Best Free Checking Accounts of 2022
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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
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
Best Free Checking Accounts
Bank/institution | NerdWallet rating | Monthly fee | APY | Bonus | Learn more |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() Discover Bank Cashback Debit Learn more at Discover Bank, Member FDIC | $0 | N/A | N/A | Learn more at Discover Bank, Member FDIC | |
![]() Alliant Credit Union High-Rate Checking Learn more at Alliant Credit Union, Federally insured by NCUA | $0 | 0.25% With $0 min. balance for APY | N/A | Learn more at Alliant Credit Union, Federally insured by NCUA | |
![]() Axos Bank® Rewards Checking Learn more at Axos Bank®, Member FDIC | $0 | 1.25% With $0 min. balance for APY | $100 Requirements to qualify | Learn more at Axos Bank®, Member FDIC | |
![]() Consumers Credit Union Free Rewards Checking Learn more at Consumers Credit Union, Federally insured by NCUA | $0 | 2.09% With $0 min. balance for APY | N/A | Learn more at Consumers Credit Union, Federally insured by NCUA | |
![]() Quontic Cash Rewards Checking | $0 | N/A | N/A | Read review | |
![]() Monifi Spend Balance | $0 | N/A | N/A | Read review | |
![]() Connexus Credit Union Xtraordinary Checking | $0 | 1.75% With $0 min. balance for APY | N/A | Read review | |
![]() Lake Michigan Credit Union Max Checking | $0 | 3.00% With $0 min. balance for APY | N/A | Read review | |
![]() Ally Bank Interest Checking Account | $0 | 0.10% With $0 min. balance for APY | N/A | Read review | |
![]() LendingClub Rewards Checking | $0 | 0.10% With $2,500 min. balance for APY | N/A | Read review |

at Discover Bank, Member FDIC
Discover Bank Cashback Debit

Monthly fee
$0APY
N/ABonus
N/Aat Discover Bank, Member FDIC

at Alliant Credit Union, Federally insured by NCUA
Alliant Credit Union High-Rate Checking

Monthly fee
$0APY
0.25%With $0 min. balance for APY
Bonus
N/Aat Alliant Credit Union, Federally insured by NCUA

at Axos Bank®, Member FDIC
Axos Bank® Rewards Checking

Monthly fee
$0APY
1.25%With $0 min. balance for APY
Bonus
$100Requirements to qualify
at Axos Bank®, Member FDIC

at Consumers Credit Union, Federally insured by NCUA
Consumers Credit Union Free Rewards Checking

Monthly fee
$0APY
2.09%With $0 min. balance for APY
Bonus
N/Aat Consumers Credit Union, Federally insured by NCUA
Connexus Credit Union Xtraordinary Checking

Monthly fee
$0APY
1.75%With $0 min. balance for APY
Bonus
N/ALake Michigan Credit Union Max Checking

Monthly fee
$0APY
3.00%With $0 min. balance for APY
Bonus
N/AAlly Bank Interest Checking Account

Monthly fee
$0APY
0.10%With $0 min. balance for APY
Bonus
N/ALendingClub Rewards Checking

Monthly fee
$0APY
0.10%With $2,500 min. balance for APY
Bonus
N/ALast updated on December 9, 2021
You may also like these
People often identify opening a savings account as their next money move.
Discover Bank Online Savings

APY
With $0 min. balance for APY
Bonus
Requirements to qualify
at Discover Bank, Member FDIC
American Express® High Yield Savings Account

APY
With $1 min. balance for APY
at American Express National Bank, Member FDIC
LendingClub High-Yield Savings

APY
With $0 min. balance for APY
at LendingClub Bank, Member FDIC
Methodology
We took a close look at over 80 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, Alliant Credit Union, Ally Bank, America First Credit Union, American Express National Bank, Axos Bank, Bank of America, Bank of the West, Bank5 Connect, Bank7, Barclays, BB&T (now Truist), BMO Harris, Boeing Employees Credit Union, BrioDirect, Capital One, Charles Schwab Bank, Chase, Chime, CIBC U.S., CIT Bank, Citibank, Citizens Access, Citizens Bank, Comenity Direct, ConnectOne Bank, Connexus Credit Union, Consumers Credit Union, Current, Discover Bank, E-Trade, Fifth Third Bank, First Foundation, First Tech Federal Credit Union, FNBO Direct, GO2bank, Golden 1 Credit Union, HSBC Bank, Huntington Bank, KeyBank, Lake Michigan Credit Union, LendingClub Bank, Live Oak Bank, M&T Bank, Marcus by Goldman Sachs, Monifi, Nationwide (by Axos), Navy Federal Credit Union, NBKC, One, Pentagon Federal Credit Union, PNC, Popular Direct, PurePoint Financial, Quontic Bank, Redneck Bank, Regions Bank, Revolut, Salem Five Direct, Sallie Mae Bank, Santander Bank, Scarlet, SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, Security Service Federal Credit Union, Service Credit Union, State Employees’ Credit Union of North Carolina, Suncoast Credit Union, SunTrust Bank (now Truist), Synchrony Bank, TAB Bank, TCF Bank, TD Bank, TIAA 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 2022
- Discover Bank Cashback Debit
- Alliant Credit Union High-Rate Checking
- Axos Bank® Rewards Checking
- Consumers Credit Union Free Rewards Checking
- Quontic Cash Rewards Checking
- Monifi Spend Balance
- Connexus Credit Union Xtraordinary Checking
- Lake Michigan Credit Union Max Checking
- Ally Bank Interest Checking Account
- LendingClub Rewards Checking
Frequently asked questions
Checking accounts help you manage the transactions you need to make on a regular basis, such as paying bills, receiving your paycheck and depositing or withdrawing cash. They usually come with a debit card and the ability to write checks.
The fee on your checking account can add up quickly over time. Free checking accounts give customers access to all the perks of a checking account without the burden of paying a monthly maintenance fee.
The best checking accounts have no fees and ideally earn interest, give cash back or offer a bonus. You should also make sure that the bank offers good customer service and is convenient for your lifestyle.