Compare SoFi and Chase
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Number of branches | 0 | 5,000+ |
Number of fee-free ATMs | 55,000+ through the Allpoint Network4 <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> | 15,000+ |
Mobile app ratings (out of 5) |
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Products offered |
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FDIC insurance | Yes5 <p><b style="font-family: Rubik, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", 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. 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 <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> | Yes |
Visit SoFi | Visit Chase |
Checking accounts compared
Monthly fee | Minimum opening deposit | |
SoFi Checking and Savings | $0 | $0 |
Chase Total Checking® | $15 or $06 <p>$15 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 FedNow(SM) 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> if:
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$0 |
Chase Secure Banking | $4.95 or $0 if:
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$0 |
Chase Premier Plus Checking | $25 or $0 if:
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$0 |
Chase First Banking | $0 with a linked Chase parent account | $0 |
Chase High School Checking | $0 with a linked Chase parent account | $0 |
Chase College Checking | $0 while in school (5 years max); $15 or $0 after graduation if:
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$0 |
Chase Sapphire Banking | $25 or $0 with an average beginning day balance of at least $75,000 across qualifying Chase accounts | $0 |
Chase Private Client Checking | $35 or $0 if:
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$0 |
When comparing SoFi and Chase checking accounts, I would recommend SoFi for most people. It earns up to 0.50% APY7 <p>SoFi members who enroll in SoFi Plus with Eligible Direct Deposit or by paying the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee every 30 days or SoFi members with $5,000 or more in Qualifying Deposits during the 30-Day Evaluation Period 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 stated interest rate. Members without either SoFi Plus or Qualifying Deposits, during the 30-Day Evaluation Period 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. If you have satisfied Eligible Direct Deposit requirements for our highest APY but do not see 3.80% APY on your APY Details page the day after your Eligible Direct Deposit arrives, please contact us at 855-456-7634. 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>. See the SoFi Plus Terms and Conditions at <a href="https://www.sofi.com/terms-of-use/#plus">https://www.sofi.com/terms-of-use/#plus</a>.</p> on checking balances when you simply set up direct deposits. For reference, the national average rate on checking accounts is just 0.07% (as of 9/15/25) APY. It doesn't charge monthly maintenance, minimum balance, or overdraft fees,8 <p>Overdraft Coverage is limited to $50 on debit card purchases only and is an account benefit available to customers with Eligible Direct Deposits of $1,000 or more during the current 30-day Evaluation Period as determined by SoFi Bank, N.A. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the "Start Date" and "End Date" set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the "30-Day Evaluation Period"). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Members with a prior history of non-repayment of negative balances are ineligible for Overdraft Coverage.</p> and SoFi doesn't require a minimum balance to open an account. SoFi Checking and Savings is one of the best rewards checking options.
Chase doesn't have minimum balance requirements either, but it does have monthly account fees on most of its accounts. However, Chase will waive the fee for all of its accounts if you meet certain criteria, such as maintaining a minimum average daily balance or linking to other qualifying Chase accounts.
Chase charges a $34 overdraft fee per covered transaction.9 <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> But that doesn't mean I would never recommend Chase over SoFi for checking. Chase offers more account options than SoFi, including accounts for children and teens, making it the better choice for families. Each Chase checking account, including those for children and students, includes a debit card. Chase is also the best option if you frequently deposit cash or need in-person assistance since it has physical branches. To deposit cash with SoFi, you need to visit a retailer that offers Green Dot services, and you may incur a $4.95 fee per deposit.
Read our SoFi review | Read our Chase review
Savings accounts compared
Monthly fee | APY | |
SoFi Checking and Savings | $0 | Up to 3.80% APY on savings balances with qualified direct deposit or 1.00% (as of 01/24/25) APY on savings balances without direct deposit |
Chase Savings | $5 or $0 if:
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0.01% (as of 04/04/25) |
Chase Premier Savings | $15 or $0 if:
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0.01%-0.02% (as of 04/04/25) |
When it comes to savings accounts, SoFi wins again. SoFi Checking and Savings earns up to 3.80% APY on savings balances with qualified direct deposit, and you may qualify for an even higher rate with a promotional savings boost. SoFi Checking and Savings is a combined checking and savings account, which can also be a perk because it means not having to transfer funds between accounts when you want to spend or save. However, you may see it as a disadvantage that SoFi doesn't provide distinct checking and savings accounts.
Chase, on the other hand, offers two savings account options, but both have very poor APYs on all balances. The national average rate on savings deposits is currently 0.4% (as of 9/15/25), so 0.01% (as of 04/04/25) (on Chase Savings) is extremely low. But it's worth noting that this rate isn't altogether uncommon compared to savings rates with other big banks, which aren't known for offering the most competitive yields.
In addition, you'll pay a monthly maintenance fee with either Chase savings account unless you meet the requirements to have the fee waived. SoFi does not charge monthly maintenance fees, so this one is a no-brainer.
Other banking products
In addition to checking and savings accounts, both SoFi and Chase have other banking products.
SoFi
SoFi offers a wide range of loans, including mortgages, home equity lines of credit (HELOCs), home equity loans, personal loans with a wide range of approved uses, and private student loans. The company, which (unsurprisingly) got its start as a lender, can also help you refinance certain types of student loans, including Parent PLUS loans, medical resident or professional loans, and law and MBA loans.
On top of this, SoFi provides three credit card options, including the SoFi Unlimited 2% Credit Card, which earns 2% on all other purchases. SoFi also offers a range of investing options, including retirement accounts, automated investing, and self-directed investing. SoFi® Invest is a great choice for beginners who want access to many asset classes.
However, SoFi doesn't offer two popular banking products: certificates of deposit (CDs) or money market accounts (MMAs).
Chase
Chase offers an exceptionally wide range of credit cards that include options for rewards, travel, and business. The Chase Sapphire Reserve®, one of its most popular, comes with an annual fee of $795 and earns 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠ (including The Edit℠), 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct, 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases. Chase credit cards often compete with cards from other big issuers like Capital One and Discover. Chase also offers home and auto loans, personal loans, and investing accounts in partnership with J.P. Morgan Wealth Management.
Chase provides other banking products as well, setting it apart from SoFi. Its CDs require a $1,000 minimum deposit, but you can find lower minimums and higher APYs with many online banks and financial technology (fintech) companies. It also provides business management accounts, including business checking, small business loans, and merchant services to help you process payments.
ATM and branch access
In terms of ATM access, SoFi wins, hands down. Through the Allpoint Network, SoFi has access to more than 55,000 fee-free ATMs nationwide. Fee-free ATMs are also found in popular stores like Target, Walgreens, and CVS, making them convenient to access.
Chase only has around 15,000 ATMs nationwide and doesn't charge a fee at Chase-branded ATMs. However, you will likely pay a $3 fee on top of any fee the ATM owner charges when you use an out-of-network ATM. Chase waives the $3 fee for Chase Sapphire Checking and Premier Savings account customers.
Customer service and support
SoFi
SoFi's support is available by phone or chat after you log in to your account.
Phone:
1-855-456-SOFI (7634)
Monday through Thursday, 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. PST
Friday through Sunday, 5:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PST
Chat:
Log in to your account to chat with a virtual assistant 24/7
The SoFi Help Center also offers a collection of articles to help you find answers to questions and resolve problems (though this can be a frustrating way to get solutions, in my experience).
Chase
Chase has an extensive customer service network, offering support via phone, email, and in-person visits to local branches.
Phone:
1-800-935-9935 for existing accounts
1-877-CHASEPC (242-7372) for mobile or online banking technical support
In person:
Find a local branch
Email:
Sign in to your account and use the Secure Message Center
Like SoFi, Chase also has an extensive library of help articles and self-service options through the Personal Banking Resource Center.
FAQs
Can I open both SoFi and Chase accounts?
Yes, you can have both SoFi and Chase accounts. In general, I find it more effective to use both online and traditional banks, as you can take advantage of the higher annual percentage yields and lower fees at online banks while still enjoying the in-person convenience of a traditional brick-and-mortar bank.
Are my deposits safe at both SoFi and Chase?
Both SoFi and Chase are FDIC-insured, which protects deposits up to $250,000 per depositor, per account type. SoFi's Insured Deposit Program offers up to $3 million in FDIC coverage through its network of partner banks.5 <p><b style="font-family: Rubik, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", 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. 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 <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>
Does SoFi or Chase have better budgeting tools?
SoFi has better online tools for calculating student loans and repayments. Chase offers mortgage and auto financing calculators, as well as the Chase Budget tool, through its mobile app. This tool enables users to create a budget based on their monthly income and planned expenditures.
Bottom line
When it comes to SoFi vs. Chase, many people could benefit from using both. And, if you're comparing the two, you might already be interested in both. I'd recommend keeping the majority of your savings in a SoFi account to take advantage of its high APYs and using Chase for times you want the option to visit a branch. That way, you can maximize your interest earnings and still get in-person support when you need it. But, if you want to choose one, consider SoFi if you don't need branch banking, as it charges fewer fees and provides more perks and benefits.
As you compare institutions and bank accounts, pay attention to the APYs offered, especially savings rates, as well as monthly fees, overdraft protection, and balance requirements.