Jul
17
2023
SoFi Blog
Tips and news—
for your financial moves.
Jul
16
2023
SoFi’s Guide for College Students
Unlike high school (or at least the last semester of it!) college takes a bit more than just showing up. You’ve probably noticed this in class — and out.
Take living on your own (and on your own dime), for example. It’s a rite of passage, but knowing how to afford the experience you’re dreaming of isn’t so obvious. Spending and saving while you’re a student can wind up adding another layer of stress.
That’s where SoFi and this guide step in, offering you the info and tools you need to stress less and succeed. As a one-stop shop for your finances, SoFi is here to help you bank, borrow, budget, and invest — with our innovative products and features. Our aim: to empower you to take control of your financial journey – and even enjoy the ride.
Check us out! We’ll help you ace your financial life.
Get Your Money Right®
Getting your money right means different things to different people, especially as you move through your college years. Maybe you’re all about getting tuition paid or creating (and sticking to) a budget. Or maybe you landed an amazing summer job (nice!) and want to learn how to invest. No matter what it means to you, we’re here to help you make the most of your money, today and tomorrow.
Bank smarter with SoFi
You’re used to swiping and tapping your way to cool clothes, midnight snacks, and the funniest TikToks. So it makes sense to use your phone to bank. With SoFi, you can open an all-in-one checking and saving account that earns amazing interest — straight from your smartphone. With no account fees, SoFi Checking and Savings puts your funds at your fingertips. Plus, college students can earn up to $10 just for signing up and using their debit card.
Living Your Best College Life
You want to have as fun and carefree a college experience as you can (in between studying and exams, that is). But it’s hard to relax if you keep running out of money for weekend plans and pick-me-up lattes. Read on for smart, painless money strategies that make college life (and what comes next) a lot easier to afford.
The simplest way to save
on school.
Imagine winning $2,500 for college^ with no essays and no effort. That’s the SoFi Scholarship Giveaway.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open only to legal residents of the 50 U.S./D.C., 18+ who are enrolled/accepted to attend a Title IV, accredited non-profit 4-year public or private college/university/grad program in the 50 U.S./D.C. (“School”) during the Sweepstakes Period. If you are not yet a member of SoFi you will need to do so for free before participating. Enter before 11:59:59 pm ET on 12/31/25. Subject to full Official Rules incl. Monthly Entry Periods, prizes, and odds: https://www.sofi.com/scholarship/. Sponsor: Social Finance Inc. (“SoFi”).
Affording College: Help for Finding Funding
Summer jobs fall through. Savings run dry. Scholarships aren’t always a guarantee. If your college tuition plans didn’t quite work out, these resources can help you find ways to cover the shortfall.
What you need to know about student loans, grants, and scholarships
You may have different options for funding your education depending on where your school is in the country. Here are some resources to help you cut through the noise.
Select your state to get started:
Borrow from SoFi
Sweating that tuition bill? We hear you. If you’ve exhausted your financial aid and federal loan options, SoFi may be able to help you get the money you need for school. With competitive low rates and no fees, our private student loans top many “best” lists. (Sorry not sorry to brag.) Apply online and cut the waiting-to-know time.
(Pay)Checks and Balances
Whether you’re starting a work-study job, summer gig, or post-grad position (congrats!), you may be wondering: Why is my paycheck less than what I earned? How long does a deposit take to be available? Can I speed things up? When it comes to your money, there are no stupid questions. Get answers — and learn the ins and outs of paychecks and bank accounts, literally.
Keep track of your money
with SoFi
It’s 10 pm. Do you know where your money is? SoFi Insights helps you keep tabs on your income and expenses in real-time and at no cost. And with an up-to-date view of your finances, you’ll know what you can afford — and what you can’t.
Beyond College: Starting Out and Getting Ahead
Soon enough, you’ll be navigating the real world. Now’s a great time to begin honing some financial skills that’ll see you through this big life transition. Learn about starter salaries, rents, and more.
We’re here to slay myths
about paying for college.
The truth is a mighty weapon. And we’ll help you use it to strike down the myths that block your ultimate quest: paying for college.
Knowing the (Credit) Score
In a world that revolves around credit, having a low credit score, or no credit history at all, can be seriously limiting. Take a look at how to build and use credit responsibly – which in turn can help open more doors for you.
Get the perks
You’re invited! Open an account with us (any kind of account – bank, loan, app) and you’ll become a SoFi member. Joining our community comes with loads of benefits, including VIP experiences, referral bonuses, SoFi Rewards, and more! Also, if you join our student ambassador program, you can earn great rewards like limited-edition swag, early access to products, and 2X SoFi rewards points.
Curious About NFTs, and Stocks?
You’ve probably heard stories about people investing in their 20s, becoming financially independent, and retiring early. If you want to declare your independence some day, the first step is exploring how to grow your hard-earned cash in both established and emerging ways.
Invest with SoFi
You don’t actually have to be a financial whiz to trade stocks. Our beginner’s investing guide can give you a crash course. Once you’re ready, you can test the waters with as little as $5 on SoFi’s investing platform.
Tools of the Trade
Finally, calculators that tell you more useful stuff than square roots! We’ve got what you need to figure out numbers you need, like when you’ll be totally free of your student loans (and maybe even how to speed up that timetable), how much you can save with a SoFi personal loan, or just how rich your retirement can be if you start contributing funds now. Test-drive our calculators below.
Tips From a Financial Planner
Ready for some straight talk from a financial adviser? SoFi’s Brian Walsh answers your spending, saving, and loan questions on everything from “Is College Worth It?” to “When Should I Use My Credit Card?”
Stay informed with SoFi
Got as good listening skills as reading skills? For more financial help, investing insight, or just some general encouragement, subscribe to a SoFi podcast. You’ll hear the latest news and commentary to help you reach your financial goals. Or sign up for the SoFi Daily Newsletter — and get news you can use delivered directly to your inbox.
Read more
Jul
15
2023
Jul
14
2023
Caitlyn Kumi
{/* Banking Influencer- Caitlyn 300 bonus*/}
{/* HERO MODULE */}
{/* Sign up for SoFi Checking and Savings and get */}
Sign up for SoFi Checking and Savings and
get a bonus of up to $300.†
Sign up and set up direct deposit.
Wait for your direct deposit to hit your account (typically 2-4 weeks).
Collect a cash bonus of $50 to $300 depending on your direct deposit amount.
{/* Horizon Top*/}
{/* Supercharge your savings */}
Supercharge your savings by earning up to 3.60% APY
*
Get up to 3.60% APY on your cash with your SoFi savings balance and Vaults.
{/* Here’s why Caitlyn chose SoFi */}
Here’s why Caitlyn Kumi chose SoFi.
No account fees^
No overdraft fees. No minimum balance fees. No monthly fees. Plus, 55,000+ fee-free ATMs within the Allpoint® Network.1
Earn 3.60% APY*
Set up direct deposit and earn up to 3.60% annual percentage yield (APY).
Up to 2-day-early-paycheck‡
Feel the magic of payday up to two days earlier—automatically—when you set up direct deposit.
No-fee overdraft coverage 4
Overspent by accident? No problem. You’ll be covered up to $50 with no fees with qualifying direct deposits.
Cash back, close
to home3
Get up to 15% cash back at local establishments when you pay with your SoFi debit card.
Increased FDIC insurance6
Deposits are insured up to $2M through a network of participating banks. Learn more.
{/* Bank on us anytime, anywhere */}
Bank on us anytime, anywhere— with account access 24/7.
Make deposits, pay bills, find ATMs, send money, and much more—safely and securely in the app.
Open an account
{/* More banking tips and tricks */}
More banking tips and tricks.
See more articles
{/* Achieve your financial goals faster with SoFi*/}
Achieve your financial goals faster with SoFi.
Open an account
{/*FAQs*/}
FAQs
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!
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.
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).
Learn more about our Student Bank Account.
Nine in 10 SoFi members agree—setting up direct deposit is easy.** Simply download this here.
Learn more: How to Set Up Direct Deposit
Members with direct deposit can earn 3.60% APY (annual percentage yield) on savings balances and 0.50% APY on checking balances. That’s more than 9x the national average savings rate! Members without direct deposit can earn 1.00% on savings balances and 0.50% on checking balances.
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 3.60% APY (annual percentage yield)1, plus features like No-Fee Overdraft Coverage2 and up to 2-Day Early Paycheck.‡
SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per depositor 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.
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. In order to deposit money, simply visit a retail location that offers GreenDot services.
Learn more: How to Deposit Cash at an ATM
There is no minimum balance required to open a SoFi Checking & Savings account. There is also no minimum direct deposit minimum required to earn the highest APY on your accounts. For more information about the direct deposit cash bonus offer, please visit sofi.com/banking.
Learn more: How Much Money Is Needed to Start a Bank Account?
You must be 18 years or older to open an individual or joint account.
Learn more: How Old Do You Have to Be to Open a Bank 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 0.50% APY on checking and 3.60% on savings (including Vaults)! We do not currently offer standalone checking or savings accounts.
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.
No, there are no current limits on saving withdrawals or transfers between checking, savings and Vaults.
Nope! You can direct deposit into your checking or savings account and still take advantage of the 3.60% APY.
There is not currently a maximum on the 3.60% APY for savings or Vaults.
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. We also offer no ATM fees at 55,000+ Allpoint ATMs worldwide.1 Check out a full list of fees and service charges here.
Jul
14
2023
Marko Zlatic
{/* Banking Influencer- Marko 300 bonus*/}
{/* HERO MODULE */}
{/* Sign up for SoFi Checking and Savings and get */}
Sign up for SoFi Checking and Savings and
get a bonus of up to $300.†
Sign up and set up direct deposit.
Wait for your direct deposit to hit your account (typically 2-4 weeks).
Collect a cash bonus of $50 to $300 depending on your direct deposit amount.
{/* Horizon Top*/}
{/* Supercharge your savings */}
Supercharge your savings by earning up to 3.60% APY
*
Get up to 3.60% APY on your cash with your SoFi savings balance and Vaults.
{/* Here’s why Marko chose SoFi */}
Here’s why Marko Zlatic chose SoFi.
No account fees^
No overdraft fees. No minimum balance fees. No monthly fees. Plus, 55,000+ fee-free ATMs within the Allpoint® Network.1
Earn 3.60% APY*
Set up direct deposit and earn up to 3.60% annual percentage yield (APY).
Up to 2-day-early-paycheck‡
Feel the magic of payday up to two days earlier—automatically—when you set up direct deposit.
No-fee overdraft coverage 4
Overspent by accident? No problem. You’ll be covered up to $50 with no fees with qualifying direct deposits.
Cash back, close
to home3
Get up to 15% cash back at local establishments when you pay with your SoFi debit card.
Increased FDIC insurance6
Deposits are insured up to $2M through a network of participating banks. Learn more.
{/* Bank on us anytime, anywhere */}
Bank on us anytime, anywhere— with account access 24/7.
Make deposits, pay bills, find ATMs, send money, and much more—safely and securely in the app.
Open an account
{/* More banking tips and tricks */}
More banking tips and tricks.
See more articles
{/* Achieve your financial goals faster with SoFi*/}
Achieve your financial goals faster with SoFi.
Open an account
{/*FAQs*/}
FAQs
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!
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.
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).
Learn more about our Student Bank Account.
Nine in 10 SoFi members agree—setting up direct deposit is easy.** Simply download this here.
Learn more: How to Set Up Direct Deposit
Members with direct deposit can earn 3.60% APY (annual percentage yield) on savings balances and 0.50% APY on checking balances. That’s more than 9x the national average savings rate! Members without direct deposit can earn 1.00% on savings balances and 0.50% on checking balances.
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 3.60% APY (annual percentage yield)1, plus features like No-Fee Overdraft Coverage2 and up to 2-Day Early Paycheck.‡
SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per depositor 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.
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. In order to deposit money, simply visit a retail location that offers GreenDot services.
Learn more: How to Deposit Cash at an ATM
There is no minimum balance required to open a SoFi Checking & Savings account. There is also no minimum direct deposit minimum required to earn the highest APY on your accounts. For more information about the direct deposit cash bonus offer, please visit sofi.com/banking.
Learn more: How Much Money Is Needed to Start a Bank Account?
You must be 18 years or older to open an individual or joint account.
Learn more: How Old Do You Have to Be to Open a Bank 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 0.50% APY on checking and 3.60% on savings (including Vaults)! We do not currently offer standalone checking or savings accounts.
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.
No, there are no current limits on saving withdrawals or transfers between checking, savings and Vaults.
Nope! You can direct deposit into your checking or savings account and still take advantage of the 3.60% APY.
There is not currently a maximum on the 3.60% APY for savings or Vaults.
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. We also offer no ATM fees at 55,000+ Allpoint ATMs worldwide.1 Check out a full list of fees and service charges here.
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