9 Best Checking Accounts of April 2021

Chime is a mobile checking account that has no monthly fees, minimum balance requirements or overdraft fees, and you have access to more than 38,000 fee-free MoneyPass and Visa Alliance ATMs (cash withdrawal and third-party fees may apply). Through Chime’s early direct deposit service, customers can get their paychecks up to two days earlier than through direct deposit at most banks (note that early access to direct deposit funds depends on payer).

The Radius Rewards Checking account gives customers two cash-earning benefits: an interest rate and cash back on spending. For the interest rate, if your balance hits $2,500, a 0.10% annual percentage yield kicks in. If you have $100,000 or more, the rate becomes 0.15% APY. For the cash-back benefit, customers can earn 1.5% on three spending categories: dining out such as from meal delivery services, health-related costs from athletic or healthcare purchases, and subscriptions for streaming services. For the cash-back benefit, customers can earn 1% on online and signature-based “credit” purchases with their debit card and an additional 0.50% on purchases made with certain merchant categories.

Rewards Checking has no minimum balance aside from a $50 balance required to open an account, and no monthly maintenance, overdraft or nonsufficient-funds fees. The account also has an annual percentage yield as high as 1.25%, depending on your account activity. To earn maximum interest, you’d need to have monthly direct deposits of $1,000 or more and use your debit card at least 15 times a month, with a minimum $3 purchase.

Varo’s checking account has no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements, plus it doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees or fees to use its worldwide network of more than 55,000 Allpoint ATMs. Varo checking customers can receive their paychecks up to two days early with direct deposit, which is faster than most banks.

The Free Rewards Checking account offers an exceptionally high annual percentage yield of 2.09% for balances of up to $10,000, as long as you’re able to meet a few spending and online banking requirements. Jumping through some additional hoops will land you as much as 4.09% APY on balances of up to $10,000. If you can’t qualify for these rates, your APY will be 0.01%, and you won’t get unlimited ATM fee refunds.

Service Credit Union’s Everyday Checking account has no monthly fees, and customers have access to more than 88,000 ATMs through Allpoint, Service Credit Union and the CO-OP network. The account doesn’t offer interest, but members can receive APR discounts on auto and personal loans and early direct deposit.

It’s easy to apply for Alliant membership. Just agree to support an Alliant-affiliated nonprofit if you don’t meet the other criteria, and Alliant will make a $5 donation on your behalf. Once you open an account, you’ll have access to Alliant’s services, including more than 80,000 surcharge-free ATMs.

You’ll qualify for an annual percentage yield of 0.25% if you opt out of paper statements and have at least one electronic deposit made to your account each month, such as a direct, ATM or mobile deposit or a transfer from another financial institution. Alliant’s digital tools are a step ahead of those offered by other credit unions. Its mobile check-deposit feature, for instance, lets members make daily deposits of up to $50,000. The account also doesn’t charge a monthly fee.

One Finance has no fees or minimum balances, and customers have access to more than 55,000 free ATMs. Customers can also earn rewards with One Finance’s Auto-Save program, and its “Save Pocket” offers interest.