It's Your Lucky Day

Congratulations! You have been chosen by a friend to receive a $20 gift^* on behalf of Axos Bank. Follow the directions below to open a new account and claim your gift today.

Essential Checking

The zero-fee checking account.

There’s a reason why MyBankTracker named Axos Bank one of the Best Online Banks of 2019.

With Essential Checking, you get all the benefits of online banking and none of the fees. That means no service fees, no maintenance fees, no overdraft fees, and no non-sufficient funds. We’ll even reimburse all domestic ATM fees and deposit your paycheck up to two days early with direct deposit.¹

Open an Account

Here's how easy it is.

Open an Account

Open a zero-fee Essential Checking account using the Open and Account button below.

Open An Account

Add Funds & Direct Deposit

Once you’re approved for a new account, enroll in direct deposit and maintain an average daily balance of $500.

Get Paid

We’ll deposit $10 after the first full calendar month of account funding.* After you set up direct deposit and maintain a daily average balance of $500 for the first 60 days, we’ll deposit another $10.

Here's how easy it is.

Open an Account

Open a zero-fee Essential Checking account using the Open an Account button below.

Open an Account

Sign Up for Direct Deposit

Once you’re approved for a new account, enroll in direct deposit.

Get Rewarded

You’ll receive $20 once $500 in direct deposit funds has been deposited in your new Essential Checking account.^*

Frequently Asked Questions FAQs

Is Essential Checking
really fee-free?

Absolutely.

As an online bank, we don’t need to charge you for services other banks call perks. That means zero service fees, zero overdraft fees, zero non-sufficient funds fees, and zero minimum balance requirements. We’ll even reimburse all fees you incur from domestic ATMs.

How do I become eligible for
a referral bonus?

To be eligible for the $20 referral bonus, you must:

Open a new Essential Checking account using your friend’s unique referral link
Receive at least $500 in direct deposit funding within 90 days of opening new Essential Checking account

The $20 Referral gift will be deposited into your account within 7 business days of your statement cycle end once your referred friend meets eligibility requirements.

NOTE: Customers who have previously owned an Axos Bank account are not eligible to receive a referral bonus.

What is Direct Deposit?

A direct deposit is an electronic deposit of funds to a checking or saving account. For Axos Bank accounts, qualifying direct deposits are deposits of regular monthly income - such as your salary, pension, or Social Security benefits- which are made by your employer or other payer using the account and routing numbers that you provide to them.

Who is Axos Bank?

We are a technology-driven online bank that offers a wide variety of checking accounts, savings accounts, loans, and business financing. Since 2000, we have helped customers get the most value from their money.

By combining human insight with digital expertise, we offer customers lower fees, higher savings, and smarter banking technology.

What are the benefits of an
online checking account?

If you’re tired of traditional checking accounts’ high fees and hidden costs, online bank accounts are a great option.

Because we’re an online bank, we have lower operating costs. This means zero fees, higher interest rates, and a collection of digital tools for simple money management. And because we’re backed by the FDIC, you can rest assured that your money is safe with us.

How do I open an account?

You can open a new Essential Checking account by submitting an application here. All you need is a valid ID, your social security number, and 15 minutes.