Banking Bank Reviews

Best Online Banks of [2025]

Don't take choosing the right online bank lightly. See why online banks like Quontic, Discover, and Ally made our list.

Updated May 15, 2025
Fact checked

Online banking is more than a convenience. It's a way to earn more interest and save money on fees. Plus, you can get access to great features like savings buckets, high APYs, cash back opportunities, and electronic transfers.

Online banks and companies like SoFi®1, Discover, Ally, and Quontic are a few we recommend for digital banking. These platforms offer competitive savings rates. Capital One provides an especially smooth online banking experience, and Ally's spending and savings buckets help you organize your funds. See which one is the best fit for your financial future.

How we evaluate products

Best online banks comparison

Bank Best for Monthly Fees ATM availability
SoFi® Convenience None2 No ATM fees at 55,000+ Allpoint ATMs3
Discover High APY savings account None No fees at 60,000 ATMs
Ally Savings goals None No fees at 75,000+ Allpoint and MoneyPass ATMs
Quontic High checking account balances No fees, $100 minimum to open account 90,000 fee-free locations, including AllPoint Network ATMs, MoneyPass Network ATMs, SUM program ATMs, or Citibank ATMs
Capital One Mobile banking None No fees at 70,000+ Capital One, MoneyPass, and Allpoint ATMs
Varo Cash back on debit purchases None No fees at 40,000+ Allpoint ATMs

SoFi

Best for convenience

Account details:
  • ATM network: 55,000+ ATMs
  • Monthly fees: $0

SoFi® is a digital platform that offers one account, but that account is rewarding and unique enough to make this company worthy of our list. SoFi Checking and Savings accounts pay APYs significantly higher than the national rate of 0.41% (as of 4/21/25).1 What I'm most impressed with is the checking account APY of 0.50% (as of 01/24/25) with direct deposit — that's hard to come by at any bank. You can also earn up to 3.80% with direct deposit on your savings balances.4

Plus, if you have direct deposit of at least $1,000, you get up to $50 in overdraft protection at no cost.5 While I don't promote going over your balance, it's a nice feature to have in your back pocket. My favorite feature, though, is the option to set up automatic roundups on debit card purchases for automatic savings.

SoFi also offers a great rewards program for members who complete different account activities, like using a SoFi credit card or setting up bill pay. Points can be redeemed for savings and perks on other SoFi products.

SoFi is a Member FDIC. 6

Pros
  • High APY 
  • No monthly account fees or minimum balance requirements
  • Get paid up to two days early7
  • Often offers sign-up bonuses1
Cons
  • Must get both a savings and a checking account1

Visit SoFi Checking and Savings | Read our SoFi review

5.0
info
Financebuzz awards badge

2025 award winner Best Checking and Savings Combo

SoFi Checking & Savings - Earn Up to $300 When You Set Up Direct Deposit
Earn up to 3.80% APY4 and collect up to a $300 cash bonus with direct deposit or $5,000 or more in qualifying deposits.1 Limited-Time Offer: +0.20% Boost on Savings APY for 6 months on new accounts with Direct Deposit. Terms Apply.8 FDIC Insured.6
Learn More

Discover Bank

Best for a high APY savings account

Account details:
  • ATM network: 60,000 ATMs
  • Monthly fees: $0

If you have a chunk of change you want to earn a high APY on, Discover may be right for you. Its savings account offers a competitive APY at 3.60% with no monthly fee or minimum balance requirement.9

Discover also offers a cashback checking account. This is ideal if you already tend to pay for most of your expenses with your debit card, then you might as well earn a little cash back while you're at it. With the cashback checking account, you can earn up to $30 a month with its 1.00% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases, which is more interest than most people would earn on a regular basis.10 If you open a checking and savings account, you can get the best of both worlds, cash back and interest.

Like most online banks, Discover offers high-yield CDs, but the kicker is that they start at 12 months and require a $2,500 deposit.11 They don't offer 3-, 6-, or 9-month CD options, but they do offer terms from one to ten years, which is great for long-term goals, and the APYs don't get as low as most other banks with longer-term CDs. Member FDIC.

Pros
  • High APY on savings
  •  Cash back on debit card purchases10 
  • No fees
  • No minimum deposit required
Cons
  • Need $2,500 to open a CD
  • No physical branches

Visit Discover® Cashback Debit | Read our full Discover review

Ally

Best for savings goals

Account details:
  • ATM network: 75,000 ATMs
  • Monthly fees: $0

Saving up for a big trip or building an emergency fund can feel daunting, but I love that Ally has a simple solution to help me reach my goals with buckets. Think of them like subaccounts for either checking or savings. The spending buckets prevent you from spending funds saved for future expenses, and the savings buckets help you save for individual goals, such as a down payment on a house.

Ally Bank's Savings and Money Market accounts are both high-yield, which can also help your bank account grow. With no monthly fees and mobile deposit capabilities, it's easy to deposit money into your savings or money market accounts and earn interest daily. If you prefer to tie up your money a little longer, it offers some of the highest yields on CDs with options ranging from three months to five years.

Its checking account, which it calls a "spending account," even earns a little interest. It won't make you rich, but it's better than leaving your money sitting without earning interest. Member FDIC.

Pros
  • Spending and savings buckets 
  • Overdraft protection up to $250
  • Early access to direct deposit
  • Automatically save with round ups
Cons
  • No cash deposits

Learn more in our Ally review

Quontic

Best for high checking account balances

Account details:
  • ATM network: 90,000 ATMs
  • Monthly fees: $0

If you keep a high balance in your checking account and want your checking to earn some interest, consider banking with Quontic. You can earn up to 1.10% (as of 04/10/25) APY with its High Interest Checking on your balances, which is more than you'll get with the national average rate for interest checking at 0.07% (as of 4/21/25) APY12. You'll need to make at least 10 qualifying transactions of $10 or more each statement cycle to qualify for the rate. Quontic also offers another way to earn rewards for checking account customers by earning 1.0% cash back on all debit card purchases with its Cash Rewards Checking.

If you're also looking for somewhere safe to grow your savings, its High Yield Savings account earns 3.85% (as of 5/9/25) APY and only requires a $100 opening deposit. They also offer a Money Market Account that offers the best of both worlds. You earn a 4.25% (as of 03/05/25) APY, but also get a debit card and check writing privileges with only a $100 opening deposit.

Quontic also offers CDs from three months to five years with high interest rates, giving you the chance to put money away for longer-term goals.

Standout feature:
Quontic also offers something completely unique called the Quontic Pay Ring, which is a debit card in ring form. You can use it to make contactless payments at retailers that offer it and the ring is completely secure, just like a regular debit card would be.

Pros
  • Up to 1.10% (as of 04/10/25)
  • Pay Ring feature
  • Option to earn interest or cash back
Cons
  • No physical locations
  • Not as well known as other banks

Visit Quontic Bank | Read our Quontic Bank review

Move your money to this little-known (but highly powerful) account ASAP
Learn More

Capital One

Best for mobile banking

Account details:
  • ATM network: 70,000 ATMs
  • Monthly fees: $0

Capital One shines thanks to its mobile app, which is a necessity when it comes to online banking. You can use it to seamlessly manage your checking, savings, and credit cards all in one place. You can even check your credit score through CreditWise by downloading the CreditWise app.

Capital One is a personal favorite, as I've used both the checking and savings accounts for years. The checking account is truly fee-free, and applying for an account takes just minutes. You can even earn a little interest on your checking account balance with the 0.10% (as of 04/28/25), while the 360 Performance Savings account earns a much higher 3.60%.

For those longer term goals, Capital One offers three CD options with no minimum balance requirement, each of which are high-yield:

  • 11-month
  • 2-year
  • 5-year
Pros
  • No monthly fees
  • Easy-to-use mobile app
  • Some states have physical locations
Cons
  • No money market accounts
  • No cash deposits at non-Capital One ATMs

Learn more in our Capital One review

Varo

Best for cash back on debit purchases

Account details:
  • ATM network: 40,000 ATMs
  • Monthly fees: $0

I love that the Varo checking account offers a way to earn up to 6% cash back on debit purchases at select brands nationwide, so you can earn automatic cash back without giving it a second thought. You can earn up to 6% cash back when you spend at retailers like Kohl's, Fanatics, McDonald's, and more. You can also earn cash back if you decide to get a Varo Believe secured credit card. Its checking account has no monthly maintenance fees or minimum balance requirements.

If you have money to save, Varo offers a healthy 5.00% (as of 04/25/25) APY on up to $5,000, so I wouldn't suggest it if you have a large amount of money to save, but it can be good for smaller amounts. Plus, if you have a checking and savings account with Varo, they can round up your purchases to the nearest dollar and transfer the spare change to your savings account. It adds up faster than you think.

Plus, Varo solves the cash deposit problem that most online-only checking accounts face. You can deposit cash at 90,000+ retail locations by using Green Dot Reload, for a fee.

Pros
  • Cash deposit at 90,000+ retail stores
  • No monthly fees
  • Option to earn cash back
Cons
  • No out-of-network ATM fee reimbursement
  • Small ATM network

Read our full Varo review

Online banking pros and cons

Pros
  • Easy to access funds and manage accounts
  • Faster bill payments and transfers
  • Little to no fees
  • High APYs on your account balances
Cons
  • Less emphasis on in-person customer service
  • Potential data breach risks
  • Difficulty making cash deposits

Online banking offers many benefits including higher APYs, lower fees, and seamless money management 24/7 with a mobile app. But all of this comes with a tradeoff because you don't have access to physical branches, which for some people can be a downside.

When deciding if online banking is right for you, ask yourself if you're comfortable handling your transactions yourself or with phone support, and if you need to deposit cash often. Those are the two largest downsides of banking online.

I suggest having the best of both worlds, keeping an account at a brick-and-mortar location and also taking advantage of one of the best online banks and their many features.

Featured High Yield Savings Accounts

5.0
info
Financebuzz awards badge

2025 award winner Best Checking and Savings Combo

SoFi Checking & Savings - Earn Up to $300 When You Set Up Direct Deposit
Earn up to 3.80% APY4 and collect up to a $300 cash bonus with direct deposit or $5,000 or more in qualifying deposits.1 Limited-Time Offer: +0.20% Boost on Savings APY for 6 months on new accounts with Direct Deposit. Terms Apply.8 FDIC Insured.6
Learn More
4.8
info
Synchrony Bank High Yield Savings - 3.80% APY
Let your money work for you with great rates: count on it. Open a High Yield Savings account with Synchrony today. Member FDIC.13
Learn More

How to choose the best online bank account

Choosing the best checking account or the best savings account might not seem like a big deal, but it can save you money on fees, and help you earn more interest. When trying to decide where to open a new account, consider the following:

  • Fees: Look carefully at the fees charged by an online bank. Consider overdraft fees, account maintenance fees, and ATM fees, as they can add up quickly. Also, check for any other fees charged by the bank, such as foreign transaction fees and fees for accessing money from external accounts.
  • Minimums to open and maintain an account: Be sure to check the minimum amount needed to open an account, as well as the amount needed to maintain it. You should determine whether there are penalties for falling below the minimum.
  • Types of products: Online banks offer a variety of account types and products, so research the accounts offered by each bank you are considering. Gauge whether the various accounts meet your needs and savings goals. For example, some checking accounts focus more on rewards, while others focus on low fees.
  • Interest rates: Compare the interest rates offered by different online banks. The higher the interest rate, the more money you'll earn on your balance.
  • ATM Access: Make sure the bank has enough ATM access in your area to meet your needs. Additionally, check to see if your preferred accounts offer ATM rebates.
  • Mobile check deposits: If you're frequently paid by check, you'll need an account that allows mobile check deposits.

FAQs

What is the best online bank right now?

The best online bank is the one that fits your needs and has the features you prefer. You may want a bank with no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements. Opening a checking or savings account with a high APY may make sense for your financial goals. If you want easy access to cash, opt for a bank with an extensive ATM network. As you look for which bank to open an account with, keep the features you need the most in mind to make the best decision for your finances. 

Which online bank is the easiest to open?

Most online banks are easy to open. With all of the options on our list, it typically takes just a few minutes of entering personal details like your name, address, and Social Security number to open an account.

What is the safest online bank?

Any bank worth using will explain its security features and tell you if they're FDIC insured. Most online banks that discuss security protocols should be relatively safe to use. Before settling on a bank, make sure to read customer reviews to get a sense of any issues they've had with the bank.

Are online banks FDIC insured?

Yes, most online banks will be FDIC insured. Most banks insure your money up to the maximum of $250,000.

Banks that didn't make our list

Not all online bank accounts made the list. Here are a few others you may want to consider:

  • American Express: Only current American Express cardholders are eligible for the American Express bank account. If you're eligible, it doesn't come with any fees or monthly minimum requirements, plus you earn Membership Rewards when you use your debit card.
  • Charles Schwab: If you use Charles Schwab for your investment account, you may be eligible for a Charles Schwab checking or savings account. There are no monthly service fees and you can earn a small interest rate on your savings.

Bottom line

The online banking industry has come a long way in providing customers with safety, convenience, and competitive rates. Whether you're seeking a complete personal finance hub or a reliable checking account, selecting an online bank can help you achieve your financial goals as long as you don't mind not having a physical location to visit (in most cases).

With so many options available, it can be difficult to decide on the best bank to meet your needs. To narrow down your search, consider which factors are most important to you, such as fees, interest rates, and customer service.

Learn More
5.0
info
Financebuzz awards badge

2025 award winner Best Checking and Savings Combo

High APY of up to 3.80%4 with direct deposit
Paycheck access up to 2 days early7
No monthly maintenance or overdraft fees2
Streamlined savings and savings goals with Vaults
Access to a large ATM network3
SoFi is a member FDIC6