Banking Bank Reviews

Best Online Banks of 2024

Don’t take choosing the right online bank lightly. The wrong decision could cost you money in interest and monthly fees.

Updated Dec. 17, 2024
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.

Choosing the right online bank is a big decision since you often have to meet minimum balance requirements, or may come up against a limit for a high APY. Consider the features you need from an online bank and compare them to this list to see which is right for you.

How we evaluate products

Best online banks with checking accounts

Best online banks comparison

Bank Best for Monthly Fees ATM availability
SoFi® Convenience None1 No ATM fees at 55,000+ Allpoint ATMs2
Discover High APY savings account None No fees at 60,000 ATMs
CIT Non-frequent ATM users None, a minimum of $100 is required to open an account No ATM fees + $30 per month in reimbursements
Axos Wide selection of checking accounts None Unlimited ATM fee reimbursements
Ally Sub-accounts feature None No fees at 43,000+ Allpoint ATMs
Quontic High checking account balances No fees, $100 minimum to open account No fees at 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 Allpoint ATMs

SoFi

Best for convenience

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

SoFi’s Checking and Savings accounts pay APYs significantly higher than the national rate of 0.43% (as of 11/18/24).3 What I’m most impressed with is the checking account APY of 0.50% (as of 12/3/24) with direct deposit — that’s hard to come by at any bank. You can also earn up to 4.00% with direct deposit on your savings balances.4

There are no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements, and you can earn up to a $300 bonus for setting up direct deposit after opening an account and completing qualifying activities.3 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 just for making smart financial decisions. The app tells you what activities qualify, such as activating your debit card, setting up automatic bill payment, and monitoring your credit, and membership is free. You can redeem points for various SoFi products, such as loans, investment accounts, credit card statement credits, and booking travel through SoFi travel.

SoFi is a Member FDIC. 6

Pros
  • High APY
  • No monthly account fees
  • Get paid up to two days early7
Cons
  • Must get both a savings and a checking account3

Visit SoFi Checking and Savings | Read our SoFi review

5.0
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SoFi Checking & Savings - Earn Up to $300 When You Set Up Direct Deposit

Earn up to 4.00% APY3 and collect up to a $300 cash bonus with direct deposit or $5,000 or more in qualifying deposits.4 FDIC Insured.6

Learn More

Discover Bank

Best for a high APY savings account

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

Discover is more than a popular credit card company. It also offers robust banking products including a cashback checking account, high-yield savings, and long-term CDs.8 I like to think of the cashback checking account as the equivalent of a checking account paying interest because 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.9

However, its savings account offers a competitive APY at 3.75% with no monthly fee or minimum balance requirement.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
  • 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

CIT Bank

Best for non-frequent ATM users

Account details:
  • ATM network: n/a
  • Monthly fees: $0

CIT Bank is like many other online banks, but they don’t have an ATM network. While that might seem alarming at first, they reimburse customers up to $30 in ATM fees monthly. That leaves plenty of room for ATM use, but if you aren’t big on using them, this could be a good bank for you.

CIT Bank offers a checking account with no fees, three savings accounts which cater to customers with different balances, and term CDs ranging from 18 months to five years. They also offer jumbo CDs which require a $100,000 minimum deposit, but at much lower APYs.

Some of its other notable features include unlimited withdrawals, and easy money transfers through Zelle, Bill Pay, Samsung Pay, and Apple Pay using the checking account and a US-based customer service line for all customers available Monday through Saturday. Member FDIC.

Pros
  • $30/month for ATM fee reimbursement
  • Unlimited withdrawals
  • No monthly fees
Cons
  • Large minimum balance requirement to reach highest APY
  • No ATM network

Visit CIT Bank Platinum Savings | Read our CIT Bank savings review

Axos

Best for wide selection of checking accounts

Account details:
  • ATM network: 91,000 ATMs
  • Monthly fees: $0

Most checking accounts today do more than provide check-writing privileges and a debit card. I always look for features like Zelle, opportunities to earn cash back with my debit card, or ways to earn interest, and Axos Bank offers all of those. It has several checking accounts that cater to different types of consumers, and none have a monthly fee. My two favorites are:

  • Rewards Checking: Earn 3.30%12
  • Cashback Checking: Earn up to 1.0% cash back (up to $2,000 per month)

If you use debit cards frequently, you’ll likely earn more than you would with Rewards Checking, so do the math to determine which would earn you the most.

Axos Bank also offers a high-yield savings and money market account, as well as a First Savings account meant for teens to introduce them to the benefits of saving; however, the APY leaves a little to be desired.

Also, if you have a longer time to save your money, you can also open a 3- to 60-month CD, however, the rates are low compared to other online banks, so you may want to look elsewhere. Member FDIC.

Pros
  • No monthly fees
  • Unlimited ATM reimbursement
  • Option to earn interest or cash back on purchases
Cons
  • Low APYs on savings and CDs
  • Cash back only available on one type of checking account

Visit Axos ONE® | Read our Axos review

Ally

Best for sub-accounts feature

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

Ally Bank offers a suite of banking products including spending, savings, money market, and CDs. 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.

Ally Bank’s savings products are high-yield, helping you reach your financial goals quicker. 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.

What I love the most about Ally’s checking and savings accounts is the “buckets” they include. 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, vacation, and emergency fund. Member FDIC.

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

Visit Ally

Quontic

Best for high checking account balances

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

Quontic isn’t as well known as the other banks on the list, but they have a lot to offer including two ways to earn rewards for checking account customers. You can either earn up to 1.10% (as of 12/12/24) APY with its High Interest Checking on your balances or earn 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 4.00% (as of 11/19/24) 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 4.75% (as of 11/19/24) 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 12/12/24)
  • 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

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Capital One

Best for mobile banking

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

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 10/28/24), while the 360 Performance Savings account earns a much higher 4.00% (as of 10/28/24).

Other notable accounts include the Kids Savings account and MONEY Teen checking, both which help kids learn to manage money with parental supervision. 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

Where Capital One really shines, though, is in its mobile app. 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.

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

Visit Capital One | Read our Capital One review

Varo

Best for cash back on debit purchases

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

Varo offers a checking account with no monthly maintenance fees or minimum balance requirements. It also comes with the option to earn cashback rewards on your debit card purchases. You can earn up to 6% cash back when you spend at retailers like Kohl’s, Fanatics, McDonalds, and more. You can also earn cash back if you decide to get a Varo Believe secured credit card.

If you have money to save, Varo offers a healthy 5.00% (as of 12/11/24) 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

4.8
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Earn up to 4.75% APY

Earn up to 4.75% APY13when you open a new LevelUp Savings account and deposit $250+ per month. Member FDIC.

Learn More
5.0
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SoFi Checking & Savings - Earn Up to $300 When You Set Up Direct Deposit

Earn up to 4.00% APY3 and collect up to a $300 cash bonus with direct deposit or $5,000 or more in qualifying deposits.4 FDIC Insured.6

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

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
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High APY of up to 4.00%4 with direct deposit
Paycheck access up to 2 days early
No monthly maintenance or overdraft fees1
Streamlined savings and savings goals with Vaults
Access to a large ATM network2