Bank Accounts
Every account we track — consumer checking, high-yield savings, business banking, cash management and kids accounts — with the fees, APYs, plan tiers and fine print that decide where your money should live. Chasing a payout instead? See bank bonuses.
| Account | Type | APY | Monthly Fee | Plans | Rating | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Schwab Schwab Bank Investor Checking | Checking | 0.45% | $0 | — | 9.5 | International travelers and anyone who hates ATM fees on principle |
| SoFi Checking and Savings | Checking | Up to 3.80% savings with direct deposit (3.10% base + 0.70% promo boost); 4.50% on first $20k with SoFi Plus; ~0.50% checking | $0 | 3 tiers | 9.0 | Direct depositors who want bonus cash plus a top savings rate in one account |
| Ally Bank Spending Account | Checking | 0.10% under $15,000; 0.25% on $15,000+ | $0 | — | 8.8 | Anyone who wants dead-simple free online checking with great budgeting tools |
| Capital One 360 Checking | Checking | 0.10% on all balances | $0 | — | 8.5 | Anyone who wants a free primary checking account and doesn't need branches |
| Alliant Credit Union High-Rate Checking | Checking | 0.25% with eStatements and one monthly electronic deposit | $0 | — | 8.5 | Anyone who wants a full-service, member-owned primary bank with real ATM rebates |
| Axos Bank Axos ONE (successor to Rewards Checking) | Checking | Up to 0.51% checking + 4.21% savings with qualifying activity; 1.00% savings base | $0 | 2 tiers | 8.0 | Steady W-2 earners who can reliably clear the deposit-and-balance hurdle |
| Navy Federal Credit Union Free Easy Checking | Checking | 0.05% | $0 (requires direct deposit or 20 debit transactions per statement period to stay in the product) | — | 8.0 | Military members and families who want branch banking plus solid digital tools |
| Chime Checking Account | Checking | None on checking; linked savings pays 0.75% base, 3.00% with Chime+, 3.75% with Chime Prime | $0 (all tiers, including Prime) | 3 tiers | 7.8 | Paycheck-to-paycheck banking with real overdraft and advance tools |
| OnePay (formerly ONE) OnePay Cash | Checking | None on spending balance; 3.35% on savings with $500+ monthly direct deposit or $5,000+ balance, 1.00% otherwise | $0 | 2 tiers | 7.8 | Walmart regulars and cash-heavy earners who need free deposit access |
| Upgrade Rewards Checking Plus | Checking | None on checking; linked Performance Savings pays a top-tier rate with the same direct-deposit status | $0 | 2 tiers | 7.8 | Debit-first spenders who want credit-card-grade cash back without a credit card |
| Betterment Checking | Checking | None on checking; the separate Cash Reserve account carries the yield | $0 | — | 7.8 | Betterment investors and travelers who want every ATM and FX fee handed back |
| Chase Personal Checking | Checking | None on Total/Secure; 0.01% on Premier Plus | $15 (Total Checking), waived with $500 direct deposit or $1,500 balance | 5 tiers | 7.5 | People who want a branch on every corner and a recurring bonus machine |
| Huntington Personal Checking | Checking | None on Asterisk-Free; 0.02-0.03% on Perks tiers | $0 (Asterisk-Free) | 3 tiers | 7.5 | Midwest customers who want free checking with real overdraft forgiveness |
| Fifth Third Momentum Checking | Checking | None | $0 | — | 7.5 | Midwest and Southeast customers who want zero-fee checking with overdraft grace |
| Current Current Account | Checking | 4.00% boost on the first $2,000 in each of 3 Savings Pods ($6,000 total); balance above that earns nothing | $0 (premium tier made free in 2026; no paid plans remain) | — | 7.5 | Younger users who want advances, credit building, and a starter savings rate in one app |
| Varo Bank Bank Account | Checking | None on checking; Varo Savings pays 2.50% base and 5.00% on the first $5,000 with qualifying activity | $0 | — | 7.5 | Small-balance savers who want fintech features backed by a real bank charter |
| USAA Classic Checking | Checking | 0.01% on balances of $1,000+ | $0 | — | 7.3 | USAA insurance members who want banking under the same roof |
| LendingClub Bank LevelUp Checking (successor to Rewards Checking) | Checking | 1.00% on balances of $2,500+; nothing below $2,500 | $0 | — | 7.2 | LendingClub borrowers and everyday debit spenders in the bonus categories |
| Bank of America Advantage Banking | Checking | None on SafeBalance/Plus; 0.01% on Advantage Relationship | $12 (Advantage Plus), waived with $250 direct deposit or $1,500 balance | 3 tiers | 7.0 | Anyone willing to park investments at Merrill and milk Preferred Rewards |
| U.S. Bank Bank Smartly Checking | Checking | Token interest (0.01% on positive balances) | $12, waived with $1,500 direct deposits, $1,500 balance, a Smartly credit card, or Gold tier+ | 5 tiers | 7.0 | Smartly Visa holders and Midwest/West customers building a relationship |
| PNC Virtual Wallet | Checking | None on base Spend; token interest on Performance tiers and Growth account | $7 (base), waived with $500 direct deposits or $500 combined balance | 3 tiers | 7.0 | Budget-minded branch bankers who want overdraft protection done right |
| KeyBank Personal Checking | Checking | None | $0 (both Key Smart and Hassle-Free) | 2 tiers | 7.0 | Customers in Key's footprint who want unconditionally free checking |
| PenFed Credit Union Access America Checking | Checking | 0.15% up to $20,000; 0.35% from $20,000 to $50,000 | $10, waived with $500+ monthly direct deposit or $500+ daily balance | — | 7.0 | PenFed members consolidating around the credit union's loans and CDs |
| Wells Fargo Personal Checking | Checking | None on Clear Access/Everyday; token interest on Prime and Premier | $10 (Everyday), waived with $500 balance or $500 in electronic deposits | 4 tiers | 6.5 | Branch loyalists who want coast-to-coast coverage and the occasional bonus |
| Citi Checking | Checking | None at base; relationship tiers earn promotional rates on linked savings instead | $15 (Regular Checking), waived with $250+ in enhanced direct deposits | 5 tiers | 6.5 | Big-metro residents and anyone with $200k+ who wants Citigold perks |
| TD Bank Personal Checking | Checking | None on Complete/Essential; token interest on Beyond | $15 (Complete), waived with $500 direct deposits or $500 balance | 3 tiers | 6.5 | East Coasters who actually visit branches and value weekend hours |
| Truist One Checking | Checking | None | $12, waived with $500 direct deposits, $500 in linked balances, or a Truist credit card/loan/mortgage | 5 tiers | 6.5 | Southeast banking customers who run lean balances and hate overdraft fees |
| Citizens Personal Checking | Checking | None on One Deposit; token interest on Quest and Private Client | $9.99 (One Deposit), waived with any single deposit per statement period | 3 tiers | 6.5 | Northeast customers who want a branch account with zero fee anxiety |
| M&T Bank Personal Checking | Checking | None on EZChoice/Plus; token interest on MyChoice Premium | $0 (EZChoice) | 3 tiers | 6.5 | Northeast and Mid-Atlantic customers who want a free community-style branch account |
| Cash App (Block, Inc.) Cash App Card + Savings | Checking | None on spending balance; savings pays 1.50% base, 3.25% with Cash App Green ($300/month direct deposit or $500/month card spend) | $0 | — | 6.5 | Heavy Cash App users who want their P2P balance to finally earn something |
| Regions Personal Checking | Checking | None on Simple/LifeGreen; token interest on Preferred | $8 (LifeGreen), waived with qualifying direct deposit or $1,500 average balance | 3 tiers | 6.0 | Southerners who need branch access and can clear the direct-deposit waiver |
| Discover (now Capital One) Cashback Debit | Checking | None | $0 | — | 5.5 | Existing Discover checking customers riding it out until migration |