BEST OF

6 Best Free Checking Accounts of 2023

Chanelle Bessette
By Chanelle Bessette 
Edited by Sara Clarke

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The best free checking accounts do more than keep money in people’s wallets by having no monthly fees. They also typically offer other free services or pay interest.

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.

Here’s a list of our favorites based on research into dozens of institutions. We scoped out accounts based on interest rate, ATM network, rewards and other factors.

» Looking for a place to stash your savings? Take a look at NerdWallet's picks for best savings accounts

APYs shown are current as of May 30, 2023. All other information is current as of Feb. 1, 2022.

Discover savings accounts that best fit your financial goals
Just answer a few questions to compare accounts that meet your needs.

Best Free Checking Accounts

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People often identify opening a savings account as their next money move.

SoFi Checking and Savings

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
SoFi Checking and Savings

APY

4.20%

With $0 min. balance for APY

Bonus

$250

Earn up to $250 with direct deposit. Terms apply.

at SoFi, Member FDIC

Discover Bank Online Savings

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Discover Bank Online Savings

APY

3.90%

With $0 min. balance for APY

Bonus

$200

Requirements to qualify

at Discover Bank, Member FDIC

UFB Premier Savings

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
UFB Premier Savings

APY

4.81%

With $0 min. balance for APY

at UFB Direct, Member FDIC

Our pick for

Free Checking Account

NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
SoFi Checking and Savings
Learn more

at SoFi, Member FDIC

Monthly fee

$0

APY

1.20%

With $0 min. balance for APY

Bonus

$250

Earn up to $250 with direct deposit. Terms apply.

NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
Axos Bank® Rewards Checking
Learn more

at Axos Bank®, Member FDIC

Monthly fee

$0

APY

3.30%

With $0 min. balance for APY

Bonus

$100

Earn $100 with direct deposit. Terms apply.

NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
Chime Checking Account
Learn more

at Chime, Deposits are FDIC Insured

Monthly fee

$0

APY

N/A

Bonus

N/A

NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
Current Account
Learn more

at Current, Deposits are FDIC Insured

Monthly fee

$0

APY

N/A

Bonus

N/A

NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
Varo Bank Account
Learn more

at Varo Bank, Member FDIC

Monthly fee

$0

APY

N/A

Bonus

N/A

Want to compare more options? Here are our other top picks:

Last updated on May 30, 2023

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, Alaska USA Federal Credit Union, 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, Bank of the West, Bank5 Connect, Bank7, Barclays, Bask Bank, BMO, Boeing Employees Credit Union, Bread Savings, BrioDirect, Capital One, Charles Schwab Bank, Chase, Chime, CIBC U.S., CIT Bank, Citibank, Citizens, Citizens Bank, City First Bank, Commerce Bank, Community First Credit Union of Florida, ConnectOne Bank, Connexus Credit Union, Consumers Credit Union, Current, Delta Community Credit Union, Discover Bank, E*TRADE, Fifth Third Bank, First Foundation, First National Bank, First Republic Bank, First Tech Federal Credit Union, Flagstar Bank, FNBO Direct, GO2bank, Golden 1 Credit Union, Hope Credit Union, Huntington Bank, Industrial Bank, KeyBank, Lake Michigan Credit Union, LendingClub Bank, Liberty Bank, Live Oak Bank, M&T Bank, Marcus by Goldman Sachs, Nationwide (by Axos), Navy Federal Credit Union, NBKC, One, OneUnited Bank, Pentagon Federal Credit Union, PNC, Popular Direct, PurePoint Financial, Quontic Bank, Regions Bank, Revolut, Salem Five Direct, Sallie Mae Bank, Santander Bank, Scarlet, SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, Security Service 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, TIAA Bank, Truist Bank, U.S. Bank, UFB Direct, Union Bank, Upgrade, USAA Bank, Varo, Vio Bank, Wells Fargo and Zynlo Bank.

To recap our selections...

NerdWallet's Best Free Checking Accounts of 2023

Frequently asked questions