Essential Checking

Fee-free checking with all the perks.

All your banking essentials – for free. Early direct deposit.* Unlimited ATM fee reimbursements. No overdraft, non-sufficient funds, or monthly maintenance fees.

Say goodbye to bank fees for good.

Open My Account

Top 20 Checking Accounts 2023

GOBankingRates

Among the Best Online Banks 2023

Forbes Advisor

Best for Online Account Options

Business Insider

Essential Checking is anything but basic.

  • Direct Deposit Express
  • Unlimited ATM fee reimbursements
  • No overdraft, non-sufficient funds, or monthly maintenance fees
  • Exclusive Visa® offers and perks

Ready to open a no-fee Essential Checking account?

Open My Account

Direct Deposit Express

  • Get paid up to two days early*
  • Simple, fast, and free
  • Included for Essential Checking customers with direct deposit

Helpful Banking Features

Invite Friends

Help a friend bank smarter. When they meet our welcome bonus requirements, we’ll deposit $50 into your account – and theirs!

Peer-to-Peer Payments

Pay your friends directly from your account. All you need is their mobile number or email. It’s fast, easy, and secure.

Account Alerts

Stay up-to-date on your activity. Turn on alerts and get real-time updates on your account activity.

Opening an Account Is as Easy as 1-2-3

  • Step 1: Select Open an Account.
  • Step 2: Have your ID, Social Security number, and address handy.
  • Step 3: Complete your application in less than 15 minutes.

Manage Essential Checking With the Axos App

  • View your transactions and spending history.
  • Get answers 24/7 with Evo, our virtual assistant.
  • Set up auto alerts for any strange activity you don’t recognize.
  • Move money to other accounts or send money to friends.
  • Enable security measures to keep your money safe.

Why bank with Axos?

Low-to-No Fees

When we say free, we mean it. Take your money further with zero monthly fees.

Innovative Tools

We make banking easier with early direct deposit, online wire transfers, biometric identification, and more.

Over 90K ATMs

Enjoy the freedom to withdraw cash from thousands of ATMs across the nation –without worrying about fees.

Security You Can Count On

2-Step Authentication

For identity verification, we ask questions that only you know the answer to or we'll send a security code to your registered device.

Automatic Logout

Inactive sessions are automatically logged out to prevent unauthorized data collection or use of your accounts.

SSL Encryption

Our 128-bit Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption ensures your data remains private and secure.

Account Monitoring

All accounts are regularly monitored for potential fraud.

Anti-Virus and Malware Protection

We execute regular updates to detect and prevent viruses and malicious software.

Usernames and Passwords

We do not and will not share your usernames or passwords.

Ready to Apply?

Ready to open your free Essential Checking account? All you need is a valid ID, your Social Security number, and 15 minutes.

Open My Account

Essential Checking FAQs

What is an online checking account?

An online checking account is an account which is open at an online bank and is therefore managed completely online. Typically, these accounts allow you to deposit money, transfer money, and check your balance – all online.

Is an Essential Checking account free?

An Essential Checking account at Axos Bank is a free account. There are no minimum opening or daily balance requirements and no fees. There are also no overdraft or non-sufficient fund fees.

Is my free checking account really free?

Not all free checking accounts are created equal. Be sure to read the fine print and disclosures to familiarize yourself with any fees or penalties associated with your free checking account.

That said, the Essential Checking account at Axos Bank is completely free. No fees, no balance requirements, no hoops.

What happens if I overdraw my Essential Checking account?

There are no overdraft or non-sufficient funds fees with an Essential Checking account.

Do I get a debit card with my Essential Checking account?

To get a debit card with your Essential Checking account, just select the debit card option when applying for the account.

Already applied? No worries. Just log in online or in the mobile app and send us a secure message asking for a debit card. We’ll get right on it!

How do I manage my Essential Checking account?

You can deposit, withdrawal, pay bills, and send peer to peer payments from your Essential Checking account all from the palm of your hand. Sign in or download the mobile app to get started.

Is my Essential Checking account secure?

At Axos Bank, your security is our priority. As a member of the FDIC, all deposit accounts, including Essential Checking accounts, are insured up to $250,000 individual and $500,000 joint.

Concerned about cybersecurity? So are we. We employ state-of-the-art technology to detect and prevent cyber intrusions. Learn more about how Axos keeps you safe on our Security Center.

What if I want to earn interest on my checking account?

If you’re looking to earn interest on checking, explore our interest bearing checking account, Rewards Checking, for up to 3.30% APY1.

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© 2025 Axos Financial, Inc., All Rights Reserved. © 2025 Axos Bank, All Rights Reserved. © 2025 Axos Invest LLC. Member FINRA & SIPC. All Rights Reserved. © 2025 Axos Invest, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Bank products and services are offered by Axos Bank®. All deposit accounts through Axos Bank brands are FDIC insured through Axos Bank. All deposit accounts of the same ownership and/or vesting held at Axos Bank are combined and insured under the same FDIC Certificate 35546. All deposit accounts through Axos Bank brands are not separately insured by the FDIC from other deposit accounts held with the same ownership and/or vesting at Axos Bank. For more information read Axos Bank’s FDIC Notice.

Advisory services are offered by Axos Invest, Inc., an investment adviser registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). For information about our advisory services, please view our Form CRS or our ADV Part 2A Brochure, free of charge. Brokerage services and securities products are offered by Axos Invest LLC, Member FINRA & SIPC. YOU MAY FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR FIRM ON FINRA’S BROKERCHECK. View the background of this firm, or REVIEW our Form CRS. All cash and securities held in Axos Invest client accounts are protected by SIPC up to $500,000, with a limit of $250,000 for cash. Read more information about SIPC on the SIPC web page.

Securities and other non-deposit investment products and services are not deposits, obligations of or guaranteed by Axos Bank, are not insured by the FDIC or any governmental agency, and are subject to investment risk including possible loss of the principal invested. Past performance of a security does not guarantee future results or success.

Axos Invest LLC, Axos Invest, Inc., and Axos Bank are separate but affiliated companies.

Axos Bank NMLS# 524995

Axos Bank, Forbes Advisor "Among the Best Online Banks 2022". ©2022 and TM, Forbes Advisor. All Rights Reserved.

*

Faster access to funds is based on a comparison of traditional banking policies and deposit of paper checks from employers and government agencies versus deposits made electronically. Direct Deposit and earlier availability of funds are subject to payer’s support of the feature and timing of payer’s funding.

1

APY = Annual Percentage Yield effective as of 12/6/2025. The Rewards Checking Account allows you to control your interest rate reward based on the products/services used during the month. This is a tiered, interest-earning variable rate account. All daily collected balances up to and including $50,000 will earn interest based on the combined rate rewards. All daily collected balances greater than $50,000 will not earn interest. Your annual percentage yield can be as high as 3.30% based on the following combined rate rewards: direct deposits (not including intra-bank transfers from another account) totaling $1,500 or more each month will earn 0.40%. A qualifying direct deposit is required for the remaining interest rate qualifications to apply. Ten (10) point-of-sale transactions per month using your Rewards Checking Visa® Debit Card for normal everyday purchases with a minimum of $3 per transaction, or enrolling in Account Aggregation/Personal Finance Manager (PFM) will earn 0.30%; maintaining an average daily balance of at least $2,500 per month in an Axos Self Directed Trading Invest account will earn 1.00%; maintaining an average daily balance of at least $2,500 a month in an Axos Managed Portfolio Invest account will earn 1.00%; and making a monthly payment to an open Axos Bank consumer loan (commercial and business loans excluded) via transfer from your Rewards Checking account will earn a maximum of 0.60%. Limit of one Rewards Checking account allowed per customer. Qualifying transactions must post and clear the account during the monthly qualification cycle. Account transactions may take one or more business days from the transaction date to post to the account. At the time of your statement cycle date, we will determine the combined products and services used since the previous cycle date to determine the aggregate interest rate to apply to your current statement cycle. We will use the daily balance method to calculate the interest on your account. We may change the interest rate paid for products and services used and the annual percentage yield at the Bank's discretion any time without notice. Fees may reduce earnings.

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