Best Checking Accounts With No ATM Fees

Based in San Diego, Axos Bank was founded in 2000 as a digital bank and receives the top bank safety rating of Superior (5 stars) from Bauer Financial. Its Rewards Checking account combines a lack of fees with unlimited ATM fee refunds and the ability to earn an attractive interest rate, creating a trifecta that earns it the top spot in our rankings.

While many banks have stopped charging their own fees for ATM transactions, Axos is among the institutions that will refund domestic ATM fees you incur from other banks or ATM operators, as well. Not only that, but Axos places no monthly limit on how much can be refunded, offering you unlimited free ATM transactions throughout the U.S.

Axos’ Rewards Checking is remarkably fee-free in other ways, too. Aside from requiring a $0 deposit to open the account, there is no ongoing balance requirement, no monthly maintenance fee, and not even a fee if you accidentally overdraw your account. One thing you will have to pay for, though, is paper checks if you want them.

What makes this account an even bigger standout is the ability to earn an attractive 3.30% APY on your balance. You can earn 0.40% APY if you receive direct deposits totaling $1,500 or more and 0.30% if you use your Axos Visa Debit Card for a total of 10 transactions per month (min $3 per transaction) or sign up for PFM. Earn 1.00% if you maintain an average daily balance of $2,500 per month in an SDT account. You can also earn 0.99% if you maintain an average daily balance of $2,500 per month in an MP account as well as 0.60% if you use your Rewards Checking account to make your full monthly Axos bank consumer loan payment.

Needham Bank may not be a household name, but it’s a winning option for those who find themselves using international ATMs. With regular ATM fees compounded by foreign transaction fees when traveling outside the U.S., international ATM fees can become exorbitant, making Needham an excellent value for the frequent traveler.

Needham Bank can trace its Massachusetts roots back to 1892, while currently operating 15 branches in the state and holding a Superior rating (5 stars) from Bauer Financial. Its services are available to adults throughout the U.S. who open an account online.

Needham’s Personal Checking account places no limits on the geography of ATM fees it will refund, nor a limit on the number or dollar amount incurred per month. It also requires no minimum balance and charges no monthly maintenance fee, though you will incur a non-sufficient funds (NSF) fee of $25 if you overdraw your balance.

Needham does pay only a nominal interest rate of 0.05% APY. It’s not much, but many checking accounts pay no interest at all.

Cashback rewards on card purchases have long been the turf of credit cards. But a few debit cards are nosing into that territory, like the one offered with LendingClub Rewards Checking, paying 1% on all purchases. There is no limit on the cash back earned per month.

LendingClub makes the account even more attractive with no minimum balance requirement, no monthly maintenance fee, and a no-cost first set of paper checks, though, and with a 0.10% to 0.15% APY interest rate that doesn’t kick in until your balance reaches $2,500 or $100,000 respectively, interest earnings will leave little impact on your bottom line.

LendingClub unlimited ATM refunds apply both domestically and internationally. However, foreign ATM transactions may still incur a fee with this account, as the fine print indicates that “international exchange fees” are excluded from the refund policy. The website states that LendingClub "makes its best effort to identify those ATM fees eligible for rebate," and you can contact customer support if you believe an eligible fee was not refunded.

Chicago-based Alliant is a credit union, not a bank. But that should make little difference to you if the features of this account are appealing. While some credit unions have strict rules about who can join them or what fee is involved, Alliant has one of the easiest membership paths in the country. Anyone can join simply by agreeing to become an Alliant Credit Union Foundation digital inclusion advocate. Alliant will even pay the $5 member dues on your behalf.

Alliant’s High-Rate Checking Account is a good choice for those whose balance frequently wavers and dips low, as its 0.25% APY interest rate applies to all balances, no matter the amount.

While earnings from a high-rate account can fluctuate with rate changes, it’s worth noting that Alliant's lower rates are still roughly three and a half times higher than the average paid by checking accounts nationwide. And though not unlimited, Alliant’s $20 per month of ATM fee rebates—along with its more than 80,000 in-network ATMs nationwide—will be sufficient for many consumers.

If you prefer your checking account to have Zelle capabilities while still avoiding most ATM and banking fees, Ally’s Interest Checking account fits the bill. Zelle allows you to send money to other people instantaneously from your bank account for free, and while hundreds of banks participate in the network, none of the checking accounts featured above offer it.

Ally actually began as GMAC, the financing division of General Motors, in 1919. Over its long history, it became GMAC Bank and then in 2010 became Ally Financial. It is now independent of GM. Ally holds a Superior rating (5 stars) from Bauer Financial. With a focus on competitive rates and low fees, Ally’s Interest Checking account requires no minimum balance and charges no monthly maintenance fee.

Ally’s ATM cards belong to the Allpoint network, which operates over 55,000 ATMs nationwide and which offers free transactions to Ally customers. But even if you can’t find an Allpoint ATM, Ally will reimburse the ATM fees you incur up to $10 per month.

Ally’s Interest Checking account currently pays 0.10% APY on balances up to $15,000 and 0.25% beyond that level.

In addition to its well-known credit card, Discover® offers online-only banking products to consumers nationwide. Among them is the Discover® Checking Account, which features debit card rewards in place of interest while also eliminating virtually every common banking fee. That includes NSF charges, so if you accidentally overdraw your account to a negative balance, you won’t be hit with an overdraft fee (which typically runs $25 to $40 at other banks).

You’ll also save money from no monthly maintenance fees and no minimum balance that can trigger a fee. Paper check supplies are also free with Discover®, so you won’t incur any costs there either.

That said, it’s important to note this account does not provide refunds for out-of-network ATM charges. With more than 60,000 eligible ATMs located throughout the country (it uses both the Allpoint and MoneyPass networks), finding a free ATM will be easy in many cases. But when it’s not, you’ll be subject to the fee charged by the out-of-network ATM you’ve chosen.

Discover® began as a company in 1985 and carries an Excellent rating (4 stars) from Bauer Financial. Its payment of 1% cash back on all of your debit card purchases up to $3,000 per month (i.e., $30 maximum cash back monthly) helps sweeten this deal, especially when combined with the account’s “no fee” focus and the ability to pay people with Zelle (which alone could save you some trips to the ATM).