Banking Checking Accounts

Best Rewards Checking Accounts [2025]: 6 Outstanding Options

Rewards checking accounts earn cash back, interest, or both, so you can earn rewards on more of your banking. These accounts offer a little extra with your spending.

Updated Aug. 14, 2025
Fact check checkmark icon Fact checked

Traditional checking accounts are convenient. They offer a simple way to receive, store, and spend your money. But what if you could sweeten the pot and earn a little extra through your checking account? With rewards and cash back checking accounts, you can.

Rewards checking accounts earn cash back and/or interest through your checking account, much like you could with a credit card or savings account, respectively. They vary in their terms, features, and earning potential, but they all tend to be more rewarding than the average bank account. If you're considering upgrading to this type of account, and we think you should, make sure you look at cashback rates, fees, ATM access, and any interest rates offered before deciding.

How we evaluate products

Featured rewards checking accounts

5.0
info
Financebuzz awards badge

2025 award winner Best Checking and Savings Combo

SoFi Checking & Savings - Earn Up to $300 When You Set Up Direct Deposit
Limited-Time Offer: Earn up to a $300 bonus and up to 4.50% APY on Savings (3.80% APY1with +0.70% APY Boost) for 6 Months on new accounts with eligible direct deposit. Terms Apply.2 FDIC Insured.3
Learn More
4.8
info
Financebuzz awards badge

2025 award winner Best for Large Deposits

Wealthfront Cash Account - 4.00% APY4
High Yield Cash Management Account. $1 minimum deposit. FDIC Insured.
Open Account

Best rewards checking accounts compared

Checking account Best for Rewards rate
Upgrade Rewards Checking Plus

Upgrade Rewards Checking Plus
Recurring expenses
  • 2% cash back on convenience and drug stores, gas stations, monthly subscriptions and utilities (maximum $500 in 2% rewards per calendar year) with monthly $1,000 direct deposit5
  • Unlimited 1% cash back on all other eligible debit purchases
Discover Cashback Debit account* Debit card use
  • 1.00% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month6
SoFi Checking and Savings

SoFi Checking and Savings
Saving more Up to 3.80% APY7 on savings balances with qualified direct deposit 0.50% (as of 01/24/25) APY on checking balances8
Wealthfront Cash Account

Wealthfront Cash Account
Earning an APY
  • 4.00% annual percentage yield ( APY) on deposits4
LendingClub LevelUp Checking

LendingClub Rewards Checking
Earning interest and cash back
  • 1% cash back on qualifying debit card purchases
Quontic Bank

Quontic Cash Rewards Checking
Low opening deposits
  • 1% cash back on all eligible debit card purchases

*Details about Discover® Cashback Debit have been collected by FinanceBuzz editors. This information is accurate as of the date of the review and was not reviewed or approved by the issuer. FinanceBuzz does not receive commission for this product.

Upgrade Rewards Checking Plus

Great for recurring expenses

Financebuzz awards badge

2025 award winner Best for Rewards

4.9
info
Upgrade Rewards Checking Plus
Upgrade Rewards Checking Plus - Earn Unlimited Cashback on All Eligible Purchases
Earn up to 2% cash back on everyday needs up to $500 per year.5 No monthly fees9 or minimum balance. FDIC insured through Cross River Bank.

Product details

  • APY: N/A
  • Cash back: Up to 2% cash back on convenience and drug stores, gas stations, monthly subscriptions, and utilities (maximum $500 in 2% rewards per calendar year) with monthly $1,000 direct deposit; unlimited 1% cash back on all other eligible debit purchases

What sets the Upgrade Rewards Checking Plus account apart from the others on this list is the opportunity to earn up to 2% cash back on debit card purchases. However, that elevated rate comes with some caveats.

For one, you can only earn that rate at certain merchants, namely drug/convenience stores, gas stations, monthly subscriptions, and utilities. Then, you only get that rate until you earn $500 worth of 2% cashback rewards; you won't be able to get that rate again until the next calendar year. And what's more, you're required to make a direct deposit of at least $1,000 monthly to get that elevated earn rate.

All that being said, it is a nice little extra bump, and you don't always see utilities and other recurring expenses included in rewards earning. You'll earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other eligible debit purchases otherwise, so that puts this account largely in line with many others on this list. The 2% cash back gives it just a slight advantage for those who know they'll spend at least $25,000 in the account's bonus categories.

Pros
  • Higher cashback rate than most rewards checking accounts
  • Get early access to paychecks with direct deposit
  • Decent ATM network with fee-free withdrawals at 55,000+ locations
Cons
  • Required minimum monthly direct deposit to qualify for elevated cashback rate
  • 2% elevated cashback rate cuts off after $500 in spending each year
  • No interest earned on account balance

Visit Upgrade | Learn more in our Upgrade Rewards Checking Plus review

Discover Cashback Debit account

Great for frequent debit card users

Product details
  • APY: N/A
  • Cash back: Earn 1.00% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month

This rewards checking account from Discover is about as clear-cut as they come. Earn a set 1.00% cash back on your debit purchases every month, up to $3,000 in spending. If you can't get or don't want to use a cash back credit card, this account's cashback rate gets you close to what you'd earn with one.

The Discover Cashback Debit account may be a good fit if you know you'll use your debit card for $3,000 worth of spending every month, though not much more than that as you'll stop earning cash back once you reach that threshold. At that point, it might be wise to start spending on a different rewards-earning card.

Beyond a handful of corporate offices and customer care centers, Discover has just one physical branch location (in Delaware). So, if you value face-to-face interaction or like to make deposits with a teller, this isn't the account for you. However, you will have access to more than 60,000 ATMs that won't require you to pay a fee to withdraw cash. This option also made our list of bank accounts with no credit check required to open, in case you're working on your credit and looking to avoid this.

Pros
  • Consistent cashback rate on debit card purchases
  • FDIC insured
  • Fee-free access to 60,000+ ATMs
Cons
  • Cashback rewards limited to first $3,000 in debit card purchases monthly
  • No interest earned on your account balance
  • Almost no brick-and-mortar locations

Learn more in our Discover Cashback Debit review

SoFi Checking and Savings

Great for saving more

Financebuzz awards badge

2025 award winner Best Checking and Savings Combo

5.0
info
SoFi Checking and Savings
Earn Up to $300 When You Set Up Direct Deposit
Limited-Time Offer: Earn up to a $300 bonus and up to 4.50% APY on Savings (3.80% APY1with +0.70% APY Boost) for 6 Months on new accounts with eligible direct deposit. Terms Apply.2 FDIC Insured.3

Product details

  • APY: Earn up to 3.80% APY on savings balances with qualified direct deposit and 0.50% (as of 01/24/25) APY on checking balances
  • Cash back: Doesn't earn cash back on debit card purchases

If you're looking for a rewards checking account, odds are good that you're probably trying to save more. And for doing both, SoFi Checking and Savings is tough to beat. This hybrid account, which combines checking and savings features into one interest-bearing account, offers some of the highest rates available on both checking and savings balances. It has no monthly maintenance fees and few banking fees, so you won't throw your money away on unnecessary charges.10

And unlike if you were to earn interest on your balance with a standalone rewards checking account, such as the Wealthfront Cash Account, you don't have to then transfer your cash over to a savings account to maximize your earnings. You can keep it all in one place with SoFi®, which makes your life easier and probably means you can save more, since you won't have to remember to send your money to a high-yield savings account once your balance reaches a certain amount.

One of the main caveats with this account is the direct deposit requirement.8 To qualify for the best rates, you have to link your direct deposit.

SoFi Bank, N.A. is a Member, FDIC3

Pros
  • Fee-free access to more than 55,000 ATMs11
  • Allows cash deposits
  • No-fee overdraft coverage up to $50 when you have at least $1,000 in monthly direct deposits12
Cons
  • Qualified direct deposit required to earn highest APYs
  • No other banking accounts with SoFi

Visit SoFi | Learn more in our SoFi Checking and Savings review.

Wealthfront Cash Account

Great for earning an APY

Financebuzz awards badge

2025 award winner Best for Large Deposits

4.8
info
Wealthfront Cash Account
Wealthfront Cash Account - 4.00% APY4
High Yield Cash Management Account. $1 minimum deposit. FDIC Insured.

Product details

  • APY: Earn 4.00% annual percentage yield (APY) on deposits
  • Cash back: N/A

Editor's note
This isn't technically a rewards checking account but a rewards cash management account. And Wealthfront isn't exactly a bank, either — it's an investment management service that deposits your money with partner banks.

The Wealthfront Cash Account functions as a place to park money you don't want to invest in a volatile market. It's more akin to a high-yield savings account than a checking account, but it comes with a debit card, bill pay, direct deposit, and checking features, as well as ATM access like a standard checking account.

It has a notably high APY of 4.00%, though that is subject to change, as Wealthfront's rate tracks the federal funds rate. This APY makes the Wealthfront Cash Account a worthwhile consideration for anyone interested in a rewards-like setup who's not sure they'll do enough debit card spending to make a cashback checking account worthwhile.

Essentially, all you have to do is let your money sit in the account and it will earn an impressive return, similar to earning cashback rewards. But if you need to use that cash, you can access it easily via ATM, check, or your Wealthfront Visa Debit Card.

Pros
  • Earn APY on deposits
  • No minimum or maximum balance for earning APY
  • FDIC insured despite not being a traditional bank
Cons
  • No way to earn cash back on debit purchases
  • Limited fee-free ATM access

Visit Wealthfront | Learn more in our Wealthfront Cash Account review

Another great option from a brokerage

5.0
info
Max-Rate Checking - 3.00% Annual Percentage Yield13
No transaction fees and ATM fee refunds worldwide.1415 FDIC insured up to the applicable limits.16Waive the $15 monthly account fee when you maintain an average account balance of $5,000.
Learn More

LendingClub Rewards Checking

Great for earning interest and cash back

Product details

  • APY: Earn unlimited 1% cash back on qualifying purchases
  • Cash back: Earn 0.10% (as of 4/21/25) APY on balances between $2,500 and $99,999.99 and 1.00% (as of 7/22/25) on balances $100,000 and above

LendingClub's rewards checking account is an interesting prospect because it earns both cash back on spending and an APY on your account balance. Granted, at up to just 1.00% (as of 7/22/25), the APY isn't terribly impressive. The federal rate sits at 0.38% (as of 7/21/25).

Even then, to get that maximum APY you need to have at least $100,000 in your account. If you have between $2,500 and $99,999.99, you'll only earn 0.10% (as of 4/21/25) APY. But any interest is good interest. If you plan on keeping enough in your account to meet that minimum APY threshold, that little extra earning on top of the account's unlimited 1% cash back on debit card purchases could make this account the right choice for you.

Another feature that really sets this account apart is its unlimited rebates on ATM fees. If you plan to withdraw cash from ATMs with frequency, you'll save a lot in fees and consequently have a great deal of flexibility in ATM access with this account.

Pros
  • Earn 0.10% (as of 4/21/25) APY on balances between $2,500 and $99,999.99, 1.00% (as of 7/22/25) after that
  • Unlimited ATM fee rebates
  • No overdraft fees
Cons
  • High thresholds for earning APY
  • APY rate isn't comparable to other interest-bearing checking accounts

Learn more in our LendingClub Rewards Checking review

Quontic Cash Rewards Checking

Great for low opening deposits

Product details

  • APY: N/A
  • Cash back: 1% cash back on all eligible debit card purchases; $50 cash back limit per statement cycle (from qualifying purchases)

With Quontic, we've got another 1% cashback rewards checking account. The low $100 minimum opening deposit makes the Quontic Cash Rewards Checking account readily accessible — just open online through Quontic's site, and you'll be on your way.

Cashback rewards for debit card spending are deposited into your account at the start of each statement cycle but are limited to $50 per cycle. That means you won't earn rewards on any spending above $5,000 in a given statement cycle.

There's not much else to write home about when it comes to this account, but you will have fee-free access to 90,000 ATMs with many located in popular retailers like Target, Walgreens, CVS, and Kroger.

Pros
  • Earn 1% cash back on qualifying debit card purchases
  • Minimum $100 deposit to open account
  • Expansive fee-free ATM network of 90,000 locations
Cons
  • Doesn't earn interest on deposits, unlike Quontic's High Interest Checking account
  • $50 monthly limit on cashback earnings
  • No physical branch locations beyond loan production offices

Learn more in our Quontic Bank review

How to choose the right rewards checking account

Choosing a rewards checking account might seem tough given how little distinguishes one account from another.

First and foremost, decide if a rewards checking account is even the right type of rewards-earning approach for your spending habits. If you've already put a lot of effort into earning credit card rewards and intend to continue doing so, there may not be much of a point to opening a rewards checking account over a different type of checking account — potentially one that earns an APY instead.

If you decide that, yes, you do want to earn rewards on your checking account activity, then decide which checking product has terms that will align with your rewards goals. For example, if you're a frequent debit card user, choose an account offering a cashback rate that will optimize your money-spent to rewards-earned ratio. Get as high a rate as you can find on the type and amount of spending you know you'll be doing on a regular basis.

If you don't like doing your shopping with a debit card — perhaps because you're racking up those credit card points I mentioned — it may be a better call to choose a checking account that earns interest (APY) on your account balance rather than your spending.

Bottom line

Rewards aren't limited to credit cards. Setting yourself up with a way to earn on your checking account — whether through cash back or interest — can be a nice way to pad your pockets with minimal effort on your part beyond doing a little spending. Heck, with an interest-earning account, you can just let your money sit.

But whether you would benefit from a rewards checking account depends on how you use your checking. If you're a frequent debit card user, go for it. That cash back is yours for the taking. If you prefer to spend on credit, you might get less value from your rewards checking account, so consider an interest-bearing checking account with a good rate instead.

5.0
info
Financebuzz awards badge

2025 award winner Best Checking and Savings Combo

SoFi Checking and Savings Benefits
  • Limited-Time Offer: Earn up to a $300 bonus and up to 4.50% APY on Savings (3.80% APY1with +0.70% APY Boost) for 6 Months on new accounts with eligible direct deposit. Terms Apply.2
  • No account, overdraft, or monthly fees10
  • Get your paycheck up to two days early17
  • Access additional FDIC insurance up to $3 million3
Open an account with SoFi® here