Short on cash or got turned down by a bank before? You can still open a bank account online with no deposit, usually in a few minutes, from your phone.
Quick answer
The easiest way to open a bank account online with no deposit is Current: you sign up in the app, put $0 down, and get $75 with code WELCOME75 once your paychecks start landing there. The top three are Current, Chase Secure Banking℠ and Quontic High Interest Checking, though Quontic needs $100 to open.
Our top picks
Current
App-based checking with no deposit to open
Open it with $0 and get $75 when you set up direct deposit
- Enter WELCOME75 and have $1,500+ in pay hit the account within 35 days
- Direct deposit paychecks can show up as much as 2 days sooner
Continue securely on Current’s site
Only for people new to Current. Current sets the terms.
Chase Secure Banking℠
Chase’s basic, no-frills checking
Open it with $0 and get $175 after 10 purchases or payments in 60 days
- $0 monthly fee with $250+ in qualifying electronic deposits, or if you’re 17 to 24
- No overdraft fees
Continue securely on Chase’s site
Bonus is for people new to Chase checking. Chase sets the terms.
| Account | Open online | Minimum deposit | Monthly fee | Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current | Yes, in the app | $0 | $0 | $75 with code WELCOME75 |
| Chase Secure Banking℠ | Yes | $0 | $4.95 or $0 | $175 |
 Quontic High Interest Checking | Yes, about 3 minutes | $100 | $0 | None shown |
 SoFi Checking and Savings | Yes, in the app | $0 | $0 | Up to $400 |
 Capital One 360 Checking | Yes | $0 | $0 | None shown |
 Ally Bank Spending Account | Yes | $0 | $0 | None shown |
 Varo Bank Account | Yes, in the app | No minimum balance | $0 | None shown |
 Marcus Online Savings Account | Yes | $0 | $0 | None shown |
Tap an account name to jump to its section.
All eight open online. The first four pay you to open them or earn interest. The rest are $0 to open with no monthly fee, they just don’t pay a bonus.
Best Bank Accounts to Open Online With No Deposit
1. Current
App-based checking with no deposit to open
Best for: anyone who needs an account today and has $0 to put in
Nothing to deposit, no monthly fee, and $75 once your paychecks start going here.
Use code WELCOME75 at sign-up. Our link applies it too.
- $75 when payroll deposits add up to $1,500 or more within 35 days of opening (code WELCOME75)
- Direct deposit paychecks can arrive up to 2 days sooner
- Eligible members can get a Paycheck Advance of up to $1,000
- It’s a fintech app, not a bank, so your FDIC coverage comes through its partner banks
- Adding cash at a store costs $3.50, and so does an out-of-network ATM
Continue securely on Current’s site
Only for people new to Current. Current sets the terms.
2. Chase Secure Banking℠
Chase’s basic, no-frills checking
Best for: anyone who wants a real bank, branches and all, with nothing down
Sign up online with no opening deposit, then make 10 purchases or payments in 60 days and Chase adds $175.
- You can open it without putting any money in
- Debit purchases, bill pay and Zelle all count toward the 10 transactions for $175
- The fee drops to $0 at $250+ a month in qualifying electronic deposits, or if you’re 17 to 24
- Miss both fee waivers and it’s $4.95 a month
- Already have Chase checking? No bonus for you
- At 17 you have to go into a branch to open it
Continue securely on Chase’s site
Bonus is for people new to Chase checking. Approval required. Chase sets the terms.
3. Quontic High Interest Checking
Checking that earns interest if you swipe your card a lot
Best for: debit card users who can spare $100 to start
Not a $0 account: you need $100 to open it. In return your checking earns 1.10% APY when you use your debit card 10 times a cycle.
- The application takes about 3 minutes and doesn’t touch your credit score
- Hit the card target and the whole balance earns 1.10% APY that cycle
- No monthly fee and no overdraft fees
- $100 opening deposit, so it’s not truly no deposit
- The rate takes 10 debit purchases of at least $10 every cycle
Continue securely on Quontic’s site
The rate can change at any time. Quontic sets the terms.
4. SoFi Checking and Savings
A checking and savings pair in one app
Best for: anyone with a paycheck to move over who wants checking and savings in one place
$0 to open, no account fees, and up to $400 back once your direct deposit is set up.
- A cash bonus of up to $400 for setting up direct deposit
- No minimums and no account fees
- SoFi charges nothing at 55,000+ Allpoint ATMs
- Online only, so there’s no branch to walk into
- Overdraft coverage tops out at $50 and only kicks in with $1,000+ in direct deposits
More Bank Accounts You Can Open Online With No Deposit
5. Capital One 360 Checking
Online checking from a big bank
Best for: no-fee checking with lots of free ATMs
6. Ally Bank Spending Account
Online checking with no fee to keep it
Best for: everyday spending with no monthly charge
7. Varo Bank Account
An app bank with no minimum balance
Best for: people who bank from their phone
8. Marcus Online Savings Account
A savings account from Goldman Sachs
Best for: parking cash next to whatever checking you pick
Can you open a bank account online with bad credit?
Yes, most of the time. Banks don’t judge a checking account on your credit the way they would a loan or a card, so you don’t need a stellar credit score to get one.
What they do check is ChexSystems, a report of past bank trouble like unpaid overdrafts or accounts closed with a negative balance. If that’s been a problem, Chase Secure Banking℠ is the account Chase points people to when they need a second chance. You can also look at banks that don’t use ChexSystems.
One tip: pay off any old balance you owe a bank first. It won’t erase the record, but it makes the next application a lot easier.
What you need to open an account online
Every bank on this page asks for about the same things. Have your Social Security number, a driver’s license or other government ID, your phone and an email ready, and the application goes fast.
Most online applications want you to be 18. Here’s how old you have to be if you’re younger. First time doing this? Our guide on how to open a checking account walks through it step by step, and our list of the easiest bank accounts to open online has more picks.
How to keep a $0 account free
$0 to open doesn’t always mean $0 to keep. Check the monthly fee and how to waive it before you sign up.
Chase Secure Banking℠ is the one here with a fee, $4.95 a month, and it’s $0 if you get $250 or more in qualifying electronic deposits or you’re 17 to 24. The rest charge no monthly fee at all. More ways to dodge charges are in our guide to avoiding bank fees.
Want a bonus but don’t have a paycheck going in yet? Chase pays its $175 for everyday purchases and payments, not direct deposit. You can find other bank promotions without direct deposit requirements too, and a few banks let you get paid two days early once you do set it up.
Bottom line: if your paycheck comes by direct deposit, open Current. If you’d rather have a big bank with branches, go with Chase Secure Banking℠. Neither one asks for a deposit to open.
FAQs
Yes. Current, Chase Secure Banking℠, SoFi Checking and Savings, Capital One 360 Checking, Ally Bank Spending Account and Marcus all open with $0, and Varo has no minimum balance. Quontic High Interest Checking is the exception: it needs $100.
Pick an account that opens in the app, like Current or Chase Secure Banking℠. You confirm your identity with your Social Security number and ID, and most people finish in a few minutes. Neither needs a deposit to open.
Usually, yes. A checking account doesn’t need good credit the way a loan or card does. Quontic High Interest Checking, for one, says applying has no impact on your credit score.
Many banks check ChexSystems for past overdrafts or closed accounts. Chase Secure Banking℠ is the account Chase points people to when they need a second chance, and there are also banks that don’t use ChexSystems.
Current gives you $75 with code WELCOME75 once $1,500 or more in payroll deposits lands in your first 35 days. Chase Secure Banking℠ gives people new to Chase checking $175 for 10 qualifying transactions in 60 days. SoFi Checking and Savings pays up to $400 with direct deposit.
Have your Social Security number, a photo ID such as a driver’s license, a phone number and an email ready. You usually need to be at least 18 to apply online.
