Business Insider
Personal Finance Banking Savings

Best Bank Accounts for College Students for April 2025

piggybank with a money design that has a grad cap against a red background representing the best bank account for college students
Compare Business Insider's top options for the best bank accounts for college students. iStock; Alyssa Powell/Business Insider
Updated

The best bank for college students has simple and straightforward accounts: no monthly fees, easy access to your money, and strong online features.

It's good for college students to have both a checking and savings account. Whether they prefer online or in-person banking depends on their situation.

Best Bank Accounts for College Students

Student banking options aren't the same at every bank. Some have specialized bank accounts for college students or young adults. Others might not have bank accounts specifically for college students, but they're regular accounts still stand out because of other perks.

Compare the Top Bank Accounts for College Students

To find the best bank accounts for college students, we assessed 200 checking accounts and 230 savings accounts. The best bank accounts for students won't charge you any monthly fees and don't have minimum balance requirements. The top college bank accounts also have special perks, like good interest rates, notable savings/budgeting tools, or nationwide ATM accessibility.

Below, you'll find our top picks. We have options from online banks, credit unions, and brick-and-mortar banks so you can explore a variety of accounts and decide the best fit for your circumstance.

Best for a Fee-Free Checking Account

Alliant High-Rate Digital Checking
Alliant Credit Union Alliant High-Rate Digital Checking
Insider’s Rating
A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star
4.75/5
Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp It indicates a confirmed selection.
Perks

Earn 3.10% APY with a paired savings account.

Fees

no monthly service fee

Annual Percentage Yield (APY)

0.25%

Minimum Opening Deposit

$25

Pros
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Earn interest
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No minimum opening deposit
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No monthly service fees
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. $20/month in out-of-network ATM fee refunds
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No overdraft fees
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No incoming wire transfer fee
Cons
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Compounds interest monthly, not daily
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. $25 outgoing wire transfer fee
Insider’s Take

Alliant is one of the best credit unions out there, especially if you want to earn high interest rates on savings, checking, and certificates.

Alliant High-Rate Digital Checking review External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user."
Product Details
  • Several ways to become a member; the easiest is to become an Alliant Credit Union Foundation digital inclusion advocate (Alliant Credit Union will make a one-time $5 contribution to the Foundation on your behalf)
  • 80,000+ free ATMs
  • Alliant does not charge overdraft fees; you can overdraw, but you will not pay a fee. You may also link checking to a savings account and select for funds to automatically transfer to cover overdrawn amount
  • Interest compounded monthly
  • Federally insured by the NCUA

The Alliant Credit Union High-Interest Checking Account is one of the best checking accounts offered by a credit union. It provides access to over 80,000 fee-free ATMs. You'll get up to a $20 per month in ATM fee reimbursements. There is no monthly service fee or minimum balance requirements.

Alliant also has significant interest rates for its checking accounts, paying 0.25% APY (Annual Percentage Yield) on your checking balance. You can also make mobile deposits.

Alliant only has one physical branch ___location, located in Chicago, Illinois, so if you prefer to do your banking in-person, it may not work for you.

Alliant Credit Union Review

Best for Savings/Budgeting Tools

Best for savings/budgeting tools
Ally Savings Account
Start saving
Ally Bank, FDIC Insured
Insider’s Rating
A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star
4.5/5
Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp It indicates a confirmed selection.
Perks

Earn 3.60% Annual Percentage Yield with a $0 minimum account opening requirement

Fees

no monthly service fee

Annual Percentage Yield (APY)

3.60%

Minimum Opening Deposit

$0

Pros
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. High APY
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No minimum opening deposit
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No monthly service fees
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Savings buckets help you save for different goals
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Surprise savings transfers help you save extra money from your checking account
Cons
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. No physical branch locations
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. No way to deposit cash
Insider’s Take

The Ally High Yield Savings Account is a great option for anyone who wants savings tools to help save for specific financial goals, or prioritizes an account that doesn't charge standard bank fees.

Ally Savings Account review External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user."
Product Details
  • Create separate savings buckets in a savings account
  • Link to your Ally checking account and enroll in surprise savings transfers to have extra money transferred to savings three times per week
  • Interest compounded daily, paid monthly
  • FDIC insured

The Ally High Yield Savings Account stands out because it has a $0 minimum deposit and no monthly service fee. You can also speak to a live customer service representative 24/7, either over the phone or via online chat.

Ally makes it easy to save for savings goals. Assign each account a nickname, like "Next Semester's Tuition," "Study Abroad," or "Emergency Fund" to track your progress and stay motivated. You may decide to open a separate account for each goal, but Ally has a bucket feature that allows you save for multiple goals in one account.

If it's more important to you to be able to visit a branch in person than to earn a high interest rate or have separate savings goals, then you may prefer saving with a brick-and-mortar bank.

Ally Bank Review

Best for a Strong Mobile App

Best for a strong mobile app
Capital One 360 Performance Savings
Start saving
Capital One, Member FDIC
Insider’s Rating
A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star
4.5/5
Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp It indicates a confirmed selection.
Perks

Earn 3.60% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on any balance. FDIC Insured.

Fees

no monthly service fee

Annual Percentage Yield (APY)

3.60% (rate as of 04/08/25)

Minimum Opening Deposit

$0

Bonus

N/A

Pros
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Competitive APY
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No opening deposit or minimum account balance
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No monthly service fee
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Easy to save for various goals
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. 24/7 live chat
Cons
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Limited access to customer service by phone
Insider’s Take

Capital One is a strong bank overall. You'll earn competitive interest rates on online savings accounts and CDs.

Capital One 360 Performance Savings review External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user."
Product Details
  • Over 280 branches in NY, LA, TX, MD, VA, NJ, and Washington, DC
  • Interest compounded daily, paid monthly
  • FDIC insured

Capital One 360 Performance Savings may be worth exploring if you want a strong mobile app.

The Capital One mobile app is rated one of the highest in customer satisfaction among national banks, according to a 2024 J.D. Power Online Banking Satisfaction Study. This study evaluates customer experiences with banking mobile apps and how banks are adopting mobile banking technology.

Capital One 360 also stands out because it makes it easy to save for various goals. You can set up separate accounts through Capital One 360 Performance Savings. The account also pays a competitive rate with no opening deposit, minimum account balance, or monthly charges.

Your banking experience may vary depending on where you live. The bank has branches in Connecticut, Delaware, Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Virginia, and Washington, DC. If you don't live near any of these areas, it might not be easy to deposit cash.

Capital One Bank Review

Best for Easy Branch/ATM Access

Best for easy branch/ATM access
Chase College Checking℠
Start banking
On Chase's website
Insider’s Rating
A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star
4.25/5
Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp It indicates a confirmed selection.
Perks

Earn $100 as a new Chase checking customer when you open a Chase College Checking℠ account and complete 10 qualifying transactions within 60 days of coupon enrollment (offer expires 7/16/2025).

Fees

$12 monthly service fee

Annual Percentage Yield (APY)

None

Minimum Opening Deposit

$0

Bonus

$100

Pros
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No monthly maintenance fee for a Chase savings account linked to this account
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No required opening deposit
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Over 4,700 branches
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Relatively easy to waive monthly fee
Cons
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. $12 monthly maintenance fee
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. $3 to $5 out-of-network ATM fee
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. No out-of-network ATM fee reimbursements
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. 3% foreign transaction fee
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. $34 overdraft and non-sufficient funds fees
Insider’s Take

Chase is one of the best national banks out there, and it offers multiple checking accounts. Your best fit could come down to what perks you want and whether you can waive the monthly fee. Chase is a good option if you're looking for a cash bonus — several of its checking accounts are featured in our best bank account bonuses guide.

Chase College Checking℠ review External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user."
Product Details
  • Enjoy $100 as a new Chase checking customer when you open a Chase College Checking℠ account and complete 10 qualifying transactions within 60 days of coupon enrollment.
  • $0 Monthly Service Fee while in school up to the graduation date provided at account opening (five years maximum) for students 17-24 years old.
  • Wire funds internationally using the Chase Mobile® app or chase.com. Send money to recipients around the world with multiple currency options. Fees apply.
  • Keep track of your money with confidence and control in the Chase Mobile® app. The Chase Mobile app helps you bank securely and conveniently from anywhere.
  • With Zelle®, you can send and receive money with people and businesses you know and trust who have an eligible account at a participating U.S. bank.
  • With Fraud Monitoring, Chase may notify you of unusual debit card purchases and with Zero Liability Protection you won't be held responsible for unauthorized debit card purchases when reported promptly.
  • JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC

Chase College Checking could be worthwhile if you prefer banking in person over online.

Chase has over 4,700 branches and more than 16,000 ATMs nationwide. You'll likely be able to find a branch/ATM when you're at school, as well as when you visit home or go on a trip.

There's no monthly fee during your first five years in school. If you're enrolled in college for more than five years, you can waive the monthly charge by either setting up one monthly direct deposit or maintain an average daily balance of $5,000.

You can earn a $100 as a new Chase checking customer when you open a Chase College Checking℠ account and complete 10 qualifying transactions within 60 days of coupon enrollment (offer expires 7/16/2025).

If you aren't enrolled in overdraft protection, you may have to deal with overdraft fees. You'll also pay a fee when you use a non-Chase ATM.

Chase Bank Review

Best for an All-in-One Bank Account

Best all-in-one bank account
SoFi® Checking and Savings (Member FDIC)
Start saving
SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC
Insider’s Rating
A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star
4.75/5
Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp It indicates a confirmed selection.
Perks

Earn up to a $300 bonus with qualifying direct deposits for eligible customers through 1/31/2026. Earn up to 3.80% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) with direct deposit or qualifying deposit. Access to additional insurance up to $3M on deposits through a seamless network of participating banks.

Fees

no monthly service fee

Annual Percentage Yield (APY)

up to 3.80%

Minimum Opening Deposit

$0

Bonus

up to $300

Pros
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. FDIC insured up to $3 million
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. High interest rate
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Earn a higher interest rate with qualifying activities
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No minimum opening deposit
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No monthly service fees
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Up to $300 bonus with qualifying direct deposit (terms apply)
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Savings tools
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Early direct deposit
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Joint account available
Cons
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Declined purchase if you overdraw by more than $50
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Doesn't reimburse out-of-network ATM providers' fees
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. May deposit cash at Green Dot locations but there's a $4.95 fee
Insider’s Take

SoFi Checking and Savings is a great account option if you don't mind keeping your savings and checking in one account.

SoFi® Checking and Savings (Member FDIC) review External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user."
Product Details
  • Sign-up bonus of up to $300. When you sign up and set up direct deposit. Wait for direct deposit to hit account (typically 2-4 weeks). Collect cash bonus of $50 to $300 depending on direct deposit amount
  • Up to 3.80% APY with direct deposit or $5,000 or more in qualifying deposits during the 30-day evaluation period
  • FDIC Insured and covered up to $3 million in FDIC coverage through a network of participating banks
  • 55,000+ fee-free ATMs

SoFi® Checking and Savings (Member FDIC) may appeal to you if you're looking for an all-in-one bank account where you get a combination of checking and savings features. SoFi® Checking and Savings (Member FDIC) is a strong choice if you don't want to deal with monthly service fees, overdraft fees, or out-of-network ATM fees. It also comes with checking account features like a debit card and early direct deposit.

To earn the highest interest rate on SoFi® Checking and Savings (Member FDIC), you'll need to set up direct deposit or deposit a minimum of $5,000 per month. If you deposit cash, you also might need to pay a fee.

SoFi Checking and Savings Review

Bank Trustworthiness and BBB Rating

We review the ethics of each bank so you can see if a specific financial institution aligns with your values.

We include the settlement history of the last three years so you're aware of any recent public controversies involving the bank.

The Better Business Bureau grades companies by looking at responses to customer complaints, honesty in advertising, and transparency about business practices. Here are the BBB scores for each of our top picks:

InstitutionBBB grade
Alliant Credit UnionA+
AllyA+
Capital OneA+
ChaseA-
SoFiA+

In 2023, JP Morgan Chase was required to pay $75 million in a settlement with the U.S. Virgin Islands that accused the financial institution of failing to report suspicious activity regarding Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking operation.

Key Features of Student Bank Accounts

No or Low Minimum Balance Requirements on Student Bank Accounts

The best bank accounts for college students have low or no minimum balance requirements. Many banks, including most of our top picks, let you open a checking or savings account with $0 upfront. That said, you might eventually need to deposit money within the first month or two, or the bank might close your account.

You generally don't need to maintain a certain average or monthly account balance, either. Since you're going to school, it isn't expected that you'll receive regular monthly direct deposits or maintain a certain cash flow.

Minimal Fees for Account Maintenance on Student Bank Accounts

Many national banks have fee-free banking for college students, so you shouldn't worry about bank maintenance fees. Numerous online banks don't charge any monthly services on bank accounts. Meanwhile, brick-and-mortar banks are more likely to have monthly service fees, but most will waive them for college students.

At a brick-and-mortar bank, you may need to provide documentation, such as a student ID or acceptance letter, to prove that you're a college student. If the bank requires you to be under a specific age, then you'll probably need an official document that shows your birthday, like a driver's license or birth certificate.

Online and Mobile Banking Capabilities for Student Banking

If you're an avid mobile app user, do research first. Check a bank's mobile app ratings to see what the app's highlights and downfalls are. You might also want to explore banks that are ranked highly in customer satisfaction in J.D. Power's mobile and online banking studies.

Benefits of Choosing a Student Bank Account

If you are unbanked, it's important to consider getting a bank account as soon as you can. It's beneficial to open one as a college student so that you can manage your money and grow your savings. For example, with a checking account, you can set up online bills to automate payments. Meanwhile, with a high-yield savings account, you can earn interest on top of your savings.

Opening a bank account can also help you have access to other banking products and services in the future. If you have an established relationship with a bank, you might consider exploring other products, like auto loans, credit cards, or a mortgage. 

How to Choose the Right Student Bank Account

Here are a few tips to help you choose the right student bank account:

1. Determine if you want a bank account specifically for college students or a standard bank account.

Bank accounts that are specifically for college students are more likely to be found at brick-and-mortar banks than online banks. These bank accounts will waive monthly service fees for college students, and they might have other perks, like money management tools. You could also choose to open a free bank account from an online bank. One option isn't necessarily better than the other — we have a mix of both in our top picks. It mainly depends on your preferred banking experience.

2. Assess the bank account agreement and fee schedule.

Banks often share their bank account agreement and fee schedules online. The bank account agreement shares details about the bank account, like the opening requirements, minimum balance requirements, and interest rate. A bank's fee schedule tells if a bank charges common bank fees. Based on your habits, you can figure out which features and fees could impact your banking experience.

You can also look at other requirements needed to open a bank account. For example, not all bank accounts require a U.S. ID. The top banks for immigrants and non-U.S. Citizens allow you to provide a foreign passport or Matricula Consular instead.

Best Bank Accounts for College Students FAQs

What should I consider when choosing a bank account as a college student?

Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

If you're a college student choosing a bank account, look for a bank account that doesn't charge any monthly service fees or waives fees for students. Other factors to consider when choosing a bank account include opening requirements, mobile app features, and overall account accessibility.

How important is mobile banking for student bank accounts?

Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

Mobile banking can play an important role in student bank accounts if that's how the student manages their money. Mobile banking can help a student monitor their bank account balances, make a mobile check deposit, or find nearby ATMs.

Are there bank accounts that can help me build credit as a student?

Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

Bank accounts can't help you build credit. However, if you're looking for ways to build credit, you could get one of the best student credit cards instead.

Is Chase good for college students?

Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

Chase is one of our top picks for college student bank accounts because it has an extensive branch and ATM presence. You also might like this account if you're eligible for the checking account bonus.

What happens to a student bank account when you graduate?

Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

Most student bank accounts become regular accounts after a certain point. This may be when you graduate, when you turn a certain age, or after a certain number of years.

Why You Should Trust Us: Our Expert Panel on the Best Bank Accounts for College Students

To learn more about what makes a good bank and how to choose the best fit, four experts weighed in:

PFI Banking Expert Panel (updated Mar 2024); (from left to right) Tania Brown; Roger Ma; Sophia Acevedo; Mykail James
BI

Here's what they had to say about banking for students. (Some text may be lightly edited for clarity.)

How can someone determine whether a bank is the right fit for them?

Tania Brown, CFP® professional and vice president of coaching strategy at OfColor:

"Obviously, you want to make sure it's FDIC insured. Also, your banking experience — do you like walking into a bank? Well, then you need someone local. Do you just not care if you ever see your bank? Then you're okay online. Do you write checks? Do you not write checks? So it's thinking through how your experience with it is going to be before you make that decision."

Sophia Acevedo, banking editor, Business Insider:

"I would create a list of what I prioritize most in a bank account. For example, some banks have accounts that charge monthly service fees. I would look to see what the requirements are for waiving the monthly service fee and whether I think I could feasibly meet those requirements each month. If I'm searching for an interest-earning bank account I'll pay attention to interest rates. I would make sure the account pays a higher interest rate than the average bank account."

What should someone look for in an online bank?

Tania Brown, CFP® professional:

"With an online bank, absolutely online customer service, because you do not have the advantage of walking inside and talking to a human being. How often are you able to get them? What are their hours?"

Roger Ma, CFP® professional and author of "Work Your Money, Not Your Life":

"How onerous the transfer process is, transferring money in and transferring money out. Is it same day, next day? Is it pretty easy to sync a brick-and-mortar checking account to this particular high-yield savings account?"

Mykail James, MBA, certified financial education instructor, BoujieBudgets.com:

"When it comes to online banks, you want to be a little bit more strict about what type of interest rates they're providing. That's the biggest thing, because online banks are supposed to have the higher interest rate because they don't have the overhead of the brick-and-mortar. You want to make sure that it's well above the national average. What type of securities do they provide? Do they have two-factor identification? If it's an online bank, they should definitely have — at the bare minimum — two-factor authentication in how easy it is to change your passwords and things like that, because you want to be a little more hypersensitive about the cyber security for a strictly online bank."

What can a student look for in a bank account?

Sophia Acevedo, Business Insider:

"Students can look for features that can help them manage their money. For example, some savings accounts help you save for individual goals with budgeting and savings tools. If a student frequently withdraws, they might want to find a bank that has a large ATM network or reimburses ATM fees."

Methodology: How We Chose the Best Bank Accounts for College Students

Business Insider's personal finance team researched more than 200 checking accounts and 230 savings accounts to find the strongest bank accounts ideal for college students. We looked at both specialized bank accounts geared toward college students and everyday regular checking accounts as well.

Business Insider's personal finance team is editorially independent. Our business team does not decide how we cover products and what we write about. Learn more about how we rate and review products on our editorial standards page.

Banking should be affordable for college students, so we narrowed down our top choices by picking accounts that do not charge fees or waive fees for students. We also looked at minimum opening deposits, and we chose savings accounts that don't require a minimum balance to earn a high APY.

We also considered features that would really stand out and appeal to college students to determine our categories, such as the use of technology, perks, and functionality of an account.

See our bank account rating methodology to learn more about how we rate bank accounts. To provide a quick overview, we rate bank products on a scale from one to five stars. If a checking account has a rating of one star, that's the lowest possible, and it means the bank account requires significant improvement. If a checking account has five stars, that's the highest rating possible, and it's considered a superior option. 

For checking accounts, we examine nine different features and get the weighted average to determine an account's total score.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards.

Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.

**Enrollment required.

Chime® Disclosures:

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.

Out-of-network ATM withdrawal fees may apply except at MoneyPass ATMs in a 7-Eleven, or any Allpoint or Visa Plus Alliance ATM.

Early Pay: 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.

The Annual Percentage Yield ("APY") for the Chime Savings Account is variable and may change at any time. The disclosed APY is effective as of September 20, 2023. No minimum balance required. Must have $0.01 in savings to earn interest.

Round Up: Round Ups automatically round up debit card purchases to the nearest dollar and transfer the round up from your Chime Checking Account to your savings account.

SpotMe® 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 Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card. Qualifying members will be allowed to overdraw their Chime Checking Account for 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. 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.

Money added to Credit Builder will be held in a secured account as collateral for your Credit Builder Visa card, which means you can spend up to this amount on your card. This is money you can use to pay off your charges at the end of every month.

The secured Chime Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card is issued by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa credit cards are accepted. Please see the back of your card for its issuing bank.

On-time payment history may have a positive impact on your credit score. Late payment may negatively impact your credit score. Chime will report your activities to Transunion®, Experian®, and Equifax®. Impact on your credit may vary, as Credit scores are independently determined by credit bureaus based on a number of factors including the financial decisions you make with other financial services organizations.

Qualifying Direct Deposit: The qualifying direct deposit must be from your employer, payroll provider, gig economy payer, or benefits payer by Automated Clearing House (ACH) deposit OR Original Credit Transaction (OCT). Bank ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, verification or trial deposits from financial institutions, peer to peer transfers from services such as PayPal, Cash App, or Venmo, mobile check deposits, cash loads or deposits, one-time direct deposits, such as tax refunds and other similar transactions, and any deposit to which Chime deems to not be a qualifying direct deposit are not qualifying direct deposits.

Save When You Get Paid: Save When I Get Paid automatically transfers 10% of your direct deposits of $500 or more from your Checking Account into your savings account.

Once the retailer accepts your cash, the funds will be transferred to your selected Chime Account. Barcode and debit card cash deposits land in the Checking Account. Credit Builder card cash deposits first go through your Card Account and then land in your Secured Account. Cash deposit fees may apply if using a retailer other than Walgreens and Duane Reade.

Tax e-file services provided by April Tax Solutions Inc. ("april") or Column Tax, Inc. ("Column Tax"). These tax filing offers are not endorsed or offered by our partners, The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A.

Maximum refund guarantee is provided by april or Column Tax. If you use april's service to prepare and file your return and you find an error in the tax preparation that entitles you to a larger refund (or smaller liability), you may use their service to amend that return at no additional charge. To qualify, the larger refund or smaller tax liability must not be due to differences or inaccuracies in data supplied by you, your choice not to claim a deduction or credit, positions taken on your return that are contrary to law, or changes in federal or state tax laws. See here for details. If you use Column Tax's service, Column Tax will reimburse you for up to $250 if you are able to pay less federal or state income tax or receive a larger federal or state income tax return by using another tax return preparation provider. Eligibility requirements apply. See terms for details.

If the april tax preparation software makes a mathematical error that results in your payment of a penalty and/or interest to the IRS that you would otherwise not have been required to pay, april will reimburse you up to a maximum of $10,000. See april terms for details. If interest and/or a penalty is imposed by the IRS as a result of a computational error by Column Tax, you may be entitled to up to $10,000 reimbursement by Column Tax. See Column Tax terms for details.

There are no fees required to use this product. Chime does not require you to deposit your refund into your Chime Account to qualify for free tax filing. Certain costs may be incurred if you decide to obtain other optional financial products offered in relation to your tax filing. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) may impose penalties or other charges depending on your personal tax situation. If the april tax preparation software makes a mathematical error that results in your payment of a penalty and/or interest to the IRS that you would otherwise not have been required to pay, april will reimburse you up to a maximum of $10,000. See april terms for details. If interest and/or a penalty is imposed by the IRS as a result of a computational error by Column Tax, you may be entitled to up to $10,000 reimbursement by Column Tax. See Column Tax terms for details.

Chime does not guarantee timing of refund. Six day refund estimate is based on 2023 tax year filing data. Refund timing estimates are dependent upon timing of complete tax return submission and when the IRS submits your refund.

Bonus 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 Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 1/31/26. See full bonus and annual percentage yield (APY) terms at sofi.com/banking#1.

APY disclosures: SoFi members who enroll in SoFi Plus with Direct Deposit or by paying the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee every 30 days or with $5,000 or more in Qualifying Deposits during the 30-Day Evaluation Period can earn 3.80% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. Members without either SoFi Plus or Qualifying Deposits, during the 30-Day Evaluation Period will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Only SoFi Plus members are eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 1/24/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet. See the SoFi Plus Terms and Conditions at https://www.sofi.com/terms-of-use/#plus.

Fee Policy: SoFi does not charge any account, service or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. SoFi does charge a transaction fee to process each outgoing wire transfer. SoFi does not charge a fee for incoming wire transfers, however the sending bank may charge a fee. SoFi's fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Checking & Savings Fee Sheet for details at sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/.

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.

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 incurred when using out-of-network ATMs are not subject to reimbursement. SoFi's ATM policies are subject to change at our discretion at any time.

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.

Overdraft Coverage: Overdraft Coverage is limited to $50 on debit card purchases only and is an account benefit available to customers with direct deposits of $1,000 or more during the current 30-day Evaluation Period as determined by SoFi Bank, N.A. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the "Start Date" and "End Date" set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the"30-Day Evaluation Period"). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Members with a prior history of non-repayment of negative balances are ineligible for Overdraft Coverage.

Back to Top A white circle with a black border surrounding a chevron pointing up. It indicates 'click here to go back to the top of the page.'

Read next

Jump to

  1. Main content
  2. Search
  3. Account