SoFi vs. Chase [2026]: More Perks vs. In-Person Customer Service

Compare SoFi vs. Chase

Best for	Earning a high interest rate + avoiding monthly fees1 <p>We do not charge any account, service or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. We do 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 Bank Fee Sheet for details at <a href="http://sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/">sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/</a>.</p>	In-person support + more accounts
Accounts	Combined checking and savings accounts Loans Credit cards Investing Insurance Estate planning in partnership with Trust & Will Business accounts	Checking and savings CDs Credit cards Loans Home loans and HELOCs Investing Estate planning Military banking Student banking Business banking
Number of branches	0	4,700+
Number of fee-free ATMs	55,000+ through the Allpoint Network3 <p>We’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 may be incurred when using out-of-network ATMs. SoFi’s ATM policies are subject to change at our discretion at any time.</p>	15,000+
FDIC insurance	Yes4 <p><b style="font-family: Rubik, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, Roboto, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, sans-serif;">SoFi 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.&nbsp;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&nbsp;<a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms</a>. See list of participating banks at <a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks</a>.</b></p>	Yes
Customer ratings	Mobile app: 4.7/5 (App Store) 3.8/5 (Google Play) Trustpilot: 4.0/5 BBB: 1.29/5	Mobile app: 4.8/5 (App Store) 4.8/5 (Google Play) Trustpilot: 1.2/5 BBB: 1.13/5
Year founded	2011	2000
	Visit SoFi Checking and Savings	Visit Chase Total Checking

Compare checking

	SoFi	Chase
Accounts	Online Checking Account	Total Checking Secure Banking Premier Plus Checking High School Checking First Banking Private Client Checking
Banking perks
Minimum deposit	$0
Monthly maintenance fee	$0	$0 to $35 (depending on the account type)
Early direct deposit	Get your paycheck up to two days early5 <p>Early 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.</p>	Yes, with some accounts
Cash deposits	Cash deposits at participating retailers through Green Dot with a $4.95 fee	Cash deposits at Chase branches or ATMs
Overdraft protection	Yes6 <p>Overdraft Coverage is a feature automatically offered to SoFi Checking and Savings account holders who receive at least $1,000 or more in Eligible Direct Deposits within a rolling 31 calendar day period on a recurring basis. Eligible Direct Deposit is defined on the SoFi Bank Rate Sheet, available at <a href="https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet">https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet</a>. Members enrolled in Overdraft Coverage may be covered for up to $50 in negative balances on SoFi Bank debit card purchases only. Overdraft Coverage does not apply to P2P transfers, bill payments, checks, or other non-debit card transactions. Members with a prior history of unpaid negative balances are not eligible for Overdraft Coverage. Eligibility for Overdraft Coverage is determined by SoFi Bank in its sole discretion. Members can check their enrollment status, if eligible, at any time by logging into their account through the SoFi app or on the SoFi website.</p>	Yes

SoFi checking

SoFi has a single checking account. Unlike Chase, SoFi doesn't let you open an account if you're under 18, so it's not the best option for families with kids. However, SoFi beats Chase when it comes to earning interest — SoFi accountholders earn up to 0.50% APY on checking balances.

You can deposit cash with SoFi, but as an online-only institution, the process isn't the easiest. You'll need to visit a retailer that offers Green Dot services, and you may incur a $4.95 fee per deposit. If you often need to deposit cash, SoFi might not be the most convenient option.

SoFi Checking and Savings is also one of the best rewards checking options. You can earn points for paying bills, monitoring your credit, and other actions that move you toward your financial goals. Redeem your points for cash, statement credit, or to book trips through SoFi Travel.

Read our full SoFi checking and savings review.

Chase checking

Chase offers six different checking accounts compared to SoFi's single option. Accounts range from bare-bones to premium, and Chase also has two checking accounts for kids. Monthly fees range from $4.95 to $35, but all are waivable if you meet certain conditions, like maintaining a minimum balance or setting up a qualifying direct deposit.

The First Banking and High School Checking accounts stand out as solid options to help young children manage their money and learn financial responsibility. Neither account has a monthly maintenance fee, and both include tools and safety features to help keep their money secure. As a parent, this is a huge draw for me and would make me choose Chase over SoFi.

Chase is also the best option if you frequently deposit cash or need in-person assistance since it has physical branches.

Read our full Chase Bank review.

Compare savings

	SoFi	Chase
APY	Up to 3.30%7 <p>Annual percentage yield (APY) is variable and subject to change at any time. Rates are current as of 3/31/26. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional rates and information can be found at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet">https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet</a></p>	Up to 0.01% (as of 10/16/25)
Minimum deposit	$0
Monthly maintenance fee	$0	$0 to $25
Monthly transaction limits	None
Cash access	Online transfers	Online transfers or withdrawals at Chase branches

SoFi savings

SoFi's high-yield savings account earns a standard up to a 3.30% APY — and you can earn even more with a promotional savings boost.⁸ <p>Earn up to 4.00% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on one SoFi Savings account with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.30% APY as of 3/31/26) for up to 6 months. Open your first SoFi Checking and Savings account and receive eligible direct deposits OR qualifying deposits of $5,000 every 31 days by 12/31/26. Rates are variable, subject to change. Terms apply at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/#2">sofi.com/banking#2</a>. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.</p> A high APY lets you earn a higher return on your savings, so you can hit your goals sooner.

SoFi also has several tools to help make saving easier. You can set up automatic transfers, opt into roundups to deposit change into savings, and create multiple savings vaults for different saving goals. In all, the SoFi savings account is an excellent option for anyone.

Chase savings

Chase offers two savings account options, but both have very poor APYs on all balances. The national average rate on savings deposits is currently 0.39% (as of 2/17/26), so 0.01% (as of 10/16/25) (on Chase Savings) is extremely low. But it's worth noting that this rate isn't altogether uncommon compared to savings rates with other big banks, which aren't known for offering the most competitive yields.

In addition, you'll pay a monthly maintenance fee with either Chase savings account unless you meet the requirements to have the fee waived. SoFi does not charge monthly maintenance fees, so this one is a no-brainer.

Compare other bank accounts

In addition to checking and savings accounts, Chase offers certificates of deposit (CDs) ranging from two months to 11 months, with competitive rates. To open a CD, you must deposit at least $1,000. Chase's CD rates are much higher than its savings rates, making them a good option for longer-term savings goals, like a down payment on a house.

SoFi doesn't offer CDs, but it does offer a wide range of loans, including mortgages, home equity lines of credit (HELOCs), home equity loans, personal loans with a wide range of approved uses, and private student loans. The company can also help you refinance certain types of student loans, including Parent PLUS loans, medical resident or professional loans, and law and MBA loans.

Both SoFi and Chase also offer a range of credit card options.

Fees

	SoFi	Chase
Overdraft fee	$0	$34
Cash deposit fee	Up to $4.95 partner fee per deposit	$0
ATM fees	$0 for Allpoint ATM transactions3 <p>We’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 may be incurred when using out-of-network ATMs. SoFi’s ATM policies are subject to change at our discretion at any time.</p>	$0 for Chase ATMs
Stop payment fee	$0	$30 per request
Foreign transaction fee	0.9% (paid by SoFi), 0.2% (paid by you)	3%
Wire transfer fees	Up to $30	Up to $50

SoFi generally has fewer fees than Chase. You won't pay a monthly maintenance fee for your checking or savings account, whereas Chase requires you to meet certain requirements to waive the monthly fee on most of its accounts. SoFi also has no overdraft fees, whereas you could pay up to $34 per instance with Chase.

Both institutions make withdrawing cash easy and fee-free, as long as you use an in-network ATM. But you'll incur a fee if you need to deposit cash with SoFi, while Chase lets you deposit cash for free at a branch or ATM.

SoFi might be the better choice if you frequently travel overseas; you'll only pay 0.2% in foreign transaction fees, while Chase charges 3% per transaction. That can add up quickly, even on a short trip abroad.

Customer experience

SoFi and Chase both score low in BBB reviews, with scores of 1.29 and 1.13 out of 5, respectively. SoFi's Trustpilot score is better at 4 out of 5, compared to Chase's 1.2 out of 5. Chase customers report issues with customer service, though experiences seem to differ by location.

Some SoFi customers report positive experiences with loan products, while others report issues receiving direct deposits.

Bottom line

When comparing SoFi and Chase, consider your personal needs and preferences. If you want a simple account with low fees and access to loan products, SoFi is a good option. If you need the option of banking in person or want to open an account for a minor child, Chase is the better choice.

You might even benefit from using both – for example, keeping the majority of your savings in a high-APY SoFi account and using Chase for times you want the option to visit a branch. That way, you can maximize your interest earnings and still get in-person support when you need it.

As you compare institutions and bank accounts, pay attention to the APYs offered, especially savings rates, as well as monthly fees, overdraft protection, and balance requirements, to find the best choice for you.