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6 Best High-Yield Checking Accounts That Pay You Interest – Rates for 2023


An impressive number of online banks offer relatively high yields on savings accounts, money market accounts, and even checking accounts. Yes, even when interest rates are low.

And everyone needs a checking account. Why not choose one with a yield that rivals the best high-yield savings accounts?

Best High-Yield Checking Accounts

Many of these high-yield checking accounts are on our roundups of the best free checking accounts and best checking accounts with monthly maintenance fees. If you hate monthly service fees, know that most banks happily waive those fees when you meet minimum balance or monthly transaction requirements.

Wealthfront Cash Account

Our Rating
4.4/5

The Wealthfront Cash Account earns 5.00% APY on all balances — one of the best cash account yields on the market. It links seamlessly with Wealthfront's other core product, a low-cost robo-advisor.
Account APY
5.00% APY
Minimum Balance
$1
Monthly Fee
$0
Our Rating
4.4/5
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Wealthfront pairs a low-cost investment management solution with an excellent high-yield checking account, the Cash Account.

The Wealthfront Cash Account has a virtually nonexistent minimum opening deposit, high yields on all balances, no account fees, and a great lineup of value-added features, including Self-Driving Money™.

Self-Driving Money™ is a powerful money management automation tool that effortlessly allocates deposits among near-term expenses, variable-term savings goals, and longer-term investment objectives, all while making sure your emergency fund is topped up and you’ve got enough left over to enjoy life.

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Bonuses and Rewards
Wealthfront boosts your Cash Account APY by 0.50% for three months for each successful referral. “Successful referral” means a new customer who opens a Cash Account as their first Wealthfront account.
Other Accounts
Wealthfront Cash links to Wealthfront’s automated investment platform, which charges 0.25% of assets under management above the first $10,000. You can transfer funds instantly between the two accounts.
ATM Access
Fee-free withdrawals at 40,000+ Allpoint ATMs.
Early Direct Deposit
Yes, get paid up to two days early with qualifying direct deposit.
Deposit Insurance
Yes, up to $5 million.
Mobile Experience
Good.

Aspiration Spend & Save

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Our Rating
4.3/5

Get up to 3.00% APY on the first $10,000 in your account and earn up to 10% back on purchases with select Aspiration partners.
Account APY
Up to 3.00% APY on the first $10,000
Minimum Balance
$10
Monthly Fee
$0 for a standard account, $7.99 for Aspiration Plus
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Our Rating
4.3/5
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Aspiration Spend & Save is two accounts in one:

  • Aspiration Debit, a rewards checking account that pays up to 10% back on eligible purchases with Conscience Coalition partners, companies that have committed to helping the planet (and caring more about their bottom line in the process).
  • Aspiration Save, a high-yield savings account that links seamlessly to Aspiration Debit and earns up to 3.00% APY on the first $10,000 in the account.

You need to pay $7.99 per month for an Aspiration Plus membership to earn 10% back and 3.00% APY. Otherwise, cash back maxes out at 5% and your yield is 1.00% APY on the first $10,000.

The Aspiration Save Account’s up to 3.00% Annual Percentage Yield (“APY”) is variable, subject to change, and only available to customers enrolled in Aspiration Plus after conditions are met. Customers not enrolled in Aspiration Plus receive 1.00% APY after conditions are met. The Aspiration Spend & Save Accounts are cash management accounts offered through Aspiration Financial, LLC, a registered broker-dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC, and a subsidiary of Aspiration Partners, Inc. (“Aspiration”). Aspiration is not a bank.

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Bonuses and Rewards
Aspiration doesn’t offer a new account bonus or referral bonus, but Aspiration Plus allows you to pay for the opportunity to earn bonus cash back. Spend enough with Conscience Coalition partners and you’ll earn back the monthly fee.
Other Accounts
Aspiration is two accounts in one, but that’s the extent of it.
ATM Access
Fee-free withdrawals at 55,000+ ATMs nationwide.
Early Direct Deposit
Yes, up to two days early with a qualifying payer.
Deposit Insurance
Yes, up to $2 million.
Conscience Coalition Partners
Aspiration has dozens of Conscience Coalition partners, mostly consumer brands. Better-known partners include Warby Parker, Lola, Allbirds, Blue Apron, Toms, and Imperfect Foods.
Mobile Experience
Excellent.

Go2Bank

Our Rating
4.3/5

Earn up to 7% cash back when you buy eGift cards in the app. Plus, earn 4.50% APY paid quarterly on savings balances up to $5,000.
Account APY
4.50% APY
Minimum Balance
$0
Monthly Fee
$5, waived with direct deposit
Our Rating
4.3/5
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GO2Bank combines a rewards checking account and a high-yield savings account into one package. The savings side has an impressive yield on the first $5,000 (4.50% APY), while the checking side pays up to 7% cash back on eligible electronic gift card purchases (GO2Bank calls them “eGift cards”) made in the app.

GO2Bank does have a monthly maintenance fee, but it’s waived with any qualifying direct deposit. Another highlight: the option to deposit cash at more than 90,000 retail locations nationwide.

Active GO2Bank account required to receive an eGift Card. eGift Card merchants subject to change

GO2Bank, Member FDIC. Interest paid quarterly on the average daily balance of savings during the quarter up to a $5,000 balance and if the account is in good standing. 4.50% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) as of April 2023. APY may change before or after you open an account. The average national savings account interest rate of 0.05% is determined by the FDIC as of 12/14/20. Visit https://www.fdic.gov/regulations/resources/rates/ to learn more. Fees on your primary deposit account may reduce earnings on your savings account.

Direct deposit early availability depends on timing of payor’s payment instructions and fraud prevention restrictions may apply. As such, the availability or timing of early direct deposit may vary from pay period to pay period. The name and Social Security number on file with your employer or benefits provider must match your GO2Bank account exactly or we will decline your deposit.

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Bonuses and Rewards
GO2Bank has no promotions for new accountholders, but you’ll always earn up to 7% back on eGift card purchases. Amazon gift card purchases always earn 3% cash back.
Other Accounts
GO2Bank is a checking and savings account in one. It also offers a secured credit card for building credit, but it has no other deposit account options.
ATM Access
Yes, tens of thousands of fee-free ATMs worldwide.
Early Direct Deposit
Yes, up to two days early with a qualifying payer. If your payer is a government benefits provider, you may get your deposit up to four days early.
Deposit Insurance
Yes, up to $250,000.
Mobile Experience
Excellent.

Signature Federal Credit Union High-Yield Checking

Our Rating
4.4/5

Earn up 4.00% APY on balances up to $20,000 with qualifying activities, plus access more than 30,000 free ATMs and 5,000 shared credit union branches nationwide.
Account APY
Up 4.00% APY
Minimum Balance
$0
Monthly Fee
$0
Our Rating
4.4/5
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Signature Federal Credit Union might not be as well-known as banking giants like Citi and Chase, but its high-yield checking account is definitely worth going out on a limb for.

Meet the qualifying activity requirements each month and you can earn 4.00% APY on balances up to $20,000. That’s many times higher than the national checking account average.

To qualify for the advertised yield in any given statement cycle, do all of the following:

  • Receive a direct deposits totaling $1,000 or more.
  • Enroll in electronic statements.
  • Use your debit card to make at least 15 eligible purchases online or in person.
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Bonuses and Rewards
Signature FCU High-Yield Checking has no account bonuses or rewards program. It does offer free checks for members, an increasingly uncommon banking perk.
Other Accounts
Signature FCU has more than a dozen additional deposit accounts, including Legacy Checking (for people 55 and older), Standard Checking (no balance or transaction requirements), and multiple CDs with competitive yields.
ATM Access
Yes, fee-free access to more than 30,000 ATMs nationwide.
Early Direct Deposit
Signature FCU doesn’t yet offer early direct deposit.
Deposit Insurance
Yes, up to $250,000.
Mobile Experience
Fair.

Quontic High Interest Checking

Our Rating
4.1/5

Earn 1.10% APY on eligible balances when you make at least 10 qualifying transactions in a statement period. Plus, enjoy fee-free access to more than 90,000 ATMs across multiple networks in the United States.
Account APY
1.10% APY
Minimum Balance
$100
Monthly Fee
$0
Our Rating
4.1/5
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Quontic High Interest Checking is a free checking account with an attractive yield for anyone able to clear the relatively low qualifying activity bar: making 10 or more qualifying debit card point-of-sale transactions valued at $10 or more within the statement cycle. Do this and you’ll earn 1.10% APY on all balances.

Note that Quontic used to limit interest payments to the first $150,000 in the account. This restriction has been void for a while, but there’s always the chance it could come back.

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Bonuses and Rewards
Quontic High Interest Checking doesn’t offer any bonuses or rewards programs at the moment.
Other Accounts
Quontic Bank has several other high-yield accounts, including a high-yield savings account, money market account, and multiple CDs. It also has a rewards checking account that offers cash back on debit card purchases.
ATM Access
Yes, fee-free access to more than 90,000 ATMs nationwide.
Early Direct Deposit
Quontic Bank doesn’t offer early direct deposit at the moment.
Deposit Insurance
Yes, up to $250,000.
Mobile Experience
Excellent.

Nationwide Advantage Checking

Our Rating
4.0/5

Earn up to 0.90% APY with qualifying activities — $1,000 or more in total direct deposits and at least 10 transactions per month.
Account APY
Up to 0.90% APY
Minimum Balance
$50
Monthly Fee
$0
Our Rating
4.0/5
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Nationwide Advantage Checking has much in common with other interest checking accounts, albeit with a slightly less generous upper yield tier than some.

In any given month, complete qualifying direct deposits (at least $1,000 total) and transaction requirements (at least 10 of $3 or more) to earn 0.90% APY (variable with prevailing rates). Do one or the other to earn half the advertised yield — and enjoy no monthly maintenance fees and expansive ATM network access even if you can’t do either.

One catch: The debit card transactions must occur in-person to qualify. So early in the month, focus on those types of transactions rather than online purchases until you clear 10.

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Bonuses and Rewards
Nationwide Advantage Checking has no bonus opportunities or rewards program at the moment.
Other Accounts
Nationwide Bank has several other deposit accounts, including a high-yield savings account and multiple CDs, all with competitive yields.
ATM Access
Yes, more than 80,000 fee-free ATMs across the United States.
Early Direct Deposit
Nationwide Bank doesn’t offer early direct deposit at the moment.
Deposit Insurance
Yes, up to $250,000.
Mobile Experience
Fair.

Methodology: How We Select the Best High-Yield Checking Accounts

We evaluated dozens of checking accounts to build this list. We considered several key variables along the way. The accounts that made the final cut scored well on most or all of them.

Account Yield (Interest Rate)

Remember, these are high-yield checking accounts we’re talking about. Yield is a key selling point for the banks marketing them, which is why it’s the most important factor in our analysis.

Monthly Fee & Waiver Options

The best high-yield checking accounts are either truly free, meaning they don’t charge monthly fees under any circumstances. Unfortunately, truly free checking accounts aren’t as common as they used to be, so we make exceptions for accounts that make it easy to get monthly fees waived with a qualifying direct deposit or clearing a reasonable minimum balance.

Bonuses and Rewards

The best high-yield checking accounts tend to offer sign-up bonuses for new account holders, rewards programs that pay you back for eligible purchases, or both. It’s not a deal-breaker when high-yield checking accounts lack these features, but all else being equal, we prefer that they do.

Balance Requirements & Limits

We believe you shouldn’t have to save up a fortune to benefit from a high-yield checking account. Most of the accounts on this list have no minimum balance or very low minimum balances. A few do have maximum balances to earn interest, but those are high enough not to impact most users. 

ATM Access

Cash is less and less common these days, but ATM access is still important for many checking account users. And we believe you shouldn’t have to pay a fee to get your money. This is why, all else being equal, we prefer high-yield checking accounts with big fee-free ATM networks.

Geographic Availability

Some high-yield checking accounts have geographic restrictions, either because you have to open them in a branch or the banks offering them simply don’t operate in certain states. We exclude accounts with strict geographic restrictions and prefer 50-state coverage when possible.


High-Yield Checking FAQs

Choosing a checking account isn’t as simple as it sounds. You’ll almost certainly have some questions as you get into it, so we’ve preemptively answered some of the most important.

How Much Interest Do High-Yield Checking Accounts Pay?

It depends on the bank’s policy and prevailing interest rates. However, a good rule of thumb is that the best high-yield checking accounts pay interest on par with the top high-yield savings accounts.

Are There Any Requirements to Earn Interest?

Some high-yield checking accounts attach no strings at all to interest payments, but many do. The most common requirements include:

  • Setting up and maintaining a qualifying direct deposit
  • Meeting a monthly transaction minimum
  • Meeting a monthly or daily minimum balance

What’s the Maximum Balance to Earn Interest?

Many high-yield checking accounts pay interest on all balances, which is ideal if you keep a big financial buffer in your checking account. Others cap interest payments though. Usually, the cap is relatively high — $5,000 or more.

How Much Do High-Yield Checking Accounts Cost?

Ideally, nothing. And the best high-yield checking accounts are indeed free checking accounts. For accounts that do charge a monthly maintenance fee, we prefer easy waiver options, such as any direct deposit or a low minimum balance ($500 or below).

Are High-Yield Checking Accounts Actually Savings Accounts?

Sometimes. The line between checking and savings is blurrier these days because many banks and financial technology apps package checking and savings products into the same digital interface. Several of the accounts on this list are package deals.


Final Word

Like mortgage rates and CD yields, checking account yields rise and fall as benchmark interest rates change.

During periods of economic uncertainty, when benchmark rates tend to be more volatile, these changes can occur with disorienting frequency. The yield you expect on that shiny new online checking account might not be the yield you actually receive.

The silver lining is that competition for new checking account customers remains fierce, especially among online banks and smaller brick-and-mortar institutions without household name status.

That means checking account yields will continue to entice new account holders, wherever interest rates go and irrespective of what happens on the savings account front.

Brian Martucci writes about credit cards, banking, insurance, travel, and more. When he's not investigating time- and money-saving strategies for Money Crashers readers, you can find him exploring his favorite trails or sampling a new cuisine. Reach him on Twitter @Brian_Martucci.