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Checking accounts are a safe place to keep money you need for everyday spending. Most checking accounts today make it easy to access your money, offer flexible withdrawal options, and are FDIC insured. And the best checking accounts have low or no fees, a high annual percentage yield (so your money is making money), and ATM fee reimbursement.
Ready to compare checking accounts? We've evaluated over 100 banks to find the accounts below -- our picks for the best checking accounts.
If you're short on time, here are three of the best bank accounts:
We pride ourselves on being able to confidently say that these checking accounts are chosen by personal finance experts that operate independently of our Partnerships team, meaning the picks on this page are not and never have been influenced by advertising deals.
Our Ratings team:
Offer | APY | Minimum to Earn APY | Rating | Promotion | Next Steps | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2024 Award Winner
SoFi Checking and Savings
Member FDIC.
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
up to 4.60%
Rate info
You can earn the maximum APY by having Direct Deposit (no minimum amount required) or by making $5,000 or more in Qualifying Deposits every 30 days. See SoFi Checking and Savings rate sheet at: https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
Min. to earn: $0
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
$0
|
New customers can earn up to a $300 bonus with qualifying direct deposits!
|
Offer Alert
New customers can earn up to a $300 bonus with qualifying direct deposits!
|
|
2024 Award Winner
Discover® Cashback Debit
Member FDIC.
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
0%
Min. to earn: N/A
|
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
N/A
|
Earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month (see details when you click 'Open Account')
|
Offer alert
Earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month (see details when you click 'Open Account')
|
|
2024 Award Winner
Axos Bank Rewards Checking
Member FDIC.
Rating image, 4.25 out of 5 stars.
4.25/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
0.40% (up to 3.30%)
Rate info
To earn the full APY, account holders must do all of the following: Receive monthly direct deposits totaling more than $1,500; make 10 transactions a month with your Axos debit card, or sign up for Axos's Personal Finance Manager; maintain an average daily balance of $2,500 per month in an Axos Invest Self Directed Trading Account; and use your Rewards Checking account to make your full monthly Axos Bank consumer mortgage, personal, or auto loan payment.
Min. to earn: Monthly direct deposits totaling at least $1,500
|
Rating image, 4.25 out of 5 stars.
4.25/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Monthly direct deposits totaling at least $1,500
|
Use the promo code AXOS300 when you apply for a Rewards Checking account by June 30th, 2024. Then have qualifying direct deposits to earn up to a $300 bonus!
|
offer alert
Use the promo code AXOS300 when you apply for a Rewards Checking account by June 30th, 2024. Then have qualifying direct deposits to earn up to a $300 bonus!
|
|
Quontic High Interest Checking
Member FDIC.
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
up to 1.10%
Min. to earn: $1
|
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
$1
|
High APY when you complete 10 or more qualifying debit card purchases each month
|
High APY when you complete 10 or more qualifying debit card purchases each month
|
|
Member FDIC.
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
1.00%
Rate info
APY = annual percentage yield
Min. to earn: $0
|
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
$0
|
N/A
|
||
Member FDIC.
Rating image, 3.50 out of 5 stars.
3.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
0%
Min. to earn: $0
|
Rating image, 3.50 out of 5 stars.
3.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
$0
|
N/A
|
||
Member FDIC.
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
up to 0.25%
Min. to earn: $1
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
$1
|
N/A
|
||
2024 Award Winner
Member FDIC.
Rating image, 4.75 out of 5 stars.
4.75/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
0.45%
Min. to earn: $0.01
|
Rating image, 4.75 out of 5 stars.
4.75/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
$0.01
|
N/A
|
||
Member FDIC.
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
0.10%
Min. to earn: $1
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
$1
|
N/A
|
||
Member FDIC.
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
0.40%
Min. to earn: $0
|
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
$0
|
N/A
|
||
Member FDIC.
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Up to 0.15%
Min. to earn: $2,500
|
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
$2,500
|
N/A
|
||
E*TRADE Max-Rate Checking
Member FDIC.
Rating image, 4.25 out of 5 stars.
4.25/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
3.00%
Min. to earn: $0.01
|
Rating image, 4.25 out of 5 stars.
4.25/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
$0.01
|
N/A
|
SoFi Checking and Savings
Offer Alert
For those who plan to set up direct deposit with their new account, we think SoFi Checking and Savings is hard to beat. Not only does this savings account offer a strong APY, but the linked checking account earns an above-average rate, too -- which is a rare perk. Plus, there's the opportunity for an up to $300 bonus and a long list of extra account features. Frankly, it's the kind of combo that could make it worthwhile to switch banking relationships.
You can earn the maximum APY either by making direct deposits into checking or savings, or by depositing $5,000 or more every 30 days. Learn more.
Discover® Cashback Debit
Offer alert
The Discover Cashback Debit account could be a lucrative option for those who frequently use their debit card. With cash back on eligible purchases, it's possible to earn even more than you could with a typical checking account APY without changing your habits at all. The fact that Discover has done away with many common checking account fees only adds to its appeal.
Axos Bank Rewards Checking
offer alert
A solid checking account with an APY that far outpaces the competition. The fact that it also has no maintenance fees and no overdraft or NSF fees are the cherries on top.
Use promo code AXOS300 and apply by June 30th, to earn up to a $300 bonus!
To be eligible to earn all or a portion of the cash incentive as part of the "AXOS300" $300 promotion, an Axos Bank Rewards Checking account that includes the promotional code "AXOS300" must be opened between November 1, 2023, at 12:00 am PST and June 30, 2024, at 11:59 pm PST. Axos Bank reserves the right to limit each primary account holder to one (1) checking account promotional offer per year, and customers who have held primary ownership of an Axos Bank or Axos Bank for Nationwide checking account at any time in the past 12 months may be disqualified from the "AXOS300" offer. Promotional terms and conditions are subject to change or removal without notice. Bonus cash may be taxable and reported on IRS Form 1099-MISC. Consult your tax advisor. After meeting the initial requirements mentioned above, the amount of cash bonus earned will depend on meeting the additional requirements outlined below:
To earn up to a $300 bonus, you must be approved for your new Axos Bank Rewards Checking account, fund it within 30 days of account opening, and have qualifying direct deposits that total at least $5,000.00 each calendar month during the first seven (7) calendar months your account is open as well as maintain a minimum average daily balance of $7,000. The minimum balance must be achieved and maintained through the first seven (7) calendar months your account is open including the month in which your account was opened. A cash bonus of up to $300 can be earned in the following manner during the first seven (7) statement cycles. A statement cycle is a calendar month consisting of the days your account was open during that month. A maximum of six (6) payouts of $50 for each calendar month that the Rewards Checking account is receiving the direct deposit and maintain a minimum average daily balance of $7,000 can be earned during the seven (7) statement cycles, and the bonus will be deposited into your Axos Bank Rewards Checking account within 10 business days following the end of the statement cycle in which the direct deposit requirement was met. Your Axos Bank Rewards Checking account must be open and in good standing at the time the bonus is paid to be eligible to receive the bonus, and your Axos Bank Rewards Checking account must remain open for 210 days, or an early closure fee of up to $300 may apply, equal to the amount of the total bonus earned up to $300.
A direct deposit is an electronic deposit of your paycheck or government benefits, such as Social Security, Disability etc. Other deposits (i.e., online banking transfers, ATM and mobile check deposits, etc.) or person-to-person payments are not considered a direct deposit.
A statement cycle is defined as a period of time that starts on the first day of the calendar month and ends on the last day of the calendar month.
Quontic High Interest Checking
Quontic High Interest Checking earns one of the highest APYs among checking accounts. Unfortunately, you must make 10 qualifying debit card purchases of $10 or more each statement cycle to earn the highest interest tier. Still, the account is a good option to maximize savings beyond other deposit accounts. Plus, it has no monthly fees and access to fee-free ATMs.
10 debit card point of sale transactions of $10 or more per statement cycle required to earn the maximum APY. If the qualifying activity requirement is not fulfilled, the interest rate paid on the entire balance will be 0.01% APY.
American Express Rewards Checking
With Amex Rewards Checking, you can earn 1 Membership Rewards point for each $2 of eligible debit card purchase. There are no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements for the account. You can redeem your points for deposits into your Amex Rewards Checking account and there is no cap on how many points you can earn. The account offers a high APY (annual percentage yield) and earns rewards but those are limited to certain options.
Betterment Checking
Betterment Checking is a no-fee account, with generous debit card cash back rewards, and 100% of foreign transaction and ATM fees are reimbursed. It also offers a robust mobile app to help you manage your finances and take advantage of its popular robo-advisor platform. However, it may not be a good fit for those who want to speak to someone face to face and have the need to deposit cash.
Ally Spending Account
The Ally Spending Account is an appealing option for those who are comfortable managing their money online. Its monthly ATM fee reimbursements give you the freedom to access your cash wherever you need to. That, plus its APY, means you should only make money with this account.
Schwab Bank High Yield Investor Checking
This free checking account is available to Schwab brokerage customers. Schwab offers unlimited domestic and international ATM reimbursements. Schwab also doesn't charge a foreign transaction fee (which can be 1% to 3% of transaction cost). In addition, there is no minimum deposit requirement and no minimum balance requirements.
Capital One 360 Checking
Capital One boasts a top-rated mobile app and has over 70,000 fee-free Capital One, MoneyPass, and Allpoint ATM locations. For those looking for face-to-face interaction, Capital One has over 450 locations and 50 Capital One Cafes, where customers can bank, get a cup of coffee, and ask for advice from a certified money coach. However the APY is lower than other online banks.
EverBank Yield Pledge® Checking
The EverBank Yield Pledge® Checking is a great fit for those who want no monthly fees.. While those with larger balances will benefit the most from this account, just about everyone will appreciate the rare debit card protections and ATM fee reimbursements many other online checking accounts skip.
LendingClub Rewards Checking
E*TRADE Max-Rate Checking
For those who want to earn more interest on their checking account balance, the Max-Rate Checking offers one of the highest APYs we've found. You'll need to keep an average monthly balance of $5,000 to waive the $15 fee, but you'll get fee reimbursements for ATMs worldwide.
We believe the best checking accounts typically have:
When you compare checking accounts, look at all of the above factors to get the whole picture for each account.
A checking account is a bank account designed for spending. Most checking accounts come with a debit card. Account holders can also take advantage of online bill pay services.
You can open a checking account online or in-person, through both traditional brick-and-mortar banks and an increasing number of online financial institutions.
Here are a few reasons to open a checking account, whether it be a high-interest online checking account or one from a traditional brick-and-mortar bank:
Here are some of the more common checking account fees you might see:
The best checking account offers include at least a low APY, but they can be hard to find. Most banks don't offer interest on their checking accounts.
This is particularly true of banks with brick-and-mortar operations. Keeping branches open is expensive and resource-draining, and the prevalence of checking accounts make them a prime target for cost cutting.
There are, however, exceptions to this no-interest standard. Interest-bearing checking accounts exist.
Unfortunately, these accounts often have relatively high opening and/or minimum ongoing balance requirements. The effort it takes to hit those marks, plus the funds they tie down, are not worthwhile for many customers, especially because many of the best interest-bearing checking accounts only offer a low APY.
You can sometimes find better APYs if you open a checking account online. Online-only banks have more wiggle room to pay interest since they don't bear those brick-and-mortar costs. It's not unusual to see interest-bearing online checking accounts. Even with the best online checking account, interest rates are generally much lower than what you'll find with online savings accounts.
You'll probably use your checking account a lot, so choosing the right one is important. Here are the basic questions you should ask to compare checking accounts:
If you can't decide between two similar checking accounts, look for extras that make one stand out. For example, some banks offer cash back on debit card purchases or out-of-network ATM fee reimbursements.
And remember: The best checking account offers for you might be different from the best checking account offers for your neighbor. Think about your lifestyle before deciding which account has the best bonus for your money.
Here's some important checking account terminology you should be familiar with:
Debit card | A payment card that's linked to a checking or savings account. Debit card transactions are approved based on the current balance of your account, and the money is immediately deducted. |
PIN (personal identification number) | A number that's typically four to six digit and is used to identify you when using your debit card for ATM withdrawals or in-store purchases. |
Insufficient funds | If you write a check or attempt to spend more money than you have in your checking account, the transaction may be rejected for insufficient funds. |
Overdraft | The result of a transaction that causes your account to have a negative balance. Overdrafts usually carry fees. |
Mobile or remote deposit | Most checking accounts allow customers to make check deposits from their smartphone or other mobile device by uploading a photo of the check, thereby saving a trip to the bank. |
A checking account is great for paying bills, because it's easy to get money in and out of a checking account. Savings accounts tend to earn more interest, which make them perfect for saving money over long periods of time.
High-yield savings accounts typically have higher APYs, which makes them a better choice for an emergency fund or other cash you don't anticipate using anytime soon but don't feel comfortable investing. But savings accounts also have restrictions that limit the number of withdrawals you can make per month and the ease of access you have to your money.
Checking accounts are intended to be spending accounts used for everyday purchases. They have fewer limitations on the number of payments or withdrawals you can make each month. But they usually don't have a high APY like savings accounts do, even if they are high interest.
At The Motley Fool Ascent, we rate checking accounts on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). We evaluate all checking accounts across four main criteria: brand and reputation, APY and rewards, fees and minimum requirements, and perks.
Our scores are weighted as:
Our aim is to maintain a balanced list featuring top-scoring products from reputable brands offering standout features. Learn more about how The Motley Fool Ascent rates bank accounts.
Here are the 100+ financial institutions we've evaluated in our research:
Alliant, Ally, All America Bank, American First Credit Union, American Express® National Bank, Arvest Bank, Aspiration, Axos Bank, B2 Bank, Bank of America, Bank5 Connect, Bank7, Barclays, Bask Bank, Betterment, Bluevine, BMO, Bread Financial, Capital One, Carver Federal Savings Bank, Charles Schwab Bank, Chase, Chime, CIT, Citibank, Citizens Bank, Citizens Savings Bank, Columbia Bank, Connexus Credit Union, Consumers Credit Union, Copper, Cross River Bank, Customers Bank, Discover® Bank, E*TRADEEdward Jones, EverBank, Fidelity, Fifth Third Bank, First Foundation Bank, First Internet Bank of Indiana, First National Bank, First Tech Federal Credit Union, Flushing Bank, Freedom Bank, Generations Bank, GN Bank, Golden 1 Credit Union, Greenlight, Harborstone Credit Union, HSBC, Huntington Bank, Ivella, Jenius Bank, Kabbage by American Express, KeyBank, Laurel Road, LendingClub, Liberty Bank, Liberty Federal Credit Union, Marcus by Goldman Sachs, Mercury, Municipal Credit Union, Mutual of Omaha, My Banking Direct, NASA Federal Credit Union, Nationwide Bank, Navy Federal Credit Union, NBKC Bank, New York Community Bank, NexBank, Northpointe Bank, Novo, OceanFirst Bank, Old National Bank, ONE Finance, OneUnited Bank, Oxygen, Pacific Western Bank, PNC Bank, Ponce Bank, Popular Direct, Presidential Bank, Prime Alliance Bank, Quontic, Radius, Raisin, Redneck Bank, Regions Bank, Relay, Republic Bank of Chicago, Revolut, Salem Five Bank, Sallie Mae, Santander Bank, SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, Simple, SoFi, Synchrony Bank, Tab Bank, TD Bank, Third Federal, Truist Bank, U.S. Bank, UFB, Upgrade, USAA, Valley Bank, Vanguard, Varo Bank, Vio Bank, Wealthfront, Wells Fargo, Western Alliance Bank, and Zeta.
A checking account is a bank account designed for spending. Most checking accounts come with a debit card. Account holders can also take advantage of online bill pay services.
It contrasts with a savings account, which is intended for -- yes -- saving. Savings accounts usually don't have debit cards, because banks don't expect you to spend the money in your savings account.
You can open a checking account online or in person, through both traditional brick-and-mortar banks and an increasing number of online financial institutions (like that new banking app your coworker won't stop raving about).
Checking account costs vary dramatically. Some have multiple fees, such as maintenance charges, overdraft fees, and ATM fees, while others are entirely fee free.
Some checking accounts, especially those offered by online banks, earn interest on deposits. But it's usually a small amount.
While some banks offer checking accounts with rewards, not all of them do. If earning rewards is important to you, make sure any bank or credit union you're considering offers this opportunity.
Rules vary based on the financial institution. Conditions for earning a bonus may include:
You can see even more checking account options on our Best Checking Account Promotions page.
Our Banking Experts
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.