- Earn $50 or $400 when you sign up and set up eligible direct deposit¹
- $0 Monthly Fees⁴ & Free Overdraft Coverage⁵
- Up to 2-day-Early-Paycheck⁶
- Fee-free ATMs within the Allpoint® Network5
The math on a traditional big-bank checking account hasn't worked for years. Three reasons why:
The average big-bank checking account charges $5–$15/mo. That's up to $180/year you're paying just to access your own money.
Traditional checking pays 0.00% APY. With $5,000 sitting idle, you're earning literally nothing while inflation eats your buying power.
Overdraft fees ($35 avg), out-of-network ATM fees, paper-statement fees, minimum-balance penalties. Death by a thousand cuts.
Switching to a fee-free online checking account saves the average household ~$200/year before interest. With a 2-in-1 like SoFi, you also start earning on idle cash.
Not all checking accounts are created equal. Here's how they stack up side by side.
| Feature | Traditional Checking Big-Bank | Online Checking Online | SoFi 2-in-1 SoFi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | $5 – $25 | $0 | $0 |
| Overdraft fee | $30 – $35 / item | Often $0 / waived | $0 |
| Minimum balance | $500 – $1,500 | $0 | $0 |
| APY on checking | 0.00% – 0.01% | Up to 0.50% | Up to 0.50% |
| ATM network | Bank-only ATMs | 55,000+ fee-free | 55,000+ Allpoint |
| Built-in savings | Separate account | Sometimes | 2-in-1 with up to 4.00% APY |
Most banks make you choose between checking and savings. SoFi combines both into one account — so you can spend, save, and earn up to 4.00% APY, all in one place. Plus earn up to $400 in bonuses when you set up direct deposit.
One account for everyday spending and high-yield saving — no juggling balances, no extra apps. Move money in seconds, earn interest on every dollar.
New members can earn up to $400 by setting up qualifying direct deposit. The more you deposit, the bigger the bonus.
Up to 0.50% APY on checking and up to 4.00% APY on savings (with eligible direct deposit). Your money compounds daily, credited monthly.
No monthly fees. No overdraft fees. No minimum balance. No transfer fees. SoFi makes money from interest spreads, not from punishing customers.
Far above the standard $250K — SoFi extends coverage through the SoFi Insured Deposit Program with partner banks.
Use your SoFi debit card at any Allpoint ATM nationwide — no fees, no surcharges. Plus paychecks up to two days early.
A closer look at our top-rated online checking accounts.
SoFi's Checking & Savings is the best of both worlds — a fee-free checking account paired with up to 4.00% APY savings, all under one login. New members can earn up to $400 in cash bonuses with qualifying direct deposit, and SoFi's Insured Deposit Program extends FDIC coverage up to $2 million. Built for savers who want their checking dollar to actually do something.
| APY | 0.50% |
|---|---|
| Min Deposit | $0 |
| Monthly Fees | None |
| FDIC Insured | Yes |
| ATM Network | 55,000+ fee-free |
| Cash Bonus | Up to $400 |
| BBB Rating | A+ |
| Trustpilot | 4.4/5 |
| Money Score | 4.9/5 |
| Standout Feature | True 2-in-1 design + cash bonus stacked with high APY |
Truist's online checking offers the safety net of a major brick-and-mortar bank with a competitive cash bonus for new customers. The trade-off: monthly maintenance fees can apply unless you meet direct deposit thresholds, and the APY on checking is 0%. Best for customers who want branch access alongside their digital experience.
| APY | 0.0% |
|---|---|
| Min Deposit | $0 |
| Monthly Fees | None |
| FDIC Insured | Yes |
| ATM Network | NaN+ fee-free |
| Cash Bonus | Up to $400 |
| Trustpilot | 1.2/5 |
| Standout Feature | Cash bonus + branch presence |
Chime is the original disruptor that made fee-free banking mainstream. The Chime Checking Account has zero monthly fees, no overdraft fees up to $200 with SpotMe®, and access to a 47,000-ATM network. Direct deposit users get paid up to two days early. Ideal for people building credit and tired of being nickel-and-dimed.
| APY | 0.0% |
|---|---|
| Min Deposit | $0 |
| Monthly Fees | None |
| FDIC Insured | Yes |
| ATM Network | 47,000+ fee-free |
| Cash Bonus | Up to $100 |
| BBB Rating | B- |
| Trustpilot | 3.5/5 |
| Money Score | 2.8/5 |
| Standout Feature | True $0 fees + early paycheck access |
An online checking account is a deposit account offered by a bank with no physical branches. You manage everything via a mobile app or website — deposits, transfers, bill pay, and withdrawals. Because online banks have lower overhead than traditional banks, they typically charge zero monthly fees and many offer interest on your balance.
Yes — every online checking account on this page is FDIC-insured (or NCUA-insured for credit unions), the same federal protection traditional banks carry. Your deposits are protected up to $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank. Some accounts (like SoFi) extend coverage well beyond that through partner banks.
Online banks don't pay for branches, vaults, or large in-person staff. They make money primarily from interest on your deposits and from interchange fees when you use your debit card — not from charging you. That's why most online checking accounts have no monthly fees, no minimum balance, and often no overdraft fees.
Yes, but with limitations. Most online banks let you deposit cash at participating retail partners like CVS, Walgreens, or Walmart (sometimes for a small fee, often free). Mobile check deposits, ACH transfers, and direct deposits all work normally. If you handle a lot of cash, look for an account with free retail deposit support.
Many do — and it's one of the main reasons to switch. Some online checking accounts pay 0.10–0.50% APY on balances, while companion savings sub-accounts (like SoFi's) can pay up to 4.00% APY. Traditional brick-and-mortar banks rarely pay any interest on checking.
Three steps: (1) Open a new online checking account (most take 5 minutes). (2) Update your direct deposit, auto-pays, and any subscriptions to pull from the new account. (3) Once everything has cleared the new account for one full cycle, move the remaining balance from your old bank and close it. Many online banks offer a switch wizard that automates the auto-pay updates.
The footnote numbers below correspond to the references on each offer card above.
Sofi Checking and Savings
Up to $400 Bonus Tiered Disclosure
New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more) OR $400 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more). Cash bonus amount will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 5/15/2026 and will be available through 12/31/26. See full bonus and annual percentage yield (APY) terms at sofi.com/banking/checking-offer/
APY disclosures
Annual percentage yield (APY) is variable and subject to change at any time. Rates are current as of 12/23/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional rates and information can be found at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
Fee Policy
We do not charge any account, service or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. We do charge a transaction fee to process each outgoing wire transfer. SoFi does not charge a fee for incoming wire transfers, however the sending bank may charge a fee. Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Bank Fee Sheet for details at sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/.
Additional FDIC Insurance
SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per depositor per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations. Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $3M through participation in the program. See full terms at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms. See list of participating banks at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks.
ATM Access
We’ve partnered with Allpoint to provide you with ATM access at any of the 55,000+ ATMs within the Allpoint network. You will not be charged a fee when using an in-network ATM, however, third-party fees may be incurred when using out-of-network ATMs. SoFi’s ATM policies are subject to change at our discretion at any time.
Early Access to Direct Deposit Funds Early access to direct deposit funds is based on the timing in which we receive notice of impending payment from the Federal Reserve, which is typically up to two days before the scheduled payment date, but may vary.
Overdraft Coverage Overdraft Coverage is a feature automatically offered to SoFi Checking and Savings account holders who receive at least $1,000 or more in Eligible Direct Deposits within a rolling 31 calendar day period on a recurring basis. Eligible Direct Deposit is defined on the SoFi Bank Rate Sheet, available at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet. Members enrolled in Overdraft Coverage may be covered for up to $50 in negative balances on SoFi Bank debit card purchases only. Overdraft Coverage does not apply to P2P transfers, bill payments, checks, or other non-debit card transactions. Members with a prior history of unpaid negative balances are not eligible for Overdraft Coverage. Eligibility for Overdraft Coverage is determined by SoFi Bank in its sole discretion. Members can check their enrollment status, if eligible, at any time by logging into their account through the SoFi app or on the SoFi website.
0.70% Savings APY Boost
Earn up to 4.00% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on one SoFi Savings account with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.30% APY as of 3/31/26) for up to 6 months. Open your first SoFi Checking and Savings account and receive eligible direct deposits OR qualifying deposits of $5,000 every 31 days by 12/31/26. Rates are variable, subject to change. Terms apply at sofi.com/banking#2. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC
Truist
1Terms and Conditions for Truist One Checking $400 Affiliate Offer Q4 2025 and Q1 2026: AFL400TR1Q425
Offer Information: Open a new Truist One Checking account online from 10/30/25 through 3/25/26, complete the following activities within 120 days of the account opening and earn $400. You must open the account online and enter the promo code to be eligible to participate in the promotion.
Receive at least two qualifying direct deposits* totaling $2,000 or more AND
Complete at least 20 qualifying debit card purchases** within 120 days of account opening. All debit purchases must be posted to your account to qualify.
Account must be opened online. Enrollment in the promotion is required at the time of account opening using promo code AFL400TR1Q425. Please refer to the Account Opening and Enrollment section below for full instructions.
*A qualifying direct deposit is an electronic credit (greater than $5.00) deposited into your new checking account via ACH. Person to person payments (such as Zelle®), Real Time Payments (RTP), pre-authorized transfers made from one account to another, or deposits made via a branch, ATM, online transfer, mobile device, debit/prepaid card number or the mail are not eligible direct deposits.
**Qualifying debit card purchases include any purchase made with a Truist debit card and posted to the new checking account within 120 days of account opening. ATM withdrawals using your debit card are not qualifying transactions. Zelle® transactions are not qualifying transactions. Bank fees are not included.
Offer Eligibility: Clients that are the primary account holder on an existing personal checking account with Truist or who have closed a personal checking account with Truist on or after 10/30/24 are not eligible to participate. Offer valid for Truist One Checking accounts only. Primary account holder must be 18 or older at the time of account opening. Truist employees, Directors, Officers, and Local Boards/Advisors are not eligible. Offer available only to US residents with a valid US taxpayer identification number. The qualifying checking account must be opened online and have a physical address in: AL, AR, FL, GA, IN, KY, MD, MS, NC, NJ, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV or DC.
Reward Processing: The reward will be deposited to the new checking account within 4 weeks after the qualification requirements have been met and verified. Promotion is only applicable once per checking account and per client. Truist may report the value of any offer reward received to the IRS as required by law. Any applicable taxes are the responsibility of the recipient.
Reward Forfeiture: Reward forfeiture will occur if: (1) the new checking account is changed to an account type not included in this client offer (2) the new checking account has a $0.00 or negative available balance or is restricted at the time Truist verifies the qualification requirements have been met or (3) the new checking account is closed at the time of payout. An account is considered restricted if it has a temporary or permanent block that prevents credits from posting to the account. Truist verification will occur one time after the qualification requirements are initially met.
Other Terms: Minimum opening deposit is $50. The offer is non-transferable, may not be combined with any other checking offers, is subject to change, and may be discontinued at any time. Truist reserves the right, in its sole discretion: 1) to prohibit a reward payout for any offers claimed through third-party websites with no affiliation or prior authorization from Truist; and 2) to disqualify any account if Truist suspects accounts are being opened for the purpose of exploiting this promotional offer. All promotional payouts will be processed no later than 3/31/27 at which point this promotion (and any related disbursements) will be considered final, and no further disbursements will be made. All standard account terms and conditions apply.
Account Opening & Enrollment Instructions: To open and enroll your new account in the promotion, visit the offer website and click on “Open an account online.” Enter AFL400TR1Q425 into the promo code field provided, review the offer Terms and Conditions, and then select “Accept Offer”. Accounts opened without the promo code applied will not be eligible to participate in the offer. Once enrolled in the promotion, clients may receive promotional updates via the email address provided or by calling 800.709.8700.
Version 3 09162025 AFL400TR1Q425
2 The Balance Buffer is only available with Truist One Checking and allows clients to overdraw their account up to $100. There is no decision required as this feature is automatically available when a client qualifies.
To INITIALLY QUALIFY for the Balance Buffer, the requirements below must be met:
Account must be opened for a minimum of 35 calendar days
Account must be funded with a positive balance
A single direct deposit of at least $100 made within the last 35 calendar days
To REMAIN QUALIFIED for the Balance Buffer, the requirement below must be met:
A single direct deposit of at least $100 made within the last 35 calendar days. After qualifying, if 35 calendar days pass without a Direct Deposit of at least $100, you will no longer have access to the Balance Buffer.
For accounts that qualify for the Balance Buffer, once the account is overdrawn by $100, additional transactions will typically be declined or returned.
For accounts that qualify for the Balance Buffer and also have Overdraft Protection, Truist will use the Balance Buffer first. If the account has neither, transactions that exceed the account balance will typically be declined or returned.
Truist Bank, Member FDIC. © 2025 Truist Financial Corporation. Truist, the Truist logo, Truist Purple, Truist One, Truist Marquee, LightStream, and the LightStream logo are service marks of Truist Financial Corporation.
Chime®
*Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC.
*Terms apply. Click to learn more. Banking services provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC.
^Early access to direct deposit funds depends on the timing of the submission of the payment file from the payer. We generally make these funds available on the day the payment file is received, which may be up to 2 days earlier than the scheduled payment date.
**Out-of-network ATM withdrawal and over the counter advance fees may apply except at FCTI® ATMs in a 7-Eleven® or Speedway, or any Allpoint® or Visa® Plus Alliance ATM participating in the Allpoint network.
Varo
1. Fees apply to loans and out of network withdrawals & cash deposits.
2. We give access to direct deposits from employer & government payers on the day we receive them, typically up to 2 days earlier than your scheduled pay date.
3. Varo Advance (VA) is a small dollar line of credit. Initial limits range from $20- $250. Fees range from $1.60 - $50 based on loan amount, and deposits to your Varo Bank Account. Your current limit and applicable fees can be viewed in the Varo App For full details see Terms and Conditions. Qualifications apply. Must set up direct deposit to Varo or link a qualifying account. Subject to evaluation of consumer reports and Varo account activity. Add’l qualifications may apply. Qualifying direct deposits are electronic deposits of your paycheck, pension or government benefits (such as Social Security or unemployment) from your employer or government agency to the extent that can be identified. Tax refunds and government stimulus payments, Person-to-Person payments (such as Venmo or Varo to Anyone), and funds deposited using a Varo routing number are not considered a direct deposit