Some of you may be focused on using a free checking account. Something that helps you avoid many of the unnecessary fees that banks charge. However, the rest of you might care more about earning interest. If this sounds like you, you’ll be interested in high-yield checking accounts.

Keep reading as we explore some of the best checking accounts offering high yields and what you should look out for when choosing the best bank for you.

Best High-Interest Checking Accounts

Below are some of our favorite checking accounts with high annual percentage yields (APYs). While some are available at local banks or credit unions, the others are available nationwide.

Axos Bank Rewards Checking Account

Axos Bank is our favorite bank offering a high-yield checking account. The Axos Bank Rewards Checking account offers 3.30% on balances up to $50,000. While some other banks on this list offer a higher annual percentage yield (APY), Axos Bank provides other benefits that make this account attractive.

The Axos Bank Rewards Checking Account also comes with no fees. That means no monthly maintenance fees and no overdraft fees. Plus, you’ll also get reimbursed for all ATM fees.

How to Earn Interest

To earn the complete 3.30% APY on balances up to $50,000, there are a few requirements you’ll need to meet.

• Earn 0.40% APY when you receive monthly direct deposits totaling $1,500 or more.
• Earn 0.30% APY when you use your Axos Visa® Debit Card ten or more transactions per month (min $3 per transaction) or sign up for Personal Finance Manager (PFM).
• Earn 0.99% when you keep an average daily balance of $2,500 per month in an Axos Invest Managed Portfolios Account.
• Earn 0.99% when you keep an average daily balance of $2,500 per month in an Axos Invest Self Directed Trading Account.
• Earn 0.60% when you pay your entire monthly Axos Bank consumer loan with your Rewards checking account. This includes personal loans, mortgages and auto loans.

It’s also important to note that any balances over $50,000 will not earn interest.

BCU PowerPlus Checking

If you’re looking for the highest interest rate available on a nationwide checking account, look no further than a BCU PowerPlus checking account. With this account, you’ll have the opportunity to earn up to 8.00% APY on balances for the first three months, and then the interest rate will drop to 4.00%, which is still better than most banks.

There are a few requirements you’ll need to meet to earn the full 8.00%. More on that soon, though.

With a BCU PowerPlus checking account, there are no monthly fees or minimum balance to open an account.

Having access to your cash is important. BCU has partnered with several ATM networks to give you access to over 90,000 ATMs nationwide. Plus, if you use an ATM that’s not in-network, you could have all ATM fees (up to $20) reimbursed each month.

How to Earn Interest

Even though the BCU checking is one of the highest interest checking accounts, there are some things to be aware of. Interest is divided into multiple tiers.

Level One: To reach level one, you must set up monthly direct deposits totaling at least $1,000. You’ll also need to enroll in eStatements and complete at least 15 transactions (credit or debit card). Level one status means you’ll earn 2.00% APY on accounts up to $15,000 and 0.01% on anything over that amount. You’ll also receive up to $10 in out-of-network ATM fee reimbursement.

Level Two: To reach level two, you must set up monthly direct deposits of at least $3,000 and complete at least 30 transactions. You’ll also need to maintain eStatements. Once you reach level two, you’ll earn 4.00% APY on the first $15,000 and 0.01% APY on accounts greater than $15,000. You’ll also receive up to $20 in out-of-network ATM fee reimbursement.

Any new checking account opened before December 31, 2025, will earn the BCU PowerPlus promotional APY. That means you’ll earn double the regular interest rate for the first three months. If you’re level one, you’ll earn 4.00% on the first $15,000; if you’re level two, you’ll earn 8.00% APY.

NBKC Everything Account

The NBKC Everything account offers a 1.75% annual percentage yield (APY) on your entire account balance. While this isn’t the highest checking account interest rate, it pairs nicely with some of the other features of the account.

There are no monthly fees, no overdraft fees and no minimum balance requirement to earn interest. Plus, you can receive early direct deposit of your paychecks.

With the NBKC checking account, you’ll also have access to more than 90,000 partner ATMs nationwide. If you use an out-of-network ATM that charges a fee, you can be reimbursed up to $12 each month for the cost.

SoFi® Checking and Savings

SoFi® Checking and Savings is a combination account that includes an interest-bearing checking account and a savings account. With the checking account, you can earn 0.50% APY, and up to 3.80% APY on the savings account. I consider SoFi one of the best reward checking accounts because it’s an interest-earning checking account and offers a welcome bonus when you sign up.

Let’s start by looking at how to earn the bonus, and then we will discuss what it takes to earn interest.

When you sign up for a SoFi Checking and Savings account, you can earn up to a $300 cash bonus when you complete the following requirements.

1. Sign up for a new SoFi Checking and Savings Account
2. Set up qualifying direct deposits of $1,000 to $4,999.99 to earn a $50 bonus. Or you can set up qualifying direct deposits of $5,000 or more and earn $300.
3. To qualify for the new account bonus, the account must be opened and have direct deposits set up by January 31, 2026.

This account is also great for helping to avoid fees. There are no monthly fees, overdraft fees, or minimum balance requirements. Plus, you’ll receive up to $2 million in FDIC insurance through SoFi’s partner banks.

How to Earn Interest

You’ll need to set up direct deposits of at least $5,000 each month to earn the entire interest rate. When you do, you’ll earn up to 3.80% on your savings account (including Vaults) and 0.50% on your checking account.

If your direct deposits are less than $5,000, you’ll earn 1.00% APY on your savings and 0.50% on your checking account.

Consumers Credit Union Free Rewards Checking Account

So far, all the accounts have been through banks. However, there are also credit unions offering a high-yield checking account. With the Consumers Credit Union Free Rewards checking account, you can earn up to 5.00% on account balances up to $10,000.

With an early direct deposit from a Consumers Credit Union checking account, you can receive your paycheck up to two days early. Plus, there are no monthly fees, and you’ll be reimbursed for all ATM fees.

Consumers Credit Union also offers online banking features, such as mobile check deposit, bill pay and fund transfers.

How to Earn Interest

To earn interest, you must complete the following requirements:

To earn 3.00% APY on balances up to $10,000

• Receive eDocuments.
• Make at least 12 debit card purchases each month.
• Have direct deposits, ACH credits or mobile check deposits totaling $500 or more each month.

To earn 4.00% APY on balances up to $10,000

• Everything to earn 3.00% APY, plus…
• Spend $500 or more in monthly CCU Visa Credit Card purchases.

To earn 5.00% APY on balances up to $10,000

• Everything to earn 3.00% APY, plus…
• Spend $1,000 or more in monthly CCU Visa Credit Card purchases.

Any checking account balance between $10,000 and $25,000 will earn 0.20% APY, and balances over $25,000 will earn 0.10% APY.

OnPath Credit Union Rewards High-Yield Checking Account

If you prefer banking at a credit union instead of a bank, another option would be OnPath Credit Union. Their Rewards High-Yield checking account offers a 7.00% APY on up to $10,000. Finding a 7% savings account is nearly impossible these days, but with OnPath, you can earn that with your checking account.

While this account is available online, you can also bank in person if you live in Louisiana. There are 12 branch locations throughout the state. To open an account, you’ll need to become a member, similar to any other credit union. You can do this by making a $5 donation to the OnPath Foundation.

The account has no fees or minimum balance requirements, and you can get up to $10 in out-of-network ATM fees refunded.

How to Earn Interest

You’ll earn 7.00% APY on balances up to $10,000 and 0.50% on balances over $10,000. You’ll need to meet the following requirements.

• Log in to mobile or online banking at least once per statement cycle.
• Enroll and receive e-statements.
• Have 15 or more debit card transactions post and settle during the statement cycle.

Bask Bank Interest Checking Account

Not only are Bask Bank CD rates some of the best in the industry, but they also have a great high-yield checking account. Because Bask Bank is an online bank, this account is available nationwide and offers 1.00% APY on all balances. Plus, when you sign up for a new account through June 30, 2025, you can earn a total of 4.00% APY on balances until August 29, 2025.

With a Bask Bank Interest checking account, no fees and minimum deposit are required to open an account. Plus, you’ll have access to more than 55,000 ATMs nationwide.

How to Earn Interest

There are no requirements to earn 1.00% APY from the Bask Bank checking account. Plus, this rate is available on all balances without restrictions.

Quontic High-Interest Checking Account

Another popular online bank with an attractive yield is the Quontic High-Interest checking account. With this account, you can earn 1.10% APY on all balances.

Quontic doesn’t charge monthly fees, overdraft fees, or foreign transaction fees. Plus, you can open an account with just $100.

A feature unique to Quontic Bank is its payment wearables. You no longer need to bring a debit card or mobile device with you. Instead, you can make transactions with the Quontic Pay Ring.

How to Earn Interest

You can earn 1.10% APY on all balances with a Quontic Checking Account. You just need to meet the following requirements.

• Make at least ten qualifying debit card purchases of at least $10 each month.

If you don’t meet this requirement in a month, you’ll earn 0.01% APY instead.

What is a High-Yield Checking Account?

A high-yield checking account is similar to a traditional checking account, except you’ll have the chance to earn a higher interest rate on your balance. Some accounts will require you to meet specific requirements before achieving the highest checking account interest rates. Others will also limit the balance that can earn the best rates.

How to Get The Most Out of a High-Yield Checking Account

If you’re considering opening a high-APY checking account, you should consider some things first.

Understand the Requirements

Understanding the requirements before opening a high-interest account is crucial. If you can’t meet them, you could miss your opportunity to earn an attractive APY.

Some banks and credit unions require you to make a certain number of debit card transactions throughout the month. If you’re unsure what a qualifying transaction would be, call the bank’s customer service line and ask.

Most requirements need to take place within a statement cycle, which means understanding when a month begins and ends is essential. Ensure transactions post before the statement closes if you want them to count toward earning the highest interest rate.

Set Monthly Reminders

If you need to make a certain number of monthly transactions, set a reminder on your phone a week before the cycle ends. This will remind you to check your transactions so far that month and still give you enough time to make any additional purchases, if needed.

Check For Account Maximums

Another important thing to pay close attention to is account maximums. Some of the highest-interest checking accounts set a maximum balance that can earn the maximum amount. For example, the BCO ProPower checking account limits the highest interest rate to balances under $15,000.

Understand if these account limits exist and decide if having a traditional checking account with a high-yield savings account makes more sense.

Pros and Cons of High-Yield Checking Accounts

Alternatives to High-Yield Checking Accounts

High Yield Savings Accounts

Depending on your situation, it might make sense to keep your funds in a high-yield savings account instead. If you have a high balance and your bank limits the balance earning the highest APY, you could pair your checking account with a savings account.

Money Market Accounts

Money market accounts are a mixture of savings and checking accounts. You can earn interest on your balance, but most will provide you with checks and a debit card to make daily transactions.

Certificate of Deposit (CD)

The best CDs have very attractive rates and won’t limit the amount eligible for the highest APY. However, CDs aren’t very liquid, and if you need to access your money, you could be stuck paying early withdrawal penalties.

The Bottom Line

High-yield checking accounts are a great way to earn money on your checking balance, which usually can’t be done with a standard checking account. However, it’s important to understand how the account operates and any requirements it has in order to earn the highest APY amount.