9 Best Online Checking Accounts of 2025
The best online checking accounts are free and offer special features and good customer service options.
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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 100 financial institutions surveyed by our team of experts.
More than 50 data points considered for each bank, credit union and banking technology firm (or neobank).
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.)
Here are our favorite online checking accounts.
APYs shown are current as of June 30, 2025. All other information is current as of June 6, 2025.
Best Online Checking Accounts
| Bank/institution | NerdWallet rating | APY | Bonus | Monthly fee | Overdraft star rating | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5.0/5 | 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 | |
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 | |
5.0/5 | 1.75% With $0 min. balance for APY | N/A | $0 | 4.8/5 | Learn moreon partner's site at nbkc bank, Member FDIC | |
5.0/5 | N/A | N/A | $0 | 3.8/5 | ||
5.0/5 | 1.00% | N/A | $0 | 3.8/5 | ||
5.0/5 | 1.00% With $0 min. balance for APY | N/A | $0 | 4.4/5 | ||
5.0/5 | 3.50% With $0.01 min. balance for APY | N/A | $0 | 3.8/5 | ||
5.0/5 | 2.00% | N/A | $0 | 3.8/5 | ||
5.0/5 | 3.30% With $0 min. balance for APY | N/A | $0 | 4.8/5 |
Our pick for
Online Checking Accounts
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
Our Take
SoFi® offers a solid interest rate in addition to cash-back opportunities and a bonus.
Monthly fee: None.
Special features: A 0.50% APY on all balances and an opportunity to earn a bonus between $50 and $300 depending on your direct deposit total in your first 30 days.
Other pros: Customers can use more than 55,000 fee-free Allpoint ATMs.* SoFi customers can insure their deposits on up to $3 million by enrolling in the SoFi Insured Deposit Program, which is a much higher limit than the typical $250,000 of FDIC insurance offered by banks.
What you should know: SoFi’s account is a combination of checking and savings features, so you can’t open an individual checking account or individual savings account with SoFi. However, the checking and savings balances can be separated, and customers can create subaccounts called Vaults.
*SoFi says: "We’ve partnered with Allpoint to provide you with ATM access at any of the 55,000+ ATMs within the Allpoint network. You will not be charged a fee when using an in-network ATM, however, third-party fees incurred when using out-of-network ATMs are not subject to reimbursement. SoFi’s ATM policies are subject to change at our discretion at any time."
SoFi says: "SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per depositor per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations. Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $3M through participation in the program. See full terms at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms. See list of participating banks at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks."
APY
N/A
Bonus
$360
Up to $360 per year. See website for details.
Monthly fee
$0
Overdraft star rating
5.0/5
Our Take
Discover® Bank offers a strong cash-back benefit and large ATM network.
Monthly fee: None.
Special features: Discover® Cashback Debit customers can earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month.
Other pros: Customers also have access to more than 60,000 fee-free ATMs and direct deposit up to two days early. Discover also offers a free overdraft protection service.
What you should know: Discover offers free overdraft protection transfers, but you have to opt into that service. If you haven’t set up overdraft protection, Discover will decline any transaction that would overdraft your account.
Discover also has an overdraft coverage program called Balance+ that allows a customer to overdraw their checking account up to $200 on debit card purchases with no fees. A customer qualifies for Balance+ if their account is in good standing and has a positive balance. They also have to have received direct deposits of at least $200 per month for the last two calendar months to qualify.
APY
1.75%
With $0 min. balance for APY
Bonus
N/A
Monthly fee
$0
Overdraft star rating
4.8/5
Our Take
NBKC has a strong APY, a large ATM network and a solid ATM fee reimbursement program.
Monthly fee: None.
Special features: Customers earn 1.75% APY on all balances.
Other pros: Customers have access to more than 90,000 fee-free MoneyPass and Allpoint ATMs as well as $12 a month in out-of-network ATM fee reimbursements.
What you should know: NBKC doesn’t have an overdraft program, which means you aren’t able to make any transactions that would result in an overdraft.
APY
N/A
Bonus
N/A
Monthly fee
$0
Overdraft star rating
3.8/5
Our Take
Customers can earn cash back on everyday spending categories with this free checking account from Upgrade.
Monthly fee: None.
Special features: Upgrade’s Rewards Checking Plus doesn’t come with any interest, but customers can earn up to 2% cash back on common purchases as long as you receive a monthly direct deposit of $1,000 or more. These purchases can include monthly subscriptions and purchases at various businesses, such as drug stores, gas stations and restaurants. You can earn a maximum of $500 in cash-back rewards per year at the 2% cash back rate. You can earn 1% cash back after the $500 maximum as well as on other purchases made with your debit card that don’t fall into the categories above.
If you don’t meet the required direct deposit amount, you’ll earn 1% cash back on common purchases and 0.50% cash back on all other eligible spending.
Other pros: Upgrade is part of the Allpoint network, so customers have access to more than 55,000 free ATMs.
What you should know: Upgrade doesn’t have an overdraft program, so transactions that result in an overdraft are declined. Also, keep in mind that you can’t make cash deposits with Upgrade; you’ll need to make a mobile check deposit or a direct deposit or transfer funds electronically.
APY
1.00%
Bonus
N/A
Monthly fee
$0
Overdraft star rating
3.8/5
Our Take
American Express checking customers can earn a strong interest rate, and they have access to a large free ATM network.
Monthly fee: None.
Special features: American Express Rewards Checking customers can earn 1.00% APY.
Other pros: American Express is part of the MoneyPass and Allpoint ATM networks, so customers have access to more than 70,000 fee-free ATMs. Customers can reach AmEx customer service 24/7.
What you should know: This account is only available to credit card customers who have had an American Express U.S. Basic Consumer credit card for at least 35 days. Also, American Express does not offer overdraft protection; if you try to make a transaction without enough funds in your checking account, American Express will decline it.
American Express says: "All information about American Express Rewards Checking has been collected independently by NerdWallet. American Express Rewards Checking is no longer available through NerdWallet."
APY
1.00%
With $0 min. balance for APY
Bonus
N/A
Monthly fee
$0
Overdraft star rating
4.4/5
Our Take
Bask Bank has a no-fee checking account with a notable rate.
Monthly fee: None.
Special features: The account comes with a 1.00% APY, which is considerably higher than the national average interest checking rate of 0.07% APY. Through Aug. 29, new and existing customers can earn a bonus 3.00% APY, for a total of 4.00% APY, when conditions are met. To earn the bonus interest, customers must have $2,500 in monthly automated deposits and maintain an average monthly balance of $2,500. The reward bonus will end if these activities are not met, but you can re-qualify once you meet the deposit and average monthly balance requirements again.
Other pros: Customers have access to more than 55,000 fee-free Allpoint ATMs.
What you should know: Bask Bank does not charge overdraft fees, but it’s hit or miss whether the bank approves transactions that would overdraft. Many other banks offer services like overdraft protection transfers, which allow customers to link a backup account, like a savings account, to cover an overdraft.
APY
3.50%
With $0.01 min. balance for APY
Bonus
N/A
Monthly fee
$0
Overdraft star rating
3.8/5
Our Take
TAB Spend is a rewards checking account with a strong interest rate and no monthly fees.
Monthly fee: None.
Special features: TAB Spend comes with a high 3.50% APY interest rate and 1% cash back on purchases made with your debit card, which is a rare rewards combination for a single account..
Other pros: TAB Bank is part of the MoneyPass ATM network, which gives customers access to more than 40,000 fee-free ATMs.
What you should know: TAB Bank has no overdraft program, so transactions or withdrawals that would result in an overdraft are declined, though they may be occasionally allowed by TAB Bank at the bank’s own discretion. This means that the overdraft will go through, but that the bank will use any subsequent deposits you make into your account to cover the amount that was overdrafted.
APY
2.00%
Bonus
N/A
Monthly fee
$0
Overdraft star rating
3.8/5
Our Take
Zynlo’s More Spending Account comes with a solid interest rate and the opportunity to round up your purchases into your savings account with a match from Zynlo.
Monthly fee: None.
Special features: This account comes with a solid 2.00% APY. If you open a Zynlo Tomorrow Savings account, you can also use Zynlo’s “round up and match” program. This program rounds up your debit card purchases to the nearest dollar, transfers the difference to your savings account, and matches the amount. For the first 100 days that you have your account, Zynlo will match 100%. After that, you have to maintain a balance of $5,000 in your More Spending Account to get a 100% match; if you don’t, then Zynlo will only match 25%.
Other pros: Zynlo works with the Allpoint network to provide access to more than 55,000 free ATMs.
What you should know: Zynlo doesn’t have an overdraft program and therefore doesn’t charge overdraft fees.
APY
3.30%
With $0 min. balance for APY
Bonus
N/A
Monthly fee
$0
Overdraft star rating
4.8/5
Our Take
Axos Bank Rewards Checking has 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 on balances up to $50,000, but you'll have to jump through some hoops.
Other pros: Axos has another checking account that you could open in addition to Rewards Checking: CashBack Checking. This account has a rewards program that gives you up to 1% cash back (up to $2,000 per month) on debit card transactions that require your signature, if you keep an average daily balance of at least $1,500. If your account falls below that, you earn 0.50% cash back instead.
What you should know: To begin earning interest, the bank requires at least $1,500 in monthly direct deposits. That earns 0.40%. Once you meet that requirement, you can earn an additional 0.30% if you make 10 debit card purchases — with a minimum of $3 per transaction — or sign up for the Account Aggregation/Personal Finance Manager tool. You can also earn an additional 0.99% for each of the following: having average daily balance of $2,500 in a managed investment portfolio and having an average daily balance of $2,500 in a self-directed portfolio. You'll earn another 0.60% for making a monthly Axos consumer loan payment from Rewards Checking.
Our Nerds say:
“When choosing a checking account, be sure to look beyond the interest rate, and think about what you need most from your banking. Do you want a bank with a flexible overdraft program? Or are you more concerned with other features, like ATM access or a 24/7 phone line for customer service? Do you want an account that gives cash back on debit card spending? Do you want to pair your checking with a high-yield savings account? All of these answers can help you narrow down the best option for you.”
- Chanelle Bessette, NerdWallet banking writer
The pros of online checking accounts
Fewer fees. Online bank accounts tend to charge fewer fees than traditional banks since online providers have lower overhead.
Higher interest rates. Online banks tend to have higher interest rates on their accounts than brick-and-mortar banks – when offering any interest on checking – because they don’t have the cost of running branches.
User-friendly apps. 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 bank accounts typically don’t come with 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.
» More from NerdWallet: What are online banks? Learn the pros and cons
How are checking accounts affected by the Fed rate?
Like with savings accounts and certificates of deposit, the rates that banks offer on checking accounts may go up or down based on the federal funds rate. When the Fed cuts rates, for example, banks typically lower their APYs. Keep in mind that checking interest rates are generally lower than other banking products to begin with.
In the second half of 2024, the Fed decreased its rate multiple times in lockstep with decreasing inflation rates. So far in 2025, the Fed has kept its benchmark rate steady. While rates on savings accounts and CDs tend to be highly sensitive to a changing Fed rate, checking account rates are typically not as affected by rate cuts. Throughout the rest of 2025, it’s possible that the Fed will cut rates. If it does, however, it’s unlikely that checking account interest rates will be greatly affected.
Are online bank accounts safe?
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.
How do I deposit cash into 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.
How do I withdraw cash from an online checking account?
Most online banks and credit unions belong to an ATM network that customers can use for free, and/or the bank may offer a fee reimbursement for out-of-network ATMs. If you think you’ll be using an ATM for frequent withdrawals, consider banks that help you avoid ATM fees.
How much cash can I withdraw from my bank account?
Different banks have different withdrawal limits, both for cash withdrawals and for money transfers to other accounts or outside bank accounts. To find out how much you’re allowed to withdraw per day, week or month, check your bank account’s terms and conditions.
What is the best bank for online banking?
If you’re looking for the best overall online banks for other products besides just checking accounts, take a look at NerdWallet’s picks for the best online banks.
Compare the other types of best checking accounts: | ||
Last updated on June 30, 2025
Methodology
We took a close look at over 100 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, 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, Fifth Third Bank, First Foundation, First Internet Bank, First National Bank, First Tech Federal Credit Union, Flagstar Bank, FNBO Direct, Forbright Bank, FourLeaf Federal Credit Union, Global 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, Newtek Bank, OMB Bank, 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.
NerdWallet's Best Online Checking Accounts of 2025
- SoFi Checking and Savings: Best for Online Checking Accounts
- nbkc bank Everything Account: Best for Online Checking Accounts
- Discover® Cashback Debit: Best for Online Checking Accounts
- Upgrade - Rewards Checking Preferred: Best for Online Checking Accounts
- American Express Rewards Checking: Best for Online Checking Accounts
- Bask Bank Interest Checking: Best for Online Checking Accounts
- TAB Spend: Best for Online Checking Accounts
- ZYNLO Bank More Spending Account: Best for Online Checking Accounts
- Axos Bank® Rewards Checking: Best for Online Checking Accounts
Frequently asked questions
What is an online checking account?
Online-only checking accounts offer many features of traditional checking accounts but with primarily online customer service options. Customers may have to use third-party services to deposit cash, but they will typically have access to a broad ATM network such as Allpoint and MoneyPass to withdraw cash.