Can I open a checking account online?

Yes, you can open a checking account online — though it depends on the bank or credit union. In many cases, opening an account online is quicker and more convenient than visiting a branch.

How many checking accounts can I have?

While there’s no limit to the number of checking accounts you can have, it's generally practical to have one or two per person (if you want both an online and brick-and-mortar account), or perhaps more if a couple prefers a joint checking account plus individual accounts. In addition, if you have a business, you should keep a separate account for that to track business income and expenses separately from everyday household expenditures.

How do I get a checking account bonus?

If you're tempted to sign up for a new checking account to score a bonus, read the fine print first. The exact requirements to earn a bonus will vary based on the bank, and you may need to meet a minimum balance or number of transactions to qualify for the bonus. You can explore your best options for checking account bonuses with Bankrate to see if there’s one that’s a good fit.

What is overdraft protection?

Overdraft protection is a service banks provide to cover purchases that you can’t pay for due to a too-low account balance. But signing up for overdraft protection may not be a great idea if your bank charges for the privilege. The average overdraft fee is $26.77 per item overdrawn, according to Bankrate's 2025 Checking Account and ATM Fee Study. Some banks may refund the fee for infrequent offenders, and others might simply decline the transaction. Some banks provide free overdraft transfers from a linked account, such as a savings account, to cover an overdrawing transaction. Depending on the bank, you can also sign up for alerts if your balance falls to a specific amount.

Will a checking account build or hurt credit?

Opening or using a checking account typically doesn't impact your credit score, because these accounts aren't tied to borrowing money. Instead, checking accounts are used to manage the funds you already have, and activity like deposits, bill payments and debit card use isn't reported to the major credit bureaus. That said, your banking behavior is still being tracked — just not by the credit bureaus. When you apply for a new checking account, most banks and credit unions will review your history through ChexSystems or Early Warning Services, LLC, which are consumer reporting agencies focused specifically on deposit account activity. These systems track issues like overdrafts, bounced checks, unpaid fees or suspected fraud. A negative report can make it harder to get approved for a standard account.

What do all the checking account numbers mean?

Routing number: Along the bottom of your checks are three sets of numbers. The first nine digits, between symbols resembling colons, make up the routing number. They identify the financial institution associated with an account and are often prominently displayed on the bank or credit union’s webpage. You need these numbers to set up direct deposits or automatic payments. Account number: To the right of the routing numbers is the account number, which is unique for each account holder. Check number: The last set of numbers reflects the check number, which you'll also find in the top right-hand corner of a check.

What are the main differences between checking and savings accounts?

Purpose: A checking account is designed for everyday spending, while a savings account is meant for for building money over time. Access: Checking accounts offer easy access to funds via debit cards, checks and online payments. In contrast, savings accounts don't usually come with a debit or ATM card, and withdrawals out of the account may be limited to a certain number each month. Interest: Savings accounts usually earn higher interest than checking accounts.

Best checking accounts of September 2026

Written by

Karen Bennett

Edited by

Rhys Subitch

Reviewed by

Greg McBride, CFA

Expert verified

Updated September 28, 2026

At Bankrate we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. Though our websites may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened, we maintain editorial integrity, and partners don't influence our product evaluations. Here's how we make money and here is our advertiser disclosure.

The best checking accounts offer easy access to your money, a large ATM network and don’t charge pesky fees. Some of the best accounts also offer perks, such as cash back, a decent annual percentage yield (APY) or ATM fee reimbursements. Bankrate reviewed and rated checking accounts from over 100 banks and credit unions based on their fees, balance requirements, funds access, perks and more to help you choose the best checking account for you.

Personalize your search

ZIP code

Deposit amount

Checking account rates today

How Bankrate works

How Bankrate works

Compare rates

See checking accounts from different banks and credit unions in one place, so you can quickly compare your options.

Choose an account

Check the rate, terms and requirements, then pick the account with features that appeal to you.

Continue to the bank

Click through to the bank or credit union to open your account.

Learn more: How we chose these banks

Table of contents

The competition: Other checking accounts you can consider
What to look for in a checking account
Compare: Standard vs. best checking accounts
How to open a checking account
Checking accounts at credit unions vs. banks
How much should I keep in my checking account?
Alternatives to checking accounts
Checking account FAQs
Research methodology

The competition: Other checking accounts you can consider

On Bankrate's list of best checking accounts, we surface the highest-rated checking accounts from the banks we review that are also available to most people nationwide. But that doesn't mean that these accounts will suit everyone's needs or that there aren't other great accounts out there. Below, you'll find a few more contenders to consider.

American Express Rewards Checking: You have to already have an American Express credit card or a different existing account with the bank to open this account, so it didn't make our list based on this availability barrier, but it does get a good Bankrate score as it has few fees, no minimum deposit and earns a solid APY. Plus, you get American Express rewards points on qualifying debit card purchases.
Chime Checking: Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank (which is why it doesn't make our list) but it does offer a checking account which has no monthly fees and no overdraft fees. Chime is a good option for a second-chance checking account because it does not check your previous banking history as a condition of opening the account. Note that your funds at Chime are covered by FDIC insurance through Chime’s banking partners and certain conditions must be met for pass-through insurance to apply.
Chase Total Checking: This account's Bankrate score isn't nearly as high as the others on our list, but if you want in-person banking, Chase is likely a good option as they have branches in 48 states. But watch out for a super high monthly maintenance fee. Chase is also known for having checking account bonuses for new customers.

What to look for in a checking account

On occasion, you may find yourself accidentally spending more money than what’s in your checking account. If this is the case, find an account that allows overdrafts but won’t charge you hefty overdraft fees. Many banks don’t charge a fee at all, while the average overdraft fee in 2025 was $26.77, Bankrate's Checking Account and ATM Fee Study found.

Learn more: What is overdraft protection (and do you need it)?
Some banks will offer cash-back rewards on purchases you make with a debit card. These rewards may be limited to a certain amount of cash back per month. Rewards checking accounts may also offer interest, though it’s often going to be less than what you’d earn in a high-yield savings account.
Some banks will pay you hundreds of dollars to get you to open a checking account, but these bonuses usually come with strings attached. Bankrate can help you find the best bank account sign-up bonuses.
If you use ATMs, it pays to find a checking account at an institution that provides access to ATMs that don’t charge you fees or reimburses you for using out-of-network ATMs. You can often avoid ATM fees by choosing a brick-and-mortar bank that offers thousands of fee-free ATMs nationwide, or an online bank that belongs to a wide third-party ATM network.
Bankrate's ATM fee study found 47% of non-interest-bearing accounts are free and don't charge monthly service fees. The majority of non-interest accounts will waive fees under certain conditions, such as direct deposit.
The average monthly service fee for interest checking accounts in 2025 is $15.65, while the average monthly fee for noninterest checking is $5.47.

Learn more: Checking account survey

What to know about checking account fees

Using a checking account can be expensive. The good news is you can find checking accounts that don't charge monthly maintenance fees as well as make it easy to avoid other common tolls. Here's what you need to know.

Learn more

Compare: Standard vs. best checking accounts

Feature category	Traditional checking accounts	Top-tier checking accounts
Interest or rewards	May earn minimal interest (if any)	May earn interest (sometimes substantial); often offer perks like sign-up bonuses or cash back
Fees	Charges monthly fees (though with ways to waive), overdraft charges, out-of-network ATM fees	No monthly, overdraft, insufficient funds or ATM fees
Extra features	Bill pay, limited ATM access, early direct deposit, access to peer-to-peer platforms such as Zelle	Early direct deposit, access to peer-to-peer platforms such as Zelle, spending insights or roundup savings tools, out-of-network ATM rebates
User experience	Often offer in-person customer service, highly-rated mobile apps	Often online-only, with highly-rated mobile apps and extended phone customer service hours (e.g., 24/7)

Deciding between branch access or online-only checking

Many of the best checking accounts on our list come from online-only banks because those banks tend to charge fewer fees and offer more perks. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't open an account at a brick-and-mortar bank if it has features you want. Be sure you can avoid service fees that would eat into your balance and that your funds are easy to access.

You can also consider keeping two checking accounts to enjoy the benefits of both kinds of banking — online and in person.

Bankrate staff insights

"I have my checking and savings account with SoFi, which is an online-only bank. This was not the primary factor when choosing, but it has been a plus to the SoFi banking experience. I prefer the ease of online handlings and haven’t had any issues with quick customer support or depositing checks."

Bankrate Staff Member

“My main checking account is Charles Schwab Bank, which is online. I keep a small checking account at a brick and mortar bank in case I need a signature guarantee or cash in certain denominations.”

Bankrate Staff Member

How to open a checking account: what you need

Identification: Most banks and credit unions require two forms of identification to open an account. A Social Security card, passport, state ID or driver's license are the most commonly required documents.
Minimum deposit: If an account requires a minimum deposit — which not all do — it's typically between $10 and $25 or more.
Address: You'll need to provide proof of address when opening an account. Utility bills, lease agreements and credit card statements can work well.
Age: It may be difficult to get a checking account under age 18. That said, opening a teen account, a joint account or a custodial account can be an option for minors.

Checking accounts at credit unions vs. banks

When it comes to checking accounts, the offerings from credit unions and banks are often similar enough, but the institutions themselves differ. Commonly, banks are for-profit corporations owned by shareholders, while credit unions are member-owned, not-for-profit entities. Credit unions are also known for involvement in their community, including providing loans to small businesses.

Another area where they differ is in who can open an account. While a bank doesn’t often have many restrictions over who can open accounts, membership in a credit union may be limited to certain people based on where they live, work or worship.

How much should I keep in my checking account?

Since your checking account is likely the account from which you pay your bills and make debit card purchases, it’s important to keep enough money in there to cover these expenses. In addition, it often helps to keep some extra money in the account in the event your expenses are slightly higher than anticipated in a given month.

Beyond your living expenses and a small cushion, it’s often best to keep additional funds in a savings account that earns a competitive APY. This is because many checking accounts don’t earn interest, and those that do bear interest often earn less than you can get from top-yielding savings accounts.

Your checking account is the equivalent of a financial airport. Money is coming and going quickly, and you shouldn't plan to turn it into a hotel stay. If you like to arrive at the airport with a few extra hours to spare, you probably like to keep extra money in your checking account. You only need enough to cover your monthly expenses, but it can pay to have a little extra as a security blanket
Stephen Kates, CFP®, Bankrate financial analyst

Next steps

While a checking account provides a wide range of unique money management benefits, you’ll likely also want a few more tools on your financial journey.

High yield savings account

A savings account enables you to earn interest on your savings, helping your money grow while still giving you easy access to your funds.

Money market accounts

Like savings accounts, but also commonly come with debit cards and/or check-writing privileges.

Certificates of deposit

A way to get a fixed savings rate for a set amount of time. These can be especially useful in falling markets.

Banking with purpose

Regardless of your current financial picture, there are probably places where you could improve. Read Bankrate's 12 tips to banking smarter.

Checking account FAQs

Yes, you can open a checking account online — though it depends on the bank or credit union. In many cases, opening an account online is quicker and more convenient than visiting a branch.
While there’s no limit to the number of checking accounts you can have, it's generally practical to have one or two per person (if you want both an online and brick-and-mortar account), or perhaps more if a couple prefers a joint checking account plus individual accounts. In addition, if you have a business, you should keep a separate account for that to track business income and expenses separately from everyday household expenditures.
If you're tempted to sign up for a new checking account to score a bonus, read the fine print first. The exact requirements to earn a bonus will vary based on the bank, and you may need to meet a minimum balance or number of transactions to qualify for the bonus. You can explore your best options for checking account bonuses with Bankrate to see if there’s one that’s a good fit.
Overdraft protection is a service banks provide to cover purchases that you can’t pay for due to a too-low account balance. But signing up for overdraft protection may not be a great idea if your bank charges for the privilege. The average overdraft fee is $26.77 per item overdrawn, according to Bankrate's 2025 Checking Account and ATM Fee Study. Some banks may refund the fee for infrequent offenders, and others might simply decline the transaction.

Some banks provide free overdraft transfers from a linked account, such as a savings account, to cover an overdrawing transaction. Depending on the bank, you can also sign up for alerts if your balance falls to a specific amount.
Opening or using a checking account typically doesn't impact your credit score, because these accounts aren't tied to borrowing money. Instead, checking accounts are used to manage the funds you already have, and activity like deposits, bill payments and debit card use isn't reported to the major credit bureaus.

That said, your banking behavior is still being tracked — just not by the credit bureaus. When you apply for a new checking account, most banks and credit unions will review your history through ChexSystems or Early Warning Services, LLC, which are consumer reporting agencies focused specifically on deposit account activity. These systems track issues like overdrafts, bounced checks, unpaid fees or suspected fraud. A negative report can make it harder to get approved for a standard account.
- Routing number: Along the bottom of your checks are three sets of numbers. The first nine digits, between symbols resembling colons, make up the routing number. They identify the financial institution associated with an account and are often prominently displayed on the bank or credit union’s webpage. You need these numbers to set up direct deposits or automatic payments.
- Account number: To the right of the routing numbers is the account number, which is unique for each account holder.
- Check number: The last set of numbers reflects the check number, which you'll also find in the top right-hand corner of a check.
- Purpose: A checking account is designed for everyday spending, while a savings account is meant for for building money over time.
- Access: Checking accounts offer easy access to funds via debit cards, checks and online payments. In contrast, savings accounts don't usually come with a debit or ATM card, and withdrawals out of the account may be limited to a certain number each month.
- Interest: Savings accounts usually earn higher interest than checking accounts.

Learn more: Checking vs. savings accounts

Meet our Bankrate experts

Written by

Karen Bennett Karen Bennett

Consumer Banking Reporter

How we choose the best checking accounts

Bankrate researches over 100 banks, including some of the largest financial institutions, online-only banks, regional banks and credit unions with both open and restrictive membership policies.

To find the best checking accounts, we rated these institutions on their checking account fees, minimum deposit requirements, ATM network, overdraft policies, APY offerings and more. Banks and credit unions receive penalties against their overall scores for each consent decree, penalty in a case brought by a federal regulator or in a certified, federal class-action lawsuit, or adverse federal judgment for harming deposits customers.

The best checking accounts have few fees, no or low minimum deposit requirements, a large ATM network, forgiving overdraft policies and may offer some other perks, like early direct deposit, interest or cash back. The highest-rated checking accounts from broadly-available banks and credit unions made our list. Learn more about how we choose the best banking products and our methodology for reviewing banks.

Affinity Federal Credit Union, Alaska USA FCU, Albert, Alliant Credit Union, Ally Bank, Alto, Amalgamated Bank, Amerant Bank, America First Credit Union, American Airlines Federal Credit Union, American Express National Bank, Applied Bank, Armed Forces Bank, N.A., Axos, Axos Bank, b1BANK, Banesco USA, Banesco USA, Bank of America, Bank of Hope, Bank of the West, Bank5 Connect, BankPurely, BankUnited Direct, Barclays Bank, Bask Bank, BMO Bank, Boeing Employees’ Credit Union, Bread Savings, Brilliant Bank, BrioDirect, BrioDirect, BrixDirect, BTG Pactual, Burke & Herbert Bank & Trust Company, Capital One, Cash App, CFBank, CFG Bank, Charles Schwab Bank, Chase Bank, CIBC Bank USA, CIT Bank, CIT Bank, Citibank, Citizens Access, Citizens Bank, Colorado Federal Savings Bank, Comerica Bank, Connexus Credit Union, Credit One Bank, Credit One Bank, NA, Cross River Bank, Customers Bank, Delta Community Credit Union, Discover Bank, DollarSavingsDirect, E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley, East West Bank, Emigrant Bank, Emigrant Direct Bank, EverBank, Fifth Third Bank, First Citizens Bank, First Foundation Bank, First Horizon Bank, First Internet Bank, First National Bank of America, First Tech Credit Union, Flynn Wright on behalf of Veridian Credit Union, FNBO Direct, Forbright Bank, FourLeaf Federal Credit Union, Frost Bank, Golden 1 Credit Union, GTE Financial Credit Union, Heritage Bank, Heritage Bank, NA, Huntington National Bank, iGOBanking.com, Jenius Bank, KeyBank, KS StateBank, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Laurel Road, LendingClub Bank, LendingClub Bank, Liberty Savings Bank, Limelight Bank, Limelight Bank, Live Oak Bank, Lone Star Bank, M&T Bank, Malaga Bank F.S.B., Marcus by Goldman Sachs, Merrick Bank, MidFirst Bank - Los Angeles, Monifi, Mountain America Credit Union, mph.bank, My Banking Direct, a service of NY Community Bank, MyBankingDirect, MySavingsDirect, NASB, Navy Federal Credit Union, NBKC Bank, NexBank SSB, NexBank, SSB, North American Savings Bank, Northpointe Bank, Oak Valley Community Bank, One, OneUnited Bank, Openbank, Patelco Credit Union, Peak Bank, Pendleton Community Bank, Inc., Pentagon Federal Credit Union, PNC Bank, Ponce Bank, Popular Direct, Presidential Bank, Primis Bank, Provident Bank, PurePoint Financial, Quontic Bank, Quontic Bank, Quorum, Quorum Federal Credit Union, Radius Bank, Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union, Regions Bank, Republic Bank of Chicago, Ridgewood Savings Bank, Rising Bank, Rising Bank , Salem Five Direct, Sallie Mae Bank, San Diego County Credit Union, Santander Bank, SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, Security Service Federal Credit Union, Simple, SoFi, SouthState Bank, St. Anne's Credit Union, Star One Credit Union, State Bank of India California, State Employees' Credit Union, Sterling Bank and Trust, Suncoast Credit Union, Synchrony Bank, Synovus Bank, TAB Bank, TD Bank, Texas Capital Bank, The Federal Savings Bank, Third Federal Savings and Loan, TotalDirectBank, Truist Bank, U.S. Bank, UFB Direct, UFB Direct, Umpqua Bank, Union Bank, Union Bank (Michigan), Universal Bank, Upgrade, US Bank, USAA Bank, Valley Bank, Varo Bank, Vio Bank, VirtualBank, VyStar Credit Union, Washington Savings Bank, Wealthfront, WebBank, Webster Bank, Wells Fargo, Western Alliance Bank-501, Western State Bank, Zions Bank, ZYNLO Bank

Woman on computer opening a checking account, with title Best Checking Account Rates

Learn more

Research

Best checking accounts of September 2026

Checking account rates today

How Bankrate works

How Bankrate works

Compare rates

Choose an account

Continue to the bank

The competition: Other checking accounts you can consider

What to look for in a checking account

Overdraft policies

Interest and rewards

Bonuses

ATM/Cash access

No fees

What to know about checking account fees

Compare: Standard vs. best checking accounts

Bankrate staff insights

How to open a checking account: what you need

Checking accounts at credit unions vs. banks

How much should I keep in my checking account?

Next steps

Checking account FAQs

Can I open a checking account online?

How many checking accounts can I have?

How do I get a checking account bonus?

What is overdraft protection?

Will a checking account build or hurt credit?

What do all the checking account numbers mean?

What are the main differences between checking and savings accounts?

Meet our Bankrate experts

How we choose the best checking accounts

Banks we monitor

Learn more

Types of checking accounts

Steps to open a bank account

Bank ratings and reviews