Do you want to know the best banks to open a checking account in the United States? Responsible Economy has conducted a thorough analysis of the checking accounts offered by the top 10 US banks. We present the top options along with their unique characteristics. Welcome!
Ranking of the best checking accounts in 2023
Let’s first present the ranking with the main features of each checking account, and then we’ll provide detailed information about each account:

- It is very easy to avoid monthly commissions
- Welcome bonus of 200 dollars fulfilling conditions
- More than 16,000 ATMs in the United States
- $25 minimum deposit
- Very low interest rates

- It is very easy to avoid monthly commissions
- More than 16,000 ATMs in the United States
- $100 minimum deposit
- No welcome bonus
- High interest rates if you have a lot of savings

- It is very easy to avoid monthly commissions
- Nearly 12,000 ATMs
- $25 minimum deposit
- Welcome bonus of 300 dollars fulfilling conditions
- High interest rates on CDs

- No fees and no requirements
- Nearly 60,000 ATMs
- Welcome bonus of 250 dollars fulfilling conditions
- High interest rates on CDs

- No fees no direct deposits
- Fee-free withdrawals from ATMs around the world
- Without minimum deposit
- No welcome bonus
- High interest rates on CDs

- No fees no direct deposits
- More than 60,000 commission-free ATMs
- Without minimum deposit
- No welcome bonus
- High interest rates on Savings

- No fees no direct deposits
- More than 50,000 commission-free ATMs
- Without minimum deposit
- No welcome bonus
- High interest rates on CDs and Savings

- Commissions of $10 if you do not meet requirements
- No fees at Citibank ATMs
- Without minimum deposit
- No welcome bonus
- High interest rates on CDs
Capital One
Capital One offers one of the best checking accounts you can open in the United States. It has no annual maintenance fees, and there are no specific requirements to fulfill for account opening. This account can be opened both online and at physical branches. The main features of this checking account include:
- No annual maintenance fees.
- High yields on its savings account.
- No specific requirements for account opening.
- Convenient online account opening process.
- Option to open the account at physical branches.
Here are the pros and cons of Capital One 360 Checking account:
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
No annual maintenance fees | |
High yields | |
No minimum requirements |
Chase Total Checking
Chase Total Checking is the most popular account offered by Chase. It has a $12 monthly fee unless you meet one of the following requirements:
- Receive electronic deposits totaling $500 or more.
- Maintain a minimum balance of $1,500 in the checking account.
- Have a total of $5,000 across all Chase accounts.
As you can see, it’s easy to avoid the fees. There is no minimum deposit required to open the account, and there’s a welcome bonus of $200 if you meet the specified conditions. You can withdraw money at Chase ATMs without fees, while non-Chase ATMs may incur a $3 fee.
Here are the pros and cons of Chase Total Checking:
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
It’s easy to avoid commissions | Very low interest rates |
$200 welcome bonus (conditions apply) | |
Wide network of ATMs and branches |
Bank of America
Bank of America is undoubtedly one of the best banks for opening a checking account. The most popular checking account is Advantage Plus Banking. It has a $12 monthly fee unless you meet one of the following conditions:
- Have at least one qualifying direct deposit of $250.
- Maintain a minimum daily balance of $1,500.
- Enroll in Preferred Rewards.
There is no minimum deposit required, but you need to deposit $100 to open the account. While there is no welcome bonus, you can enjoy high interest rates on CDs. Bank of America ATMs offer fee-free withdrawals, while non-Bank of America ATMs may charge a $2.50 fee.
Here is a table highlighting the pros and cons of Bank of America Advantage Plus Banking:
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
It’s easy to avoid commissions | No welcome bonus |
Access to high interest on CDs | You must deposit $100 to open the account |
High number of offices and branches |
Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo is among the best banks for opening a checking account. The most popular checking account is Everyday Checking. It has a $10 monthly fee unless you meet one of the following requirements:
- Maintain an average balance of $500 in the account.
- Have monthly direct deposits of $500 or more.
- Have a linked Wells Fargo Campus ATM or Campus Debit Card.
- Be the primary account owner and be between 17 and 24 years old.
There is no minimum deposit required to open the account, but a $25 deposit is required. Wells Fargo ATMs allow fee-free withdrawals, while non-Wells Fargo ATMs may charge a $2.50 fee per withdrawal. There’s a welcome bonus of $200 if you meet the specified conditions, and you can access high-interest CDs.
Here is a summary of the pros and cons of Wells Fargo Everyday Checking:
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
It’s easy to avoid commissions | You must deposit $25 to open the account |
Bonus of 200 dollars fulfilling conditions | |
High number of offices and branches |
Video with the best checking accounts in 2023
We have created a video showcasing the 11 best checking accounts in the United States in 2023. You can watch it here:
Key points to open a checking account
The most crucial factors to consider when opening a checking account are the monthly maintenance fees, interest rates offered, welcome bonuses, and additional features like ATM availability, branch network, and wire services.
Avoiding monthly maintenance fees in most primary checking accounts is relatively straightforward. We recommend verifying that you meet the specified conditions before opening an account.
While checking accounts generally offer low-interest rates, some banks provide access to Certificates of Deposit (CDs) with interest rates ranging from 3% to 4%. If you have savings, explore the CD options offered by each bank.
It’s important to note that banks often charge fees for withdrawals made at non-affiliated ATMs. If you anticipate making frequent withdrawals, ensure that you choose a bank with a wide ATM network or ample branch locations.
Frequent questions
Here we answer all the questions you may have:
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Updated the day 1 September, 2023 by Alfredo Barandiarán

Alfredo Barandiarán is not only passionate about finance and the economy, but also has more than 10 years of experience helping people find the best possible financial product. He has worked for 5 years at Iahorro and 2 years at Atrapacrédito. He has currently been running the financial comparator Responsible Economy for 3 years. I graduated in business from Complutense University of Madrid and has studied at ESIC and CEF. You can see all the professional experience of Alfredo Barandiarán on his LinkedIn profile