9 Best Rewards Checking Accounts of 2025
The best rewards checking accounts offer high interest rates or cash back on spending.
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Rewards usually are associated with credit cards, but some checking accounts have them, too. Perks include high interest rates and cash back.
» Want to explore one-time bonuses? Browse our monthly roundup of best bank account bonuses
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 favorite rewards checking accounts.
APYs shown are current as of July 21, 2025. All other information is current as of Dec. 6, 2024.
Best Rewards 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 | 2.00% | N/A | $0 | 3.8/5 | ||
4.9/5 | 1.10% With $0.01 min. balance for APY | 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 |
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® Checking and Savings gives customers 0.50% APY (variable and subject to change) on balances in the checking portion of their account.
In addition, the savings portion earns 3.80% APY as long as customers enroll in SoFi Plus with direct deposit, or pay a $10 SoFi Plus subscription fee every 30 days or deposit at least $5,000 every 30 days into their account. If those qualifications are not met, savings balances earn 1.00% APY.
The account doesn't have monthly or overdraft fees. Customers can also receive their paychecks up to two days early. New customers can earn a bonus of up to $300 depending on how much they direct deposit within 25 days of their first qualifying direct deposit.
SoFi says: "New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 1/31/2026. Full terms at sofi.com/banking. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.
SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit can earn 3.80% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 3.80% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Eligible Direct Deposit will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 1/24/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet."
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
Earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month. Customers can also get their paychecks up to two days early when they set up direct deposit to their accounts. Discover® Bank has a nationwide network of over 60,000 fee-free ATMs, and customers can also opt in to two fee-free overdraft programs.
APY
1.75%
With $0 min. balance for APY
Bonus
N/A
Monthly fee
$0
Overdraft star rating
4.8/5
Our Take
NBKC’s Everything Account gives its customers 1.75% APY on all balances. There’s no monthly fee or minimum balance requirement, and customers have access to more than 90,000 fee-free ATMs. NBKC also offers up to $12 in monthly fee reimbursements for out-of-network ATMs.
APY
N/A
Bonus
N/A
Monthly fee
$0
Overdraft star rating
3.8/5
Our Take
Upgrade offers its Rewards Checking Preferred customers 2% cash back on everyday debit purchases — such as those made at restaurants, bars, convenience stores, drugstores, gas stations, utility companies and streaming services — up to $500 in rewards per year, as long as they make $1,000 in direct deposits each month. For other debit card purchases, and for everyday purchases made after the $500 reward limit, customers can earn 1% cash back. Customers who don’t fulfill the direct deposit requirement earn 0.50% or 1% cash back depending on the purchase.
Upgrade charges no monthly fees or overdraft fees. Customers also have fee-free access to 55,000 AllPoint ATMs.
APY
2.00%
Bonus
N/A
Monthly fee
$0
Overdraft star rating
3.8/5
Our Take
Zynlo’s More Spending account gives customers a 2.00% APY with a $10 minimum deposit to open the account. Customers have access to more than 55,000 fee-free Allpoint ATMs, and there’s no monthly fee on the account. Customers can also get paid up to two days early when they set up direct deposit with their employer.
APY
1.00%
Bonus
N/A
Monthly fee
$0
Overdraft star rating
3.8/5
Our Take
Customers with an American Express Rewards Checking account earn 1.00% APY on all balances and don’t have to worry about any monthly fees or minimum balance requirements. They also have access to over 70,000 fee-free MoneyPass and Allpoint ATMs nationwide and 24/7 customer service. The account can only be opened by customers who have a U.S. basic American Express consumer credit card that has been open for at least 35 days.
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’s Interest Checking account has a competitive interest rate of 1.00% APY and has no monthly fees. If they open an account before Dec. 31, 2024, customers can also earn a bonus 2.00% APY through Jan. 31, 2025. There’s no minimum required to open an account, but you must fund your account within 15 days or Bask Bank may close it.
Bask Bank is part of the nationwide Allpoint ATM network, which means customers can use more than 55,000 fee-free ATMs.
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 that has an high interest rate of 3.50% APY and gives customers 1% cash back on debit card spending. Customers also get access to the nationwide MoneyPass ATM network, which includes about 40,000 fee-free ATMs. The account has no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements.
Want to compare more options? Here are our other top picks:
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Chasing the best rewards can’t make up for having a checking account that lacks features you need or that charges you high fees to access your money. But it’s worth looking for a financial institution that offers you a little extra incentive to bank with 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."
Last updated on July 21, 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, 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, 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, Newtek 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.