The right checking account depends on what you want from it. Each of these seven wins on one thing: fees, a sign-up bonus, ATM access, interest, overdraft cover or a first account for a teen.
Top picks
SoFi Checking and Savings
Chase Total Checking
Quontic High Interest CheckingFees, rates and offers verified on each bank’s site at this update. Terms apply.
The seven best checking accounts
Each account is the best of the seven at one thing. If a monthly fee is the only thing you want to avoid, see our best free checking accounts.
1. SoFi Checking and Savings
Best overallWhy we picked it No account, monthly or overdraft fees, no minimum to open and up to $450 in sign-up bonuses.
- No account or overdraft fees
- Up to $450 in sign-up bonuses
- No branches
- Top bonus needs $5,000 in 25 days
Up to $450: $400 for $5,000 or more in eligible direct deposits within 25 days ($50 for $1,000 to $4,999.99) through 12/31/2026, plus $25 for a first SoFi account funded with $50 or more and $25 for enrolling in SoFi Plus, a paid subscription, both listed through October 21, 2026. See SoFi for full terms. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.
2. Chase Total Checking
Best sign-up bonusWhy we picked it The lowest direct deposit bar here for a $400 bonus, at the one bank on this page with branches.
- $1,000 can span several paychecks
- More than 5,000 branches
- $15 monthly fee without a waiver
- New Chase checking customers only
Offer expires 01/27/2027. Not available to existing Chase checking customers, those whose accounts have been closed within 90 days or closed with a negative balance within the last 3 years. One new checking account opening bonus every two years. $0 Monthly Service Fee with any one of: $500+ in qualifying electronic deposits, a $1,500 balance at the beginning of each day, a $5,000 average beginning day balance across linked qualifying accounts, or a linked qualifying checking account. Otherwise a $15 Monthly Service Fee applies. Account subject to approval. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.
3. Axos ONE
Most fee-free ATMsWhy we picked it No monthly maintenance or overdraft fees, plus the largest fee-free ATM network of the seven.
- 95,000+ fee-free ATMs
- No monthly or overdraft fees
- Bundled with a savings account
- Checking base rate is 0.00% APY
Axos lists no monthly maintenance fees, no minimum balance requirements and no overdraft fees on Axos ONE. Checking earns 0.51% APY in a month with $1,500 in qualifying direct deposits and a $1,500 average daily balance, otherwise 0.00%. Rates are variable. Bank products and services are offered by Axos Bank, Member FDIC.
4. Quontic High Interest Checking
Best checking APYWhy we picked it The highest checking rate of the seven: 1.10% APY in any cycle with 10 debit purchases of $10 or more.
- 1.10% APY with 10 debit purchases
- No monthly or overdraft fees
- $100 minimum to open
- 0.01% APY without the 10 purchases
APY as listed by Quontic at this update: 1.10% on all balance tiers after 10 qualifying point of sale debit card transactions of $10.00 or more in a statement cycle, 0.01% if not. Rates may change without notice. Fees could reduce earnings. Quontic Bank, Member FDIC.
5. CIT Bank eChecking
Best without direct depositWhy we picked it Nothing here depends on direct deposit. CIT Bank refunds up to $30 a month in other banks’ ATM fees.
- Up to $30 a month in ATM refunds
- Interest with no activity rules
- $100 minimum to open
- No paper checks
APYs as listed by CIT Bank, effective July 1, 2026: 0.10% on balances under $25,000 and 0.25% with a $25,000 minimum balance. Rates are variable and may change at any time without notice. Fees may reduce earnings. CIT Bank is a division of First Citizens Bank. Member FDIC.
6. Current
Best for overdraft coverWhy we picked it Fee-free overdraft that can grow to $200 once you receive $200 in eligible payroll deposits over 35 days.
- Fee-free overdraft, up to $200
- $75 bonus with code WELCOME75
- $3.50 at out-of-network ATMs
- $5 a month after 12 idle months
$75 bonus: new users only, code WELCOME75 and $1,500 in eligible payroll deposits within the first 35 days. Current says overdraft limits may start at $25. Current is a financial technology company, not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group, Member FDIC, and/or Cross River Bank, Member FDIC.
7. Chase High School Checking
Best for teensWhy we picked it A first checking account for ages 13 to 17, with $125 after 5 qualifying transactions within 60 days.
- $0 monthly fee for ages 13 to 17
- $125 with no direct deposit
- Opened at a branch, not online
- Parent needs eligible Chase checking
Offer expires 01/27/2027. $0 Monthly Service Fee for students 13 to 17 at opening with the account linked to the parent or guardian’s personal checking. One new checking account opening bonus every two years. Account subject to approval. See Chase for details. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.
Compare the best checking accounts
| Account | Monthly fee | Minimum to open | Overdraft fee | ATM access | Bonus | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Our seven picks | ||||||
| SoFi Checking and Savings | $0 | None | $0 | 55,000+ ATMs | Up to $450 | Get up to $450 |
| Chase Total Checking | $15 or $0 | None listed | Applies over $50 | 14,000+ ATMs, branches | $400 | Get $400 |
| Axos ONE | $0 | None listed | $0 | 95,000+ ATMs | None listed | Open Axos ONE |
| Quontic High Interest Checking | $0 | $100 | $0 | 90,000 ATMs | None listed | Visit Quontic |
| CIT Bank eChecking | $0 | $100 | $0 | Up to $30 a month refunded | None listed | Open eChecking |
| Current | $0 | None | $0 | 40,000+ ATMs | $75 | Get $75 |
| Chase High School Checking | $0 ages 13 to 17 | None listed | See Chase | Chase ATMs, branches | $125 | Get offer code |
| Other checking accounts, for comparison | ||||||
 Capital One 360 Checking | $0 | None | $0 | 70,000+ ATMs | None listed | Visit Capital One |
 Ally Bank Spending Account | $0 | None | $0 | 75,000+ ATMs | None listed | Visit Ally Bank |
Fees, rates and offers verified on each bank’s site at this update. Terms apply.
How to choose a checking account
Start with how money moves through the account, not with the bank’s name. Three questions do most of the sorting: will your paycheck land here, do you ever need a branch or a cash deposit, and will you keep enough in the account for interest to matter.
If your paycheck is coming, direct deposit is what unlocks the extras: the sign-up bonuses at SoFi, Chase Total Checking and Current, early pay, and overdraft cover. Payday timing differs by bank, so compare banks with early direct deposit if a day or two matters. If no paycheck is coming, pick an account where nothing depends on one, such as CIT Bank eChecking.
If you deposit cash or want to sit down with a banker, a branch is worth working a fee waiver for, and Chase has more than 5,000 of them. If you never visit one, you can skip that trade and compare the best online banks.
Interest on checking is small and usually conditional. Quontic pays 1.10% APY only in a statement cycle with 10 debit purchases of $10 or more. If you would rather be paid for spending, compare rewards checking accounts and cash back debit cards. Money you will not spend this month belongs in a high-yield savings account, where the rate does not depend on swiping a card.
Running a business or freelancing? Keep that money separate in one of the best business checking accounts.
MoreHow to open a checking account
Checking account fees to watch
The monthly fee is the one everybody checks. Five of the seven accounts here do not charge one, and Chase High School Checking is $0 for students 13 to 17. Chase Total Checking charges $15 unless you meet one of four waivers, one of which is $500 or more a month in qualifying electronic deposits.
The fees that catch people are the smaller ones at the edges. These are the ones listed on each bank’s own pages.
| Fee to watch | When it applies | On this page |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | Each statement period you miss the waiver | Chase Total Checking charges $15. SoFi, Axos ONE, Quontic, CIT Bank and Current charge $0. |
| Overdraft | A purchase is larger than your balance | SoFi, Axos ONE, Quontic, CIT Bank and Current list no overdraft fee. Chase charges none if you are overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the business day. |
| Out-of-network ATM | You use an ATM outside the bank’s network | Current charges $3.50. CIT Bank refunds up to $30 a month of other banks’ fees. |
| Cash deposit | You add cash at a store | Current charges $3.50 per deposit. |
| Inactivity | The account sits unused | Current charges $5 a month after 12 inactive months. |
| Paid add-on | You opt in to a subscription | SoFi Plus costs $10 a month. It is optional. |
Overdraft is where accounts differ most. Some decline the purchase, some cover a small amount for free, and some charge a fee each time. If that is your main worry, start with what an overdraft fee is and how to avoid one.
How checking account bonuses work
A sign-up bonus is the bank paying for your direct deposit. You open the account, a set amount of direct deposit has to arrive inside a set window, and the bonus posts afterward.
The amount and the window are what differ. Chase pays new checking customers $400 once direct deposits total $1,000 or more within 90 days. SoFi pays $400 for $5,000 or more in eligible direct deposits within 25 days, or $50 for $1,000 to $4,999.99. Current pays $75 with code WELCOME75 after $1,500 in eligible payroll deposits in the first 35 days. Chase High School Checking is the exception: its $125 takes 5 qualifying transactions within 60 days and no direct deposit.
Two things trip people up. A transfer from your own bank account does not count as a direct deposit at any of the three, so the money has to come from an employer, a payroll provider or a government payer. And a bonus is taxable income. Chase reports it on Form 1099-INT. SoFi and Current use Form 1099-MISC.
No paycheck to move? Some offers pay for a balance or a few transactions instead. See bank promotions without direct deposit.
What FDIC insurance covers
FDIC insurance covers up to $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, for each account ownership category, if the bank fails. SoFi Bank, JPMorgan Chase Bank, Axos Bank and Quontic Bank are FDIC members, and so is First Citizens Bank, which CIT Bank is a division of.
Current is different. It is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services come from Choice Financial Group and Cross River Bank, both FDIC members, and pass-through coverage applies only if certain conditions are met. The insurance covers the failure of the bank, not of the app company.
Deposit insurance is not fraud protection. It pays out when an insured bank fails, and that is all it does. Here is what happens when a bank fails.
Before you open a checking account
Four things readers ask first.
Not to open any of the seven. You need it for the bonuses at SoFi, Chase Total Checking and Current, and for overdraft cover at SoFi and Current. Nothing at CIT Bank eChecking depends on it.
Banks screen applicants with reports from agencies such as ChexSystems, which track unpaid balances and accounts closed for cause. A denial at one bank is not a denial everywhere. Start with banks that don’t use ChexSystems.
Yes. Nothing here requires closing another account. Open the new one, move your direct deposit, and close the old one only after your bills and subscriptions have followed. Couples who share bills can add a joint bank account.
SoFi says you must be 18 to open an individual or joint account. Chase High School Checking is for ages 13 to 17, with a parent or guardian as co-owner. See how old you have to be to open a bank account.
How we chose these
The monthly fee and how to avoid it, the minimum to open, overdraft terms, ATM and branch access, interest, and the sign-up bonus. Each account had to be the best of the group at one of them.
Every fee, rate and offer was checked on the bank’s own page, offer page or account agreement at this update.
Banks can change fees, rates and bonuses, so confirm the terms with the bank before you apply.
Checking account FAQs
It depends on what you want from it. SoFi Checking and Savings is our pick for most people: no account, monthly or overdraft fees, no minimum to open and 55,000+ fee-free ATMs. Chase Total Checking is the pick if you want branches, and it pays new Chase checking customers $400 once direct deposits total $1,000 or more within 90 days. Quontic High Interest Checking pays the highest checking rate here, 1.10% APY in a statement cycle with 10 debit purchases of $10 or more.
SoFi Checking and Savings, Axos ONE, Quontic High Interest Checking, CIT Bank eChecking and Current all charge no monthly fee and list no overdraft fee. SoFi and Current have no minimum to open. Quontic and CIT Bank need $100. Chase Total Checking costs $15 a month unless you meet a waiver.
For most paychecks it is Chase Total Checking, which pays new Chase checking customers $400 once direct deposits total $1,000 or more within 90 days. SoFi pays up to $450, but $400 of that needs $5,000 or more in eligible direct deposits within 25 days, and $1,000 to $4,999.99 earns $50. Current pays $75 with code WELCOME75 after $1,500 in eligible payroll deposits in the first 35 days.
Of the seven here, Quontic High Interest Checking pays the most: 1.10% APY in any statement cycle with 10 debit card purchases of $10 or more, and 0.01% if you miss that. Axos ONE checking pays 0.51% APY in a month with $1,500 in qualifying direct deposits and a $1,500 average daily balance. CIT Bank eChecking pays 0.10% APY, or 0.25% with a $25,000 minimum balance, with no activity rules.
Often nothing. SoFi Checking and Savings has no minimum to open, and Current says no initial deposit is required. Quontic High Interest Checking and CIT Bank eChecking each need $100. You still have to pass the bank’s identity check before the account opens.
Yes, for six of the seven. SoFi, Axos ONE, Quontic, CIT Bank and Current are opened online or in an app, and Chase Total Checking can be opened online or at a branch. Chase High School Checking is the exception. It is opened at a branch with a parent or guardian, using an offer code Chase sends by email.
Chase High School Checking is our pick for ages 13 to 17 when a parent or guardian already has an eligible Chase checking account. It has a $0 monthly service fee for students 13 to 17 at opening, the teen gets their own debit card, and Chase pays $125 after 5 qualifying transactions within 60 days. The account is opened at a branch, not online.
