Best Checking Accounts for 2024

*New Chase checking customers enjoy $100 when they open a Chase Secure Banking^SM  account with qualifying transactions.

Chase is a subsidiary of JPMorgan Chase & Co., a global leader in financial services. The bank has been in business for more than 200 years. During that time, it opened branches in more than 100 countries. Chase Secure Banking is one of its better checking account offers for people who have had problems managing their finances in the past.

Anyone can qualify for Secure Banking as long as Chase can verify their identity and confirm that they haven’t committed fraud in the past. 

Fees

Aside from the monthly service fee of $4.95, you won’t have many charges to worry about. The only additional fees you might encounter can easily be avoided since they are related to non-Chase and international ATMs. Additionally, if your electronic deposits exceed $250 monthly fee won't be billed.

Whenever you use a non-Chase ATM for inquiries, transfers, or withdrawals, you’ll have to pay $3. Transfers and inquiries at ATMs outside the US, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands cost $3 as well, while withdrawals are $5.

Chase is easily among the most transparent banks in the US. As its customer, you’ll even be advised to opt for standard rather than express shipping of a replacement card since the rush request costs $5.

Convenience and Special Features

Chase provides its customers with nearly 15,000 ATMs and more than 4,700 branches. On top of that, it has a mobile app that you can use to transfer funds, monitor your account activity, pay bills, and deposit checks.

Once you open your checking account online or at a nearby Chase branch, you’ll also be able to access your credit score free of charge at any time, and you’ll be notified whenever changes appear on your credit report. If any of those notifications makes you suspect someone may be in unauthorized possession of your card information, you should contact Chase as soon as possible. 

Thanks to the bank’s zero-liability account protection, you’ll be reimbursed for any unauthorized card transactions. In the event of losing or misplacing your card, you can use the lock feature available in your mobile app. 

User Experience and Customer Service

Although Chase has several interest checking accounts, the Secure Banking account isn’t one of them. That’s because it was created with a very specific customer base in mind. Its purpose is to help those with bad or no credit history enter a traditional banking relationship and avoid debt. 

Customers can even request an in-person or virtual meeting with one of Chase’s financial experts to define and discuss their financial goals. You can locate the nearest Chase branches through the bank’s online branch locator.

Standard customer support services are available via phone, email, and social media. Telephone support hours vary from department to department.

Bottom Line

Although Chase Secure Banking has very few checking account fees and enables you to keep a close eye on your credit reports, it lacks some of the perks many other accounts on this list offer, such as an APY. 

However, new customers get a bonus of $100 when they complete qualifying transactions. It’s perfect for those looking for an affordable and easily obtainable checking option. In addition, you can always use Chase Secure Banking as a temporary solution until you raise your credit score enough to qualify for a different Chase product.

Ally is an online-only financial institution based in Detroit, Michigan. The company offers banking services, car financing, mortgage loans, and stock brokerage. Ally is considered one of the foremost online banks for checking accounts. 

It is a strong favorite among consumers who seek good rates, prompt customer service, and easy-access mobile banking with their transactional accounts. As a company that operates online-only, Ally doesn't have any physical branches to invest in, so a bigger portion of its capital can be put towards developing state-of-the-art financial products.

Fees

This online bank doesn’t charge its customers for monthly maintenance, ATM withdrawals, ACH transfers, copies of online statements, domestic and international incoming wires, postage-paid deposit envelopes, and checks. Another thing that you won’t need to worry about is a minimum account balance.

Ally’s website is also completely transparent regarding the fees for any additional services you might need. These include a $7.50 fee for a returned deposit item, a $10 excessive-transaction fee, a $20 fee for outgoing domestic wires, and a few more. For a full list of relevant fees, make sure to check Ally Bank's website.

Convenience and Special Features

Although Ally has no physical locations to welcome its customers, Ally is still the online bank of choice when it comes to convenience and accessibility. An Ally checking account comes with a network of 43,000 free ATMs nationwide. 

As for deposits, you can opt for mobile check deposit, sending a check by mail, or setting up direct deposit or a wire transfer. The only option that isn’t available is making a cash deposit.

Ally checking accounts are marketed as one of the few accounts that reward their holders. With an APY that starts at 0.10% and reaches 0.25%, if you keep a minimum daily balance over $15,000, it is clear that Ally offers one of the most rewarding high-interest checking accounts.

User Experience and Customer Service

Taking customer service seriously is a must for any reputable online-only financial institution, and Ally clearly takes great pride in making up for its lack of physical locations by providing highly-responsive customer support. 

Should you have any questions, there are plenty of ways to get answers - by phone, mail, email, or live chat. However, before you try to get in touch with a customer service representative, you should consult the help center section on this online bank’s website. 

The help center is put together remarkably well and covers anything you want to know. If you prefer mobile banking, you won't be disappointed by Ally's mobile app. It lets you make payments and deposits, transfer funds, and it shows your account balance anytime, anywhere. Both iOS and Android app versions have accumulated a number of excellent reviews.

Bottom Line

Most banks that operate entirely online have the same weak point - they leave their customers without the option to deposit cash. That’s exactly one of the biggest drawbacks of Ally’s checking. 

On the other hand, Ally imposes almost no fees, and its checking account rates are among the best in the business. If you prefer managing your finances on your smartphone, Ally’s free online bank account is well worth a second look.

With over 120 years in the business, First Citizens Bank has a long-standing tradition and with more than $100 billion in assets and 600-plus branches across 22 states it is today one of the largest family-controlled banks in the US.

First Citizens is a top-tier business bank first and foremost, but it also has a wide range of services to meet the needs of each client and compete with other checking account providers.

Fees

First Capital’s checking account is free if you agree to paperless statements. This shouldn’t be a problem as keeping your monthly bank statements in an electronic version might be a more secure option, as there is less chance of losing or misplacing documents.

There is a required minimum deposit of $50, which is more than what some competitors ask, but with no balance minimum and no ATM charges, it is well worth the effort.  Also, there are no ATM charges, and the digital banking services through the website or First Citizens Bank’s app are free of charge as well.

The bank charges $15 for wire transfers and $2.99 for external bank-to-bank transfers, but you won’t have to pay for internal bank-to-bank transfers or any transfers from one account to another within your bank. The overdraft fee is $10 for every amount over $5, applicable four times per business day. 

Convenience and Special Features

You can stay updated on your First Citizens Bank checking account using the Manage My Money℠ proprietary tool. It allows you to connect various First Citizen accounts and manage them over any device you prefer. You can also use it to view your non-First Citizens accounts like credit cards, savings, and mortgages and have a complete overview of your finances in one place.

With a checking account, you get overdraft protection for checks, checking account transactions, and automatic bill payments. You can additionally activate overdraft protection for debit card transactions and ATM withdrawals. The First Citizens overdraft feature allows you to change the settings for different transactions at any time.

Additionally, the bank’s affiliate program offers sending and receiving money person-to-person using Zelle for free.

User Experience and Customer Service

The mobile app ratings are reasonably high, 4.5 out of 5 for the Apple store and 4.3 out of 5  Google Play. It is a useful tool that allows you to monitor your accounts with ease, but also deposit checks or make payments, all free of charge. You can set up alarms and automatically pay your bills. 

First Citizens Bank customers mention excellent service support over the phone. You can reach customer service from Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET, and on weekends from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. We found the service agents to be professional and helpful, so you can contact them if you need additional support with your account. 

An added plus is that you can use the website to locate one of more than 550 branches across the US if you wish to consult with a bank agent or withdraw money from an ATM in person.

Bottom Line

First Citizen is a US bank with a long tradition and more than 600 brick-and-mortar locations, offering an up-to-date online banking experience. Its checking accounts come without fees if you subscribe to its paperless statement service.

The proprietary account management tool and the flexible overdraft protection are both great options to have. However, the fact remains that more and more providers are waiving fees on overdrafts.

The initial deposit of $50 is higher than the rest on our list, but with First Citizens, you are going into business with a bank that offers a full-banking service, and that may prove to be an advantage in the future.

Chime is a digital bank founded in 2013 as a forward-looking alternative to traditional banking. Nowadays, thanks to its no-fee policy, Chime is considered one of the most-respected online checking account providers. 

Although it’s mobile-only, Chime is still an FDIC-insured bank. When you open a bank account with this provider, you get a checking account (or a spending account, according to Chime’s nomenclature), a debit card, and a linked savings account. 

Chime strives to provide easy-access banking for those who have uncomplicated finances and wish to manage their accounts on their smartphones instead of going to a brick-and-mortar branch. It is clear that Chime’s target market consists mostly of millennials and Generation Z. 

Fees

No monthly maintenance fees, no minimums, no overdraft charges for under $200 - Chime’s checking account offer bears almost no additional costs. You don’t even need to worry if your average daily balance decreases because this checking account requires no minimum account balance. 

Chime won’t charge you for using any in-network MoneyPass and Visa Plus Alliance ATMs. However, a small fee of $2.50 will apply if you decide to use an out-of-network ATM.

Convenience and Special Features

Not only does Chime provide a free online checking account with no deposit requirements, but it also puts your money at your disposal in record time. 

As a user of Chime’s spending account, you can expect deposited funds to hit your account two days earlier than it would if you were a holder of a traditional checking account. The company claims that it makes money accessible to you as soon as your employer deposits it. 

While setting up direct deposits with Chime is easy, depositing cash, on the other hand, can be a pain. The only option is to go to a Green Dot cash deposit location and pay a fee of up to $4.95 per deposit.

This online checking account provider has no physical locations you can visit; however, its ATM network consists of more than 38,000 MoneyPass and Visa Plus Alliance free ATMs.

Although Chime’s spending account isn't one of those interest-bearing options, there are still ways to build up your savings with this bank. Here's the deal - you can round up every purchase you make with your debit card to the nearest dollar to make a deposit towards your Chime savings account.

User Experience and Customer Service

Free online checking account providers need to make mobile apps the core of their business model to keep ahead of the game. With a rating of 4.8/5 on the App Store and 4.8/5 on Google Play, there is no doubt that Chime takes customer satisfaction on its smartphone app very seriously. 

Some of the app's amazing features include daily balance updates, alerts for transactions in real time, and the option to block transactions in case of a missing card or suspected fraud.

Chime’s no-fee checking accounts come with diversified customer service channels. Any issues can be reported to the bank's customer service via email, the Chime mobile app, or telephone.

Customer support representatives can be reached by phone Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CST, and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST. Based on our experience, this bank’s customer service is decent; however it’s not an area where Chime really shines.

Bottom Line

If you are not bothered by the fact that Chime’s checking option is not one of those high-interest checking accounts and therefore not a place to park your savings, this online bank’s fee-free, but still FDIC-insured checking can turn out to be a much better choice than anything a traditional neighborhood branch might offer.

Ranking 108th on the Fortune 500 list, Capital One Financial Corp. is without a doubt one of the largest and most recognizable banks in the United States. Capital One started as a small business in 1988 and grew into a bank holding company specializing in credit cards, checking and savings accounts, auto loans, and other financial offerings. 

Thanks to its wide range of financial products, Capital One has established a reputation of a convenient financial institution for those who want to hold all their accounts with one company.

Fees

Capital One’s checking account option called 360 Checking is marketed as fee-free and for a good reason. The bank’s website even encourages its users to read the fine print because there are no monthly fees, ATM fees, or other hidden costs. 

Apart from that, with 360 Checking you don’t need to worry about a minimum initial deposit or a minimum account balance since there are no requirements in either of these departments. 

Naturally, most of the checking account options offer a few additional services that can incur fees. When it comes to stop payments, Capital One will charge $25 for any request to stop payment on a specific check issued before it is cashed. 

As for wire transfer services, there are no fees for domestic incoming wires, while you can be charged up to $30 per transfer for a domestic outgoing wire. Make sure to consult Capital One’s website for the full list of fees.

Convenience and Special Features

Capital One may provide a checking account with no fees; however, it doesn’t offer many physical locations. This bank’s branches are located in fewer than 10 states, including New York, New Jersey, Texas, Louisiana, Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. Its ATM network, on the other hand, is wide-spread, with more than 70,000 locations.

Although the Capital One brick-and-mortar locations are scattered, the good news is that you can open and manage your checking account online, over the phone, or by paying a visit to a physical branch if there is one near you. One of the most convenient features this bank offers to mobile-only users is the option to deposit a check from your phone.

Finding a checking account that pays interest is like a needle in a haystack. But, with an annual percentage yield of 0.10%, Capital One offers one of the better interest-bearing checking accounts on the market.

User Experience and Customer Service

From our experience, Capital One's customer service agents are prompt and helpful. Representatives can be reached even during evening hours, seven days a week. Other types of support include live chat for logged-in users and support on Twitter.

Apart from physical bank branches, Capital One offers another way of reaching their representatives. There are more than 40 Capital One Cafés, unique hybrid offices, where users can learn about banking options, open an account and even drink coffee while using the bank’s free Wi-Fi. 

With an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars on the App Store and 4.6/5 on Google Play, it is obvious that Capital One takes great pride in providing a great smartphone banking experience to its users. The bank’s mobile and online banking services also come with a few useful tools to help you manage your finances. 

Bottom Line

Capital One 360 offers a top-of-the-line banking experience by providing one of the most well-rounded checking accounts on the market. Apart from the lack of fees, other upsides include highly responsive customer support, online financial management tools, and flexible overdraft options. As for the downsides, the company has a limited number of physical branches. 

Current’s products defy the standard checking account definition, which is precisely what Stuart Sopp set out to achieve when he founded the company in 2015. The online-only bank is yet to reach its full potential, but as things stand now, it’s well on its way to becoming hugely popular.

Fees

One of Current’s main selling points is the affordability of its services. There are no charges of any kind for overdrafts, instant money transfers, or in-network ATM withdrawals. There’s also no minimum balance requirement. 

However, you’ll have to pay $2.50 every time you use an out-of-network ATM, and if you leave the US, you’ll need to watch out for the 3% international transaction fees, as well as the $3 international ATM fee.

Owners of Current’s online checking accounts will also need to cover a $5 fee to have their card replaced if it happens to get damaged or misplaced. For $20, the new card can be delivered via express mail. 

Although account statements will be automatically added to your app once a month, you can request paper statements as well. One statement will cost you $2.

Current offers two personal account types – Basic and Premium – and one account type meant for teens. While the basic account is free, you’ll have to set aside $4.99 per month to take advantage of Current’s premium features. You can get the teen checking account offer with an annual subscription of $36 per teen. Know that the bank might lower the fee if you sign up for several accounts.

Convenience and Special Features

Usually, people tend to avoid online-only banks because they make putting cash into one’s account difficult. Current has solved this issue by enabling its customers to deposit money at more than 60,000 stores. Withdrawing funds is just as convenient since you can do it at any of the 55,000 ATMs.

At Current, we found some of the better reward checking accounts available right now. You can earn up to 15 points whenever you use your card at one of the companies that the bank cooperates with. These points can be exchanged for cash. 

If you sign up for the premium subscription, you’ll also receive your paycheck two days faster than you would at a traditional bank, and you’ll be able to overdraft up to $200 free of charge. What’s more, the bank will cover any holds that a gas station may put on your card, meaning that the entirety of your funds will be available to you at all times.

Those looking for checking accounts for teens should end their search here. With Current cards, you can teach your children how to manage their money in a safe environment that you create using various teen account settings in your app. For instance, you can set spending limits for your kids, enable notifications that will let you know every time they make a purchase, or block specific stores.

User Experience and Customer Service

The Current mobile app makes money transfers fast and easy – it lets you send and receive funds instantly and use your phone’s camera to deposit checks effortlessly. That’s not the only reason why so many Current bank reviews praise it. Namely, the app also sends you spending insights and lets you set up budgeting tools and savings pods.

The saving pods are especially noteworthy as they help you set aside money for specific purposes. You can even turn on the round-up feature, which will automatically move a small portion of money into your pod every time you make a purchase. Basic account holders get one pod, while premium customers get three.

If you have any questions regarding Current’s checking account deals, you can consult the bank's comprehensive FAQ section or get in touch with its customer support team via email, phone, or live chat. 

Bottom Line

Current is an excellent bank for those who want to pay extra attention to their budget or perhaps teach their children how to do so. It may not offer any checking account interest rates, but it provides its customers with generous rewards and plenty of deposit and withdrawal locations.

Charles Schwab is best known for offering a stellar investing platform; however, the company also operates in banking, trading, and wealth management.

With its headquarters in San Francisco, Charles Schwab has at least one physical branch in almost every state, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

The only exceptions are Montana, North Dakota, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

Fees

Schwab Bank’s FDIC-insured checking account comes with a long list of fee-free services. There is no monthly maintenance fee, no account opening, or foreign transaction fees. 

ATM withdrawals are free-of-charge, and thanks to the unlimited ATM fee reimbursement program, you don't have to worry about fees if you use an out-of-network ATM anywhere in the world.  

As a user of one of the checking accounts provided by Schwab, you won’t be charged an overdraft fee if you have enough funds on a linked brokerage or savings account to cover the difference.

Other free-of-charge services include domestic incoming wires, stop payments, debit card replacements, checks, and more. 

There's a $25 outgoing domestic wire fee, a $10 fee per cashier’s check, and a $25 fee that applies when a check is returned due to insufficient funds.

For a complete list of both paid and fee-free services, make sure to visit the bank's website.

Convenience and Special Features

When you open a Schwab Bank High Yield Investor checking account, by default, you get a Schwab One brokerage account, too. Even though you are not obligated to use the brokerage account, it certainly is a convenient feature for anyone interested in trading.

Not only does the Schwab checking option have few fees, but this bank also offers a reasonable APY rate of 0.40%, making it one of the better APY checking accounts.

If you are a frequent traveler, note that this bank’s ATM reimbursement policy is almost unmatched, as it offers unlimited rebates for any automated teller machine worldwide.

Another great feature is the free bill-paying service that takes no time to set up. Here’s how it works - you let Schwab know about all the details, and the bank makes sure that your bills get paid on time each month.

User Experience and Customer Service

When it comes to mobile banking, it's safe to say that Charles Schwab bank is one of the best in the game. Both the Android and iOS app keep getting awarded with high user satisfaction rates.

Charles Schwab Bank provides multiple lines of customer support, including round-the-clock live chat support, Twitter, and phone support.

Customer support over the phone is available Monday through Friday from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. PT and on weekends from 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. PT. 

With a physical branch in almost every state on top of the diversified customer service channels, you can rest assured that every question you may have will be matched with a prompt answer.

Bottom Line

There are many reasons why Charles Schwab is often considered one of the pre-eminent banks for checking accounts. This financial institution has excellent options if you are looking to earn a decent rate on your account and don't need to deposit cash frequently. 

The lack of fees and the availability of many perks, including unlimited ATM rebates, guarantee you’ll be able to bank without worrying about any unexpected charges. Having multiple customer service channels is also a plus. 

On the other hand, one of the drawbacks of applying for a checking account with Charles Schwab is that you’ll need to pass the bank’s hard inquiry on your credit to become a customer.

USAA Federal Savings Bank was established in 1983 as a subsidiary of USAA, a Fortune 500 financial services company based in San Antonio.

To qualify for USAA, you have to be an active member of the military, a former part of the military personnel, or a military family member. From a non-affiliated civilian’s point of view, these requirements can be interpreted as a huge drawback. 

However, it is clear a limited number of eligible users help the company concentrate on developing an exceptional set of banking services that include some of the finest checking and savings accounts.

When it comes to checking options, this bank has two choices - the USAA Classic checking account and the USAA Cashback rewards checking account.

The biggest difference between the two options is that the first earns you interest if you keep a balance of at least $1,000, while the latter offers a reward of $0.10 cashback with every debit card purchase.

Fees

USAA charges no fees to open and maintain either of the two aforementioned choices. You’ll have to deposit a minimum of $25 upon opening a new checking account with this bank, but apart from that initial deposit, there are no minimum balance requirements.

The bill-paying service is another feature that has no charges.

Although a checking account with USAA comes with almost no fees for the most frequently used services, there are still a few charges that can’t be avoided, even with the best checking accounts. 

You can expect a 1% fee for all debit card or ATM transactions completed in a foreign country.

Unless you opt for the overdraft protection service or set up your savings account as a backup, you’ll be charged a hefty $29 overdraft fee.

Other charges include a $29 stop-payment fee and a $2 fee per transaction after the 10th toll-free use of an out-of-network ATM.

Convenience and Special Features

The company’s physical financial centers can be found at a limited number of locations. These include branches in the states of Colorado, New York, Maryland, and Texas.

To compensate for the lack of brick-and-mortar locations, USAA offers a network of 1,200 branded free-to-use ATMs that also take deposits. Apart from that, there are more than 60,000 USAA-favored ATMs where the bank's users can make 10 fee-free withdrawals each month. 

The fee that applies after the 10th transaction and the fact that these ATMs can't take deposits are the only downsides. For situations when you have no choice but to use a non-network ATM, USAA offers a reimbursement service of $15 per cycle.

Although USAA Classic checking is an interest-bearing option, an APY of 0.01% doesn’t make it one of the foremost high-yield checking accounts on the market. However, a minimum account balance of $1,000 is not a high interest earning threshold compared to other banks’ requirements.

Excellent online and mobile banking features represent another way of compensating for the lack of physical branches, and military payday comes a day earlier if you set up direct deposit.

User Experience and Customer Service

USAA’s smartphone app lets you make mobile deposits, send money using Zelle and locate nearby ATMs. Apart from the standard features, the bank’s mobile app comes with a digital assistant you can turn to if you stumble upon any issues. 

With a rating of 4.2 out of 5 on Google Play and a score of 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, it's clear that this bank provides one of the premier no-fee checking accounts when it comes to managing your finances on the go.

Another USAA online banking feature that deserves a closer look is the budgeting tool that helps users classify their transactions and track expenditures. This bank’s mobile app works as a portal where you can gather all your financial accounts.

Other than visiting one of the very few USAA brick-and-mortar locations, you can reach the bank’s customer care agents via telephone, live chat on the website, mobile app, fax, email, regular mail, and even social media.

When it comes to phone support, the representatives are available during business hours.

Bottom Line

With an abundance of top-notch financial products for the military-affiliated, USAA has positioned itself as one of the leaders in the banking market.

If you can qualify for membership, and you don't mind the lack of physical location and low APY, the no-fee checking account and exceptional online budgeting tools that come with it are definitely worthwhile.