Your choice of checking account can make or break your finances, whether you’re using it to get your paychecks from your employer through direct deposits, everyday checking, paying off bills, or just a safe place to stash your savings.
In 2022, there are countless checking accounts to choose from. Some have a monthly charge, some come with additional benefits, and some just offer the most basic functions.
A great checking account won’t have any hidden charges and will meet all your banking needs – offering online banking, great customer services, earning you interest on your cash and account benefits.
Today we’re going to explore some of the best checking accounts available in 2022, including their pros, cons, and fees.
Best Checking Accounts for 2022
A free account with unlimited ATM fee reimbursements. You don't have to worry about keeping a minimum balance with Axos' Rewards Checking. As with the bank's other checking accounts, there are no monthly fees, and all fees charged by domestic ATM operators are reimbursed. Axos doesn't charge any ATM fees itself.
| Provider | Minimum Deposit | Interest Rate | Signup Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Axos Bank | $50 | Up to 1.25% on balances up to $50,000 | $150 |
| Acorns Checking | $0 | 0.00% | $10 |
| SoFi Checking and Savings | $0 | 2.50% | $275 |
| Aspiration | $0 | 5.00% | |
| LendingClub | $100 | 0.10 to 0.15% | |
| NorthOne | $50 | 0.00% | $20 |
| CIT Bank | $1,000 | 0.25% | |
| Chime | $0 | 1.50%¹ | |
| Ally Bank | $0 | 0.25% | |
| Heritage | $50 | 0.05% |
| Bank/institution | MMG Rating | APY | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|
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1. Axos Bank – Best overall
Axos Bank Rewards Checking account pays up to 1.25% APY total; however, balances above $50,000 do not earn interest. Although the rate is very competitive, you will have to complete some additional steps to earn the full APY.
After you meet certain transaction or direct deposit qualifications within a statement cycle, you will have access to increased earning potential at one of the five rewards tiers. In addition to interest earnings, account holders can take advantage of surcharge-free ATM withdrawals at approximately 91,000 ATMs across the country. Plus, the bank offers unlimited domestic ATM fee reimbursement.
This account not only provides helpful online and mobile features for daily money management, but also allows you to manage your debit card, set up auto-pay for bills, and pay friends and family–all from your account dashboard.
At Axos, it’s easy to open an account and there are no fees for insufficient funds.
Pros:
- Highly competitive tiered interest rate structure
- You will never be charged monthly, for an overdraft, or if there are insufficient funds.
- You will be reimbursed for any ATM fees domestically
- Tools to help you manage your money every day
Cons
- Balances over $50,000 won’t earn any interest
- If you want to earn higher interest, you’ll need to meet stricter monthly requirements
A free account with unlimited ATM fee reimbursements. You don't have to worry about keeping a minimum balance with Axos' Rewards Checking. As with the bank's other checking accounts, there are no monthly fees, and all fees charged by domestic ATM operators are reimbursed. Axos doesn't charge any ATM fees itself.
Acorns is the only checking account and heavy metal debit card that invests when you spend and automatically invests a portion of every paycheck.
An Acorns Personal account is $3 a month but you can get all-in-one investing, retirement, and checking—plus much more.
Then you can instantly invest spare change and save from no hidden fees with over 55,000 fee-free ATMs within the AllPoint Network nationwide and around the world.
They even let you automatically invest money before you spend it and get paid up to 2 days early with direct deposit.
Get the checking account that saves and invests for your future, plus receive a $10 bonus through this link!
Pros:
- All in one banking
- Unlimited ATM fee rebates
- Rewards for spending
- $10 bonus for new users
Cons:
- Monthly fees of $3/month
Acorns Checking provides a checking account with no minimum balance or overdraft fees and access to 55,000+ fee-free ATMs. Join today and claim a $75 bonus.
3. Aspiration – Best high-interest checking account
With so many checking accounts available, it can be difficult to decide which checking account is best for you. Thankfully, the Aspiration Spend & Save account is a versatile account that provides a positive impact on our planet and reduces your carbon footprint. And unlike a traditional checking account, the Aspiration account maintains separate checking and savings balances.
If you’re hoping to save and spend, then this might just be the account for you. Not only is it easy and convenient to deposit and withdraw cash with an Aspiration bank account, but you can actually earn up to 10% cash back on debit card purchases and up to 1.00% APY on savings. It’s usually the more expensive, premium accounts that offer this, but with this account, you can get it all for free.
Charges and fees can be overwhelming, especially if you’re trying your hardest to save. If you’re looking to avoid bank fees, you’ll be delighted to hear that you’ll get zero check deposit fees, zero overdraft fees, zero debit card fees and zero inactive and dormant account fees.
Pros:
- Great customer service
- Large ATM network (55,000)
- 10% of every dollar paid to Aspiration goes to charities that help struggling Americans to build a better life
- Digital debit card available while waiting for the physical card to arrive in the mail
Cons:
- No physical branches
- Only available to US residents
- Requires a minimum deposit of at least $10 to open an account
With Aspiration Spend & Save™, get the world’s first cash back account that lets you track the impact of your spending - all managed through one intuitive app.
4. NorthOne: Best checking account for freelancers
Looking for a checking account to separate your personal and business expenses? NorthOne is a great place for freelancers to start their business banking. It’s a standout bank that takes just $50 to open an account. The bank has a low monthly maintenance fee of only $10 but doesn’t have any monthly balance requirements or minimum deposits.
NorthOne has some of the best integration and features:
- Works with billing systems like Stripe, Quickbooks, Shopify, and Square
- Supports all modern payments types
- Pay invoices
- Simple and powerful insights into your cashflow
Interest-bearing accounts are not available, but you enjoy unlimited fee-free transactions and a ton of online tools to help you manage your business banking. You also don’t need a branch to operate your account with NorthOne banks because mobile banking and mobile check deposit are available. Overall, NorthOne is one of the best banks for freelancers.
Pros:
- Unlimited fee-free transactions
- Digital banking tools
- Integrate with business tools
- Great customer support
- $20 welcome bonus
Cons:
- $10 monthly fee
- Can’t send or receive international wires
NorthOne offers a variety of online and digital tools to manage your business banking. Open an account in as little as 3 minutes. Join now with no commitments, no minimum balance, cancel anytime.
5. CIT Bank: Best fee-free checking account
CIT Bank’s products are perfect for preparing for unexpected emergencies, growing funds for a down-payment on a dream home, saving up for a loved one’s future, or anything in between. CIT Bank has recently started a new online Checking Account that earns up to 0.25% APY. However, if you have a balance less than $25,000 you will earn an 0.10% APY.
Easy account management through the mobile app, including depositing checks and transferring funds. You’ll need a minimum of $100 to open. But if you do open an account, you can use any ATM with an eChecking debit card without paying any CIT fees and receive up to $30 per month to offset other bank’s ATM charges. Plus, you can make online payments from eChecking with Zelle, Bill Pay, Samsung Pay, and Apple Pay. And no opening or monthly fees.
Pros:
- No ATM fees
- No monthly fees
- Online and mobile banking is easy and convenient
Cons:
- No branches
Online and mobile banking is easy and convenient with an eChecking account. CIT customers can access checking accounts 24 hours a day online or through the mobile app. Checking accounts can be opened with a $100 minimum opening deposit.
6. Chime: Best for helpful savings options
Hidden fees can be a nightmare – especially when they creep up on you the week before payday! Luckily, Chime offers an account that boasts no hidden fees and a zero-interest overdraft! There’s not really much more you can ask for when browsing for checking accounts.
This is one of the more modern accounts available – in 2022, not many people actually do in-branch banking, so moving with the times, Chime doesn’t actually have any branches or ATM’s of their own.
It’s surprisingly quick and easy to sign up, and unlike many other current accounts, you can have a starting balance of zero.
Chime has increased their Annual Percentage Yield and is now offering 1.50% APY¹ on your Savings Account. That’s 11x2 the national average!
It’s refreshing to see a bank that profits with you instead of profiting off you. For every transaction made on a Chime debit card, Chime earns a small amount from Visa, which is paid by the merchant – not by yourself or the account holder.
Pros:
- No hidden fees and charges
- Helpful automatic saving options
- You can access your direct deposits sooner than competitors
Cons:
- Some of the banking services are limited (no branches or group ATM’s)
Chime is an award-winning mobile banking app with no monthly fees that can get you paid up to 2 days early with direct deposit. With over 135,000+ five-star reviews, Chime makes mobile banking easy with a modern and intuitive banking app that handles everything from tracking your spending and savings to paying friends.
¹ The Annual Percentage Yield (“APY”) for the Chime Savings Account is variable and may change at any time. The disclosed APY is effective as of August 25th, 2022. No minimum balance required. Must have $0.01 in savings to earn interest.
2 The average national savings account interest rate of 0.13% is determined by FDIC as of August 15, 2022 based on a simple average of rates paid (uses annual percentage yield) by all insured depository institutions and branches for which data are available. Visit National Rates and Rate Caps to learn more.
7. SoFi Checking and Savings – Best for all-in-one app
SoFi Bank is a checking and savings account that offers you so much. If you’re looking for a free online bank where you can easily invest, save, with one app — this is it.
You can get paid up to 2 days early, earn 2.50% APY, no-free overdraft coverage and up to a $275 welcome bonus.
You can do it all from the app where you can deposit checks, get real-time alerts, freeze or unfreeze your card, change your pin, and more.
Pros:
- 2.50% APY on your money on the first $50,000
- All in one banking
- Free ATM access at 55,000+ locations
- 2-day early paycheck
- Automatic savings features
- No fee overdraft coverage
- Cash back offers
Cons:
- No physical branches
- 24/7 phone support is not available
Earn more on your money with 2.50% APY and up to a $275 bonus when you direct deposit into a SoFi Checking and Savings account. Plus, pay no account or overdraft fees, get 2-day-early-paycheck, and more.
8. Lending Club Rewards Checking: Best rewards checking account
LendingClub offers 1+% cash back, ATM fee rebates and no monthly or hidden fees with it’s Rewards Checking. It’s a full service bank available at your fingertips with the beautifully made app where you can deposit checks, view real-time transactions, pay bill and transfer funds, manage your budget and track spending, and improve your financial health.
- Earn unlimited 1% cash back
- Receive unlimited ATM fee rebates
- No monthly maintenance or overdraft fees
- No minimum balance or transaction requirements
You can meet qualification requirements to start earning 1% cash back on qualified purchases made with your Rewards Checking debit card. Similar to other digital banks, you can set up direct deposit into your account and you’re eligible to receive your money up to 2 days earlier.
Pros:
- Receive your paycheck 2 days early
- Unlimited refunds on out-of-network ATM fees
- Overdraft protection
Cons:
- $100 minimum opening deposit
- Must have $100,000 in your account to earn the highest APY
- Interest compounds monthly, not daily
Apply online for a free checking account today and start earning 1+% cash back on everyday purchases.
9. Ally Bank: Best for customer service + user friendly mobile app
If you’re on the market for a simple account that offers easy money management features, quick and easy ways to bank, and a great customer service support system, then you’re sure to love the Ally interest checking account.
This is a great bank if you’re looking to manage your savings, but unfortunately, to get a meaningful interest rate, you’ll need around $15,000 in the account.
The bank account allows you to set up automated savings, which is extremely useful for those more forgetful customers. You can set your regular payments into certain categories, such as bills and luxuries – and it automatically sorts your expenses for you.
Access a special savings booster when you have a checking and Online Savings Account with Ally Bank. They’ll track transactions they can round up to the nearest dollar, then transfer to your savings.
Pros:
- The app is efficient and easy to use
- Great for budgeting – can set goals
- No minimum to open an account
- No monthly fees or charges
Cons:
- No branches
- No way to deposit cash
10. Heritage: Best for all around banking experience
In 2022, there are bank accounts that pretty much offer everything, which can be more harmful than helpful. Sometimes, you just want a basic, no-frills account that can hold your money for you.
The checking accounts that Heritage offers are just that – simple accounts that will enable you to do your banking with ease.
Unfortunately, the most basic checking account that Heritage offers (The Base Checking Account) have a monthly fee of $7, which can be waived with a minimum balance of $100.
With this account, you can earn money as you spend money. You’ll receive $0.10 for each signature transaction made with your VISA debit card, thanks to the Heritage Bank a Dime a Time Rewards Program.
Pros:
- No monthly service charge
- Variety of accounts to choose from
- Unlimited checks
Cons:
- Interest rates could be better
- $100 minimum opening balance for a standard checking account
How to Choose a Checking Account
You’ve settled on a bank or credit union, but which checking account will work best for you? Here are some things to consider.
- Monthly maintenance fees. Remember that you are planning to do a lot of banking with your new checking account. Fees for checking accounts can range from $0 – $35 per month, depending on how you use the account. If you want an account without fees, or offer ATM fee reimbursements or overdraft protection, most banks offer free checking options or discounts for certain types of accounts.
- Minimums. Some banks require a minimum balance to keep the account open or charge a fee for accounts that fall below a certain balance (minimum balance requirements). If you know you’ll only have a small amount of money in your checking account at any given time, it might be best to find an account with a lower minimum like Current.
- APY. APY stands for Annual Percentage Yield. You might want to earn interest on your cash, and if that’s the case, you’ll want an account with a high APY. Be sure to compare APYs between different banks, as they can vary significantly.
- Customer service. You’ll have to deal with customer service reps from time to time, so it’s good to know what to expect. Consider whether you want to work with a person or an automated system when you call the bank, and then choose accordingly.
- Digital experience. If you prefer to bank online, make sure the bank offers a site that meets your needs like online bill pay and is easy to navigate.
- Retail locations. You might also want to consider whether there’s a branch or ATM location near you if you plan on stopping by in person frequently.
- Safety. This is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a checking account. Make sure the bank is FDIC or NCUA insured and has a good reputation for security.
- Brokerage accounts. If you’re also looking for a place to invest your money, many banks offer brokerage accounts as well. This can be a convenient way to manage all of your finances in one place.
Choosing the right financial institution is the first step, and from there you need to decide what type of checking account is best for you.
Is Online Banking Safe?
Is online banking safe and secure? A ton of people believe that it isn’t — you may have heard from a friend or family member that their card was skimmed or robbed at an ATM or you may have experienced it yourself.
But the short answer is yes. Banks that are online-only are safe, given that they have FDIC insurance. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation is an independent federal agency insuring deposits in U.S. banks and thrifts in the event of bank failures. So if you are a member of an online bank that has FDIC insurance, your money is insured up to $250,000.
So even in the event that a hacker steals your money, you will be safeguarded. Your online bank has to reimburse you for your losses if reported within 60 days. This is a reason why many people track their finances on a weekly basis by using free money management tools like Mint and Personal Capital.
However, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be aware of the risks associated with online banking.
Best Checking Accounts for 2022
In summary, choosing the right checking account depends on your preferences and needs as a consumer.
Do you want a checking account where you can deposit cash whenever you want? Then an online checking account may be not for you.
But if you want extra features or a higher interest rate than national banks provide, a checking account from an online bank is quite favorable.
You also need to consider what you plan to use your checking account for. If you are a frequent traveler, it might be beneficial to find a checking account that does not charge foreign transaction fees.
Or if you tend to use your debit card more often than writing checks, make sure the account has a good ATM network.
Some banks offer benefits for students, seniors, or members of the military.
And some checking accounts are fee-free forever, while others waive the monthly fee only the first year.
Any one of these factors can make an account more or less favorable than another account. So there is no easy answer to ‘What is the best checking account?’
The answer to that question depends on you.
