ADVERTISEMENT: Products from our partners

Standout checking accounts

There are a lot of checking accounts out there. So many, in fact, it can be overwhelming to weed through all the options — good and bad — and then confidently choose one. Social scientists call this “information overload”. We call it inconvenient.

To get the most from your checking account, you need low fees, good customer support and free ATMs nearby. If you earn interest on your cash, even better. Compare standout checking accounts from our partners below.

	Monthly fee	Out-of-Network ATM Fee	Details
NerdWallet rating Apply Now at Chime®, Deposits are FDIC Insured	$0	$2.50	Why we like it Chime is a mobile bank account that has no monthly fees, minimum balance requirements or overdraft fees, and you have access to more than 38,000 fee-free MoneyPass and Visa Plus Alliance ATMs. Through Chime’s early direct deposit service, customers can get their paychecks up to two days earlier than if they cashed their checks at a bank. This account works best for people who don’t write many checks or make cash deposits. If you need to write a check, Chime has an online feature that creates and mails one on your behalf. For cash deposits, you’ll need to use a third-party service. For more details on Chime, read our full review.
NerdWallet rating Apply Now at Capital One, Member FDIC	$0	$0	Why we like it It's somewhat rare to find a no-monthly-fee checking account that pays interest, but Capital One 360 Checking does: 0.10% APY on all balances, and there's no monthly fee. There's also no opening balance requirement, and in addition to Capital One-branded ATMs, you have free access to the Allpoint network, for a total of over 40,000 ATMs, in places like Target®, Walgreens® and CVS Pharmacy®. But don’t expect a bank branch on every corner. Capital One's 360 accounts are primarily online, with deposits available through bank transfers, mobile apps and direct deposit. If you’re close to a Capital One-branded ATM, including those at Capital One Cafes, or at a branch, you can make a physical check deposit there.

Want to earn a high APY on your savings?

With competitive APYs, rock-bottom fees and more, these savings accounts offer something for everyone. Check out the offer, from our partner, and start earning interest today.

Bank	APY	Monthly Fee	Details
NerdWallet rating Apply Now at American Express National Bank, Member FDIC	4.00% With $0 min. balance for APY	$0	Pros Customer service available 24/7 $0 minimum balance No monthly fees Cons No checking account, mobile app or ATM cards No branches

More about checking accounts

A checking account is a bank account that is typically used for everyday expenses. It tends to have a lower interest rate than a savings or money market account, but unlike those accounts, there's no limit to how often you can access your money.

Why online checking accounts dominate the list

Some important factors for virtually every bank-shopper are monthly fees, ATM access and interest rates (since they have the biggest impact on your bottom line). And, as it happens, online banks typically offer higher interest rates.

A little about us

At NerdWallet, we offer straightforward info and tools to help you make the best possible financial decisions. All for free. So how do we make money? In most cases, when someone applies or gets approved for a financial product we get paid. But that doesn’t sway our opinions.