Best Free Checking Accounts With No Deposit Of 2025

The Digital Federal Credit Union Free Checking account earns the top spot on our list of free checking accounts with no deposit, scoring a top rating of five stars. It’s a worthwhile choice for an everyday checking account, and even earns 0.20% annual percentage yield (APY) on balances up to $1,000.

Plus, the account offers up to $300 per year in ATM fee reimbursements when you receive direct deposits of at least $500 and make five qualifying transactions per month.

The account also has an early direct deposit option, allowing you to receive your paycheck up to two days early.

If you don’t qualify for DCU membership through the company you work for, the community you reside in or a family relationship, you can receive eligibility by joining one of DCU’s partner organizations. Fees range from $10 to $120, depending on the organization.

• Stop payment fee: $25
• Replacement card: $10
• Outgoing wire transfer fee (domestic): $15
• Outgoing wire transfer fee (international): $40 (sent in foreign currency) or $50 (sent in U.S. currency)

The State Department Federal Credit Union Basic Checking account ranked high on our list of best free checking accounts with no deposit requirement. In addition to having no monthly maintenance fee or deposit requirement, the account provides overdraft protection and offers an early direct deposit option. Account holders also have access to almost 30,000 fee-free ATMs.

Membership:

Employees and on-site contractors of the Department of State and their families are eligible for membership, as are members of one of SDFCU’s partner organizations. American Consumer Council members may be eligible to join SDFCU.

Fees:

• Wire transfer (domestic): $25
• Wire transfer (international): $35
• Debit card replacement fee: up to $20
• Stop payment: $10

SoFi offers a bundled checking and savings account with no monthly fee or minimum deposit requirement ³. Checking balances earn 0.50% APY ¹. Account holders who set up direct deposit have the option to receive their paychecks up to two days early ⁴, and if they receive at least $1,000 every 30 days, they will qualify for up to $50 in overdraft coverage ⁵.

The account also offers Savings Roundups, which automatically rounds up checking purchases to the nearest dollar and adds that money to your savings account.

SoFi is currently offering a $50 bonus when you receive $1,000 to $4,999.99 in eligible direct deposits or up to $300 bonus² when you receive at least $5,000 in eligible direct deposits during the bonus period.

Fees:

• Outbound wire transfer: $30
• Cash deposit: up to $4.95 (charged by retailers)

*Earn up to 4.50% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.80% APY as of 8/5/25) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking & Savings account with Eligible Direct Deposit by 1/31/26. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at sofi.com/banking#2. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.

¹SoFi members who enroll in SoFi Plus with Eligible Direct Deposit or by paying the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee every 30 days or SoFi members with $5,000 or more in Qualifying Deposits during the 30-Day Evaluation Period can earn 3.80% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. Members without either SoFi Plus or Qualifying Deposits, during the 30-Day Evaluation Period will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 1/24/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. If you have satisfied Eligible Direct Deposit requirements for our highest APY but do not see 3.80% APY on your APY Details page the day after your Eligible Direct Deposit arrives, please contact us at 855-456-7634. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet. See the SoFi Plus Terms and Conditions at https://www.sofi.com/terms-of-use/#plus. 

²SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per depositor per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations. Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $3M through participation in the program. See full terms at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms. See list of participating banks at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks.

³SoFi does not charge any account, service or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. SoFi does charge a transaction fee to process each outgoing wire transfer. SoFi does not charge a fee for incoming wire transfers, however the sending bank may charge a fee. Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Checking & Savings Fee Sheet for details at sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/.

⁴Early access to direct deposit funds is based on the timing in which we receive notice of impending payment from the Federal Reserve, which is typically up to two days before the scheduled payment date, but may vary.

⁵Overdraft Coverage is limited to $50 on debit card purchases only and is an account benefit available to customers with Eligible Direct Deposits of $1,000 or more during the current 30-day Evaluation Period as determined by SoFi Bank, N.A. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Members with a prior history of non-repayment of negative balances are ineligible for Overdraft Coverage.

⁶We’ve partnered with Allpoint to provide you with ATM access at any of the 55,000+ ATMs within the Allpoint network. You will not be charged a fee when using an in-network ATM, however, third-party fees incurred when using out-of-network ATMs are not subject to reimbursement. SoFi’s ATM policies are subject to change at our discretion at any time.

The Free Checking account from PenFed Credit Union is a suitable choice for individuals looking to open a checking account without a monthly fee or minimum deposit requirement. With this account, you’ll have access to over 85,000 free ATMs.

You can also set up overdraft protection and choose to receive your direct deposit up to two days early.

Membership:

Anyone can join PenFed Credit Union by opening a Regular Share account or a Premium Online Savings account and depositing a minimum of $25.

Fees:

• Domestic wire transfer: $25
• International wire transfer: $30
• Check stop payment: $20
• Non-sufficient funds: $30

Navy Federal Credit Union, the largest credit union in the nation, offers a checking account with no minimum deposit or monthly fees. With the Free Everyday Checking account, account owners have access to a personalized dashboard that allows them to track spending, build a budget, manage subscriptions, monitor their credit and view all accounts and investments in one place—even those from other banks.

Membership:
Active-duty and retired members of the military, as well as Department of Defense employees, are eligible for membership at Navy Federal. Immediate family members are also eligible.

Fees:

• Non-Navy Federal or Co-op Network ATMs: $1
• Dormant checking account: $3
• Stop payment: $20
• Optional Overdraft Protection Service (OOPS): $20
• Outgoing wire transfer fee (domestic/international): $20/$25

University Federal Credit Union Free Checking account is a solid everyday banking account with no monthly fee or minimum deposit requirement. The account offers an early direct deposit option and also allows users to avoid negative balances through overdraft protection from a linked bank account, a line of credit or courtesy pay.

Membership:

You can join UFCU through the American Consumer Council for free.

Fees:

• Out-of-network ATMs: $1
• Replacement card: $5
• Outgoing domestic wire transfer: $20
• Debit Card/ATM courtesy pay item: $35

In addition to having no monthly fee or minimum deposit requirement, the BECU Member Advantage Checking account earns 3.30% on first $500, then 0.10% on balances over that amount. With this account, you’ll have access to 30,000 surcharge-free ATMs and will receive $3 in out-of-network ATM fee reimbursements every month.

Membership:
If you’re not eligible for BECU membership based on where you live, work, worship or go to school, you can qualify for membership by joining one of BECU’s partner organizations.

Fees:

• Non-sufficient funds: $10
• Stop payment: $25
• Outgoing wire transfer (domestic/international): $25/$35

One of the main features of Varo Bank’s online checking account is that it offers up to 6% cash back at select merchants nationwide (a maximum of $200 per month) at over 10,000 merchants nationwide. Account holders can withdraw up to $1,000 per day at 40,000+ fee-free ATMs within the AllPoint network and make free cash deposits at CVS locations through the Green Dot Network.

Account holders can track their cash flow in the Varo app and see it broken down into different categories. Automatic savings tools are also available.

Fees:

• Out-of-network ATMs: $3.50
• Cash deposits at non-CVS retailers: $4.95

If you’re looking for a no-fee checking account that doesn’t require a minimum deposit to open—and pays a solid interest rate on all balances—the NBKC Bank Everything Account could be a worthwhile option. The account earns a generous 1.75% APY, a much higher rate than the national average of 0.07% for interest-bearing checking accounts. The NBKC Bank Everything Account also reimburses up to $12 a month in out-of-network ATM fees.

• Outgoing wire transfer fee (domestic/international): $5/$45
• Incoming wire transfer fee (domestic/international): $0/$45

The Dave Checking earns an extremely competitive rate of 4.00% APY, an even higher rate than what’s offered on many of the best high-yield savings accounts. It also offers automatic savings roundups, early direct deposit and access to 40,000+ fee-free ATMs.

• Inactivity fee: $5/month
• Out-of-Network ATM: $2.50
• External debit card withdrawals: $1.50
• Foreign ATM transaction fee: $3, plus 3%
• ACH transfer limit: 5 per month
• ATM withdrawal limit: $500 per day