Finding the easiest bank accounts to open online is easy with the internet today.
There are hundreds of options for opening a bank account online. Knowing which bank accounts offer the most features and are the fastest to open can put you on the path to reaching your financial goals faster.
We’ve identified the easiest bank accounts to open online and detailed their application processes below.
10 Easiest Bank Accounts to Open Online
Here are the top 10 easiest bank accounts to open online in the US today:
1. Discover
While you might be more familiar with Discover because of its credit cards, it’s also a full-service online bank.
The platform is a user-friendly one-stop shop for managing your finances, with checking, savings, retirement accounts, MMAs, CDs, and loans.
Discover’s fee-free checking account provides 1% cashback on your first $3,000 of debit card purchases each month. You can also get early paychecks and use Apple Pay to earn cashback.
How to Open an Account Online:
When you sign up, Discover will ask for basic info like your name, address, and Social Security Number. You can make a deposit when you register or come back later. You can also call Discover’s customer support for assistance during the process.
Discover will send you an email confirmation after you complete the application, and then you’re all set to start using your account.
Learn more:
2. Varo
Varo is a straightforward, user-friendly option with convenient checking and savings accounts.
The Varo Bank Account offers easy online checking with no minimum balance requirements, monthly account fees, or overdraft fees. You also get direct deposits two business days early.
Once you open a Varo checking account, you can enroll in Varo Savings. The account has no minimum requirements and pays competitive interest on every penny in your account.
When you meet certain requirements, you can jump from 3.00% APY to 5.00%. The account also has automated savings tools to help you make the most of your savings.
With Varo Cash Advance, you can borrow up to $250 with no interest, for a $20 fee. Varo also offers a fee-free secured credit card called Varo Believe if your credit needs a boost.
How to Open an Account Online:
You can open a Varo checking account in a few minutes. To be eligible for an account, you need to be at least 18 years old and have a smartphone to access the Varo app. You’ll need to download the Varo app, click “Get Started,” then provide your name, contact info, address, Social Security Number, and info from your government-issued ID.
There’s no minimum deposit requirement, but you can fund your account once your identity is verified. After opening this account, you can also opt to open a Varo Savings Account.
Learn more:
3. Albert
Albert is a tech-savvy online banking service backed by member FDIC Sutton Bank. The mobile banking platform offers checking, savings, and investing services.
Albert’s cash account comes with a cashback debit card, 2-day early pay, and access to more than 55,000 fee–free ATMs.
Similar to other banks in this guide, Albert doesn’t charge monthly maintenance fees or have minimum account balance requirements. As an added bonus, you can get cash advances of up to $250 without any fees.
You can also automate your savings and enjoy an annual bonus on your savings, with additional benefits if you enroll in Albert’s premium Genius plan.
How to Open an Account Online:
Albert claims you can set up an account in five minutes. You must be 18 years or older, be a resident of the U.S., and have a bank account with a U.S. bank or credit union to be approved for an account.
You also need to have a smartphone that will support Albert’s app, which is available in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.
To create a new account, you’ll first need to download the mobile app and provide your name, phone number, email, and address. You’ll also be asked to verify your phone number with an SMS verification code.
From there, Albert will ask you questions about yourself and your financial goals and prompt you to link your existing bank account(s) from other financial institutions.
Learn more:
4. UFB Direct
UFB Direct is a division of Axos Bank, and like Axos, it doesn’t offer checking accounts. But it does provide competitive savings and money market accounts, with some of the highest savings yields in the country.
There are no account minimums or monthly fees to worry about. And you don’t have to maintain a set amount to earn the highest interest rate—all balances earn the same amount.
The savings account comes with a debit card, and you can make fee-free withdrawals from more than 91,000 ATM locations.
UFB Direct is fully online, but it offers 24/7 customer support, so you have full access to representatives when you need assistance with your accounts.
How to Open an Account Online:
You can open a UFB Direct account in a few minutes. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. To get started, you’ll need to provide your name, date of birth, address, contact information, and Social Security Number.
Simply choose the account you want to open and complete the online application. You can also submit questions to UFB Direct’s team through a contact form before committing to an account.
Learn more:
5. Chime
Chime is one of the easiest bank accounts to open online and enjoy the benefits of online banking.
For example, customers can open a checking or savings account at Chime Bank, but you must open a checking account to get the savings account.
Chime Bank doesn’t charge monthly maintenance or overdraft fees, and it has a network of over 60,000 fee-free ATMs. In addition, if you set up direct deposit with Chime, you’ll get early access to your paycheck (two days early), and there are no foreign transaction fees.
Chime offers two unique and optional features that make saving even easier, too:
- Automatic Savings: Chime will round up your purchases made with your Chime debit card to the nearest dollar. Then, they will transfer the difference to your savings account for easy savings.
- Paycheck transfer: You can opt into automatic savings with your paycheck by allowing Chime to transfer 10% of your paycheck to your savings account.
How to Open an Account Online:
Apply for a Chime account and complete a quick application with your full name, address, and email. Next, you must download the Chime app and open a checking account with an optional savings account. After that, you’ll receive a free debit card and the option to set up direct deposit.
Learn more:
6. Chase Bank
Chase Bank is one of the country’s largest banks with in-person bank branches, but it also offers a user-friendly online banking program that’s easy to open.
Chase offers a wide selection of banking products, including checking, savings, and money market accounts.
Chase Bank runs promotions often to reward customers opening a new bank account, and they offer simple ways to avoid the monthly maintenance fee charged on most bank accounts.
If you feel better about banking at a national bank with one of the largest presences in the country, Chase Bank can be a good option for an easy-to-open online bank account.
How to Open an Account Online:
As long as you’re 18 or older, you can open a Chase bank account online with these steps:
- Compare your bank account options and choose the one that helps you improve your financial situation
- Review and sign the agreements
- Complete an application
- Provide government-issued ID
- Make a deposit
- Activate your debit card
Learn more:
7. Ally Bank
Ally Bank is an online-only bank with many robust features. They offer interest checking, online savings, and money market accounts for customers to choose how to best manage their money.
Like most online banks, Ally Bank pays higher APYs and doesn’t charge a monthly maintenance or overdraft fee. While Ally Bank is online only, it offers several helpful customer service options.
Ally Bank doesn’t require minimum balances to waive monthly fees, and it has a large 43,000 ATM network. However, like most online banks, you must be comfortable managing your money online, including making deposits via mobile or electronic transfers.
How to Open an Account Online:
To open an Ally Bank account, follow these simple steps:
- Choose the account you want to open (checking, savings, money market, or CD)
- Provide your personal identifying information, including your name, address, social security number, and birthdate
- Provide proof of your identity (government-issued IDs)
- Choose your funding method (external bank account) and fund your account
Learn more:
8. Current
Current isn’t a traditional online bank; it’s a neobank. Neobanks partner with FDIC-insured banks to provide banking services without being a bank themselves.
Account holders can earn competitive APYs and rewards for using the Current debit card. Current also offers budgeting tools, a credit-building card, and savings pods to help you achieve your financial goals.
Current doesn’t have minimum balance requirements, or charge monthly fees. Each time you use your rewards debit card at a partner retailer, you earn points you can redeem for cash or prizes.
Current uses the Allpoint ATM network, which has 40,000 ATMs but checking account customers don’t get a checkbook. Instead, you must pay bills using an ACH transfer or debit card.
How to Open an Account Online:
To sign up for Current, you’ll need a government-issued ID, a permanent U.S. address, and a smartphone to receive SMS text messages. You must be 18 years old to complete the application, and there’s no minimum deposit required.
Learn more:
9. Wise
Wise is a UK-based money transfer service that makes sending or receiving money from international countries easy. Account holders can also have a multi-currency account that includes a Mastercard debit card to conduct transactions.
You can spend and withdraw in over 40 currencies and earn 4.33% APY on your USD balance. Funds in your account are FDIC-insured up to $250,000.
How to Open an Account Online:
It takes 10 minutes to apply for a Wise account but two days to get approved. First, you’ll complete an application and must provide your government-issued ID and a selfie of you holding the ID.
10. Revolut
Revolut is a UK-based fintech that offers FDIC-insured accounts through a partnership with Metropolitan Commercial Bank.
It serves as an all-in-one money management app that features a bank account, budgeting tools, automated investing, and travel perks.
Revolut’s mobile checking account offers some impressive benefits, such as early pay with direct deposits, Apple Pay and Google Pay integration, and up to $800 of fee-free withdrawals from out-of-network ATMs. You can also earn up to 4.25% APY on your savings.
Revolut has a free version, a $9.99 Premium version, and a $16.99 Metal version. The paid versions come with perks like discounted international transfers, express card delivery, and enhanced purchase protection.
How to Open an Account Online:
You can open a Revolut account in a few minutes, To start, you’ll need to download the mobile app, follow the application steps, and provide your name, date of birth, address, and email address.
From there, you’ll be prompted to deposit funds into your account and customize your profile.
Learn more:
Frequently Asked Questions
What bank can I open an account online with no deposit?
Ally Bank, Discover, and Axos Bank don’t require an opening deposit. Instead, you can apply for an account and fund it at a later date if necessary. If you’re trying to earn interest on your bank account or need to use the funds to pay bills or buy necessities, it makes sense to fund your account immediately.
Can I open a bank account online and use it right away?
Each bank has different requirements. While the easiest bank accounts to open online take only a few minutes, it might be a day or two before you can use them. The bank must verify your identity and set up your account, which can take a couple of days.
What bank gives you money just for opening an account?
Chase Bank is the most common bank to offer promotions. Chase often pays $100 – $250 depending on the bank account, the amount you deposit, and the current promotion. So always check back for the latest promotions to see what they offer.
What banks do not require a credit check to open an account?
Most banks don’t require a credit check to open an account. Instead, they’ll verify your identity; some may check the ChexSystem to see your banking history. They look for bounced checks or inappropriate use of your funds when determining if you qualify for an account.
Can I open a bank account online with no credit?
You can open a bank account online with no credit as more and more banks are accepting applications without requiring a credit check. If your ChexSystems report is clear, you can open a bank account if your credit score is low, but not if you have a bad ChexSystems history. However, if you have a bad ChexSystems history, you may need a second-chance bank account.
Can you open a bank account online without ID?
Some banks allow you to open a bank account online without an ID when you provide your name, date of birth, address, and Social Security Number, while others require it. Check your bank’s website or ask a representative what documentation is required to apply.
