Best Checking Accounts of 2025
There are plenty of options available when you are searching to open a bank account. We compare the best bank accounts available today to help you choose the best for your needs.
TOP CHECKING ACCOUNTS IN COLUMBUS, OHIO
Earn up to 3.60% APY¹ & up to $300 Cash Bonus with Direct Deposit² (see website for details)
- Earn 9x the National Average Rate³
- $0 Monthly Fees⁴ & Free Overdraft Coverage⁵
- 2-day-Early-Paycheck⁶
- FDIC Insured up to $250k plus up to $3M in supplemental insurance⁷
- +0.70% Boost on Savings APY to up to 4.50% for up to 6 months
on new accounts with eligible Direct Deposit. Terms apply.8
*Rate as of 11/12/2025
* Interest rates are subject to change at any time. Terms and conditions may apply.
- Get Paid Up To 2 Days Early with Direct Deposit Set Up
- No Monthly Fees & No Min. Balance Required
- 50k+ Fee-free ATMs³ at Walgreens®, 7-Eleven®, CVS® & more
- No Fees for Foreign Transactions & Transfers
Multi-featured payment account and debit card
- Get paid up to two days faster
- 40,000 fee-free ATMs
- $0 minimum balance
- Easy-to-use app
- New Current Build secured credit card
- Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group, Member FDIC.
- Network of over 80,000 ATMs
- Free debit card with digital wallet compatibility
- No minimum balance required
- ATM reimbursements up to $20/month (for out-of-network)
- No monthly service fee
- Overdraft protection
- No monthly or maintenance fees
- Early access to paycheck funds with direct deposit*
- No minimum balance
- Varo contactless VISA® Debit Card
- FDIC insured through Varo Bank, N.A. Member FDIC
- No fees at Allpoint® ATMs
- No monthly maintenance fee with qualifying activities.
- Access to over 1,000 branches and 40,000 ATMs nationwide.
- Earn interest on your checking account balance.
- Free online and mobile banking for convenient management.
- Overdraft protection and financial tools to help manage funds.
Earn up to 3.60% APY¹ & up to $300 Cash Bonus with Direct Deposit² (see website for details)
- Earn 9x the National Average Rate³
- $0 Monthly Fees⁴ & Free Overdraft Coverage⁵
- 2-day-Early-Paycheck⁶
- FDIC Insured up to $250k plus up to $3M in supplemental insurance⁷
- +0.70% Boost on Savings APY to up to 4.50% for up to 6 months
on new accounts with eligible Direct Deposit. Terms apply.8
*Rate as of 11/12/2025
* Interest rates are subject to change at any time. Terms and conditions may apply.
SoFi's Disclaimers:
1. Up to $300 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 during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit. 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 12/7/2023 and will be available through 1/31/2026. Full terms at sofi.com/banking. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.
SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit can earn 3.60% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 3.60% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Eligible Direct Deposit will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time.
These rates are current as of 11/12/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional information can be found at
http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
2. APY disclosures
Annual percentage yield (APY) is variable and subject to change at any time. Rates are current as of 11/12/25. 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
3. 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 incomingwire 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/.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 0.70% Savings APY Boost
Earn up to 4.30% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.60% APY as of 11/12/25) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking and Savings account and pay the $10 SoFi Plus subscription every 30 days OR receive eligible direct deposits OR qualifying deposits of $5,000 every 31 days by 1/31/26. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at sofi.com/banking#2. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.
CIT's Disclaimers:
The Annual Percentage Yields (APY) and interest rates are effective as of March 20, 2025. Fees may reduce earnings. Checking APYs and interest rates are variable and may change at any time without prior notice, including after account opening. The minimum opening deposit for eChecking is $100. See Fee Schedule and Agreement for Personal Accounts for details. To obtain the interest rate and APY disclosed, the minimum balance for the applicable balance tier must be maintained.
Must have a bank account in the U.S. to use Zelle. Transactions typically occur in minutes when the recipient’s email address or U.S. mobile number is already enrolled with Zelle. Zelle and the Zelle related marks are wholly owned by Early Warning Services, LLC and are used
herein under license. The Apple Pay logo and Apple are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. The Samsung Pay logo and Samsung are registered trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
For complete list of account details and fees, see our Personal Account disclosures.
Chime Disclaimers:
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.
^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.
*Terms apply. Limited time only, must open the new account and complete qualifying activities to earn 3 individual rewards, up to a max of $350.00, as described at https://www.chime.com/policies/newmemberofferv3.
~Out of network ATM withdrawal and over the counter advance fees may apply except at MoneyPass ATMs in a 7-Eleven, or any Allpoint or Visa Plus Alliance ATM.
1SpotMe on Debit is an optional, no fee overdraft service attached to your Chime Checking Account. To qualify for the SpotMe on Debit service, you must receive $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits to your Chime Checking Account each month and have activated your physical Chime Visa
Debit Card or secured Chime Visa
Credit Card. Qualifying members will be allowed to overdraw their Chime Checking Account up to $20 on debit card purchases and cash withdrawals initially but may later be eligible for a higher limit of up to $200 or more based on Chime Account history, direct deposit frequency and amount, spending activity and other risk-based factors. The SpotMe on Debit limit will be displayed within the Chime mobile app and is subject to change at any time, at Chime's sole discretion. Although Chime does not charge any overdraft fees for SpotMe on Debit, there may be out-of-network or third-party fees associated with ATM transactions and fees associated with OTC cash withdrawals. SpotMe on Debit will not cover any non-debit card transactions, including ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, or Chime Checkbook transactions. SpotMe on Debit Terms and Conditions.
Discover’s Disclaimers:
¹ Earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month. See Deposit Account Agreement for details on transaction eligibility, limitations, and terms.
² Early Pay is automatically available to checking, savings (excluding IRA savings) and money market customers who receive qualifying ACH direct deposits. At Discover’s discretion, and dependent on the timing of receipt of the direct deposit instructions, Discover may make funds from these qualifying direct deposits available to you up to 2 days early. See their Deposit Account Agreement for more information.
³ Balance+ is a no-fee overdraft coverage that applies to your debit card transactions. It is not available to cover checks, ATM/Cash withdrawals, or other electronic payments, such as Zelle®. Repayment is due immediately. Balance+ is provided at our discretion, and we may decline to cover any debit card transaction, for example, if we suspect the transaction is fraudulent. Please review the agreement as other terms and conditions apply.
Alliant Credit Union’s Disclaimers:
1APY=Annual Percentage Yield. The High Rate Checking Dividend provides an Annual Percentage Yield (APY) of 0.25% APY. The APY is accurate as of the 4/7/2025 dividend declaration date. Checking dividend may change after account is opened and is subject to change at any time. There is no minimum balance requirement to earn the stated APY. Checking Dividends are paid on the last day of each month to checking account holders who have opted out of receiving paper statements (receive eStatements only) and have a recurring monthly electronic deposit to their Alliant checking account each month (e.g., a direct deposit, payroll deposit, ATM deposit, mobile check deposit or transfer from another financial institution). Otherwise, Alliant checking accounts do not earn a dividend. Alliant checking charges no monthly maintenance or service fees; however, if incurred, other fees may reduce earnings on the account. Please refer to the Alliant Fee Schedule for a list of these types of fees. Dividend applies to Checking and Teen Checking Accounts. Account is subject to approval. We may not open checking for you if you do not meet Alliant criteria.
2Alliant will rebate ATM fees up to $20 per month per membership account when you use your Alliant checking account Visa debit card to make a deposit, withdrawal, transfer or balance inquiry. The rebate does not apply to cash advances from Alliant Visa credit cards through ATMs nor to the Alliant Savings ATM Card and Visa International Service Assessment (ISA) fee, referenced as the foreign transaction fee on account statements. Not all ATMs accept deposits.
Current Disclaimers:
1Fees may apply, including out of network cash withdrawal fees, third-party fees, cash load fees, inactivity fees, account closure fees, international transaction fees, replacement card fees, express mail fees and escheatment fees.
2For eligible customers only. Your actual available Paycheck Advance amount will be displayed to you in the mobile app and may change from time to time. Conditions and eligibility may vary and are subject to change at any time, at the sole discretion of Finco Advance LLC, which offers this optional feature. Finco Advance LLC is a financial technology company, not a bank. For more information, please refer to Paycheck Advance Terms and Conditions.
Axos Bank Disclaimers:
*The Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is accurate as of 10/9/2025. The base and promotional interest rate and corresponding APY for Axos ONE® Checking is variable and is set at our discretion. The base and promotional interest rate and corresponding APY for Axos ONE® Savings is variable and is set at our discretion. Axos ONE® Savings is a tiered variable rate account. Axos ONE® Checking is a non-tiered variable rate account. Interest rates may change as often as daily without prior notice. Fees may reduce earnings. Promotional terms and conditions are subject to change or removal without notice. Incentive may be taxable and reported on IRS Form 1099-MISC. Consult your tax advisor. After the accounts are opened, the amount of incentive earned will depend on meeting the additional requirements outlined below.
The Axos ONE® Checking account will earn a base rate of 0.00% APY. The Axos ONE® Savings account will earn a base rate of up to 1.00% APY.
Axos ONE® accounts are eligible to receive a promotional APY for each statement cycle where the promotional criteria are met during the Qualification Period. To receive the promotional APY on both Axos ONE® Checking and Axos ONE® Savings, the Axos ONE® Checking account must meet both of the requirements in either Option 1 or Option 2 below during the Qualification Period:
Option 1
1. Your Axos ONE® Checking account has received monthly qualifying direct deposits of at least $1,500 in total.
2. The average daily balance of your Axos ONE® Checking account is at least $1,500.
Option 2
1. Your Axos ONE® Checking account has received monthly qualifying deposits of at least $5,000 in total.
2. The average daily balance of your Axos ONE® Checking account is at least $5,000.
If both of the requirements in either Option 1 or Option 2 above are met during the Qualification Period:
The Axos ONE® Checking account will earn a promotional rate of 0.51% APY for the statement cycle in which the requirements are met.
The Axos ONE® Savings account will earn a promotional rate of up to 4.51% APY for the statement cycle in which the requirements are met.
The Qualification Period begins on the first business day of the month and runs through the 25th of the month. If the 25th of the month is followed by a non-business day, the average daily balance will be calculated including the following non-business day(s). Any qualifying deposits or qualifying direct deposits received after the 25th of the month will count toward the next Qualification Period. The Qualification Period for new accounts will begin on the day the account is approved. New accounts opened on or after the 25th of the month will be eligible to earn the promotional APY starting in the following month.
A direct deposit is an electronic deposit of your paycheck or government benefits, such as Social Security, Disability, etc. International paychecks, international government benefits, other deposits (i.e., online banking transfers, ATM and mobile check deposits, etc.), or person-to-person payments are not considered a direct deposit.
Qualifying deposits only include deposits from the following eligible sources: (i) ACH transfers from external accounts, (ii) inbound wire transfers from external accounts, (iii) check deposits. Qualifying deposits do not include: (i) transfers internal to the bank (i.e., transfers between an account holder’s Checking and/or Savings account), (ii) interest payments, (iii) promotional bonuses, (iv) credits, reversals, and refunds.
Both accounts must be in an open and active status on the 25th of the month and on the date the interest is paid to receive the promotional APY for that statement cycle. If either account closes during the Qualification Period, neither account will be eligible to earn the promotional APY for that statement cycle. Account transactions may take one or more business days from the transaction date to post to the account.
E*TRADE Disclaimer:
1With Max-Rate Checking, Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association ("Morgan Stanley Private Bank") will not charge you a fee for withdrawing funds from any institution's ATM but the owner/operator of the ATM may charge a fee. In those cases, we will refund ATM fees charged worldwide. For additional information and important details about how the ATM fee refund will be applied, please visit the etrade.com/rateandfee for more details.
2The $15 monthly account fee can be waived when you maintain an average monthly balance of at least $5,000 in the Max-Rate Checking account on or after the end of the second calendar month from opening the account.
3As of 10/24/2025, the Annual Percentage Yield (APY) of the Max-Rate Checking Account is 2.00%. Your interest rate and APY may change at any time and fees may reduce earnings. Please visit etrade.com/ratesheet for information regarding this account's current interest rate and corresponding APY.





