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Honest reviews of the best checking accounts, ranked on fees, ATM access, sign-up bonuses, and account type.
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Key Takeaways
Honest reviews of the best checking accounts, ranked on fees, ATM access, sign-up bonuses, and account type.
| Company | Rating | Monthly Maintenance Fee | Account Type | ATM Network | Sign-Up Bonus | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $0 | Credit Union | 80,000+ Fee-Free | None | |||
| $0 | Online Bank | 70,000+ Fee-Free | $250 | |||
| $12 (waivable) | National Bank | 15,000+ ATMs | $400 | |||
| $25 (waivable) | National Bank | 60,000+ (Unlimited Rebates) | $400 | |||
| $0 | Online Bank | 55,000+ Fee-Free | Up to $400 |
Happen Bank (formerly LendingClub) is a federally chartered online bank offering a full suite of deposit and loan products. Its LevelUp Checking has no minimum opening deposit and pays 2% cash back on Happen Bank loan payments when you receive a direct deposit that month, while LevelUp Savings reaches roughly 4.00% APY with a $250+ monthly deposit. The bank is BBB A+ accredited.
Best for: Debt consolidation and banking
4.6/5
Alliant is a digital-first credit union that ranks among the ten largest in the US, pairing high rates with low fees. Its High-Rate Checking pays up to 0.25% APY with eStatements and a monthly electronic deposit, and members get 80,000+ surcharge-free ATMs plus up to $20 a month in out-of-network ATM rebates. There are no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements on most accounts.
Best for: Digital credit union members
4.4/5
Capital One 360 Checking combines online banking with a network of Cafes and limited branches, charging no monthly fee and no minimum balance. It offers 0.10% APY, early direct deposit up to two days, a 70,000+ fee-free ATM network, and a $250 bonus for two direct deposits of $500+ within 75 days. Overdraft fees were eliminated in 2022.
Best for: Fee-free everyday banking
4.4/5
Chase offers the largest US branch and ATM footprint alongside some of the most generous checking bonuses. Total Checking costs $12 a month, waived with $500+ in electronic deposits, a $1,500 daily balance, or $5,000 in linked balances, and pays a $400 bonus for $1,000+ in qualifying direct deposits within 90 days. Overdraft Assist waives fees when you are overdrawn by $50 or less.
Best for: Big bonuses and branches
4.4/5
PNC Virtual Wallet with Performance Select bundles three linked accounts (Spend, Reserve, Growth) with a premium feature set. The $25 monthly fee is waived with $5,000 in combined balances or qualifying direct deposits, and the tier includes unlimited out-of-network ATM fee reimbursement. Low Cash Mode gives a 24-hour grace window to avoid the $36 overdraft fee, and new customers can earn a $400 bonus.
Best for: Premium 3-account bundling
4.4/5
SoFi is a digital-first national bank offering combined checking and savings with no monthly fee or minimum balance. Checking pays 0.50% APY and savings reaches up to 3.80% APY with qualifying direct deposit, and new members can earn up to $400 with qualifying deposits. It provides a 55,000+ fee-free Allpoint ATM network and extended FDIC coverage up to $2 million through a partner sweep network.
Best for: High-yield all-in-one banking
4.4/5
Ally is a branch-free online bank whose Spending Account earns interest (0.10% under $15,000, 0.25% above) with no monthly fee or minimum balance. It reimburses up to $10 per statement cycle in out-of-network ATM fees across a 75,000+ Allpoint and MoneyPass network, and offers direct deposit up to two days early.
Best for: Interest-earning online checking
4.3/5
E*TRADE, now part of Morgan Stanley, integrates banking with brokerage. Standard Checking has no monthly fee and refunds fees at any US ATM, while Max-Rate Checking pays up to 2.00% APY (with a $15 fee waived at a $5,000 average balance) and refunds ATM fees worldwide. Deposits are held at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, and it offers brokered CDs from 200+ banks.
Best for: Investors who bank together
4.3/5
Amex Rewards Checking is a high-yield checking account for existing American Express card members, paying 1.00% APY on the entire balance with no monthly fee or minimum. It earns one Membership Rewards point per $2 in debit purchases and offers a $300 bonus for $7,500+ in qualifying direct deposits within 90 days (through July 30, 2026). There are no branches and no cash deposits.
Best for: Existing Amex cardholders
4.2/5
Axos, the first US digital-only bank, offers Rewards Checking with up to 3.30% APY when you meet qualifying activities such as $1,500+ in monthly direct deposits and a set number of debit transactions. There is no monthly fee or minimum balance on its popular accounts, and it reimburses domestic ATM fees without limit across a 95,000+ ATM network.
Best for: Maximizing checking APY
4.2/5
Bank of America pairs roughly 3,800 branches and 15,000 ATMs with a highly rated mobile app. Its Advantage Plus Checking costs $12 a month, waived with one qualifying $250+ direct deposit or a $1,500 minimum daily balance. Customers with $20,000+ in combined balances unlock Preferred Rewards, boosting credit card rewards by 25% to 75%.
Best for: Preferred Rewards members
4.1/5
Bask Bank, the online division of Texas Capital Bank, offers Interest Checking paying 1.00% APY on all balances with no monthly fee. It stands out for pairing competitive short-term CDs with a unique Mileage Savings account that earns 2.5 American AAdvantage miles per dollar saved each year, plus access to 55,000+ surcharge-free Allpoint ATMs.
Best for: AAdvantage miles savers
4.1/5
Schwab Bank High Yield Investor Checking is built for travelers, offering unlimited worldwide ATM fee rebates and no foreign transaction fees, plus 0.45% APY and no monthly fee or account minimum. Opening the account automatically opens a linked Schwab One brokerage account with $0-commission trading.
Best for: Frequent international travelers
4.1/5
Wells Fargo pairs a large national branch network with a top-rated mobile app (4.9 stars, App Store) serving 70 million-plus customers. Everyday Checking costs $15 a month, waived with $500+ in electronic deposits, a $1,500 daily balance, or $5,000 in linked balances, and offers a $325 bonus for $1,000+ in qualifying direct deposits within 90 days. A fee-free Clear Access Banking option declines overdrafts.
Best for: Branch access with top app
4.1/5
Chime is a mobile-first fintech (not a bank; accounts are held at The Bancorp Bank or Stride Bank) serving 22 million-plus account holders with no monthly fee and no minimum balance. It offers fee-free overdraft up to $200 through SpotMe and a 47,000+ fee-free ATM network. It drew a $3.25 million CFPB penalty in 2024 and has faced criticism over account-closure practices.
Best for: Fee-free mobile-first banking
3.7/5
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