Best Checking Accounts 2024

ATM options, and a decent APY.

Alliant offers a highly-rated mobile app, available on both iOS and Android. The app is complete with budgeting tools, mobile check deposit, an ATM finder, and the ability to view your credit score.

Fees:

• Monthly Maintenance Fee: $0
• Overdraft Fee: $0
• ATM Fee: $0 at in-network ATMs

Pros:

• Over 80,000 surcharge-free ATMs
• Reimbursement of up to $20 per month for out-of-network ATM fees
• Highly-rated mobile app
• No monthly maintenance fee

Cons:

• Low APY
• Requires membership

To become an Alliant Credit Union member, you’ll need to become a member of Foster Care to Success (FC2S) first. Alliant will, however, reimburse you the $5 membership fee after signing up.

Axos Bank offers a solid checking account with a high APY, user-friendly mobile app, and a wide network of surcharge-free ATMs.

Their online and mobile banking allows customers to manage their debit card, enroll in autopay, pay friends and family. It also allows customers to set financial goals and track their progress, view breakdowns of their spending, and deposit checks on the go.

Fees:

• Monthly Maintenance Fee: $0
• Overdraft Fee: $0
• ATM Fee: $0

Pros:

• Competitive APY for a checking account
• 91,000+ surcharge-free ATMs
• Unlimited domestic ATM fee reimbursement
• No fees
• Mobile app with helpful money management features

Cons:

• Balances over $50,000 do not earn interest
• $50 minimum deposit
• Confusing tier-based APY system

The Axos Bank Rewards Checking account has an interesting tier-based APY, requiring customers to do a variety of things to earn the full 3.30% APY:

• 0.40% APY: Receive monthly direct deposits totaling $1,500 or more.
• 0.30% APY: Sign up for Personal Finance Manager Account Aggregation in Online Banking or use your Axos debit card for at least 10 transactions per month (with a minimum of $3 per transaction).
• 1.00% APY: Keep an average daily balance of $2,500 per month in an Axos Invest Managed Portfolios Account.
• 1.00% APY: Keep an average daily balance of $2,500 per month in an Axos Invest Self-Directed Trading Account.
• 0.60% APY: Use your Rewards Checking account to make a full Axos consumer loan payment, such as a mortgage, personal, or auto loan.

The Citibank Access Account Package offers a large network of ATMs and no overdraft fee, but it doesn’t pay interest. As a result, it’s best for people who’d prefer working with a larger bank like Citibank and don’t mind not earning interest.

The account does, however, come with both digital and mobile banking. The mobile app is highly rated in both the App Store and Google Play Store.

Fees:

• Monthly Maintenance Fee: $10; $0 if there is one qualifying direct deposit or bill payment per statement or by keeping an average monthly balance of $1,500 in eligible linked accounts
• Overdraft Fee: $0
• ATM Fee: $0 at one of the 65,000+ surcharge-free ATMs in network; $2.50 for out-of-network ATMs

Pros:

• No overdraft fee
• Expansive ATM network
• Zelle access

Cons:

• No paper checks
• No APY
• You’ll need to pay a monthly maintenance fee if you don’t meet the minimum requirements to waive it.

Citibank connects to Zelle, which allows you to send money to friends and family directly from your checking account.

The Connexus Credit Union Xtraordinary Checking account comes with a simple APY tier structure, no minimum deposit, and a relatively large ATM network. Customers get access to a highly-rated mobile app, complete with mobile check deposit.

Fees:

• Monthly Maintenance Fee: $0
• Overdraft Fee: $4; Connexus covers some overdrafts through their unique Privilege Pay program
• ATM Fee: $0 at in-network ATMs

Pros:

• No minimum deposit
• Surcharge-free ATMs; $25 reimbursed per month for ATM provider surcharges

Cons:

• You must open a Connexus savings account to open a checking account.
• You’ll need to make a $5 donation to the Connexus Association to become a member.

Connexus members earn 1.75% APY on balances up to $25,000. Any amount over $25,000 will earn 0.25% APY.

To receive any APY, though, you’ll need to opt into e-statements and have at least 15 debit transactions per month or spend at least $400 per month on your debit card. If you don’t meet these requirements, you won’t earn dividends or have access to ATM fee reimbursements that month.

Discover offers a simple, straightforward checking account option with 1% cash back on up to $3,000 of spending per month. Their highly-rated mobile app gives customers a spending analysis, mobile check deposit, and on-the-go access to their balance.
Fees:

• Monthly Maintenance Fee: $0
• Overdraft Fee: $0
• ATM Fee: $0

Pros:

• No monthly maintenance fee, overdraft fee, or ATM fee
• Highly-rated mobile app

Cons:

• Low cash back

While Discover’s Cashback Checking account doesn’t offer the traditional APY structure, they offer 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases per month. This equals just $30 per month at the highest spending rate, which isn’t as compelling of an offer as some competitors.

with access to over 37,000 ATMs, the ability to set and track savings goals, and a financial snapshot tool that makes data from other bank accounts visible.

Their mobile app allows customers to deposit checks on the go, pay bills from their phone, and move funds between accounts.

Fees:

• Monthly Maintenance Fee: $0
• Overdraft Fee: $0
• ATM Fee: $0 at in-network ATMs

Pros:

• Simple APY structure
• Ability to set and track financial goals within the account
• No monthly maintenance fees

Cons:

• $45 fee for wire transfers
• Low APY in comparison to some competitors
• Smaller ATM network than some competitors

There are no requirements to receive the full 1.50% APY.

PenFed Credit Union’s Access America Checking account offers a simple APY structure, large ATM network, and easy-to-use mobile app. The app is complete with bill pay, mobile check deposit, and a branch locator.

Fees:

• Monthly Maintenance Fee: $10; waived if monthly direct deposits of $500 or more or daily balance of $500 or more
• Overdraft Fee: $30
• ATM Fee: $0 at in-network ATMs

Pros:

• Large ATM network
• Monthly fee is waivable
• Easy-to-use mobile app

Cons:

• Monthly maintenance fee
• To join PenFed Credit Union, you’ll need to make a $5 deposit into a savings account.
• APY is lower than some competitors

Eligible accounts will receive the following APY:

• 0.15% APY: Balances up to $19,999.99
• 0.35% APY: Balances between $20,000 and $50,000

Balances over $50,000 do not earn dividends.

Quontic Bank’s High-Interest Checking account comes with a massive network of ATMs, an easy-to-use mobile app, and a straightforward APY structure. All balances can receive the full APY after minimum requirements are met. The one downside of the account is the $100 minimum deposit.

Fees:

• Monthly Maintenance Fee: $0
• Overdraft Fee: $0
• ATM Fee: $0 at in-network ATMs

Pros:

• Massive network of surcharge-free ATMs
• Competitive APY

Cons:

• Requires a $100 minimum deposit to open an account
• You’ll need to meet the minimum requirements to receive the full APY

To get the full APY, you must make at least 10 qualifying debit transactions of $10 or more per statement cycle. If you don’t, you’ll earn just 0.01% APY for that cycle.

The TIAA Bank Yield Pledge Checking has three major benefits competitors might not have: extended warranty protection, price protection, and return protection. The major downside of the account is the $100 minimum deposit requirement.

Their mobile app allows customers to deposit checks, set and track financial goals, and view transaction information. For Android users, the app also connects to smartwatches.

Fees:

• Monthly Maintenance Fee: $0
• Overdraft Fee: $0
• ATM Fee: $0; Reimburses up to $15 per month for third-party ATM fees

Pros:

• Large ATM network
• Simple, flat APY for all balances
• Highly-rated mobile app

Cons:

• Branch locations are only in Florida
• $100 minimum deposit

Customers that maintain an average daily balance of over $5,000 will receive unlimited ATM reimbursements.

The account also comes with the Yield Pledge promise, which ensures that customers always receive an APY within the top five percent of competing accounts.

Varo Bank Account stands out from competitors with its option to get paid up to two days early with direct deposit. While it doesn’t pay interest, all customers get a Varo Visa debit card, which allows you to earn up to 6% cash back on select brands.

Customers can deposit checks through the Varo mobile app. If they need to deposit cash, they can visit one of the 90,000 retail locations for Green Dot Reload.

Fees:

• Monthly Maintenance Fee: $0
• Overdraft Fee: $0
• ATM Fee: $0 at in-network ATMs; $2.50 at out-of-network ATMs

Pros:

• Early direct deposit
• Visa debit card with up to 6% cash back
• Zelle access
• Access to in-person cash deposit

Cons:

• Smaller ATM network than some competitors
• Doesn’t pay interest
• Doesn’t refund out-of-network ATM fees

Varo is compatible with Zelle, which allows you to make seamless transfers to friends and family right from your checking account.