Simple Bank was a favorite online bank for many due to its unique budgeting tools such as Safe-to-Spend and its excellent checking account options.
As the online bank closes its doors in 2021, existing customers (and would-be customers) need to find another bank like Simple Bank without fees but with powerful features.
Thankfully, there are several free Simple Bank alternatives to choose from with exciting features and each alternate banking option offers different perks that can fit your financial needs.
Ally Bank
Ally Bank is one of the most popular online-only banks that offers a suite of account options that earn interest.
- Monthly service fee: $0
- Minimum initial deposit: $0
- Account options: Interest checking, high-yield savings and bank CDs
Interest Checking Account
The Ally Bank Interest-Checking Account requires a $0 minimum deposit and the entire balance earns interest. Ally can also round up debit purchases and transfer the savings.
Key benefits include:
- Earns interest rate of 0.25% APY
- 43,000+ fee-free Allpoint ATMs
- Standard checks are available
You might also consider Ally Bank if you need to write a personal check for quick payment.
Online Savings
The entire Ally Bank Online Savings balance earns up to 4.25% APY.
Linking to an Ally Bank checking account unlocks these three savings tools:
- Buckets: Dedicate a portion of savings for specific goals
- Surprise Savings: Automatically transfer small “safe-to-save” microsavings
- Round Ups: Round up debit purchases and transfer them to savings
Certificates of Deposit
Ally Bank offers three FDIC-insured interest-bearing bank CDs:
- High Yield CD
- Raise Your Rate CD
- No Penalty CD
Each CD option has different yields, investment periods and redemption rules. The Raise Your Rate CD lets investors potentially increase their interest rate for 24- and 48-month CD terms.
Pros
- Checking account earns interest
- Automated savings features
- Free standard checks
Cons
- Buckets savings feature doesn’t create multiple savings accounts (which can be seen as a pro or a con)
Read our full Ally Bank review to learn more.
Chime
Chime is an exciting option and with multiple features and account options.
Besides online checking and savings options, those needing to improve their credit score can open a Credit Builder account.
The Bancorp Bank or Stride Bank, N.A. provides its banking services. Both are FDIC members and your account balances qualify for $250,000 in FDIC Insurance.
- Monthly service fee: $0
- Minimum initial deposit: $0
- Account options: Spending account, Savings accounts, Credit builder account
Spending Account
The Chime Spending Account is a free online checking account.
Some of the best spending account features include:
- Visa debit card
- 38,000+ fee-free ATMs (MoneyPass and Visa Plus Alliance ATMs)
- Free overdraft protection up to $100
- Direct deposits arrive up to two days early
The free Chime SpotMe overdraft protection of up to $100 is unique. Members can qualify for SpotMe by receiving at least $500 in qualifying direct deposits each month. The overdraft limit starts at $20 and gradually increases to $100.
Savings Account
Chime also offers a high-yield savings account. Its current interest rate is 0.50% APY (February 8, 2021), which is a competitive interest rate.
It’s also possible to automate savings with these two savings options:
- Save up to 10% of direct deposits above $500
- Round-up debit card purchases
If you invest with the Acorns app, you may be familiar with the benefits of micro-investing purchase roundups. Chime lets you round up each debit card to the next dollar and save the difference.
Credit Builder
Chime Credit Builder is a free secured credit card account that reports the monthly payment history to the three credit bureaus. According to Chime, members can boost their credit score by up to 30 points on their VantageScore 3.0 credit score.
Pros
- Overdraft protection up to $100
- Round-up savings feature
- Credit Builder secured credit card
Cons
- Must enroll in direct deposit to unlock some features
- Spending Account doesn’t earn interest
- No paper checkbook option
Read our full Chime review to learn more.
Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC. The Chime Visa® Debit Card is issued by The Bancorp Bank or Stride Bank pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. Please see back of your Card for its issuing bank.
Varo Money
Varo Money offers a Banking Account (checking account) and a savings account. The Bancorp Bank providers up to $250,000 in FDIC Insurance for this “neobank.”
- Monthly service fee: $0
- Minimum initial deposit: $0
- Account options: Checking account, Savings account
Checking Account
The fee-free Banking Account is an online checking account offering these perks:
- 55,000+ fee-free ATMs (Allpoint network)
- Receive direct deposit paycheck up to two days early
- Cash deposits
- Partner offers to save money on non-banking services
You can make cash deposits using GreenDot Reload @ the Register (up to $4.95 reload fee). But, it’s possible to deposit cash with an online-only bank.
Varo also partners with other fintech companies to help you save money on services. Discounts are available for insurance and credit score trackers. You may also see promos for side hustle apps.
Savings Account
The Varo Savings Account balance earns 0.40% APY which is competitive with other high-interest savings accounts.
Varo is one of the few banks that offer savings account interest rates above 1% APY these days – as high as 2.80% APY.
But you must meet several monthly benchmarks to earn the bonus interest rate:
- Make at least five qualifying debit card purchases
- Receive at least $1,000 in qualifying direct deposits
Varo also requires having an average daily savings balance below $10,000 – which is the opposite of what you might expect. Typically, banks have minimum balances, not maximum ones. Finally, the checking and savings account balances must always be greater than or equal to $0.00 to qualify.
Savers can also round up debit card purchases and transfer them to savings and automate direct deposits too.
Pros
- Can earn above-average savings account interest rate
- Green Dot at the Register cash deposits
- Automated savings features
Cons
- Debit purchases and direct deposit necessary to earn bonus yield
- Cash deposits incur a retail fee
Read our full Varo Money review to learn more.
LendingClub Bank
LendingClub Bank, formerly Radius Bank, offers several banking options. Most people will consider Radius for its Rewards Checking and High-Yield Savings options.
- Monthly service fee: $0
- Minimum initial deposit: $100
- Account options: Rewards Checking, High-Yield Savings, CDs
Rewards Checking
Despite its $100 minimum opening deposit, there isn’t a minimum ongoing balance requirement for the LendingClub Rewards Checking account.
This account boasts these perks:
- Debit card purchases earn 1% cash back
- Balances above $2,500 earn interest
- Unlimited ATM fee reimbursements worldwide
- Receive direct deposits up to 2 days early
The first $2,500 in checking account balances won’t earn interest which is one downside. But getting fee reimbursements from any ATM network is a nice tradeoff.
High-Yield Savings
The LendingClub High-Yield Savings account award up to 0.25% APY interest on deposits:
- $0 to $2,500: 0% APY
- $2,500 to $24,999.99: 0.15% APY
- $25,000 and up: 0.25% APY
There are better high-yield savings account options than LendingClub. But the interest rate is higher than most brick-and-mortar banks.
Pros
- Unlimited ATM refunds across the world
- Debit card purchases earn 1% back
- Checking account balance can earn interest
Cons
- $100 minimum opening deposit
- Only balances above $2,500 earn interest
Read our full LendingClub Bank review to learn more.
Get started with LendingClub Bank
CIT Bank
CIT Bank offers some of the most interest-bearing account options for the online-only Simple Bank alternatives. There is a $100 minimum initial deposit for accounts.
- Monthly service fee: $0
- Minimum initial deposit: $100
- Account options: Checking, High-Yield Savings, Money Market, CDs
eChecking
The CIT eChecking account has these features:
- Up to $30 in monthly ATM fee reimbursements
- Balances under $25,000 earn 0.10% APY
- A minimum $25,000 balance earns 0.25% APY
Money Market
The Money Market account currently earns 4.65% APY. You may consider opening a savings account and a money market account as the interest rates are competitive yet vary.
One advantage of the CIT Bank Money Market Account is that you don’t have to maintain a high daily balance or make a minimum monthly balance to earn the best interest rate like CIT’s better-known Savings Builder account.
Savings Builder
The Savings Builder account is a high-yield savings account paying up to 1.00% APY. You will need to make a minimum $100 monthly deposit or maintain an average $25,000+ daily balance to earn the highest interest rate.
Pros
- All accounts earn interest
- Up to $30 in monthly ATM fee reimbursements
Cons
- $100 minimum initial deposit
- Savings Builder requires recurring deposits or a high balance to earn the best rate
Read our CIT Bank review to learn more.
Axos Bank
Axos Bank offers several checking account options and two high-yield savings options. You won’t pay a monthly service fee but some accounts require a minimum initial deposit.
- Monthly service fee: $0
- Minimum initial deposit: $50
- Account options: Checking and high-yield savings
Rewards Checking
The Axos Bank Rewards Checking account is probably the best account option for most. It’s also one of Axos Bank’s most popular free checking account options.
Here are the account highlights:
- $50 minimum opening deposit
- Earn up to 3.30% APY
- Unlimited domestic ATM fee reimbursements
- No overdraft or insufficient funds fees
The entire account balance can earn interest and enjoy free domestic ATM withdrawals too.
To earn the full interest rate of 3.30% APY (as of 3/1/2023), you must do all of the following.
- 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. (and to unlock the next tiers, you must have direct deposit set up first)
- debit card spending or Personal Finance Manager – 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%;
- Managed Portfolios – maintaining an average daily balance of at least $2,500 a month in an Axos Managed Portfolio Invest account will earn 1.00%;
- self-directed trading – maintaining an average daily balance of at least $2,500 per month in an Axos Self Directed Trading Invest account will earn 1.00%;
- Loan Payments – 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%.
High Yield Savings
The Axos Bank High Yield Savings accounts yields an attractive 0.61% APY. But you need to make a minimum $250 opening deposit that is higher than most online banks.
There are no tedious hoops to jump through to get this rate like the Rewards Checking rate.
Pros
- Unlimited domestic ATM fee reimbursements
- Checking account can earn up to 3.30% APY
- Many account options
Cons
- Minimum initial deposit is likely
- Must complete special activities to earn checking activities interest
Synchrony Bank
Synchrony Bank can be another attractive Simple Bank alternative that tends to yield a higher interest rate than many high yield banks. There aren’t any Synchrony Bank bonuses though.
- Monthly service fee: $0
- Minimum initial deposit: $0
- Account options: High-yield savings, Money Market
Money Market Account
While they don’t offer a checking account, a money market account can fit your needs if you make less than six withdrawals per month.
The Money Market account earns up to 4.65% APY on the entire balance. You can write paper checks, make debit card purchases and ATM withdrawals.
Synchrony Bank reimburses up to $5 in domestic ATM fees per month.
High-Yield Savings
The High-Yield Savings account yields a competitive 4.75% APY on the entire balance.
An optional debit card is available but you can only make up to six monthly withdrawals.
Pros
- Up to $5 in monthly ATM fee reimbursements
- Money Market account offers a debit card and paper checks
- Competitive high-yield savings interest rates
Cons
- No checking account option
Read our full Synchrony Bank review to learn more.
Summary
Each Simple Bank alternative offers fee-free banking access. Many accounts pay interest on deposits and free ATM access is also common. It’s easy to have your savings and checking at the same place and avoid the frustrations of brick-and-mortar banks.
Let’s admit it. To date, there is no alternative to Simple Bank. All of the others fail. Fail to offer even the most basic, easy-to-understand showing of what’s “safe to spend”. Fail to offer even the most basic way to designate funds for specific purposes without complication. Fail to provide an easy-to-execute payment system – especially if you don’t have your mobile device with you at the store! It’s simple. There isn’t yet a single true alternative to Simple Bank. Why doesn’t someone take up the sword and do what they did? Like they did it? WTF?! That’s all.
Agreeing with Katherine here. A lot of people write “Alternatives to Simple Bank” but in reality they are not at all close to what the bank offered. People oversee the features and just go for: “oh well its an online bank with good rates so all the other ones must be good alternatives”, but this is not true. They all fail to realize that what made Simple, well simple, were all the features, that automated your finances, and the intuitive UI design. Per this article I have tried: Ally, Varo, Aspiration, Axos, Synchrony, among others like One, and let me… Read more »