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Last year, Americans paid almost $5 billion in overdraft fees ($2 billion to Chase and Wells Fargo alone). That's billions of dollars we could've kept in our pockets.
Thankfully, there are banks out there that charge zero overdraft fees. These are real-deal banks and accounts I'd recommend to family and friends. Including several I've personally tested myself!
Most overdrafts are done by accident. You're already short on cash -- and then boom, your bank charges you $35 for the "privilege" of being broke.
A no-overdraft-fee bank account gives you way more peace of mind. If you slip up and withdraw too much, you won't get hit with a nasty fee.
Better yet, many of these banks I'll highlight below have better mobile apps, automatic savings tools, and higher APYs on deposits. Win-win!
SoFi Checking and Savings
On SoFi's Secure Website.
On SoFi's Secure Website.
With no fees or minimums and tools designed to maximize your savings, the combo account is a good fit for individuals who want to do most of their banking in one place online. The account offers flexibility to access or move funds, especially if your employer's payroll system allows you to access the bank's early direct deposit benefit.
Why it rocks:
I live about 20 minutes from the SoFi® stadium in Los Angeles -- it's a really cool fintech bank that has no overdraft fees. The SoFi Checking and Savings (Member FDIC) account is like a hybrid that is built for everyday banking and growing your savings.
Earning the welcome bonus is pretty easy too! I earned it a few years back by setting up direct deposits from my work paycheck. Easiest $300 I've ever made.
Discover® Cashback Debit
On Discover Bank's Secure Website.
On Discover Bank's Secure Website.
The Discover Cashback Debit account could be a lucrative option for those who frequently use their debit card. With cash back on eligible purchases, it's possible to earn even more than you could with a typical checking account APY without changing your habits at all. The fact that Discover has done away with many common checking account fees only adds to its appeal.
Why it rocks:
Discover® Bank doesn't just skip overdraft fees -- it also gives you something most debit cards don't: cash back! You'll earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month. So instead of charging you fees like most banks, it pays YOU! You can earn up to $30 a month just for using your card like normal. Woot woot!
Oh yeah, another cool thing -- this account comes with access to more than 60,000 fee-free ATMs. Great for those of you still using cash a lot.
Capital One 360 Checking
Capital One boasts a top-rated mobile app and has over 70,000 fee-free Capital One, MoneyPass, and Allpoint ATM locations. For those looking for face-to-face interaction, Capital One has over 450 locations and 50 Capital One Cafes, where customers can bank, get a cup of coffee, and ask for advice from a certified money coach. However the APY is lower than other online banks.
Why it rocks:
The Capital One 360 Checking account offers multiple ways to avoid overdraft fees. First, you can set up auto-decline. I strongly recommend this because it teaches you mindful spending habits. Another way to avoid overdraft fees is to set up automatic transfers from savings. Basically instead of having a negative checking balance, Capital One will automatically move funds from your savings to cover the gap. If you don't choose either of these options, Capital One still won't charge fees if you overdraft, but only approved transactions.
Psst! Capital One is also a great bank to build credit with. It also offers awesome credit cards for beginners, so you can manage all your accounts with one bank.
Ally Spending Account
The Ally Spending Account is an appealing option for those who are comfortable managing their money online. Its monthly ATM fee reimbursements give you the freedom to access your cash wherever you need to. That, plus its APY, means you should only make money with this account.
Why it rocks:
Way back in 2021, Ally eliminated overdraft fees from all its accounts. And it has promised to never bring them back. It also offers automatic savings transfers, as well as CoverDraft. Basic CoverDraft kicks in at up to $100. But if you set up and receive qualifying direct deposits of $250 or more for two straight months, your coverage can increase to $250. To keep that higher limit, just make sure you get at least one direct deposit every 45 days.
Chime® Checking Account
Chime Checking makes it easy to get paid early. It's a great option for folks worried about getting hit with surprise fees -- Chime has none of those. It's a great checking account for beginners wanting simplicity.
Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by The Bancorp Bank or Stride Bank, N.A.; Members FDIC.
*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.
¹ Eligibility requirements apply. Not all users will qualify. MyPay credit limits range from $20-$500. $2 fee applies to get funds instantly. MyPay™ line of credit provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A. MyPay services provided by Chime Capital, LLC (NMLS ID 2316451).
² 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.
Why it rocks:
Chime® built its entire brand on being fee-free. And it's awesome at it. It doesn't charge monthly fees, minimum balance fees, or foreign transaction fees. As for overdrafts, Chime® has a SpotMe® feature where you can overdraft by up to $200 on both debit card purchases and ATM withdrawals with no fees. To qualify for the SpotMe® program, you'll need to make monthly deposits of $200 or more, and activate your Chime® Visa debit card.
Axos Bank Rewards Checking
A solid checking account with an APY that far outpaces the competition. The fact that it also has no maintenance fees and no overdraft or NSF fees are the cherries on top.
Rewards Checking disclosure:
To be eligible to earn all or a portion of the cash incentive as part of the promotional offer "RC500," an application for a Rewards Checking account must be submitted between 06/20/2024 at 12:00 am PT and 07/31/24 at 11:59 pm PT.
Axos Bank reserves the right to limit each primary account holder to one (1) checking account promotional offer per year. Promotional terms and conditions are subject to change or removal without notice. Incentive may be taxable and reported on IRS Form 1099-MISC. Consult your tax advisor. After initial requirements above are met, the amount of incentive earned will depend on meeting the additional requirements outlined below:
Rewards Checking bonus up to $500: You must be approved for your new Rewards Checking account and fund it within 60 days of account opening. An incentive of up to $500 can be earned during the first six (6) statement cycles, starting in the statement cycle thirty (30) days after the account is opened. A statement cycle is a calendar month consisting of at least one day your account was open during that month. You can earn a maximum of five (5) payouts during the six (6) statement cycles, and the incentive will be deposited into the qualifying account within 15 business days following the end of the statement cycle in which the requirements were met.
$100 will be earned for each statement cycle, up to $500, when you meet two requirements during that statement cycle: 1) your Rewards Checking account receives qualifying direct deposits at least $1,500.00 in total, and 2) the average daily balance in your Rewards Checking account is at least $3,000.
Your Rewards Checking account must remain open and in good standing at the time the incentive is paid to be eligible.
A direct deposit is an electronic deposit of your paycheck or government benefits, such as Social Security, Disability etc. Other deposits (i.e., online banking transfers, ATM and mobile check deposits, etc.) or person-to-person payments are not considered a direct deposit. Account transactions may take one or more business days from the transaction date to post to the account.
Why it rocks:
Axos Bank Rewards Checking is one of the rare checking accounts that actually pays you interest! That's pretty sweet for a checking account. There are no monthly fees, no overdraft fees, and you can even get unlimited ATM fee reimbursements (in the U.S.). Plus, Axos sometimes throws in a cash bonus offer for new customers, so it's definitely worth jumping on a promo when you see it!
Quontic High Interest Checking
On Quontic's Secure Website.
On Quontic's Secure Website.
Quontic High Interest Checking earns one of the highest APYs among checking accounts. Unfortunately, you must make 10 qualifying debit card purchases of $10 or more each statement cycle to earn the highest interest tier. Still, the account is a good option to maximize savings beyond other deposit accounts. Plus, it has no monthly fees and access to fee-free ATMs.
10 debit card point of sale transactions of $10 or more per statement cycle required to earn the maximum APY. If the qualifying activity requirement is not fulfilled, the interest rate paid on the entire balance will be 0.01% APY.
Why it rocks:
The Quontic High Interest Checking account rewards you with a great APY when you make enough debit card purchases each month. It's available in all 50 states, has no overdraft fees, no NSF fees, and no monthly maintenance fees. Even better, you'll get access to 90,000 ATMs for free too.
A ton of banks claim to charge "no overdraft fees." But then when you look at the fine print you'll sometimes see a list of a bunch of hoops to jump through to qualify. I dug pretty deep to find these top bank accounts above that are doing their best to not nickel-and-dime their customers.
Here's what I looked for when picking the above bank accounts:
I personally test accounts when I can, and love to read online reviews from forums and rating sites. If it wouldn't make my personal short list, it wouldn't make this one either.
Switching banks will certainly help you stop getting dinged for overdraft fees.
But, I feel compelled to tell you that if you're constantly overdrafting, you should probably work on fixing the underlying problem. Here are a few tips:
It's an annoying fee that your bank charges when you spend more money than you have in your account. It can be upwards of $30 or even $40 per transaction at traditional banks.
Yes, and this is a feature I recommend setting up. It teaches you never to spend more money than you have. Just make sure that you have a back-up payment method handy (like a credit card) so you're not stuck in an emergency situation!
Absolutely. Every bank account listed here is FDIC insured. This means your money is protected up to $250,000, even if the bank itself goes out of business.
It depends on the bank. Some automatically include it as a free feature if you qualify (like Chime's SpotMe®), while others (like Capital One) give you options to turn it on or off based on your preferences.
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Motley Fool Money is 100% owned and operated by The Motley Fool. Our knowledgeable team of personal finance editors and analysts are employed by The Motley Fool and held to the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page. APYs are subject to change at any time without notice.