13 Best Checking Accounts of September 2026

In 2026, SoFi® Bank, N.A. won NerdWallet’s annual award for best overall bank. Its one combination account — SoFi Checking and Savings — is genuinely good, but it’s best for those who can get at least $1,000 in direct deposits each month. Meeting that threshold gets you access to one of SoFi’s best features: its forgiving overdraft coverage.

One of the few drawbacks to banking at SoFi is that making cash deposits will cost you up to $4.95 for each deposit. If you want to deposit cash regularly — like if you work a tip-based job, for example — those fees could add up quickly.

New customers could earn a bonus of up to $400, depending on how much you receive in direct deposits. (See our roundup of the best bank promotions to learn more.)

Minimum opening deposit: None.

How to earn the interest rate: You’ll earn 0.50% APY (variable and subject to change) on the balance in the checking portion with no requirements, which is more than decent for checking.

ATM access: More than 55,000 free ATMs with Allpoint.

Overdraft policy: SoFi doesn’t charge overdraft fees and has an overdraft protection program that transfers funds from savings to checking to cover overdrafts. But you’ll need a minimum monthly direct deposit of $1,000 to qualify for overdraft coverage, which allows you up to $50 in overdrafts with no fees; the overdrafted amount will be “repaid” from your next deposit.

Phone customer service: You can reach someone by phone Monday through Thursday, 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. PT; Friday through Sunday, 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT.

What else you should know: You’re under no obligation to use the savings portion of your account if you don’t want to, though it pays a competitive APY of 3.10% if you meet direct deposit requirements.

SoFi says: "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 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."

The Capital One 360 Checking Account has no monthly fees or no minimum balance requirements. It pays a small amount of interest — 0.10% APY on all balance tiers with no requirements (but it’s not likely to make much of an impact on your balance).

Where Capital One stands out is that it’s one of the few banks on our best checking list that has branches, though only in select states and Washington, D.C. If you want the option of once-in-a-while or just-in-case banking in person and live near a location, this could be a good account for you.

And new customers can earn a bonus of $250 after meeting requirements. (See our roundup of the best bank promotions to learn more.)

Minimum opening deposit: No minimum to open.

How to earn the interest rate: There are no requirements to earn the APY.

ATM access: More than 70,000 fee-free nationwide ATMs.

Overdraft policy: Capital One scores well on our overdraft star rating rubric because it offers a few overdraft coverage options, including free overdraft protection transfers and no-fee overdrafts on Capital One-approved transactions.

Phone customer service: You can get in touch with someone from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET, seven days a week.

What else you should know: Capital One’s branches are mostly in the Northeast and South but the bank also runs Capital One Cafés in more states, including ones further west. At these locations, you can open accounts, speak with a banker and get a coffee.

Chime® Checking Account won NerdWallet’s annual award for best overall checking account in 2026 because it’s got all the features NerdWallet values in an account, including no monthly fee, broad ATM access, no minimum opening deposit, a strong overdraft program and early direct deposit. Chime also offers new customers an account sign-up bonus of up to $350, too. (See our roundup of the best bank promotions to learn more.)

Minimum opening deposit: No minimum to open.

How to earn the interest rate: The account doesn’t earn interest.

ATM access: 47,000 nationwide ATMs.

Overdraft policy: Chime doesn't charge overdraft fees. You can overdraft fee-free up to $200 but you’ll have to qualify for the program and work your way up to that limit.

Phone customer service: You can reach customer service 24/7.

What else you should know: Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chime partners with banks to give their customers federal insurance on their money, but that protection isn’t as straightforward or guaranteed as it is with a regular bank.

Chime says: "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." "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."

KeyBank’s Key Smart Checking account has a lot going for it: no monthly fees, a large fee-free ATM network, branch access (if you’re within the bank’s footprint) and a $300 welcome bonus when you meet the requirements (see our best bank promotions and bonuses roundup for more information). The bank does still charge an overdraft fee, but it also has a buffer and gives you ways to avoid it.

Minimum opening deposit: $10.

How to earn the interest rate: N/A; this account doesn’t earn interest.

ATM access: 40,000 fee-free KeyBank and Allpoint ATMs.

Overdraft fee: If you’re overdrawn by $20 or less at the end of the day, you won’t get charged a fee. You can also set up fee-free overdraft protection transfers from a savings account. Otherwise, you’ll get charged $20 per transaction, up to three times a day.

Phone customer service: 24/7.

What else you should know: KeyBank has a savings program called EasyUp that you can use if you also open a KeyBank savings or money market account. It allows you to set an amount you want to transfer with every debit card transaction — from $0.10 to $5. It could be a useful tool if you need a push to prioritize your savings. And the program includes an overdraft failsafe: the bank won’t make a transfer if it’ll put your account under $50.

The Everything Account from nbkc doesn't charge a monthly fee and offers a 1.75% APY with no requirements to earn the rate. In addition to broad ATM access and ATM fee reimbursements, the account comes with the ability to set savings goals and have the bank tell you how much you need to save every month to meet them.

It does have four branches in Kansas City but nbkc is an online bank so you’ll want to be comfortable with remote customer service to bank here.

Minimum opening deposit: $0.

How to earn the interest rate: There are no requirements to earn the rate.

ATM access: More than 90,000 global ATMs, and also offers up to $12 per month in reimbursements for out-of-network ATM fees.

Overdraft policy: There are no overdraft fees here and you can set up overdraft protection transfers.

Phone customer service: You can call Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT. Though there are no weekend phone hours, you can chat with a customer service representative on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. CST.

What else you should know: The bank calls this account the Everything Account and encourages customers to use it for both savings and checking but that’s not always the best approach. If you don’t want your savings so easily accessible, and you want to earn a higher yield, open a high-yield savings account at another bank and use this account just for checking.

American Express Rewards Checking is available to American Express customers who have had a consumer credit card, high-yield savings account or certificate of deposit for at least five days. The account has a 1.00% APY and no monthly fees or minimum deposit requirements. In addition to earning interest, you can also earn American Express Membership Rewards® points with qualifying purchases.

Minimum opening deposit: No minimum required.

How to earn the interest rate: American Express doesn’t have any requirements for customers to earn interest.

ATM access: More than 70,000 MoneyPass and Allpoint ATMs.

Overdraft policy: Customers don’t have access to overdraft services. American Express won’t charge you if you attempt a purchase that puts you in the negative, it just won’t allow it to go through.

Phone customer service: American Express has a particularly strong customer experience, with 24/7 access to customer service representatives via phone, a highly rated mobile app and chat support.

What else you should know: Without a linked rewards-earning AmEx credit card, the American Express Membership Rewards points you earn with your checking account can only be redeemed for a deposit to your checking or as a transfer to a limited selection of travel partners. That’s not a deal-breaker, but something to be aware of if you’re not fully enmeshed in the American Express rewards ecosystem.

Upgrade’s checking account has a lot of the features NerdWallet writers and editors look for in a checking account: no monthly fee, a large ATM network, no overdraft fee and direct deposit up to two days early. Plus, it offers 2% cash back — up to a maximum of $500 per year — on qualified purchases as long as you make at least $1,000 in direct deposits per month.

Minimum opening deposit: $0.

How to earn the cash back: Get at least $1,000 in direct deposits per month and spend on qualifying categories, which include gas stations, utilities (e.g., electric, gas), phone and streaming subscriptions. Categories that don’t qualify include grocery stores, travel, medical bills and insurance.

ATM access: Fee-free access to more than 55,000 ATMs through the Allpoint network.

Overdraft policy: The bank will likely deny any transaction that would put you in the negative but in the chance it does pay the overdraft, it won’t charge you an overdraft fee.

Phone customer service: You can contact customer service by phone Monday through Friday, 5 a.m. to 7 p.m., PT; Saturday and Sunday, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT.

What else you should know: To maximize the cash back rewards, you’ll need to do $25,000 in eligible category spending. If you want this account for the cash back, analyze your spending and match it up to the qualifying categories to see if the cash back will be worth it for you.

Connexus Credit Union’s Xtraordinary Checking account doesn’t charge a monthly fee and pays one of the highest APYs out there for checking (or even savings): up to 4.50% for balances of up to $25,000. But you’ll have to meet requirements, which include receiving at least $500 a month in direct deposits and using your debit card a certain amount. If you don’t meet the requirements, you won’t earn interest or qualify for ATM fee rebates that month. Look into your spending habits to see if you can easily earn that enticing APY.

Minimum opening deposit: No minimum.

How to earn the interest rate: Opt in for paperless statements, receive at least $500 a month in direct or ACH deposits and either make 15 debit card transactions or spend at least $500 a month.

ATM access: $15 per month in rebates for out-of-network domestic ATM fees if you meet the requirements for earning interest.

Overdraft policy: You won’t get charged if you overdraw your account by $10 or less but you will be charged $18 for certain transactions through the Privilege Pay overdraft service. You can also connect a savings account for fee-free overdraft transfers to avoid the overdraft fee.

Phone customer service: You can reach someone Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT; Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT; Saturday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. CT. Connexus doesn’t have phone customer service hours on Sunday.

What else you should know: Unlike many credit unions, anyone can apply to be a member of Connexus by becoming a member of the Connexus Association with a one-time $5 donation. You’ll also need to open a Connexus Savings account first (with a $5 minimum deposit) before you can open the checking account.

Bask Bank’s Interest Checking account charges no monthly fees and has a competitive interest rate for a checking account, but especially so because there are no requirements to earn the rate. You can pay bills directly from the account and receive your paycheck via direct deposit, but you won’t get it early here like you would at some of the other banks on this list. And you can’t deposit cash into this checking account.

Minimum opening deposit: No minimum deposit to open but if you don’t fund it within 15 business days, the bank can close your account.

How to earn the interest rate: There are no requirements.

ATM access: Fee-free access to more than 55,000 nationwide ATMs through the Allpoint network.

Overdraft policy: You won’t be able to overdraft here. The bank will decline overdrawing transactions without charging you a fee.

Phone customer service: If you need banking help by phone, you can contact customer service Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT; Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. CT.

What else you should know: Bask Bank has two savings accounts, one that earns airline miles and one, called Interest Savings, that earns one of the top rates and consistently lands on our best high-yield savings account list.

At Zynlo Bank, an online division of Ohio-based PeoplesBank, you can earn 2.00% APY on any balance of a penny or more in the Spending Account, which is a relatively high interest rate for a checking account. You also get no monthly fee, early direct deposit, access to a big ATM network and a roundup program to help build savings.

Minimum opening deposit: $0.

How to earn the interest rate: Keep at least a penny in the account.

ATM access: More than 55,000 free ATMs with the Allpoint network.

Overdraft policy: You won’t pay overdraft fees here but there is no overdraft protection program where you could transfer money from a linked account to cover an overdrawing transaction.

Phone customer service: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET; on Saturday and Sunday, you have a shorter window to get in touch, especially if you’re on the west coast, as phone customer service is only available 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET.

What else you should know: With its savings builder feature called Zyng, the bank will round up Zynlo debit card purchases to the nearest dollar and transfer the difference from checking to the Zynlo savings account, which earns a competitive interest rate. Plus, Zynlo will also match the roundup contribution at 100% for the first 100 days. After that, it’ll only continue to match at that rate if you keep an average daily balance of $3,000 in your account. If you drop below that, it’ll only match 25% of contributions.

Let’s say you make about 20 debit transactions on average every month, and the round-up amount is about $0.40 cents on average. At 100% match, you’ll save $16 a month. At 25% percent match, you’ll save $10. If you’re a debit card user, it’s a good way to build a savings habit or sink some funds toward a goal. Think of it like accruing extra interest on your savings.

The Fifth Third Bank Momentum Checking account is a solid all-around account. It has no monthly fee and offers early direct deposits, 20,000 ATMs and it’s one of the only banks on our list that has a lot of physical branches. You can find a Fifth Third location in 15 states, mostly in the South and Midwest. And new customers can earn a $300 account opening bonus (see our bonuses and promotions roundup to learn more).

Minimum opening deposit: No minimum opening deposit requirements.

How to earn the interest rate: Momentum Checking does not earn interest.

ATM access: Nationwide network of about 20,000 ATMs.

Overdraft policy: If you overdraw by less than $5 or for an item that’s $5 or less, you won’t get charged an overdraft fee. But above that, the bank charges a $35 overdraft fee (up to three times a day). That said, it offers a few ways to avoid the fee, too: fee-free overdraft protection transfers from a linked account and Extra Time, a feature that automatically comes with your Momentum Checking account and gives you until midnight ET the next business day to make a deposit that covers the overdraft.

Phone customer service: You can contact customer service by phone Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. There’s no live phone help on Sunday.

What else you should know: Fifth Third Bank has over 1,500 branches in 15 states. Most are concentrated in the Midwest and South though it also has a presence in California and Arizona. If you’re outside of the bank’s footprint, you’ll need to be comfortable online banking.

Axos Checking has what NerdWallet writers and editors value in a checking account: no monthly fees, no minimum balance requirements and no overdraft fees. The bank also offers early direct deposit, which means you get paychecks up to two days early, and your money will earn 1.00% APY here, as long as you have direct deposits set up. But where this account stands out is for its ATM reimbursement policy: unlimited reimbursements for domestic ATM use, so you can use any ATM, any time without worrying about fees.

Minimum opening deposit: None.

How to earn the interest rate: Set up direct deposits of at least $1 per month.

ATM access: Fee-free access to more than 95,000 nationwide ATMs and unlimited ATM fee reimbursements if you have to use an out-of-network domestic ATM.

Overdraft policy: No overdraft fees and fee-free overdraft protection transfers.

Phone customer service: You can contact a person by phone 24/7.

What else you should know: Axos doesn’t give a bonus for you opening a new personal bank account right now, but it does have a referral bonus. If you have and like the Axos Checking account, you can refer your friends and if they open an account using your referral link and meet requirements, you’ll each earn $100.

With the Member Advantage Checking account at Boeing Employees’ Credit Union, you’ll pay no monthly maintenance fees, get access to a large ATM network, same-day transfers with Zelle and you’ll earn a good rate on the first $500 in your account (and a lower rate for anything over that). BECU is particularly helpful if you want a credit union but also want access to a branch in more than just your local community. It participates in shared branching, so you can access over 4,000 credit union branch locations nationwide.

Minimum opening deposit: $10 if opening online.

How to earn the interest rate: To earn the higher interest of 3.04% on your first $500 in the account, you’ll need to sign up for eStatements and make at least one qualifying transaction which includes using your debit card, receiving at least one direct deposit, or making at least one funds transfer between your BECU accounts. Balances over $500 earn 0.10% APY.

ATM access: Over 30,000 fee-free ATMs through the Co-op Network.

Overdraft fee: There's no free way to cover overdrafts here. BECU will charge $10, up to five times a day, for checks or ACH transactions that overdraft your account. You can also access a personal line of credit as overdraft protection.

Phone customer service: You can reach customer service Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. PT and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. PT.

What else you should know: There are many ways to join BECU depending on where you live or work, but anyone can make donation of $1 or more to the BECU foundation to become eligible for membership. As with other credit unions, you’ll have to open a savings account first to establish your membership.