The best high-yield checking accounts of July 2021

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The best high-yield checking accounts of July 2021

Checking account	APY	High-interest balance limit	Next steps
	Axos Bank Rewards Checking	None	Learn more
	Connexus Xtraordinary Checking Account	$25k	Connexus Xtraordinary Checking Account
	Consumers Credit Union Free Rewards Checking Account	$10k	Consumers Credit Union Free Rewards Checking Account
	HMBradley Account	$100k	Learn more
	OnJuno Metal Checking Account	$30k	Learn more
	Quontic Bank High Interest Checking Account	None	Quontic Bank High Interest Checking Account
	Wings Financial Credit Union High-Yield Checking Account	$25k	Wings Financial Credit Union High-Yield Checking Account

A high-yield checking account is a good option if you keep a lot of money in checking. (If you don't keep much in checking but regularly contribute to a savings account, you may be more interested in high-yield savings.)

The best high-yield checking accounts pay competitive rates on a large portion of your balance, make it easy to qualify to earn interest, and compound interest frequently.

Our expert panel for this guide

We consulted banking and financial planning experts to inform these picks and provide their advice on finding the best high-yield checking accounts for your needs. You can read their insights at the bottom of this post.

We're focusing on what will make a high-yield checking account the most useful, including rates, fees, and accessibility.

Related Product Module: Related Product Deposit

More about our top picks

Axos Bank Rewards Checking

Why it stands out: Many high-yield checking accounts only let you earn a high APY on balances up to a certain amount. But with Axos Bank Rewards Checking, you can earn Axos Bank Rewards Checking on your entire balance. Axos offers unlimited reimbursements for out-of-network ATM fees charged by operators. It also ranks as one of our top rewards checking accounts overall.

How interest works: You earn interest in stages – with each goal you accomplish, you earn a little more interest. Here are the three goals:

• Earn 0.4166% when you receive at least $1,000 in direct deposits in a month
• Earn 0.4166% when you make 10 debit card transactions in a month (minimum $3 per transaction)
• Earn 0.4166% when you make an additional five debit card transactions, or 15 total, in a month (minimum $3 per transaction)

If you accomplish all three goals in a month, you earn a total of 1.25% APY.

What to look out for: Opening deposit. You need at least $50 to open an account.

Connexus Xtraordinary Checking Account

Why it stands out: Connexus pays high rates on balances up to $25,000. It also refunds up to $25 per month in fees charged by out-of-network ATM providers. We've chosen Connexus as one of our favorite credit unions.

How interest works: You'll only earn interest each month that you do the following:

• Enroll in e-statements (You should only have to enroll once)
• Make 15 debit card purchases OR spend $400 with your debit card

If you meet these requirements, you'll earn 1.75% on balances up to $25,000. Then you'll earn 0.25% APY any money above $25,000.

What to look out for: Interest earned. Some of our top picks pay a lower interest rate if you don't meet qualifications for the highest APY. But with Connexus, you'll either earn the highest APY on balances up to $25,000, or none at all.

Consumers Credit Union Free Rewards Checking Account

Why it stands out: Consumers Credit Union ranks as one of our top credit unions, and Consumers Credit Union Free Rewards Checking Account is on our favorite rewards checking accounts list. You have the potential to earn one of the highest interest rates out there right now. Consumers also refunds any fees charged by out-of-network ATM providers.

How interest works: Here are the APY tiers:

• Earn 2.09% on balances up to $10,000 when you sign up to receive eDocuments, make 12 debit card purchases per month, and receive $500 per month in direct deposits, mobile check deposits, or transfers from other banks.
• Earn 3.09% on balances up to $10,000 when you meet the qualifications to earn 2.09% and spend $500 per month with your Consumers Credit Union credit card.
• Earn 4.09% on balances up to $10,000 when you meet the qualifications to earn 3.09% and spend $1,000 per month with your Consumers Credit Union credit card.
• Earn 0.20% on balances between $10,000.01 and $25,000 when you receive eDocuments, make 12 debit card purchases per month, and receive $500 per month in direct deposits, mobile check deposits, or transfers from other banks.
• Earn 0.10% on balances of $25,000.01 and more when you receive eDocuments, make 12 debit card purchases per month, and receive $500 per month in direct deposits, mobile check deposits, or transfers from other banks.

What to look out for: Balance tiers. You need a Consumers Credit Union credit card to earn the maximum APY, and if you don't meet any of the qualifications listed, you won't earn interest at all.

HMBradley Account

Why it stands out: This is a hybrid checking/savings account that pays you a higher rate the more you save. There aren't any savings pockets – HMBradley just evaluates how much you deposit each month vs. how much you spend. It displays how much you've saved and which tier you're on track for on your digital dashboard.

How interest works: You'll earn interest on up to $100,000 in your account. Here are the savings tiers:

• Tier 1: Earn 3.00% APY when you save at least 20% of your deposits
• Tier 2: Earn 2.00% APY when you save 15% to 19.99% of your deposits
• Tier 3: Earn 1.00% APY when you save 10% to 14.99% of your deposits
• Tier 4: Earn 0.50% APY when you save 5% to 9.99% of your deposits

What to look out for: Savings. Because this account rewards you for savings, you might not like HMBradley if you prefer to keep your savings in a separate account from checking. You also won't earn any interest if you save less than 5% of your deposits.

OnJuno Metal Checking Account

Why it stands out: OnJuno gives you both a high APY and cash back rewards. Select five retailers from its list and earn 5% cash back when you shop at those stores. You may like OnJuno if you're an immigrant, because you only need a Social Security number and passport to qualify.

How interest works: You don't need to do anything to earn interest, but rates do vary depending on your balance. Rate tiers are as follows:

• You'll earn 2.15% APY on balances up to $30,000
• You'll earn 0.25% APY on balances between $30,000.01 and $100,000
• You won't earn interest on more than $100,000

What to look out for: Monthly fee. OnJuno Metal Checking Account costs $9.99 per month. It's actually free for the first six months, then you'll downgrade to the free OnJuno Basic Checking Account unless you opt to pay the monthly fee and keep Metal status. The Basic account only pays high interest on balances up to $5,000.

Quontic Bank High Interest Checking Account

Why it stands out: Quontic pays you the same interest rate on your entire balance, as long as you meet the qualifications. There are over 90,000 free ATMs around the US, and Quontic won't charge you for using an out-of-network machine. (The ATM provider might charge you, though.)

How interest works: You'll earn the highest rate on your entire balance each month you make 15 debit card purchases and keep $1 million or less in your account.

What to look out for: Minimum opening deposit. You'll need at least $100 to open a Quontic Bank High Interest Checking Account.

Wings Financial Credit Union High-Yield Checking Account

Why it stands out: Along with its high interest rate, Wings Financial gives you 10 free withdrawals each month from an out-of-network ATM. The credit union also lets you choose to either link to your savings account for free overdraft protection or tap into an overdraft line of credit. We've chosen Wings Financial as one of our favorite credit unions.

How interest works: You'll earn a high interest rate on balances up to $25,000 each month you do the following:

• Enroll in e-documents (You should only have to enroll once)
• Receive over $300 in direct deposits
• Make 15 debit card purchases of $5 or more

What to look out for: Out-of-network ATM fees. Wings Financial is fairly generous about out-of-network ATMs, because it doesn't charge you for the first 10 withdrawals each month. But keep in mind that the ATM provider may still charge you, and Wings Financial won't reimburse those fees. It will also charge you $2.50 per ATM transaction after your first 10 out-of-network visits per month. If you use ATMs frequently, keep an eye out for these charges.

Other high-yield checking accounts we considered

We looked at nearly two dozen high-yield checking accounts before picking our favorites. Here are the other ones we considered, and reasons they didn't make the cut:

• Alliant High-Interest Checking Account: Alliant is a good credit union, and you'll earn a respectable rate on your entire balance. The rate isn't as high as what you'll get with our top choices, though.
• Ally Interest Checking Account: Ally pays higher rates than many banks, but its highest-tier APY isn't competitive with those on our list.
• Bethpage Free Checking Account: The interest rate isn't quite as good as rates with our top picks, and there's no free overdraft protection.
• Blue Extreme Checking Account: You can earn a high rate depending on your membership level. There's an intricate point system determining which level you're at.
• Broadway Federal Bank High Yield Interest Checking: This bank pays a higher rate than most brick-and-mortar institutions, but rates are much lower than with those on our list.
• Cheese Account: You may like this account if you're an immigrant or Asian American, or want to support Asian American communities. It pays a decent rate, but it's stronger as a cash-back checking account.
• CIT Bank eChecking Account: CIT's rates aren't quite as good as what you can get with our top choices.
• NBKC Everything Account: Although NBKC's rate could be higher, it's a decent option if you want a hybrid checking/savings account. You don't need to meet any qualifications to earn interest.
• One account: One only pays its highest rate on your Auto Save bucket, and you're only allowed to put up to 10% of your paychecks into Auto Save. But if you don't usually save more than 10%, you could get a great rate.
• Pentagon Federal Credit Union Access America Checking Account: PenFed is a strong credit union overall, but you'll earn better rates with our top picks.
• Radius Rewards Checking Account: You won't earn any interest on balances under $2,500, and the rate is relatively low for balances under $100,000.
• Redneck Bank Rewards Checkin' Account: The interest rate is pretty good, but you'll need at least $500 to open an account.
• Robinhood Cash Management Account: The rate isn't super impressive, but this is a good hybrid checking/savings account overall.
• SoFi Money®: You'll only earn the highest rate if you deposit at least $500 per month; even then, the rate can't compare with those on our list.
• Wealthfront Cash Account: Although the rate is just okay, you don't need to do anything to qualify to earn interest, and you'll earn APY on your entire balance.

Are these institutions trustworthy?

We've looked at the Better Business Bureau trustworthiness score for each of our top picks. The BBB assesses trustworthiness by looking at responses to customer complaints, honesty in advertising, and transparency about business practices.

Institution	BBB grade
Axos Bank	A+
Connexus Credit Union	A+
Consumers Credit Union	A+
HMBradley	F
OnJuno	A+
Quontic Bank	A+
Wings Financial Credit Union	A+

HMBradley is the only one of our top picks that doesn't have an A+ from the BBB. The BBB states that HMBradley has a low grade because it's failed to respond to 100% of customer complaints on the BBB website – but there has only been two customer complaints.

OnJuno doesn't have a BBB score yet. But its parent bank, Evolve Bank & Trust, has an A+ in trustworthiness.

None of our top choices have any recent public scandals, so you may decide you're comfortable banking with any of these companies.

Frequently asked questions

How did you choose the best high-yield checking accounts?

We looked at accounts that paid the highest rates either on your entire balance, or on up to a high balance. We chose accounts that make it relatively easy to be eligible to earn interest. For example, we'd prefer a checking account that required you to deposit $500 per month to earn interest over one that required $5,000 per month.

We examined other factors, too, like monthly service fees, out-of-network fee reimbursements, and minimum opening deposits.

Credit unions typically pay the highest rates on checking accounts. Credit unions only offer services to members, so we selected credit unions that are easy for most people in the US to join. But keep in mind that a local or more selective credit union may offer better rates.

What is a high-yield checking account?

A high-yield checking account pays interest on your balance. Most standard checking accounts don't pay any interest. Others pay a little, like 0.01% to 0.05% APY. High-yield checking accounts pay significantly higher rates.

How does a high-yield checking account work?

Most high-yield checking accounts require you to meet certain criteria each month to earn interest. For example, you may have to receive $500 in direct deposits or make 10 debit card transactions.

Some accounts also pay tiered interest rates. Let's say an account pays 1% APY on balances up to $25,000, then 0.25% APY on balances over $25,000. If you have a $30,000 balance, you'd earn 1% on the first $25,000, then 0.25% on the remaining $5,000.

What is annual percentage yield?

Annual percentage yield (APY) is similar to an interest rate, but it gives you a better idea of how much you'll actually earn.

APY tells you how much interest you'll earn over one year, including compounding. A checking account may pay 0.499% in interest, but you'll earn 0.50% APY.

The experts' advice on choosing the best checking account

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

• Tania Brown, Certified financial planner at SaverLife
• Roger Ma, certified financial planner with lifelaidout® and author of "Work Your Money, Not Your Life"
• Mykail James, MBA, certified financial education instructor, BoujieBudgets.com
• Laura Grace Tarpley, certified educator in personal finance, associate editor of banking, Personal Finance Insider

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

What makes a checking account good or not good?

Roger Ma, CFP:

"I would look at the ATM branch locations and then minimum balance amounts to not incur a monthly fee … I think there's other stuff that could make life easier, whether it's a free checks, online bill pay, are they in the Zelle network?"

Laura Grace Tarpley, Personal Finance Insider:

"I would make a list of the top three to five things you want out of a checking account. Is it a great mobile app, 24/7 customer support, no ATM fees? Then research the best banks for those features."

How should someone decide whether to choose a rewards checking account with a high APY, cash sign-up bonus, or cash back?

Tania Brown, CFP:

"I have checking accounts with all the above, because I use checking accounts for different purposes. I would tell someone, think through the experience of how you're going to use it. So I have my account strictly for bills and I don't attach a debit card to that. Well, I'm not going to get a lot of cash rewards out of that, because I rarely use that debit card, but I keep a pretty decent balance. So that one I use in particular for interest. I have a spending checking account. That one, I don't care if the balance is zero, the money that goes in there, I expect for it to go out. But because I use that often, that is the one I attached to a cash reward. And then I have another one that I use just for travel, and I actually have a travel reward attached to that one."

Roger Ma, CFP:

"I think if you're someone who is responsible with credit, then instead of focusing on a checking account that rewards you, look to a credit card that rewards you for the areas where you spend money. I wouldn't recommend people waste their time with a rewards checking account. Get the fundamentals right with fewer checking or savings accounts, and then start to move toward using a credit card to build your credit."

How can someone decide between a bank and a credit union?

Tania Brown, CFP:

"For most people, it falls into five categories: location, interest rates, services, technology, and relationships. Next, prioritize what's important and you will have your answer. For instance:

• If multiple regional and national locations are important: Banks typically have more locations than credit unions.
• If the most important thing to you is a high interest rate: Credit unions, on average, offer better interest rates than banks.
• If a lot of services (commercial banking, business banking, investment services, etc.) are valuable to you: Larger banks offers more services than most credit unions.
• If feeling like a person, not a number, matters to you: Credit unions are known for great personalized customer service.
• If you are a tech junkie: Larger banks typically offer more tech bells and whistles for online users than credit unions."

Laura Grace Tarpley, Personal Finance Insider:

"Look at interest rates and how often interest compounds. The more often an institution compounds interest, the more money you'll earn. Many credit unions pay higher rates than banks. But they only compound interest monthly, whereas banks compound daily. Do the math to figure out where you'll earn the most."

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

Mykail James, CFEI:

"The No. 1 thing about a checking account is you should know what provider the debit card is coming from. And a lot of people don't think about that, because there are places that don't accept MasterCard or don't accept an Amex."

Laura Grace Tarpley, Personal Finance Insider:

"I would look for the bank that charges you the least in fees. This means either no monthly fees, or you qualify to waive the monthly fees. If you never overdraw from your account, then a bank's overdraft fees won't matter much to you. But if you occasionally overdraw, then I'd look at the fees or overdraft protection options."

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