11 Best Rewards Checking Accounts of 2023
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 June 5, 2023. All other information is current as of February 1, 2022.
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 June 5, 2023. All other information is current as of February 1, 2022.
Best Rewards Checking Accounts
Bank/institution | NerdWallet rating | Monthly fee | APY | Bonus | Learn more |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() SoFi Checking and Savings Learn more at SoFi, Member FDIC | $0 | 1.20% With $0 min. balance for APY | $250 Earn up to $250 with direct deposit. Terms apply. | Learn more at SoFi, Member FDIC | |
![]() Axos Bank® Rewards Checking Learn more at Axos Bank®, Member FDIC | $0 | 3.30% With $0 min. balance for APY | $100 Earn $100 with direct deposit. Terms apply. | Learn more at Axos Bank®, Member FDIC | |
![]() Upgrade - Rewards Checking Plus | Best for Best cash back rate | $0 | N/A | N/A | Read review |
![]() Quontic High Interest Checking | Best for Unlimited cash back and ATM network | $0 | 1.10% With $0.01 min. balance for APY | N/A | Read review |
![]() Lake Michigan Credit Union Max Checking | Best for Best interest rate for up to $15,000 | $0 | 3.00% With $0 min. balance for APY | N/A | Read review |
![]() Connexus Credit Union Xtraordinary Checking | Best for Best interest rate for up to $25,000 | $0 | 1.75% With $0 min. balance for APY | N/A | Read review |
![]() LendingClub Rewards Checking | Best for Cash back and interest | $0 | 0.10% With $2,500 min. balance for APY | N/A | Read review |
![]() nbkc bank Everything Account Learn more at nbkc bank, Member FDIC | $0 | 1.50% With $0 min. balance for APY | N/A | Learn more at nbkc bank, Member FDIC | |
![]() HOPE Rewards Checking | $0 | 3.01% With $0 min. balance for APY | N/A | Read review | |
![]() Amalgamated Bank Give-Back Checking | $0 | 0.75% With $100 min. balance for APY | N/A | Read review | |
![]() Bank5 Connect High Interest Checking | $0 | 2.70% With $100 min. balance for APY | N/A | Read review |
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People often identify opening a savings account as their next money move.
SoFi Checking and Savings

APY
With $0 min. balance for APY
Bonus
Earn up to $250 with direct deposit. Terms apply.
at SoFi, Member FDIC
Discover Bank Online Savings

APY
With $0 min. balance for APY
Bonus
Requirements to qualify
at Discover Bank, Member FDIC
Capital One 360 Performance Savings™

APY
With $0 min. balance for APY
at Capital One, Member FDIC
$0
1.20%
With $0 min. balance for APY
$250
Earn up to $250 with direct deposit. Terms apply.
Why We Like It
SoFi Checking and Savings gives customers with direct deposit a 1.20% APY (variable and subject to change) on balances in the checking portion of their account. In addition, the savings portion earns 4.30% APY (variable and subject to change). The account doesn't have monthly 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 earn a bonus of up to $250 depending on how much they direct deposit within 25 days of their first qualifying direct deposit. Without direct deposit, SoFi Checking and Savings earns 1.20% APY (variable and subject to change) on all account balances.
$0
3.30%
With $0 min. balance for APY
$100
Earn $100 with direct deposit. Terms apply.
Why We Like It
Axos Bank customers can earn up to 3.30% 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 domestic ATM fee reimbursements.
$0
1.50%
With $0 min. balance for APY
N/A
Why We Like It
NBKC’s Everything Account gives its customers 1.50% APY on all balances with no requirements. There’s no monthly fee or minimum balance requirement, and customers have access to more than 37,000 fee-free ATMs. NBKC also offers up to $12 in monthly fee reimbursements for out-of-network ATMs.
$0
3.01%
With $0 min. balance for APY
N/A
Why We Like It
Hope Credit Union offers a baseline 0.10% APY, but by meeting a few requirements, customers can earn 3.01% APY on up to $10,000 or 0.50% APY on balances over $10,000. To earn the higher rate, customers must, on a monthly basis: have at least 12 debit card transactions clear their account, log in to their online account at least once, receive e-statements, and have at least one direct deposit or electronic transfer clear their account. The account has no monthly fee.
To join Hope Credit Union, new members need to pay a one-time $10 membership fee. Hope Credit Union is primarily located in the South, but it’s also part of the Co-op branch and ATM network, which gives customers access to more than 5,600 shared branches and more than 30,000 fee-free ATMs.
$0
0.75%
With $100 min. balance for APY
N/A
Why We Like It
For Give-Back Checking, Amalgamated Bank offers a rate of 0.75% APY for balances below $2,500 and 0.80% APY for balances $2,500 and higher. There’s an added philanthropic benefit to this account as well: Amalgamated Bank donates an amount half of the interest you earn to a participating organization. The account has no monthly fees and a minimum opening deposit of $100. Customers also have access to more than 40,000 Allpoint ATMs.
$0
2.70%
With $100 min. balance for APY
N/A
Why We Like It
Bank5 Connect offers customers a 2.70% APY rate on its High-Interest Checking account for balances of $100 or more. Customers can use the nationwide SUM ATM network for free, and Bank5 Connect also reimburses up to $15 per month in out-of-network ATM fee charges. The account is free with e-statements or $1 per month if you choose to receive paper statements, and there’s a $10 minimum opening deposit.
Our pick for
Best cash back rate
$0
N/A
N/A
Why We Like It
Upgrade offers its eligible Rewards Checking Plus 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. Customers will need an Active Account to be eligible, meaning the account will need to receive monthly direct deposits of at least $1,000. For other debit card purchases, including everyday purchases made after the $500 reward limit, and those made from non-Active Accounts, customers can earn 1% cash back.
Upgrade charges no monthly fees or overdraft fees, and will rebate up to five ATM withdrawal fees per month if the customer had an Active Account the previous month.
Want to compare more options? Here are our other top picks:
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.
Last updated on June 5, 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, 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 Rewards Checking Accounts of 2023
- SoFi Checking and Savings
- Axos Bank® Rewards Checking
- Upgrade - Rewards Checking Plus: Best for Best cash back rate
- Quontic High Interest Checking: Best for Unlimited cash back and ATM network
- Lake Michigan Credit Union Max Checking: Best for Best interest rate for up to $15,000
- Connexus Credit Union Xtraordinary Checking: Best for Best interest rate for up to $25,000
- LendingClub Rewards Checking: Best for Cash back and interest
- nbkc bank Everything Account
- HOPE Rewards Checking
- Amalgamated Bank Give-Back Checking
- Bank5 Connect High Interest Checking