What is an online bank account?

An online bank account conveniently allows you to manage your accounts from your computer or mobile device. This includes sending money, depositing checks, paying bills, and everything you’d normally do at a physical branch. Because SoFi does not have any physical branches, we’re able to pass those savings to our members!

Do I need a minimum balance to open an account or get the highest interest rate?

There is no minimum balance required to open a SoFi Checking & Savings account. Members can unlock 3.80% APY savings balances with either direct deposit (no minimum required) or by depositing at least $5,000 every 30 days.

How easy is it to open a bank account online?

Opening an account is quick and easy. All we need are a few pieces of information such as name, home address, and Social Security number. In some cases, we may need additional documentation like a copy of your driver’s license, and/or a current photo ID to verify your identity.

Is there a minimum age?

You must be 18 years or older to open an individual or joint account.

Can a student open an account?

Of course. Anyone over 18 can open an individual or joint online bank account. In fact, we have some special offers for students (must have an .edu email address to qualify).

Can I sign up for an individual checking or savings account?

When you sign up for a SoFi online bank account, you will receive both a checking account and a savings account. Once you set up direct deposit, you can earn .50% APY on checking and 3.80% on savings (including Vaults)! We do not currently offer standalone checking or savings accounts.

How do I set up direct deposit?

Nine in 10 SoFi members agree—setting up direct deposit is easy. Simply download this pre-filled form, sign it, and submit it to your employer’s payroll department. Simple as that! Alternatively, if your employer has an HR portal that allows you to set up direct deposit by inputting your account number and routing number, you can get those here.

If I keep my entire balance in savings, will funds automatically move to checking to pay bills when needed?

Yes. As long as you have Overdraft Protection enabled, we’ll automatically pull from your available savings balances in the event that your checking balance is insufficient. Overdraft protection covers ACH withdrawals (bill pay, loans, P2P), checks and debit card transactions. Note that overdraft protection will not pull from your Vaults. To turn on Overdraft Protection, open the SoFi app, tap More > Overdraft and toggle the feature on.

As long as you direct deposit your pay or add $5,000 every 30 days, you’ll earn 3.80% APY on your savings & Vaults balances and 0.50% APY on your checking balances.* If you do not have a direct deposit or $5,000 in deposits every 30 days, you’ll earn 1.00% APY on savings & Vaults balances and 0.50% APY on checking balances.

Any limits on savings account withdrawals per month or transfers between accounts?

No, there are no current limits on saving withdrawals or transfers between checking, savings and Vaults.

To unlock the highest APY, does it matter where I direct deposit my funds (checking vs savings?)

Nope, it doesn’t matter. To unlock the highest the highest APY, you may either:(1) Get paid via direct deposit (into either your checking or savings). Eligible direct deposits are the electronic deposits of your paycheck, pension or government payments (e.g., Social Security) from your employer, benefits provider, or the government.(2) Add $5,000 or more to your checking or savings account.

Why do I need to sign up for direct deposit?

When you set up direct deposit into your account, you are trusting your paycheck with us. We want to repay that trust by making sure that we give you the best of what SoFi has to offer, including up to 3.80% APY (annual percentage yield)1, plus features like No-Fee Overdraft Coverage4 and up to 2-Day Early Paycheck.*

Does it matter where I direct deposit my funds?

Nope! You can direct deposit into your checking or savings account and still take advantage of the 3.80% APY.

Is there a maximum or ‘cap’ on the 3.80% APY?

There is not currently a maximum on the 3.80% APY for savings or Vaults.

Are online bank accounts safe?

All SoFi Checking and Savings accounts receive industry-standard FDIC insurance of up to $250,000 per member (joint accounts are insured up to $500,000). SoFi Checking and Savings members can earn up to [fdic_coverage_amt] of FDIC insurance by enrolling in the SoFi Insured Deposit Program.

How do I withdraw and deposit cash?

SoFi makes it easy to both withdraw and deposit money. To withdraw, simply visit any of the 55,000 Allpoint ATMs (more locations than Chase, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America combined!). You won’t pay any fee as long as you visit one of these ATMs.

We’re proud to say that banking with SoFi has no account fees and no service charges—and we’re working hard to keep it that way. There are no fees on overdraft, account open, minimum balance, dormant account or regular maintenance.

“Best Online Bank of 2025” Award Winner

SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. The SoFi® Bank Debit Mastercard® is issued by SoFi Bank, N.A., pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated and can be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.

SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit activity can earn 3.80% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Eligible Direct Deposit means a recurring deposit of regular income to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government benefit payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Eligible Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below).

Although we do our best to recognize all Eligible Direct Deposits, a small number of employers, payroll providers, benefits providers, or government agencies do not designate payments as direct deposit. To ensure you're earning 3.80% APY, we encourage you to check your APY Details page the day after your Eligible Direct Deposit arrives. If your APY is not showing as 3.80%, contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. As long as SoFi Bank can validate those details, you will start earning 3.80% APY from the date you contact SoFi for the rest of the current 30-day Evaluation Period. You will also be eligible for 3.80% APY on future Eligible Direct Deposits, as long as SoFi Bank can validate them.

Deposits that are not from an employer, payroll, or benefits provider or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, or are non-recurring in nature (e.g., IRS tax refunds), do not constitute Eligible Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit are eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits.

As an alternative to Direct Deposit, SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits can earn 3.80% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Qualifying Deposits means one or more deposits that, in the aggregate, are equal to or greater than $5,000 to an account holder’s SoFi Checking and Savings account (“Qualifying Deposits”) during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Qualifying Deposits only include those deposits from the following eligible sources: (i) ACH transfers, (ii) inbound wire transfers, (iii) peer-to-peer transfers (i.e., external transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc. and internal peer-to-peer transfers from a SoFi account belonging to another account holder), (iv) check deposits, (v) instant funding to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, (vi) push payments to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, and (vii) cash deposits. Qualifying Deposits do not include: (i) transfers between an account holder’s Checking account, Savings account, and/or Vaults; (ii) interest payments; (iii) bonuses issued by SoFi Bank or its affiliates; or (iv) credits, reversals, and refunds from SoFi Bank, N.A. (“SoFi Bank”) or from a merchant. SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits are not eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits.

SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder’s Eligible Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits throughout each 30-Day Evaluation Period to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Upon receiving an Eligible Direct Deposit or receipt of $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits to your account, you will begin earning 3.80% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% on checking balances on or before the following calendar day. You will continue to earn these APYs for (i) the remainder of the current 30-Day Evaluation Period and through the end of the subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period and (ii) any following 30-day Evaluation Periods during which SoFi Bank determines you to have Eligible Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits without interruption.

SoFi Bank reserves the right to grant a grace period to account holders following a change in Eligible Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits activity before adjusting rates. If SoFi Bank grants you a grace period, the dates for such grace period will be reflected on the APY Details page of your account. If SoFi Bank determines that you did not have Eligible Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits during the current 30-day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, then you will begin earning the rates earned by account holders without either Eligible Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits until SoFi Bank recognizes Eligible Direct Deposit activity or receives $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits in a subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period. For the avoidance of doubt, an account holder with both Eligible Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits will earn the rates earned by account holders with Eligible Direct Deposit.

Separately, SoFi members who enroll in SoFi Plus by paying the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee every 30 days can also earn 3.80% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. For additional details, see the SoFi Plus Terms and Conditions at https://www.sofi.com/terms-of-use/#plus.

Members without either Eligible Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits, as determined by SoFi Bank, during a 30-Day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, or who do not enroll in SoFi Plus by paying the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee every 30 days, will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances.

Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 1/24/2025. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.

^§Awards or rankings are not indicative of future success or results. Neither SoFi Bank, N.A. nor its employees paid a fee in exchange for ratings. Awards and ratings are independently determined and awarded by their respective publications.

†

The following describes the terms that apply to participation in the SoFi Checking and Savings direct deposit promotion (the “Direct Deposit Promotion”) offered by SoFi Bank, N.A, Member FDIC (“SoFi”).

Eligible Participants:
All new and existing members without any history of direct deposit transactions into their SoFi Checking and Savings account are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 OR $300 under the Direct Deposit Promotion. Members who previously enrolled in direct deposit into either SoFi Money or SoFi Checking and Savings, whether currently still enrolled or not, do not qualify for this Direct Deposit Promotion. Bonuses are limited to one per SoFi Checking and Savings account. In the case of a joint account, only the primary account holder (the member who signed up first) is eligible for a bonus. Member must have an open SoFi Checking account in good standing at the time of the bonus payment.

Promotion Period:
The Direct Deposit Promotion will begin on 12/7/2023 at 12:01AM ET and end on 1/31/2026 at 11:59PM ET.

Bonus Terms:
In order to qualify for a bonus of either $50 OR $300, SoFi must recognize receipt of at least one Eligible Direct Deposit (as defined below) from an Eligible Participant, the first of which must be before the end of the Promotion Period. The amount of the bonus, if any, will be calculated during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period as described and defined below.

Eligible Direct Deposit means a recurring deposit of regular income to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government benefit payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Eligible Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network.

Although we do our best to recognize all Eligible Direct Deposits, a small number of employers, payroll providers, benefits providers, or government agencies do not designate payments as direct deposit. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. After SoFi validates the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit, your Direct Deposit Bonus Period will be treated as having started on the date we receive your first Eligible Direct Deposit.

Deposits that are not from an employer or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, or are non-recurring in nature (e.g. IRS tax refunds), do not constitute Eligible Direct Deposit activity. SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder’s Eligible Direct Deposit activity to determine eligibility and may require additional documentation to complete this verification.

Direct Deposit Bonus Period:
The Direct Deposit Bonus Period begins when SoFi receives an Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more within the Promotion Period and ends 25 calendar days later (the “Direct Deposit Bonus Period”), subject to the Bonus Terms. For the avoidance of doubt, the Direct Deposit Bonus Period shall not extend beyond the Promotion Period.

Bonus Amount:
The bonus amount will vary based on the total amount of Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period.

Total Direct Deposit Amount Received During Direct Deposit Bonus Period	Cash Bonus Tier
$1.00 - $999.99	$0
$1,000.00 - $4,999.99	$50
$5,000.00 or more	$300

Once the Direct Deposit Bonus Period has elapsed, SoFi will determine if you have met the offer requirements and will deposit any earned bonus into your checking account within seven (7) business days. For example, if SoFi receives between $1,000.00 and $4,999.99 in Eligible Direct Deposits during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period, you will receive a one-time cash bonus of $50. A member may only qualify for one bonus tier and will not be eligible for future bonus payments if Eligible Direct Deposits subsequently increase after the Direct Deposit Bonus Period.

Bonus Payment Timeline:
SoFi will credit members who meet qualification criteria within seven (7) business days of the end of the Direct Deposit Bonus Period.

Tax Reporting:
Bonuses are considered income and may be reportable on IRS Form 1099-INT or Form 1042-S as applicable.

Other Important Details:
SoFi reserves the right to exclude any members from participating in this Promotion for any reason, such as suspected fraud, misuse, or suspicious activity. Sofi also reserves the right to modify or end the Promotion at any time.

Interest Rates:
SoFi members can earn the following annual percentage yields (APY):
With Eligible Direct Deposit:
•Savings (including Vaults): 3.80% APY.
•Checking: 0.50% APY.
•No minimum Direct Deposit amount is required to earn the 3.80% APY on savings.

Without Eligible Direct Deposit:
•Savings (including Vaults): 1.00% APY.
•Checking: 0.50% APY.

Other Rates Details:
•Rates are variable and are subject to change at any time.
•Rates are current as of 1/24/25.
•No minimum balance is required.
Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.

⁶ SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC's regulations. 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 sofi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms/. See list of participating banks at sofi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks.

^{^} 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 Checking & Savings Fee Sheet for details at sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/.

³We’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 incurred when using out-of-network ATMs are not subject to reimbursement. SoFi’s ATM policies are subject to change at our discretion at any time.

^*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.

SoFi Plus: SoFi Plus is a premium membership that gives members access to our best APY, discounts, rewards, and more when they set up Direct Deposit or pay the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee. Benefits are subject to change and may not be available to everyone. All terms and conditions applicable to the use of SoFi Plus apply. To learn more about SoFi Plus and available benefits and terms, please see the SoFi Plus page.

SoFi Money® is a cash management account, which is a brokerage product, offered by SoFi Securities LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC. SoFi Securities LLC is an affiliate of SoFi Bank, N.A.

⁴ Overdraft Coverage is limited to $50 on debit card purchases only and is available to customers with monthly direct deposits of $1,000 or more. Members with a prior history of non-repayment of negative balances are ineligible for Overdraft Coverage.

²9x based on FDIC monthly interest savings rate as of December 16, 2024.

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