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Joint checking accounts are great for splitting costs, sharing bills, and combining finances. They're often used by couples, family members, and business partners. Below, we'll take a closer look at joint checking accounts and the best joint checking accounts.
Show Best Offers Available in
Offer | APY | Minimum to Earn APY | Rating | Next Steps | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
SoFi Checking and Savings
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 |
0.50%
Rate info
You can earn the maximum savings 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, 4.75 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
|
||
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
|
||
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
|
||
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
|
||
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
|
||
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 |
0.25%
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
|
||
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
|
||
2024 Award Winner
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: $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
|
||
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 |
0.45%
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
|
Show Best Offers Available in
SoFi Checking and Savings
offer alert
With no fees or minimums and tools designed to maximize your savings, the combo account is a good fit for individuals who want to do most of their banking in one place online. The account offers flexibility to access or move funds, especially if your employer's payroll system allows you to access the bank's early direct deposit benefit.
Discover® Cashback Debit
Offer alert
Couples looking for a rewards account may want to consider Discover's Cashback Debit joint account. Joint account holders earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month. Couples who don't want a credit card can still earn cash back. Each joint account holder can use their debit cards to maximize their rewards. Discover has over 60,000 fee-free ATM locations. Plus, there are no minimum deposit and balance requirements, and customers who sign up for the optional overdraft protection will not be charged non-sufficient funds (NSF) fees. Account holders can receive their paycheck up to two days early when they set up direct deposit. The bank offers no APY.
Axos Bank Rewards Checking
offer alert
Earn 0.40% (up to 3.30%) APY for those who meet requirements for the APY tiers. Axos also offers unlimited domestic ATM reimbursements. There are no monthly maintenance fees, zero overdraft and NSF fees, as well as zero minimum monthly balance requirements. In addition, business owners can use Axos' small business products and commercial lending and banking services. Axos has a minimum deposit requirement of $50, and you need to make recurring direct deposits to earn interest.
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.
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.
Alliant High Rate Checking
Alliant is a credit union with no monthly or overdraft service fees as well as a wide range of financial products. Alliant offers ATM fee rebates up to $20 a month at over 80,000 fee-free ATMs nationwide. Any couple can qualify for membership. Joint account holders can bank from anywhere using their highly rated mobile app. The bank offers a competitive APY if you opt in for paperless statements and at least one recurring direct deposit.
Ally Spending Account
Ally offers joint account holders a checking account with an above-average APY of up to 0.25% and no monthly maintenance fees or minimum balance requirements. Ally has over 43,000 no-fee ATMs and it will reimburse up to $10 per statement cycle for fees charged at other ATMs nationwide. Ally doesn't charge for ACH transfers, incoming wires, or cashier's checks. Ally also offers a double line of defense against accidental overdrafts that are fee free.
Capital One MONEY Teen Checking Account
Capital One offers a joint account for kids age 8 and over. Parents and teens have their own mobile app logins for MONEY. Teens can manage their money, while parents have visibility and control. Capital One has over 70,000 fee-free ATM locations. The bank has 450 locations and 41 Capital One Cafes, where students can bank, get a cup of coffee, and get advice from a certified money coach. Plus, there are no minimum deposit or balance requirements, no foreign transaction fees, and no overdraft fees. Capital One also offers early direct deposit, so some students with jobs can access their paychecks up to two days early.
EverBank Yield Pledge® Checking
Couples who have an investment account at TIAA may want to consider opening a joint bank account at TIAA. TIAA has over 80,000 fee-free ATM locations and also reimburses ATM fees up to $15 per statement cycle. (However, customers need to maintain a minimum balance of $5,000 to qualify for the reimbursement.) Plus, there is no minimum deposit or minimum balance requirement, and no NSF fees. The account offers an APY of 0.45% and states it will guarantee the APY to be within the top 5% of "competitive accounts."
Wait a second. How'd these particular joint checking accounts make it onto this page? We'll tell you: The crew here at The Ascent, a Motley Fool Service recommends these joint checking accounts to our friends and family. That means we only list the good stuff -- big banks can't pay their way onto this page! Our litmus test is, would we recommend these joint checking accounts to Uncle Eric as he's talking shop over the pumpkin-heavy Thanksgiving spread? Yep. You can bet on it.
The best banks for joint checking accounts make it easy to access your money, have low or no fees, are FDIC insured, and have other benefits. Here are some factors to consider when choosing the best joint bank account:
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is an independent federal agency that insures a customer's bank deposits up to $250,000 (per ownership category). Accounts at FDIC-insured banks are protected by the federal government up to the maximum limit. The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) is the FDIC equivalent for credit unions. This insurance protects and reimburses customers up to $250,000 if the credit union fails. Verify that any joint checking account you're considering is either insured by the FDIC or NCUA.
Checking account fees are one of the biggest factors when picking a joint checking account. Look for joint bank accounts that offer low or no monthly service fees. You'll also want to see what the bank charges for overdraft protection, wire transfers, non-sufficient funds (NSF) fees, and other hidden fees you may not be aware of.
Some banks require minimum deposits to open a joint checking account. Customers who don't meet the minimum requirements will often have to pay the monthly service fee. For most people, it's best to find a bank that either has a low minimum amount or doesn't require one at all.
More people are beginning to use online-only banks. Some prefer to bank in person. It is important the joint account holders agree on what type of bank to use. For online-only banks, you will want to ensure the bank's mobile app or online website is easy to use and fully functional. For those who prefer a branch with physical locations, check to ensure there are convenient locations near you.
You want your bank to be as accessible as possible. If you often pay with cash, you will need access to in-network ATMs to avoid any ATM fees. If you only have access to out-of-network ATMs, look for banks that offer generous ATM-fee reimbursements.
Each bank offers different rewards and APYs on its checking accounts along with other benefits. Some banks offer a new account bonus. Shop around to see which joint checking account offers the best deals and how to maximize the benefits.
A joint checking account may be right for you if you want to:
Being able to trust the other person is key to opening a joint checking account. If you want to keep your money and transactions private, then a joint account may not be right for you.
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, 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, NASA Federal Credit Union, Nationwide Bank, Navy Federal Credit Union, NBKC Bank, New York Community Bank, 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 joint checking account is typically for couples, family members, or business partners. You do not have to be married to open a joint checking account.
Closing a joint checking account is similar to closing any other bank account. You will have to show ID to prove you are an account holder. You will need to withdraw or transfer any funds in the account and then fill out the appropriate paperwork either online or on paper requesting the account be closed. There may be an account closure fee.
The pros of a joint checking account are:
The cons of a joint checking account are:
Both credit unions and traditional banks offer joint bank accounts. Those looking to open a joint bank account should find the best bank that best suits their needs and helps them meet their goals.
Our Banking Expert
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.