Best Online Checking Accounts

Thanks to technology, it’s possible to do your banking with a free online checking account without walking into a bank’s branch.

Plus, many online accounts offer perks that you won’t find with traditional brick-and-mortar banks, including interest-bearing checking accounts.

Online banks tend to have lower overhead and can offer to pay interest, or even to provide rewards. Take a look at our top picks for the best online checking accounts.

Compare Best Online Checking Accounts

But with so many online checking account options, how do you know which bank to choose? Here are some of the absolute best online checking accounts:

Best Overall – BBVA Bank

The BBVA Online Checking isn’t the most well know account on our list, but it’s one you should know about.

BBVA (formerly BBVA Compass) is one of the largest U.S. commercial banks based on deposit market share. Here are a few key considerations when it comes to their checking:

• Interest rate: BBVA offers tiered interest rates that compound to make your money grow faster.
• Low initial deposit: While you are required to make an initial deposit, it’s a minuscule $25.
• Account options: Choose between accounts like the Everyday Savings, Money Market, or CD account.
• Beware of fees: The service fee of $15 a month, can be avoided with a minimum balance of $5,000 in your checking or Money Market account through BBVA.

If you haven’t heard of BBVA, you should take the time to familiarize yourself with the organization, their online savings account will make it worth your time.

Best for No Hidden Fees — Wealthfront

The Wealthfront Cash Account promises high-interest checking with a 0.35% APY, and no account fees. You can also get paid up to two days faster when you set up direct deposit. Your account comes with its own debit card which you can use fee-free at 19,000 ATMs nationwide. 

This account also makes sending money to friends and paying bills easy since you can manage it via the mobile app on your favorite device.

Highlights include:

• Avoids fees: No account minimum fees, monthly service fees, withdrawal overdraft fees, debit card overdraft fees, excess activity fees, or stop payment fees
• Easy ATM access: Plus, no fees to access your money at 19,000 ATMs nationwide
• User-friendly mobile app: Manage your money, send payments to friends, and pay bills on the go
• Compatible with digital wallets: Make purchases from your account with Google Pay or Apple Pay
• High-yield deposit account: Earn 0.35% APY on your account balance

If you also invest with Wealthfront, you can move your money from its Cash Account to your investments at any time without any transfer fees. Balances up to $1 million qualify for FDIC Insurance — that’s four times more protection than regular banks offer. 

Best for Broad ATM Access — Aspiration 

Aspiration is a cash management account that works in conjunction with its mobile app. This account provides up to $2 million in FDIC insurance, and you can earn cash-back rewards on your debit card spending. 

Highlights include:

• Competitive yields: Earn 1.00% APY on your deposits
• Wide ATM access: Qualify for no ATM fees at more than 55,000 ATMs nationwide
• Fee transparency: No hidden fees
• Charitable giving: Aspiration claims to give 10% of their company earnings to charity
• Easy-to-use app: Use the app to deposit checks, pay bills, and more

If you need access to a lot of different ATMs, the fact that Aspiration offers fee-free withdrawals at more than 55,000 ATMs should be important to you. This account comes with a free digital debit card, and you get up to $600 in cell phone protection as a cardholder perk when using your debit card to pay bills. 

Best Minimum-free Rewards – Huntington Bank 5 Checking®

Huntington Bank has three checking account options, ranging from its Asterisk-Free Checking®, which comes with zero fees (but also zero returns) to its most rewarding Huntington 25 Checking®.

The sweet spot in the middle is Huntington Bank 5 Checking®. Here are some key features:

• Returns: Huntington Bank 5 Checking® offers interest, no matter your balance.
• Credit card bonus: You get a bonus on points you earn on your connected credit card.
• ATM access: 5 free monthly withdrawals from non-Huntington ATMs.
• Maintenance fee: There is a $5 monthly maintenance fee unless you maintain $5000.
• No minimum: There is no minimum amount required to open an account.

• Our Rating
• Best ForRewards With No Minimum

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Best Sign Up Bonus – Chase Total Checking® Account

There are a ton of features that come with your Chase Total Checking® account. Here is what you get with a Chase Total Checking account:

• Bonus: Enjoy a $200 bonus when you open a new Chase Total Checking® account and set up direct deposit
• ATM access: Access to over 16,000 Chase ATMs and 5,100 branches
• Mobile check deposit: It’s as easy as taking a selfie.
• Chase QuickPay® with Zelle®: Take the drama out of splitting a check.
• Real-time fraud monitoring: Chase watches your debit-card to help your money stay your money.

Updated ATM Surcharge: $5 per withdrawal and $2.50 for any transfers or inquiries at ATMs outside the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Fees from the ATM owner still apply.

Best Online Checking Accounts for Military Personel and Their Families – USAA

Checking accounts are just the tip of the iceberg with this bank for military personnel, vets, and their families.

USAA offers just about any financial or insurance product you could ever need, and having all of your accounts in one place is an impressive advantage.

Here’s what you’ll get with USAA Checking:

• ATM access:  You get more than 60,000 “USAA-preferred” ATMs for free and refunds for fees of any ATM that isn’t one of the preferred machines.
• Low initial deposit: Similar to some of the other accounts, USAA does require an initial deposit, but it’s only $25.
• No fees: With a USAA savings account, you will not have to may any service fees or any fees if you transfer money to another bank.

If you have a family member that has ever served in the military, it’s worth checking out an online savings account with USAA.

Best Account for College Students – Chase College Checking

Along with a low initial deposit, you also get $100 as a new Chase checking customer when you open a Chase College CheckingSM account, enroll in paperless statements and complete 10 qualifying transactions.

Here are a few more features:

• Bonus: Get $100 as a new Chase checking customer when you open a Chase College Checking(SM) account, enroll in paperless statements and complete 10 qualifying transactions within 60 days of account opening.
• ATM access: Access to over 16,000 Chase ATMs and 5,100 branches
• Fee free: There is no Monthly Service Fee from the time of account opening until after the student’s expected graduation date up to 5 years.
• Mobile deposit: Deposit checks from virtually anywhere, anytime, just by taking a photo with the Chase Mobile®app.
• Zelle: Send and receive money in moments using Chase QuickPay® with Zelle®

Best Overdraft Protection – Capital One 360 Checking Account

Capital One purchased ING Direct in 2013. Over time the bank branched out and offered an online checking account called ING Electric Orange.

That account is now called Capital One 360 Checking. Here’s what you get with this account:

• Bonus: $25 for using your debit card 3 times in the first 45 days.
• Competitive interest rate
• Free online bill pay
• Free unlimited check writing: Capital One 360 prints and mails the check for you.
• Free ATMs: Access to over 35000 free ATMs
• No monthly maintenance fee
• Low overdraft costs

And instead of hitting you with massive fees for each charge you overdraft, Capital One 360 gives you a $165 line of credit to pull against if you need to.

Open an account today.

Best for High Monthly Balance Rewards – TIAA

TIAA promises that it will pay a yield in the top 5% of banks nationally, but that high yield also comes with strings attached. First of all, you need $1,500 to open an account. You will pay a fee unless you keep $5,000 in your account.

Once you reach that $5,000 threshold, you will be able to take advantage of free bill pay and ATM reimbursement. TIAA also allows online check deposit.

Here are a few standout features:

• Competitive interest rates
• Free online bill pay: if your average monthly balance is > $5,000; otherwise $8.95
• Free ATM reimbursement: if your average monthly balance is > $5,000
• No monthly maintenance fee
• Deposit checks from home

If you can maintain a high average monthly balance and want to earn great interest rates, TIAA is a great choice. Open an account and see how high the rates are.

Best for Small Balance Rewards – Mutual of Omaha Online Advantage Checking

Another great option for those with smaller balances that still want to earn interest on those balances is Mutual of Omaha Bank’s Online Advantage Checking.

Where other banks require major deposits to earn the highest interest rate, Mutual of Omaha Bank’s interest rate kicks in at $1,500.

Here are a few features, good and bad, to be aware of:

• Deposit: Low opening deposit of just $100
• Interest: Begins to accrue on balances of $1,500 or more
• Free online banking and bill pay
• Free ATMs: Access to 22,000 free ATMs nationwide
• Free checks: Your first box of checks is free
• Dormant fee: $5 dormant account fee per month
• Card fee: $1 inactive card fee

In short, if you don’t use the account and don’t swipe your debit card, you pay a fee. You shouldn’t run into this problem, but it is something to be aware of.

Looking to earn interest on your checking balances of $1,500 or more? Try out Mutual of Omaha Bank.

Best for Fee-Free Banking – Ally Interest Checking Account

Ally Bank was built on the premise of getting rid of all the crazy fees that normal banks charge while giving customers great rates and great customer service.

They have been winning points for customer service and convenience for quite some time, and the interest checking account is another popular product.

When you have an interest checking account from Ally, you get:

• Interest: Industry-leading interest rate
• Free online bill pay
• Check writing: Free unlimited check writing
• Checks: Unlimited free checks
• Free ATMs: Access to numerous ATMs and fee reimbursement
• No monthly maintenance fee

You can open an account with no deposit, and there are no minimum balance requirements. If you slip up and overdraft your account the fee is only $9. A normal bank would charge you $35 per overdraft for the same number of overdrafts.

Best Business Checking – Huntington Unlimited Business Checking

Huntington Bank was founded in 1866, and still operates out of their original founding location of Columbus, Ohio today.

The Huntington Unlimited Business Checking account is great for growing businesses with higher checking account activity and larger cash-flow needs.

Here are some key features of the account:

• Unlimited Transactions
• Up to $10,000 of monthly deposits at no charge
• Access to a “Bonus Service” such as Fraud Alert or discounts in payroll services

Learn More About This Account

Best for International Travel – Schwab High Yield Investor Checking

The brokerage giant Schwab actually offers banking services as well. This account is linked to a Schwab One brokerage account, and you don’t pay any fees to maintain either account.

There are no account minimums, and there is no minimum opening deposit for this account. You are issued free standard checks as well as a debit card.

One of the great perks of Schwab’s checking account is that you get free ATM access worldwide. No matter where you go, you will receive a rebate for the ATM fees you pay.

If you are a frequent traveler, this can be quite useful, as can the fact that your debit card is a VISA branded platinum card that can be swiped as a credit card in most businesses around the world.

Choosing an Online Checking Account

First and foremost, you want to make sure that any online checking account you open is insured by the FDIC. All of the banks above are FDIC-insured, so your deposits are insured for up to $250,000.

Next, consider your own needs and requirements. If you are using your online checking account as a primary account, you’ll want an account that has no minimum balance requirements.

You should also consider the perks available, and the interest yield paid.

Figure out which bank will help you get the most bang for your buck, and which is likely to provide you with all of the services that you need.

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