12 Best Rewards Checking Accounts of 2022

Axos Bank customers can earn up to 1.25% APY on their balance as long as they meet some requirements. To earn the full interest, customers must have monthly direct deposits totaling $1,500 or more, use their debit card at least 10 times per month (with a minimum of $3 per transaction), maintain an average daily balance of $2,500 per month in an Axos Invest Managed Portfolios Account, maintain an average daily balance of $2,500 per month in an Axos Invest Self Directed Trading Account and use their account to make a full monthly Axos Bank consumer loan payment. Other benefits include no overdraft fees and unlimited ATM fee reimbursements.

American Express offers a 0.50% APY on its checking account, which also has no monthly account fees. Purchases made with a debit card can also help customers earn Membership Rewards points that can be redeemed for things like travel and shopping. The account is currently available only to Consumer Card Members who have had a Card account for three months or longer.

The SoFi Checking and Savings account gives customers a 1.80% APY on any balance with no account fees or overdraft fees. Customers can also receive their paychecks up to two days early and earn up to 15% cash back on purchases made with their SoFi debit card. New customers can also earn a bonus of up to $300 depending on how much they direct deposit within 30 days of their first qualifying direct deposit.

Redneck Bank offers a 2.25% APY on up to $10,000 for its free Redneck Rewards Checkin’ Account as long as a customer meets two qualifications: Make 10 debit card transactions per month and receive e-statements. The account has no minimum balance requirement — though there’s a minimum opening deposit of $500 — and Redneck Bank also reimburses up to $25 per month in ATM fees worldwide.

The second tier, 3.09%, applies to balances of up to $10,000 and requires the activities above as well as making at least $500 in purchases with a Consumers Credit Union credit card. The highest tier, 4.09%, is for balances of up to $10,000 and requires the activities from the first tier along with $1,000 in credit card purchases. Not meeting the requirements drops your rate to a much lower APY.

Quontic’s free Cash Rewards Checking account gives customers a high 1.50% cash back on all eligible debit card purchases, and customers also have access to more than 90,000 free ATMs. There is, however, a $100 minimum deposit to open the account.

Lake Michigan Credit Union offers a highly competitive 3.00% APY interest rate on its Max Checking account for balances up to $15,000 as long as customers meet certain requirements. To qualify, customers need to make at least one direct deposit per month, make at least 10 debit card purchases per month, log in to their online account at least once per month and receive e-statements. The account requires no minimum balance and has no monthly maintenance fees. The account also offers the perk of up to $10 per month in out-of-network ATM fee reimbursement for non-LMCU and non-Allpoint ATMs. There are more than 55,000 in-network ATMs worldwide as well.

Upgrade charges no monthly fees or overdraft fees, and if a customer maintains a balance of at least $2,500, has made at least eight qualifying Rewards Checking debit card purchases or has had at least $1,000 directly deposited into their account in the previous month, then Upgrade will rebate up to five ATM withdrawal fees per month.

Connexus’ Xtraordinary Checking customers can earn 1.75% APY on balances of up to $25,000 as well as up to $25 per month in out-of-network ATM fees. To qualify for these benefits, customers have to opt into e-statements and make either $400 in debit card purchases or make 15 debit card transactions per month. If they don’t meet these requirements, customers won’t earn interest or receive ATM fee reimbursement. For customers who keep more than $25,000 in their Xtraordinary Checking account, they’ll earn 0.25% APY for any amount over the threshold.

With the Kasasa Cash Back Checking account, TAB Bank gives customers an unlimited 1.50% cash back on purchases and refunds domestic ATM withdrawal fees, up to $5 per fee with up to $15 per month total. The account has no monthly fees or minimum balances. To qualify for cash back rewards, customers must be enrolled in e-statements, make at least 15 debit card purchases per month that are at least $5 each and have at least one direct deposit, electronic payment or bill pay transaction.

See Discover's website for more details.

Customers get unlimited automatic ATM fee reimbursements worldwide (though an international exchange fee may still apply), and they can also get free ATM access at MoneyPass and SUM-branded ATMs.