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12 Tina’s Test Roundup

The best online checking accounts offer special features and good remote customer service.

Updated: Jul 1, 2021
Amrita Jayakumar
Written by 
Amrita Jayakumar
Lead Writer
Damaris Olaechea
Edited by 
Damaris Olaechea
Fact Checked
Damaris Olaechea
Co-written by 
Damaris Olaechea
Amrita Jayakumar
Written by 
Amrita Jayakumar
Lead Writer
Damaris Olaechea
Edited by 
Damaris Olaechea
Fact Checked
Damaris Olaechea
Co-written by 
Damaris Olaechea

Many or all of the products on this page are from partners who compensate us when you click to or take an action on their website, but this does not influence our evaluations or ratings. Our opinions are our own.

To open an online checking account, you'll want to look at what's offered by online banks, credit unions and nonbank financial institutions. The best online checking accounts have low or no fees and higher interest rates than traditional banks do, in part because of the money online banks save by not operating branches.

These accounts are secure, backed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. or the National Credit Union Administration. (Although they are not technically banks, nonbanks offer most of the same services that traditional institutions do.)

Why trust NerdWallet: Our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage to help you choose the financial accounts that work best for you. See our criteria for evaluating banks and credit unions.

These accounts are secure, backed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. or the National Credit Union Administration. (Although they are not technically banks, nonbanks offer most of the same services that traditional institutions do.)

Here are our favorite online checking accounts.

  • I am expanded initially

  • I am expanded initially

Strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage to help you choose the financial accounts that work best for you. See our criteria for evaluating banks and credit unions.

More than 90 financial institutions surveyed by our team of experts.

More than 50 data points considered for each bank and credit union to be eligible for our lists. For this CD list, three data points were considered per institution.

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Tina’s Test Roundup

ELIGIBLE FOR
REWARD
Bank/institutionNerdWallet rating APYBonusMonthly feeOverdraft star ratingLearn more

SoFi Checking and Savings

Learn moreon partner's site
at SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC
5.0/5
Best for Checking Accounts
0.50%
With $0 min. balance for APY
Up to $300
Earn up to $300 with direct deposit. Terms apply.
$0
5.0/5
Learn moreon partner's site
at SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC
USAA Bank Classic Checking

USAA Bank Classic Checking

4.4/5
0.01%
With $1,000 min. balance for APY
N/A
$0
3.5/5
Capital One 360 Checking

Capital One 360 Checking

Learn moreon partner's site
at Capital One, Member FDIC
4.8/5
0.10%
With $0 min. balance for APY
$250
Earn up to $250 with 360 Checking. Terms Apply.
$0
4.5/5
Learn moreon partner's site
at Capital One, Member FDIC
Chime Checking Account

Chime Checking Account

Learn moreon partner's site
at Chime®, Deposits are FDIC Insured
4.6/5
N/A
N/A
$0
5.0/5
Learn moreon partner's site
at Chime®, Deposits are FDIC Insured
LendingClub Rewards Checking

LendingClub Rewards Checking

4.9/5
0.10%
With $2,500 min. balance for APY
N/A
$0
4.0/5
Quontic High Interest Checking

Quontic High Interest Checking

4.9/5
1.10%
With $0.01 min. balance for APY
N/A
$0
3.8/5
Axos Bank® Rewards Checking

Axos Bank® Rewards Checking

4.9/5
3.30%
With $0 min. balance for APY
N/A
$0
4.8/5
Varo Bank Account

Varo Bank Account

Learn moreon partner's site
at Varo Bank, Member FDIC
4.5/5
N/A
N/A
$0
5.0/5
Learn moreon partner's site
at Varo Bank, Member FDIC
Discover® Cashback Debit

Discover® Cashback Debit

Learn moreon partner's site
at Discover® Bank, Member FDIC
5.0/5
N/A
$360
Up to $360 per year. See website for details.
$0
5.0/5
Learn moreon partner's site
at Discover® Bank, Member FDIC
Ally Bank Spending Account

Ally Bank Spending Account

4.8/5
0.10%
With $0 min. balance for APY
N/A
$0
5.0/5
Bank5 Connect High Interest Checking

Bank5 Connect High Interest Checking

4.5/5
2.00%
With $100 min. balance for APY
N/A
$0
4.8/5
Nationwide Interest Checking

Nationwide Interest Checking

4.5/5
0.10%
With $0 min. balance for APY
N/A
$0
4.0/5

Our pick for

Checking Accounts

ELIGIBLE FOR $100 IN REWARDS
SoFi Checking and Savings
Learn moreon partner's site
at SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC
NerdWallet rating
5.0/5
Learn moreon partner's site
at SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC

APY

0.50%

With $0 min. balance for APY

Bonus

Up to $300

Earn up to $300 with direct deposit. Terms apply.

Monthly fee

$0

Overdraft star rating

5.0/5

Why We Like It

SoFi’s Checking and Savings account earns a 0.50% APY (variable and subject to change) on the balance in its checking portion.

NerdWallet rating
4.4/5

APY

0.01%

With $1,000 min. balance for APY

Bonus

N/A

Monthly fee

$0

Overdraft star rating

3.5/5

Capital One 360 Checking
Learn moreon partner's site
at Capital One, Member FDIC
NerdWallet rating
4.8/5
Learn moreon partner's site
at Capital One, Member FDIC

APY

0.10%

With $0 min. balance for APY

Bonus

$250

Earn up to $250 with 360 Checking. Terms Apply.

Monthly fee

$0

Overdraft star rating

4.5/5

Chime Checking Account
Learn moreon partner's site
at Chime®, Deposits are FDIC Insured
NerdWallet rating
4.6/5
Learn moreon partner's site
at Chime®, Deposits are FDIC Insured

APY

N/A

Bonus

N/A

Monthly fee

$0

Overdraft star rating

5.0/5

Why We Like It

Chime is a mobile-only financial service that has no overdraft fees, plus a feature that lets certain customers overdraw as much as negative $200 without a fee.

Monthly fee: None.

Special features: In addition to its consumer-friendly overdraft program, Chime has two automatic savings programs. One lets you round up every debit card transaction to the nearest dollar and automatically transfer the difference to your Chime Savings account. The other allows you to choose a percentage of your paycheck that automatically gets transferred into savings. Chime says: "Round Ups automatically round up debit card purchases to the nearest dollar and transfers the round up from your Chime Spending Account to into your savings account. Save When I Get Paid automatically transfers 10% of your direct deposits of $500 or more from your Spending Account into your savings account."

Other pros: Chime doesn’t charge overdraft fees or require a minimum balance. Customers can use over 38,000 free ATMs through two networks, MoneyPass and Visa Plus Alliance, and can receive their direct deposit up to two days early (early access to direct deposit funds depends on payer). If you need to write a check, Chime has a free online feature that creates and mails one on your behalf.

What you should know: Chime charges $2.50 for ATMs outside its partner network (cash withdrawal and third-party fees may apply). And for cash deposits, you’ll need to use a third-party service, such as Green Dot, to fund your account and typically pay a fee.

NerdWallet rating
4.9/5

APY

0.10%

With $2,500 min. balance for APY

Bonus

N/A

Monthly fee

$0

Overdraft star rating

4.0/5

Why We Like It

LendingClub offers a Rewards Checking account that combines a competitive interest rate and cash-back rewards. It also has unlimited ATM fee reimbursements, a rare perk, and up to two-day early direct deposit.

Monthly fee: None.

Special features: You get an unlimited 1% cash back on spending with your debit card. And the interest rate has two tiers, 0.10% and 0.15% annual percentage yield, depending on your account balance.

Other pros: LendingClub belongs to the surcharge-free NYCE and MoneyPass ATM networks, and it doesn’t charge out-of-network ATM fees.

What you should know: You need at least $2,500 in your account to take advantage of earning interest or cash back. The cash-back perk also requires at least $2,500 in direct deposits. The interest rate of 0.10% APY applies to balances from $2,500 to $99,999; 0.15% APY applies to balances above that, but if you have that much cash on hand, consider investing it instead.

NerdWallet rating
4.9/5

APY

1.10%

With $0.01 min. balance for APY

Bonus

N/A

Monthly fee

$0

Overdraft star rating

3.8/5

Why We Like It

Quontic Bank has three checking account options, each with an enticing benefit: high interest, cash rewards and bitcoin rewards.

Monthly fee: None

Special features: The high-interest checking account has a rate of 1.10% APY for customers who make 15 debit card purchases monthly and have balances under $1 million. With cash rewards checking, customers can earn 1.50% cash back on debit card purchases. The bitcoin rewards option earns 1.50% on qualifying debit card purchases, with rewards you can convert to bitcoin.

Other pros: Quontic gives customers free access to more than 90,000 ATMs in the U.S.

What you should know: There’s a monthly inactivity fee of $10 that begins after a year if you don’t make any transactions with your account. Also, there is only one way to deposit cash in a Quontic account: by visiting the Quontic branch and ATM in New York. Otherwise, customers will need to make online transfers, direct deposits or mobile check deposit to fund their accounts. The account also has a $35 overdraft fee.

NerdWallet rating
4.9/5

APY

3.30%

With $0 min. balance for APY

Bonus

N/A

Monthly fee

$0

Overdraft star rating

4.8/5

Why We Like It

Like some other Axos Bank checking accounts, the Rewards Checking has great perks: no overdraft fees and no monthly fees, plus domestic ATM fee reimbursements.

Monthly fee: None.

Special features: With Rewards Checking, you also can earn up to 3.30% APY, but you'll have to jump through a couple of hoops.

Other pros: Axos also has a CashBack Checking rewards program that gives you 1% cash back on debit card transactions that require your signature, if you keep at least $1,500 as the average daily balance. If your account falls below that, you earn 0.50% cash back instead.

What you should know: To get the maximum APY, the bank requires at least $1,000 in monthly direct deposits, and you have to use your debit card 15 times a month on everyday purchases — with a minimum of $3 per transaction. If you partially fulfill these requirements, you receive a lower rate.

Varo Bank Account
Learn moreon partner's site
at Varo Bank, Member FDIC
NerdWallet rating
4.5/5
Learn moreon partner's site
at Varo Bank, Member FDIC

APY

N/A

Bonus

N/A

Monthly fee

$0

Overdraft star rating

5.0/5

Discover® Cashback Debit
Learn moreon partner's site
at Discover® Bank, Member FDIC
NerdWallet rating
5.0/5
Learn moreon partner's site
at Discover® Bank, Member FDIC

APY

N/A

Bonus

$360

Up to $360 per year. See website for details.

Monthly fee

$0

Overdraft star rating

5.0/5

Why We Like It

Discover Bank’s checking account lets you earn cash back on certain purchases, and you’ll also have access to 60,000 free ATMs.

Monthly fee: None.

Special features: With Discover’s Cashback Debit account, you’ll get 1% cash back on qualifying debit card purchases of up to $3,000 a month.

Other pros: Discover also has a top-rated high-yield online savings account.

What you should know: There is only one physical branch location, in Greenwood, Delaware, so national customers have to be OK with not having face-to-face customer service.

The company says: “ATM transactions, the purchase of money orders or other cash equivalents, cash over portions of point-of-sale transactions, peer-to-peer (P2P) payments (such as Apple Pay Cash), and loan payments or account funding made with your debit card are not eligible for cash back rewards. In addition, purchases made using third-party payment accounts (services such as Venmo® and PayPal™, which also provide P2P payments) may not be eligible for cash back rewards. Apple, the Apple logo and Apple Pay are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries."

See Discover's website for more details.

NerdWallet rating
4.8/5

APY

0.10%

With $0 min. balance for APY

Bonus

N/A

Monthly fee

$0

Overdraft star rating

5.0/5

Why We Like It

Ally is an online-only bank with a no-fee checking account with a notable rate and a high-yield savings account. And Ally reimburses up to $10 in out-of-network ATM fees monthly.

Monthly fee: None.

Special features: Ally’s Interest Checking has a rate of 0.10% APY for balances below $15,000; 0.25% APY for balances of $15,000 and above.

Other pros: Ally has more than 43,000 surcharge-free Allpoint ATMs, highly rated mobile apps and exceptional customer service. You can contact Ally via phone, real-time chat, messaging and Twitter. You can pair your Ally checking with its savings account, which is among the accounts with the highest yields.

What you should know: There isn’t a way to deposit cash into an Ally account. Customers must either choose a direct deposit, online transfer or wire transfer or buy a money order and do a mobile check deposit.

NerdWallet rating
4.5/5

APY

2.00%

With $100 min. balance for APY

Bonus

N/A

Monthly fee

$0

Overdraft star rating

4.8/5

Why We Like It

The checking account at Bank5 Connect, online branch of Massachusetts-based Bank Five, has a high rate and ATM fee reimbursements of up to $15 per month.

Monthly fee: None.

Special features: The rate for High-Interest Checking is 2.00% APY and the minimum to earn interest is $100.

Other pros: Account perks include free checks and no ATM fees by the bank. Bank5 Connect also has a highly rated savings account.

What you should know: Online bank statements are free, but there’s a $1 monthly fee for paper statements.

NerdWallet rating
4.5/5

APY

0.10%

With $0 min. balance for APY

Bonus

N/A

Monthly fee

$0

Overdraft star rating

4.0/5

Our Nerds say:

“When choosing a savings account, a high rate isn’t the only thing you’ll want to consider. You’ll want to see whether there are any monthly fees or withdrawal limits.

"It’s also important to pick an account that meets your overall banking needs. If you want your checking and savings accounts to be at the same bank, for example, you’ll want to go with an institution that offers both checking and high-yield savings.”

— Margarette Burnette, NerdWallet banking writer new

Our Nerds say:

“When choosing a savings account, a high rate isn’t the only thing you’ll want to consider. You’ll want to see whether there are any monthly fees or withdrawal limits. "It’s also important to pick an account that meets your overall banking needs. If you want your checking and savings accounts to be at the same bank, for example, you’ll want to go with an institution that offers both checking and high-yield savings.”

- Margarette Burnette, NerdWallet banking writer

The pros of online checking accounts

  • 24/7 access. With online banking, you can access your account securely anytime.

  • Fewer fees. Online checking accounts tend to charge fewer fees than traditional banks since online providers have lower overhead.

  • User-friendly technology. Online providers typically have well-designed websites and mobile apps for doing your banking, including tasks such as depositing checks and paying bills.

» Looking for online banks with top overall ratings? See NerdWallet's list of Best Online Banks

The cons of online checking accounts

  • No in-person customer service. Online institutions typically don’t have branches, which may be a deal breaker for customers who prefer face-to-face assistance.

  • Cash deposits can sometimes be difficult. Some online banks and nonbanks work with ATM networks to allow cash deposits, but others allow only mobile check deposits, direct deposit or electronic transfer from other banking accounts.

How do I deposit cash with an online checking account?

Options for depositing cash at an online provider usually include using a deposit-accepting ATM or putting cash into a traditional bank account and transferring that money to your online account. You could also convert the cash into a money order, which you might be able to deposit electronically using your online provider's mobile app.

Last updated on July 1, 2021

Methodology

We took a close look at over 90 financial institutions and financial service providers, including the largest U.S. banks based on assets, internet search traffic and other factors; the nation’s largest credit unions, based on assets and membership; and other notable and/or emerging players in the industry. We rated them on criteria including annual percentage yields, minimum balances, fees, digital experience and more.

Financial institutions and providers surveyed are: Affirm, All America Bank, Alliant Credit Union, Ally Bank, Amalgamated Bank, America First Credit Union, American Express National Bank, Andrews Federal Credit Union, Associated Bank, Axos Bank, Bank of America, Bank5 Connect, Barclays, Bask Bank, Bethpage Federal Credit Union, BMO, BMO Alto, Boeing Employees Credit Union, Bread Savings, BrioDirect, Capital One, Carver Federal Savings Bank, CFG Bank, Charles Schwab Bank, Chase, Chime, CIBC U.S., CIT Bank, Citibank, Citizens, Citizens Bank, City First Bank, Climate First Bank, Commerce Bank, Community First Credit Union of Florida, ConnectOne Bank, Connexus Credit Union, Consumers Credit Union, Current, Customers Bank, Delta Community Credit Union, Discover® Bank, E*TRADE, EverBank (formerly TIAA Bank), Fifth Third Bank, First Foundation, First Internet Bank, First National Bank, First Tech Federal Credit Union, Flagstar Bank, FNBO Direct, Flagstar Bank, Forbright BankGlobal Credit Union, GO2bank, Golden 1 Credit Union, Greenwood, Hope Credit Union, Huntington Bank, Industrial Bank, Ivy Bank, Jenius Bank, KeyBank, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Laurel Road Bank, LendingClub Bank, Liberty Bank, Live Oak Bank, M&T Bank, Marcus by Goldman Sachs, My Banking Direct, NASA Federal Credit Union, Navy Federal Credit Union, NBKC, One, OneUnited Bank, Pentagon Federal Credit Union, PNC, Poppy Bank, Popular Direct, Quontic Bank, Regions Bank, Revolut, Salem Five Direct, Sallie Mae Bank, Santander Bank, SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, Security Service Federal Credit Union, Securityplus Federal Credit Union, Self-Help Credit Union, Service Credit Union, SoFi, State Employees’ Credit Union of North Carolina, Suncoast Credit Union, Synchrony Bank, TAB Bank, TD Bank, Truist Bank, U.S. Bank, UFB Direct, Upgrade, USAA Bank, Varo, Vio Bank, Wells Fargo, Western Alliance Bank and Zynlo Bank.

Frequently asked questions

  • Online-only checking accounts offer the deposit and withdrawal features of traditional checking accounts but with primarily online customer service options.

  • Even with strong security measures, financial institutions can still be susceptible to bad actors and data breaches. Online banks have secure technology in place to protect their customers’ assets, but you should safeguard your funds and reduce the risk of having your account hacked by following some simple safety guidelines.