Traditionally, checking accounts haven’t earned high interest rates. However, a handful of banks and credit unions offer ultra-competitive high-yield checking accounts, allowing you to grow your bank account balance faster.
We’ve rounded up the best high-yield checking accounts for you, comparing their interest rates, terms, account features, and fees.
8 Best High-Yield Checking Accounts
Here are the best high-yield checking accounts that you can open today:
1. SoFi Checking and Savings
- Account APY: Up to 4.20%
- Minimum Balance: $0
- Monthly Fee: $0
- Our Rating: 4.4/5
Expert Take: Get access to APYs up to 4.20% on savings and 0.50% on checking along with FDIC insurance on up to $2 million with the SoFi Checking and Savings account.
The SoFi Checking and Savings account offers everything you need in one bank account. There are no account fees or minimum balances and you can access your funds at up to 55,000 fee-free ATMs.
If you set up direct deposit, you could earn 4.20% APY on savings and 0.50% on checking balances. SoFi offers up to $50 in overdraft coverage for no charge as long as you have direct deposit of at least $1,000. You can also earn up to 15% cash back on purchases made with your SoFi debit card at local establishments.
The SoFi mobile app makes it easy to bank online, including paying bills, finding ATMs, and making remote deposits. Keep in mind, when you sign up for this account, it is two accounts in one – including both checking and savings.
Plus, you can earn up to a $300 bonus after opening your account and setting up direct deposit. The bonus ranges from $50 – $300 and depends on how much you have sent via direct deposit.
Keep Reading: SoFi Checking & Savings Review
2. Axos Bank Rewards Checking
- Account APY: Up to 3.30%
- Minimum Balance: $0
- Monthly Fee: $0
- Our Rating: 4.3/5
Expert Take: Earn up to 3.30% APY with no monthly fees and unlimited ATM reimbursement with an Axos Bank Rewards checking account.
With an Axos Bank Rewards checking account, you build your own APY, getting up to 3.30% with all of the following:
- Direct deposit of at least $1,500/month – 0.4%
- Use your Axos Visa® debit card at least ten times a month – 0.30% (can also link an account to activate the Personal Finance Manager)
- Keep an average daily balance of $2,500 in your Axos Invest Managed Portfolios Account – 0.99%
- Keep an average daily balance of $2,500 in your Axos Invest Self-Directed Trading – 0.99%
- Pay your Axos mortgage, auto, or personal loan with your Rewards checking account – 0.60%
Axos doesn’t charge any fees including monthly maintenance, minimum balance or overdraft fees, and they reimburse for all domestic non-network ATM fees.
On the Axos app, you can manage your spending, check your account, set up alerts, and transfer funds to yourself. It also has a virtual assistant named Evo who answers all your questions 24/7.
Keep Reading: Axos Bank Review
3. Consumers Credit Union Rewards Checking
- Account APY: Up to 5.00%
- Minimum Balance: $0
- Monthly Fee: $0
Expert Take: Earn up to 5.00% APY with no monthly maintenance fees and unlimited check writing with the Consumers Credit Union Free High Interest checking account.
Consumers Credit Union’s Free High Interest checking account offers one of the highest APYs in the nation with rates as high as 5.00%. The APY you earn varies based on your transactions.
- Earn 3% if you enroll in eDocuments, make at least 12 debit card transactions monthly, and have at least $500 in direct or mobile deposits monthly
- Earn 4% if you meet the above plus spend at least $500 on your Consumers Credit Union credit card monthly
- Earn 5% if you meet the above plus spend at least $1,000 on your Consumers Credit Union credit card monthly
The account also includes early access (2-days) to direct deposit, free Zelle transfers, and unlimited check writing. CCU reimburses for all non-network ATM fees, but they have a vast network of 30,000 fee-free ATMs. They also offer free mobile and online banking and access to a mobile wallet with your debit card.
You must be a member to qualify for an account, but anyone can be a member. All you need is to pay the $5 membership fee and to open an account with at least $5.
4. Aspiration Spend & Save
- Account APY: Up to 3.00% APY on the first $10,000
- Minimum Balance: $10
- Monthly Fee: $0 for a standard account, $7.99 for Aspiration Plus
- Our Rating: 4.3/5
Expert Take: Get up to 3.00% APY on the first $10,000 in your account and earn up to 10% back on purchases with select Aspiration partners.
Aspiration Spend & Save is two accounts in one: Aspiration Debit, a rewards checking account that pays up to 10% back on eligible purchases with Conscience Coalition partners, companies that have committed to helping the planet (and caring more about their bottom line in the process) and Aspiration Save, a high-yield savings account that links seamlessly to Aspiration Debit and earns up to 3.00% APY on the first $10,000 in the account.
You need to pay $7.99 per month for an Aspiration Plus membership to earn 10% back and 3.00% APY. Otherwise, cash back maxes out at 5%, and your yield is 1.00% APY on the first $10,000.
Aspiration doesn’t have account opening bonuses, but if you enroll in Aspiration Plus, you earn 10% back, which can quickly compensate for the monthly fee.
The free Aspiration account is pretty robust, offering early access to your direct deposit and 55,000 fee-free ATMs. Plus, you can have a tree planted every time you swipe your debit card and get FDIC insurance on up to $1.25 million, much greater than most banks’ typical $250,000 coverage.
If you opt for Aspiration Plus, you earn higher interest and more cash back and have access to out-of-network ATM reimbursements and coverage for up to 90 days on items purchased with your Aspiration debit card.
Keep Reading: Aspiration Spend & Save Review
The Aspiration Save Account’s up to 3.00% Annual Percentage Yield (“APY”) is variable, subject to change, and only available to customers enrolled in Aspiration Plus after conditions are met. Customers not enrolled in Aspiration Plus receive 1.00% APY after conditions are met. The Aspiration Spend & Save Accounts are cash management accounts offered through Aspiration Financial, LLC, a registered broker-dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC, and a subsidiary of Aspiration Partners, Inc. (“Aspiration”). Aspiration is not a bank.
5. Quontic High Interest Checking
- Account APY: 1.10% APY
- Minimum Balance: $100
- Monthly Fee: $0
- Our Rating: 4.1/5
Expert Take: Earn 1.10% APY on eligible balances when you make at least ten qualifying transactions in a statement period. Plus, enjoy fee-free access to more than 90,000 ATMs across multiple networks in the United States.
Quontic High Interest Checking is a free checking account with an attractive yield for anyone able to clear the relatively low qualifying activity bar: making 10 or more qualifying debit card point-of-sale transactions valued at $10 or more within the statement cycle. Do this, and you’ll earn 1.10% APY on all balances. If you don’t meet the qualifying factors for a cycle, you’ll earn 0.01%.
Note that Quontic used to limit interest payments to the first $150,000 in the account. This restriction has been void for a while, but there’s always the chance it could come back.
It takes only a few minutes to open a Quontic account, and you’ll never have to worry about monthly or overdraft fees. It includes mobile deposit, online bill pay, and easy online transfers. You can also sync all your financial accounts in the app to have a bird’s eye view of your financial situation.
If you’re looking for help with your finances or reaching financial goals, the financial tools Quontic offers may help. This includes a spending tracker and credit report monitoring, and all accounts get standard FDIC coverage up to $250,000 per depositor.
Customer support is 100% US-based, and they offer live chat or phone calls as options to talk to a representative.
Keep Reading: Quontic High Interest Checking Review
6. All America Bank Ultimate Rewards Checking
- Account APY: Up to 4.65%
- Minimum Balance: $0
- Monthly Fee: $0
Expert Take: Earn as much as 5.30% on your checking account balances with the All America Ultimate Rewards checking account.
To open an All America Ultimate Rewards checking account you’ll need $50 in person or $500 online, but it comes with great rewards, especially the high APY on balances of $15,000 or less, which is 5.3%. Any balances over $15,000 pay 0.50%.
Other great benefits include a free Mastercard debit card, online banking, and free bank-to-bank transfers. It also includes free online bill pay, but only the first ten transactions per month are free. After that, it’s $0.50 per transaction.
You can set up direct deposit for easy access to your funds, and use mobile deposit for a convenient cash-checking option.
7. Lake Michigan Credit Union Max Checking
- Account APY: Up to 3.00%
- Minimum Balance: $0
- Monthly Fee: $0
Expert Take: Earn up to 3.00% APY on balances up to $15,000 at Lake Michigan Credit Union Max Checking account with no monthly fees or monthly minimum balance required.
The Lake Michigan Credit Union Max checking account pays an impressive 3.00% on checking account balances if they meet the following requirements:
- You have direct deposit or ACH transfers into your Max checking account
- Make at least ten debit card transactions monthly
- Log into online banking at least four times monthly
- Are enrolled in eStatements
LMCU has 55,000 fee-free ATMs via the Allpoint network and offers free mobile check deposits to make it easy to manage your funds. They also offer user-friendly online bill payment.
You have nothing to lose, with no minimum balance required and no monthly fees! Plus, they reimburse up to $10 per month in non-network ATM fees.
8. Presidential Bank Advantage Checking
- Account APY: Up to 4.62%
- Minimum Balance: $500
- Monthly Fee: $0
Expert Take: If you have $500 to open a checking account, you can earn a high APY of 4.62% at Presidential Bank with its fully digital checking account that includes check-writing privileges.
Finding a digital bank that includes checks can feel hard since most banks have gone checkless, but Presidential Bank’s Advantage Checking account offers high APYs, free digital banking, and the ability to write up to three checks for free monthly. If you need to write more, they are $3 per check.
Other benefits the Advantage Checking account includes are free checks (first order only), ATM fee rebates up to $8 a month, free online banking, and free online bill pay.
To access these features, including mobile deposit, bill pay, mobile banking, and the higher APY, you must have at least $500 sent via direct deposit monthly. You must also make seven electronic withdrawals monthly. If not, you will earn a much lower APY of 0.10%.
Learn More at Presidential.com
How to Pick a High-Yield Checking Account
Choosing the best high-yield checking accounts may require weeding through some bad ones until you find the one that is a perfect fit.
Everyone should look at the monthly fees, focusing only on those accounts that don’t charge one. Chances are, even with a high APY, you won’t out-earn the monthly fee.
You should also consider what you want out of your account or how you’ll use it.
For example, if you know you’ll be out of the ATM network often, choose a bank that reimburses for non-network ATM fees. Or maybe you want a combined checking and savings account, or prefer a bank that offers robust personal finance tools.
The key is to look at the big picture and ensure you can meet the bank’s requirements including the minimum balance required to waive the monthly fee and earn the highest APY.
Your checking account should work for you, not cost you money, so look closely at what it offers and charges to ensure you choose the best high-yield checking account.
Methodology
We evaluated dozens of checking accounts to build this list. We considered several key variables along the way. The accounts that made the final cut scored well on most or all variables.
Account Yield (Interest Rate)
Remember, these are high-yield checking accounts we’re talking about. Yield is a key selling point for the banks marketing them, which is why it’s the most important factor in our analysis.
Monthly Fee & Waiver Options
The best high-yield checking accounts are either truly free, meaning they don’t charge monthly fees. Unfortunately, free checking accounts aren’t as common as they used to be, so we make exceptions for accounts that make it easy to waive monthly fees with a qualifying direct deposit or clearing a reasonable minimum balance.
Bonuses and Rewards
The best high-yield checking accounts tend to offer sign-up bonuses for new account holders, rewards programs that pay you back for eligible purchases, or both. It’s not a deal-breaker when high-yield checking accounts lack these features, but all else being equal, we prefer that they do.
Balance Requirements & Limits
We believe you shouldn’t have to save up a fortune to benefit from a high-yield checking account. Most accounts on this list have no minimum or very low minimum balances. A few do have maximum balances to earn interest, but those are high enough not to impact most users.
ATM Access
Cash is less and less common these days, but ATM access is still important for many checking account users. And we believe you shouldn’t have to pay a fee to get your money. This is why, all else being equal, we prefer high-yield checking accounts with big, fee-free ATM networks.
Geographic Availability
Some high-yield checking accounts have geographic restrictions, either because you have to open them in a branch or the banks offering them simply don’t operate in certain states. We exclude accounts with strict geographic restrictions and prefer 50-state coverage when possible.
FAQs
Choosing a checking account isn’t as simple as it sounds. As you get into it, you’ll almost certainly have some questions, so we’ve preemptively answered some of the most important ones.
How Much Interest Do High-Yield Checking Accounts Pay?
It depends on the bank’s policy and prevailing interest rates. However, a good rule of thumb is that the best high-yield checking accounts pay interest on par with the top high-yield savings accounts.
Are There Any Requirements to Earn Interest?
Some high-yield checking accounts attach no strings at all to interest payments, but many do. The most common requirements include:
- Setting up and maintaining a qualifying direct deposit
- Meeting a monthly transaction minimum
- Meeting a monthly or daily minimum balance
What’s the Maximum Balance to Earn Interest?
Many high-yield checking accounts pay interest on all balances, which is ideal if you keep a big financial buffer in your checking account. Others cap interest payments, though. Usually, the cap is relatively high — $5,000 or more.
How Much Do High-Yield Checking Accounts Cost?
Ideally, nothing. And the best high-yield checking accounts are indeed free checking accounts. For accounts that charge a monthly maintenance fee, we prefer easy waiver options, such as any direct deposit or a low minimum balance ($500 or below).
Are High-Yield Checking Accounts Actually Savings Accounts?
Sometimes. The line between checking and savings is blurrier these days because many banks and financial technology apps package checking and savings products into the same digital interface. Several of the accounts on this list are package deals.
Final Word
Like mortgage rates and CD yields, checking account yields rise and fall as benchmark interest rates change.
During periods of economic uncertainty, when benchmark rates tend to be more volatile, these changes can occur with disorienting frequency. The yield you expect on that shiny new online checking account might not be what you actually receive.
The silver lining is that competition for new checking account customers remains fierce, especially among online banks and smaller brick-and-mortar institutions without household name status.
That means checking account yields will continue to entice new account holders, wherever interest rates go and irrespective of what happens on the savings account front.