11 Best Rewards Checking Accounts for 2024

Banking

In today’s highly competitive financial climate, with thousands of banks and neobanks nationwide, rewards checking accounts are growing more common.

If you have to keep your money someplace, you may as well earn cash back rewards on debit card purchases or a high interest rate.

Best of all, most rewards checking accounts have no overdraft or monthly service fees. After all, if you have to pay any monthly fees or maintenance fees, it will reduce the overall amount you can earn in cash back.

Rewards checking accounts come in two forms: Those that offer cash back rewards and those that let you earn interest on your money, even if it’s in your checking rather than savings.

Regardless of what you’re looking for in a financial institution, you can find it in one of these rewards checking accounts.

11 Best Rewards Checking Accounts

We’ve read consumer reviews, evaluated bonus offers, and read all the fine print to find 11 of the best rewards checking accounts available online or at local branches today.

1. SoFi Plus: Best for Perks

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SoFi is an online only bank offering a hybrid Checking and Savings account that provides you with easy access to your money and generous rewards.

One area where SoFi stands out is the additional perks and the variety of services it offers to account holders. It is also one of the few banks offering both cash back and high-yield checking and savings.

Your basic SoFi bank account is a free account with no monthly fee, no minimum balance requirements, no ATMs fees when you bank through any of the 55,000+ ATMs in the Allpoint Network nationwide.

Plus, right now, new SoFi customers receive up to $300 in cash when they open an account and set up a qualifying direct deposit. If your direct deposit is $1000 to $4,999.99, you’ll get $50 in cash. If you deposit $5,000 or more, you’ll earn $300.

SoFi also gives members access to savings “Vaults,” where you can set aside money for specific purposes – from emergency savings to a family vacation.

Your deposit account is insured for up to $2 million through SoFi’s partner banks. Each bank offers FDIC coverage up to the $250,000 federal limit, but deposits may be split between financial institutions to increase coverage limits.

If you want to upgrade to SoFi Plus, you’ll unlock a host of other benefits. SoFi Plus is the online bank’s premium offering, but there’s no monthly fee when you establish direct deposit of any amount, with no other minimum balance requirement or deposit requirements.

Your SoFi Plus rewards checking account offers 15% cash back when you use your SoFi debit card at select local retailers. Plus, earn 0.50% on checking and 4.60% on savings balances.

You’ll also get a personal loan rate discount of 0.25%. SoFi Plus members also get 2X rewards points, which you can redeem for cash, special member events, and experiences within the SoFi mobile app.

Through a partnership with SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, California, members also get 25% cash back on stadium purchases with their SoFi debit card, express entry and VIP access to concerts, Rams, and Chargers games.

Few banks offer so many perks or financial services under one umbrella, which is why SoFi consistently earns “Best Online Bank” accolades from top personal finance sites.

2. Upgrade Rewards Checking Plus: Best for Cashback

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Upgrade’s Rewards Checking Plus is an online banking solution designed to offer you more control over your money while reaping generous rewards.

What sets Rewards Checking Plus apart is its combination of benefits. Customers who set up monthly direct deposits of $1,000 or more can enjoy up to 2% cash back on common everyday expenses and 1% on all other eligible purchases. To boost your earnings, add a Performance Savings account to earn up to an impressive 5.07% APY.

With no minimum deposit, no monthly fees, no overdraft fees, and no ATM fees, Rewards Checking Plus puts the customer first. Upgrade also provides a free Visa debit card and an accessible mobile app for effortless banking.

Thanks to direct deposit setup, you can get paid up to two days early, a perk few other banks offer. Plus, active account holders can enjoy additional benefits like ATM fee reimbursement, making banking even more affordable.

Rewards Checking Plus, backed by Upgrade’s robust financial services, ensures that your banking is not only cost-effective but also rewarding.

With its impressive cash back system and high APY potential, Rewards Checking Plus is a compelling choice for those who want more from their banking.

Upgrade is a financial technology company, not a bank. Premier Savings accounts are provided by CrossRiver Bank, Member FDIC.

3. LendingClub Rewards Checking: Best for High Balances

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LendingClub offers an online Rewards Checking account with a straightforward 1% cash back on all signature-based debit card purchases. Ranked on Newsweek’s America’s Best Banks list in 2022, the checking account has many desirable features.

First, earn an unlimited 1% cash back on all signature-based debit card purchases and on transactions processed online as a credit purchase once you meet requirements.

You also earn 0.10% interest on your checking account balance of $2,500 to $99,999.99 and 0.15% annual percentage yield APY on balances of $100,000 or more.

LendingClub provides account holders with access to fee-free ATMs within the MoneyPass or SUM networks and unlimited reimbursement for out-of-network ATMs fees. LendingClub says that account holders save more than $180 annually thanks to ATM fee reimbursement.  

Like many of the best rewards checking accounts on this list, LendingClub has no monthly fees or overdraft fees.

You will need a $25 minimum deposit to open an account. There are no minimum balance requirements after that. However, to earn interest, you need to deposit cash to maintain at least $2,500 in your account.

To qualify for cash rewards, you must keep your account open for at least 30 days and receive at least $2,500 in recurring monthly direct deposits or maintain a $2,500 or more average monthly balance.

You may also receive direct deposits from your employer as soon as two days earlier than with many other banks.

4. Axos Bank Rewards Checking: Best for High APY and Cash Back Rewards

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Axos Bank is a nationally chartered online bank in business since 2000. The bank offers three checking accounts, all with no monthly maintenance fees, unlimited ATM fee reimbursements domestically, and no overdraft fees.

Axos Bank Rewards Checking is the financial institution’s most popular checking account. It pays up to 3.30% APY when you meet certain requirements.

If you receive monthly direct deposits of $1,500 or more, you’ll earn 0.40% APY to start.

You can increase that interest rate with other activities, such as:

  • Using your Axos Bank debit card 10X a month or sign up for Axos Bank’s free Personal Finance Manager “Account Aggregation” in online banking
  • Maintaining minimum average daily balances of $2,500 or more in an Axos Invest Managed Portfolios account or an Axos Invest Self Directed Trading Account
  • Making Axos Bank loan payments (such as mortgage, auto loans, or personal loans)

Plus, you can earn a $300 cash bonus when you open your Axos Bank Rewards checking before June 30, 2024, and have qualifying direct deposits of at least $1,500 each month in the first three months of opening your account.

If you’re willing to sacrifice the $100 cash bonus – or you don’t meet the requirements to earn the maximum APY with an Axos Bank Rewards checking account– you might consider the Axos Bank Cashback Checking account.

This cash back account gives you a straight 1% cash back on all signature-based eligible debit card purchases up to $2,000 per month.

You’ll need to maintain a $1,500 average daily balance to earn this amount. Otherwise, you’ll earn 0.50% of the average daily balance for that month.

You will need a $50 minimum opening deposit to open your Axos Bank Rewards Checking or Axos Bank Cashback checking account.

5. TD Bank Beyond Checking: Best for Sign-up Bonus

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If you are looking for the convenience of a traditional bank and the money-saving benefits of online banking, a TD Bank Beyond Checking account could be the best rewards checking account for you.

The TD Bank Beyond Checking account pays an interest rate of 0.01% APY on all balances. This is lower than the national average, but you’ll also get other perks with your account. First, let’s discuss the generous sign-on bonus of $300 and how you can earn it.

When you open your account and make $2,500 in qualifying direct deposits within 60 days, you’ll earn $300 cash back.

Keep in mind, there is a $25 monthly maintenance fee associated with the account, but it’s fairly easy to waive, especially if you have other TD deposit accounts.

You can waive the monthly maintenance fee by:

  • Receiving monthly direct deposits of $5,000 or more or
  • Maintaining a $2,500 minimum daily balance or
  • Having $25,000 or more in combined balances across eligible TD accounts, which includes deposit accounts, mortgages, home equity loans, and home equity lines of credit.

In addition to the sign-on bonus and interest on your checking balance, TD offers a free linked Simple Savings account, overdraft protection, easy mobile and online bill pay, and 24/7 fraud monitoring on your TD accounts.

The bank also reimburses numerous common fees, including fees for non-TD ATM transactions, outgoing wire transfer fees, rush bill payments, and up to two overdraft fees waived per year.

The TD Overdraft Relief service allows you more time to get your account out of the negative and also allows you to link your TD Savings account for overdraft protection through automatic transfers.

6. Consumers Credit Union: Best High Interest Checking Account

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Consumers Credit Union is one of two excellent credit unions on our list offering checking accounts with rewards or high yield interest rates.

Of the two, Consumers Credit Union is free for virtually anyone to join. As such, it also earned a place on our list of best free checking accounts.

New members will need to pay a one-time $5 membership fee to the Consumers Cooperative Association. But you’ll get that cash back when you fund your account.

The main attraction to a Consumers Credit Union checking account is the 5% annual percentage yield APY on balances up to $10,000 when you meet minimum deposit requirements and make a minimum number of debit card purchases.

To earn the maximum 5% APY, you must have qualifying direct deposits, mobile check deposits or ACH deposits of at least $500 monthly and make $1000 or more in purchases with your Consumers Credit Union Visa credit card each month.

In addition to the high annual percentage yield APY, CCU also offers early direct deposit up to two days before many other banks, and out-of-network ATM fee reimbursement with no limits each month.

CCU works with a network of 30,000 ATMs and more than 5,000 shared branches that are part of the CU Service Center Network co-op.

Convenient, affordable, and profitable with checking account interest rates ranging from 3% to 5% APY, Consumers Credit Union could be an excellent choice.

If you are considering banking with a credit union instead of a traditional or online bank, this may be the best rewards checking account for you.

7. Discover Cashback Checking Account: Best for No Fee Checking

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Discover Bank has a cashback debit account with no monthly fees and a host of other benefits. The program is straightforward and there are no minimum deposit requirements or other qualification requirements to earn cash back.

Simply earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month for up to $360 in extra cash back each year.

Your Discover Cashback Debit account has no fees of any kind, except $30 for an outgoing wire transfer. You will receive free overdraft protection with automatic transfers from your linked Discover Savings. You will not pay a fee at any of 60,000+ ATMs in the network.

You don’t even have to pay fees for bank checks, check reorders, or expedited shipping of a replacement debit card if you lose yours. If you do lose your card, you can easily “lock” it in the app to prevent unauthorized charges.

Like many online checking accounts, Discover offers early direct deposit, mobile check deposit, and an intuitive and user-friendly mobile app.

8. Schwab Bank Investor Checking: Best for Investors

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It’s not always easy to find a rewards checking account with no fees and a high yield on your checking account balance. The Schwab Bank Investor Checking account was rated highest in customer satisfaction from J.D. Power and Associates for four years running.

This account is ideal for those who already have a brokerage account with Charles Schwab or who are thinking of opening one. When you open your High Yield Investor Checking account, you will also receive a brokerage account if you don’t already have one.

You can access both accounts online or in the mobile app with a single log in, and transfer money between both accounts with no fees. There is also no monthly maintenance fee.

Schwab pays interest at the rate of 0.45% APY. You must have a minimum deposit of just one penny in your account to earn interest.

When you fund your account with an opening deposit of $100 within 7 to 10 business days, you will receive free checks, deposit slips, mailing labels, and pre-addressed, postage-paid envelopes for depositing checks through the mail into your Investor checking account. You can also use the app for mobile check deposits or deposit money at an ATM.

When you open your high yield checking account, you will receive a Schwab Bank Visa Platinum Debit Card. The debit card provides unlimited ATM fee reimbursements, even in foreign countries, and no fees when you use a Schwab Bank ATM.

There are also no foreign transaction fees when you use your debit card for purchases outside the U.S.

9. Quontic Bank: Best for Fee Free ATM Access

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Quontic offers three choices of the best rewards checking accounts, all with no monthly maintenance fees:

  • High Interest checking with an interest rate of 1.10% APY
  • Cash Rewards checking
  • Bitcoin Rewards checking

Plus, you can earn a 4.25% APY with linked Quontic savings accounts. You won’t pay any ATM fees when you use your Quontic debit card at any of 90,000+ ATMs in the AllPoint, MoneyPass, SUM Program, or Citibank networks nationwide.

Quontic’s High Interest checking delivers up to 1.10% APY when you make at least 10 qualifying debit card purchases of $10 or more per statement cycle. Otherwise, you’ll earn 0.01% APY for that month.

The High Interest checking account has no monthly maintenance fees and no overdraft fees. You will need a $100 minimum deposit to open your account.

Quontic’s Cash Rewards Checking has the same features, including no monthly maintenance fees and no overdraft charges. It is a cash back checking account that delivers 1% on all debit card purchases.

Quontic’s Bitcoin Rewards checking offers 1.5% back in Bitcoin on all qualifying debit card purchases. Like the other Quontic rewards checking accounts, the Bitcoin Rewards checking account has no monthly service fees or maintenance fees and no overdraft fees.

You will need a minimum opening deposit of $500 to open your account. This account is not available to residents of North Carolina or Hawaii.

10. Connexus Credit Union: Best Credit Union

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Connexus is one of two credit unions on our list of best rewards checking accounts. The Connexus Xtraordinary account offers a 1.75% APY when you meet certain requirements, which include signing up for e-statements and making 15 qualifying debit card purchases or spending $400 in debit card transactions monthly.

Connexus has a vast network of more than 67,000 fee free ATMs, partnered with co-op and MoneyPass networks.

You will also receive $25 in ATM fee rebates monthly. When you link your Connexus savings account to your Xtraordinary checking, you can also take advantage of free overdraft protection.

Connexus also has a similar rewards checking account for teens. With no direct deposit requirements or debit card purchase requirements, teens can earn 2% APY on the funds in their Connexus rewards checking account.

To qualify for membership in Connexus credit union, you must reside in certain cities in Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio, or Minnesota.

You can also qualify if you work at one of dozens of Midwest companies, institutions, or organizations, or simply pay a $5 one-time donation to join the Connexus Association.

Connexus Teen and Connexus Xtraordinary checking accounts have no monthly service fees and no minimum account balances required to earn interest.

You must make a minimum opening deposit of $5 into your linked Connexus savings account to become a member.

11. Truist Bank: Best for Younger Savers

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In May 2022, Truist Bank acquired Long Game, an award-winning gamification savings app. The partnership gives Truist bank account holders access to one of the most unique rewards programs in personal finance.

Long Game makes setting savings goals – and reaching them – fun by allowing you to play phone games similar to Fruit Ninja and Candy Crush based on cash deposits you make into your Truist Savings Account.

You can earn extra cash each time you play, as well as earning interest of 0.01% APY on your savings balance. You can also earn coins to play games by answering trivia questions.

Your Truist One checking account delivers rewards of its own when you open select Truist credit cards. Your bonus rewards, which can be 10% to 50% more cash back or miles than you’d normally receive, depend on your Truist One checking account monthly average balance.

Your Truist One checking account comes with a debit card, but you can upgrade to a Delta SkyMiles Debit Card if you pay the $95 annual fee. Truist One checking accounts also include linked Truist One savings accounts with no monthly maintenance fee and a $100 negative balance buffer.

To qualify for overdraft forgiveness, you’ll need to have your account open for at least 35 days with a positive balance, and have a qualifying direct deposit of at least $100 for two consecutive months. Truist Bank never charges overdraft fees, but without negative balance protection, transactions may be declined.

Your Truist One checking account has a $12 monthly service fee, but there are five easy ways to waive that monthly service fee.

To waive the monthly fee, you must meet one of the following requirements:

  • Make $500 or more in qualifying direct deposits monthly
  • Maintain a combined balance of at least $500 in Truist deposit accounts
  • Have a Truist credit card, mortgage or consumer loan
  • Have a linked Small Business checking account
  • Be a student under the age of 25

Methodology: How We Select the Best Rewards Checking Accounts

When we evaluated the best rewards checking accounts, we took many features, benefits, and costs into consideration. We also recognized that people’s needs vary. Some may want an online only bank, while others prefer a credit union or even a traditional, brick-and-mortar financial institution.

Rewards on Debit Card Purchases

When most people think of a rewards checking account, they imagine receiving cash back on debit card purchases. Banks that offer cash back on everyday purchases gained favor and a spot on our list.

Account Yield

Some rewards come in the form of a high interest rate on money held in a checking account. Several interest-bearing checking accounts with an interest rate of 1% or higher made our list. It is even better if you don’t have to maintain a minimum account balance to receive the highest interest rate.

Fees

On our list of the best rewards checking accounts, we gave preference to accounts with no monthly fees. We also considered other fees, such as overdraft fees, transfer fees, and ATM fees. Banks that offer unlimited ATM fee rebates or even some ATM fee reimbursements each statement cycle were considered favorably.

Minimum Requirements

You should be rewarded by your bank whether you have a large balance or small. For that reason, we gave preference to banks with no minimum deposit requirements and no minimum balance requirements to earn rewards. In some cases, you may need to receive a direct deposit each statement cycle to earn rewards or to receive the highest annual percentage yield APY.

Account Opening Bonus

Some banks offer a generous account opening bonus or even referral rewards when you share your referral link with friends who open an account. It’s nice to start your new bank account with a cash back from a sign-up bonus.

Overdraft Protection

Bank accounts that offer overdraft protection, either through linked savings accounts or by providing a grace period to bring your account back into the positive, earned points on our list.

ATM Network

One way to avoid fees is to find a bank with a large ATM network. Many of the banks on this list use the Allpoint or MoneyPass ATM network, with more than 60,000 machines nationwide. We also looked for banks that provide ATM fee reimbursements for using teller machines out of the bank’s ATM network.

Nationwide Availability

We made sure that consumers nationwide could open an account online or in person. We didn’t choose regional banks or credit unions with limited availability, although a small, local bank might meet your needs.

One credit union that made our list, Consumers Credit Union, is available to anyone over the age of 18 willing to pay a $5 membership fee to join the Consumers Cooperative Association. The other credit union we chose also has similarly broad membership requirements. Anyone can join if they make a $5 donation to the Connexus Association or meet certain membership requirements based on city of residence or occupation.

Customer Service

Whether you choose an online only bank or one of the traditional financial institutions on this list, you want to make sure you have access to the best customer service. We chose banks that generally received high marks for customer service on consumer review websites and offered multiple ways to reach customer service reps by phone, email, or online chat.

woman using phone

Tips for Finding the Best Rewards Checking Account

Before you open a rewards account, ask about minimum deposit requirements. Also find out if you need to maintain a minimum balance or set up direct deposits to avoid fees. Look for a bank with a large ATM network and ATM fee reimbursements for using machines outside the network.

Rewards Checking FAQs

Find out what people are asking about the best rewards checking accounts.

How does a rewards checking account work?

Rewards checking accounts pay you money for banking with them. In some cases, you will receive cash back on debit card purchases. Other rewards checking accounts pay interest on your balance. Some also offer additional perks, such as loan rate discounts, access to special events, ATM fee reimbursements and money management tools.

Should you apply for a rewards checking account?

If you are looking to put extra cash in your pocket, a rewards bank account is one way to do so. Most rewards checking accounts do not require a credit check or an application fee to apply. If you are opening a new bank account or considering switching banks, it’s worth considering how you can earn checking account rewards for things you do daily, such as using your debit card or depositing money.

How much does rewards checking cost?

Most of the top rewards checking accounts have no monthly fee, fee-free ATMs, and at least some ATM fee refunds each statement cycle.

Dawn Allcot
Meet the author

Dawn Allot is a personal finance writer and content marketing expert specializing in finance, travel, real estate, and technology. In addition to her work at Crediful, Dawn regularly writes for Bankrate, GoBankingRates, and The Balance.