut but still deserve a mention.

Nbkc Bank Everything Account

The nbkc Bank Everything Account is a good option for young professionals, especially those who live in Kansas City, where the bank has physical branches. The account offers 1.75% APY with no requirements to earn the highest rate, and you can set individual savings goals.

There are no monthly fees, minimum balance requirements, or overdraft fees, and you can access over 90,000 fee-free ATMs and get up to $12 back each month for out-of-network ATM fees.

Ultimately, nbkc Bank lost out to Axos Bank, which offers the opportunity for a higher yield by meeting certain requirements as well as reimbursement for all domestic ATMs. But we still recommend nbkc Bank for young professionals seeking a high-yield checking account.

Capital One 360 Checking

The Capital One 360 Checking account features no monthly maintenance fees, minimum balance requirements, or overdraft fees. You get access to more than 70,000 fee-free ATMs, and you can also get support at one of Capital One's cafes or bank branches. The account earns 0.10% APY.

The Capital One 360 Checking account is a good choice for young professionals seeking a monthly fee-free account. You can earn a $250 bonus when setting up direct deposit²⁰ <p>1. Open a 360 Checking account on or after August 22, 2024, using promotional code CHECKING250. 2. Set up and receive at least 2 Qualifying Direct Deposits each of $500 or more to your 360 Checking account within 75 days of account opening. 3. Capital One will deposit the bonus into your account after the first two requirements listed above are completed. See full offer details and when the bonus will be posted at <a href="https://www.capitalone.com/bank/checking250/affiliate/">https://www.capitalone.com/bank/checking250/affiliate/</a>.</p> .

But the SoFi Checking account and the Discover^® Cashback Debit account offer similar benefits with additional perks. Both accounts don't have monthly fees or minimum balance requirements, but SoFi offers a higher APY and membership perks, and Discover offers cashback rewards.

Visit Capital One 360 Checking | Learn more in our Capital One 360 review.

Bottom line

It can be overwhelming to choose between the dozens of checking account options out there. Ultimately, the right checking account for you will depend on your finances and what you need from your bank — for example, how much money will you be keeping in your account, do you receive direct deposits, how often do you need to take out cash, and whether or not you will be writing paper checks — all of these will impact your choice.

We recommend looking for an account with few fees and no minimum balance requirements to give you flexibility while your income may still be low or variable. Check out our list of the best checking accounts with no monthly fees for some more options.

Methodology

We reviewed more than three dozen checking accounts to find the best ones for young professionals. First, we narrowed down the options to only those accounts that have all the following features:

• Either no monthly fee or an easy way to avoid the monthly fee
• No minimum balance requirements
• Access to at least 10,000 free ATMs
• No overdraft fees or a way to avoid overdraft fees
• Android and Apple mobile apps with at least a 4-star rating
• Mobile check deposit
• A connected debit card

We also eliminated accounts that had significant requirements to qualify for or benefit from the account. For example, we didn't include accounts that require you to have a credit card or investment account, and we didn't consider credit unions with membership criteria that would exclude most people from qualifying.

Once the list was narrowed down, we took the remaining five and compared customer reviews, customer service options, APY, rewards programs, out-of-network ATM fee reimbursement, digital tools and financial resources, integration with savings, bonuses, and other perks and features relevant to young professionals.

We chose categories based on the common needs of young professionals and selected a winner for each.