Axos Bank Review
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Axos Bank offers full-service banking completely online with no fees. Find out below whether they can replace your traditional bank account.
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Overall Score | 4.0 | ||
Savings | 4.5 | ||
CD | 3.0 | ||
Checking | 5.0 | ||
Money Market | 4.5 | ||
Mobile App | 4.5 | ||
ATMs | 4.5 | ||
Locations | 2.0 | ||
Pros and Cons
- Checking with rewards
- No monthly fee
- Domestic ATM rebates
- Low CD rates
- No physical branches
Bottom Line
Full-service online bank with excellent cashback and interest checking
Axos Bank, formerly known as Bank of Internet, has brought online banking to its users since 2000. They offer both personal and business banking products ranging from checking, savings, CDs, and more.
While it has fewer fees than traditional banks, there is a tradeoff to this fully digital bank: You won't be able to visit a physical branch for support.
Find out below if Axos Bank will work for your banking needs. Plus, see how they compare to other popular online banks.
Personal Checking Accounts
Axos Bank has plenty to choose from for personal checking. They currently offer five checking account options. Here's what you can expect from each:
Essential Checking
This is the simplest checking account option with no monthly fees. Essential Checking comes with unlimited ATM fee reimbursements, no overdraft fees, and no minimum monthly balance requirements.
Essential Checking
- Unlimited domestic ATM reimbursements
- No monthly maintenance fees
- No annual fee
- No overdraft or non-sufficient funds fee
Rewards Checking
This account offers five tiers of rewards totaling up to 3.30% APY.
It has no monthly fees and comes with unlimited ATM fee reimbursements. Plus, Axos does not require an initial deposit to open a Rewards Checking account.
Rewards Checking - Up to 3.30% APY
- Build your own APY with up to 3.30% APY*
- Zero monthly maintenance fees
- Zero overdraft or NSF fees
- Zero minimum monthly balance reqs
- No initial deposit requirement
- Unlimited domestic ATM fee reimbursements
- Online debit card management
- Simple, 3-step process for direct deposit
CashBack Checking
Instead of earning interest on your balance, you can earn cash back when you shop. This account lets you earn up to 1.00% cash back on all transactions that need a signature, up to $2,000 per month. You'll need to keep at least a $1,500 balance. If you fall lower than $1,500, you'll earn 0.50% cash back instead.[1]
Like the other accounts, there are no monthly fees and unlimited domestic ATM fee reimbursement. You'll also get unlimited check writing privileges.
Golden Checking
This account is for the 55 and older crowd. You can earn 0.10% APY on this checking account. It comes with 40 free personal checks every 6 months. You can also get domestic ATM fee reimbursements up to $8 per month.
There are no monthly fees, overdraft fees, or minimum balance requirements, though you need at least $50 to open a Golden Checking account.
First Checking
This checking account is an intro to money management for teens ages 13 - 17. This joint checking account earns 0.10% APY. It also offers up to $12 in domestic ATM fee reimbursement per month.
While there are no monthly fees with First Checking, there are transaction limits of $100 cash and $500 debit per day.
Personal Savings Accounts
Axos Bank offers higher rates than many traditional banks. You can choose from three savings accounts
High Yield Savings
The High Yield Savings account offers 0.61% APY with no monthly fees or monthly balance requirements. With interest compounded daily and a free ATM card upon request, it's a flexible account to park your rainy day fund. To open the account, you'll need a minimum balance of $250.
High Yield Money Market
If you prefer a savings account with check writing privileges and debit card transactions, check out Axos Bank's High Yield Money Market account. You can earn 0.25% APY and make up to six transactions per month.
There are no monthly fees or minimum monthly balance requirement, but you will need a $1,000 to open the account.
Certificates of Deposit (CDs)
Axos Bank offers CDs ranging from 3 months to 60 months. But, their rates are pretty low at 0.20% APY. Remember, you can't access your funds for the specified time of the CD. If you do, you'll pay an early withdrawal penalty fee.
You'll need $1,000 to open an Axos Bank CD. Once it matures, you'll have a 10-day grace period to decide what to do with the funds before it auto renews.
Compare Savings Account Promotion
High-Yield Savings Premier - 4.46% APY
- No account activity or maintenance fees
- $500 minimum opening deposit
- FDIC insured
Discover® Online Savings - $200 Cash Bonus
To qualify for Bonus: Apply for your first Discover Online Savings Account, enter Offer Code CY924 at application, deposit into your Account a total of at least $15,000 to earn a $150 Bonus or deposit a total of at least $25,000 to earn a $200 Bonus. Qualifying deposit(s) may consist of multiple deposits and must post to Account within 45 days of account open date. Maximum bonus eligibility is $200.
What to know: Offer not valid for existing or prior Discover savings customers, including co-branded, or affinity accounts. Eligibility is based on primary account owner. Account must be open when bonus is credited. Bonus will be credited to the account within 60 days of the account qualifying for the bonus. Bonus is subject to tax reporting. Offer ends 03/13/2025, 11:59 PM ET. Offer may be modified or withdrawn without notice. Due to new customer funding limits, you may wish to initiate fund transfers at your other institution. For information on funding your Account, see FAQs on Discover.com/Bank. See advertiser website for full details.
CIT Bank Platinum Savings - 4.55% APY
- 4.55% APY with a balance of $5,000 or more
- 0.25% APY with a balance of less than $5,000
- $100 minimum opening deposit
- No monthly maintenance fee
- Member FDIC
Retirement Savings
You can open either a Roth or traditional IRA savings or IRA CD at Axos Bank. You can open an IRA savings account with just $250. But you'll need $1,000 to open an IRA CD.
Each account is FDIC insured and offers competitive APRs to help you grow your retirement savings.
Customer support is available 24/7 at (844) 999-2967, excluding Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. You can also use the chat function on their website or visit their FAQ.
Other Axos Bank Products
To round out their personal bank products, Axos also offers mortgage services, personal loans, and auto loans.
If you're looking for banking products for your business, Axos Bank has that too. They offer a host of banking and lending services for business and commercial customers. Small business owners can especially benefit from their checking, savings, money market, and CD accounts.
There's even Axos Invest, a robo-advisor that takes the heavy lifting out of managing your portfolio.
Reasons We Like Axos Bank
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Easily manage your finances on the go. With the Axos Bank app, you can quickly access all your accounts. You can also make mobile check deposits, pay bills, and transfer funds all in the same place. Most accounts come with ATM cards too, so you can access your money throughout the U.S.
No monthly service charges. If bank fees have got you stressed, Axos Bank is a great alternative. Many of their accounts don't have a monthly service fee, overdraft fees, or minimum balance requirements.
Free ATM transactions anywhere in the United States. With the Essential, Rewards, or CashBack checking account, you get free, unlimited domestic ATM transactions. Axos Bank will reimburse the fees, no matter which ATM you use.
Reasons We Don't Like Axos Bank
Only 3 physical branches. If you prefer to bank in person at a brick-and-mortar location, you don't have many options with Axos Bank. They only have branches in San Diego, CA, Columbus, OH, and Las Vegas, NV.
For everyone else, your money is managed 100% electronically via online transfers, mobile deposits, or ATM withdrawals.
Not ideal for depositing cash. You can only deposit cash at an ATM that accepts cash deposits or via the Reload @ the Register program at retailers like 7-Eleven, CVS, Walmart, and more. Keep in mind that this costs $4.95 per deposit. If you need to make several cash deposits per month, this can really eat away at your funds.[2]
Low CD rates for an online bank. Typically, online banks offer higher APYs. The lack of overhead allows banks to pass along the savings to its customers. While Axos has some of the highest rates available now for their savings accounts, their CD rates are quite low.
How It Compares
You're probably trying to narrow your search to just one online bank account. Here's how Axos Bank stacks up against these popular competitors:
Ally Bank
Ally Bank offers an online checking and savings account, along with a variety of CD and IRA options. They don't charge monthly service fees and you don't have to meet minimum monthly requirements. You do have to stick within the Ally ATM network to avoid ATM fees, though.
Capital One 360
Capital One 360 offers a couple of online checking account options as well as a multitude of savings account options. Capital One 360 also doesn't charge monthly service fees. They are known for their higher than average APR offerings, but you may want to watch for their other fees, as they can add up.
More Accounts to Consider:
High Yield Savings Account - 4.35% APY
- No fees
- $1 minimum deposit
- 24/7 online access
- FDIC insured
Discover® Online Savings - $150 Cash Bonus
To qualify for Bonus: Apply for your first Discover Online Savings Account, enter Offer Code CY924 at application, deposit into your Account a total of at least $15,000 to earn a $150 Bonus or deposit a total of at least $25,000 to earn a $200 Bonus. Qualifying deposit(s) may consist of multiple deposits and must post to Account within 45 days of account open date. Maximum bonus eligibility is $200.
What to know: Offer not valid for existing or prior Discover savings customers, including co-branded, or affinity accounts. Eligibility is based on primary account owner. Account must be open when bonus is credited. Bonus will be credited to the account within 60 days of the account qualifying for the bonus. Bonus is subject to tax reporting. Offer ends 03/13/2025, 11:59 PM ET. Offer may be modified or withdrawn without notice. Due to new customer funding limits, you may wish to initiate fund transfers at your other institution. For information on funding your Account, see FAQs on Discover.com/Bank. See advertiser website for full details.
Online Savings Account - Earn 3.90% APY
- No fees
- No minimum opening deposit
- No minimum balance required
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Axos Bank FDIC insured?
Your money is safe with this online-only bank. Each account at Axos Bank is insured for up to $250,000 to protect your money in case the bank fails.
How do I open an account?
Sign up for an account at any time through their website. You can also apply for a few of their bank accounts via their mobile app. All you need is a valid ID and your Social Security number. The whole process takes about 15 minutes.
If you currently bank elsewhere, Axos will provide the forms and steps to take to successfully switch. No need to worry about bouncing checks or missing bill payments.
Is Axos Bank safe?
Axos Bank takes security seriously. Your information is kept safe with two-factor authentication, bank-level SSL encryption, automatic logout after a period of inactivity, and more.
Bottom Line
Online banks have really stepped up their game, and it shows it just how many services they offer. Axos Bank has a wide range of products that work well for personal and business customers.
As for whether it's worth it for you, figure out how important a physical branch is to you. For some, in-person support might be non-negotiable.
Most Axos Bank accounts let you use any ATM in the U.S. without fees. Between that and their mobile app, you can probably do everything you need with a bank. If you have direct deposit set up and mainly use a debit card, it can be a great choice. With the lack of monthly fees, Axos Bank is a solid choice for online banking.
References
- ^ Axos Bank. CashBack Checking, Retrieved 8/17/2022
- ^ Green Dot Corporation. Frequently Asked Questions: Reload with Cash, Retrieved 8/17/2022
Basic Business Checking - Up to $400 Bonus
- Business owners get up to $400 welcome bonus!* Open a business checking account by January 2 and get up to $400 when you use promo code NEW400 on your application.*
- No initial deposit requirement
- No minimum balance requirement
- No monthly maintenance fees
- Free domestic incoming wires. Two (2) outgoing domestic wire fees reimbursed per month.
- Unlimited domestic ATM fee reimbursements
- Unlimited item processing (debits, credits, and deposited items)
- Cash deposits via MoneyPass and AllPoint networks
Bank of America Advantage Banking - $300 Bonus Offer
- The $300 bonus offer is an online only offer and must be opened through the Bank of America promotional page.
- The offer is for new checking customers only.
- Offer expires 01/31/2025.
- To qualify, open a new eligible Bank of America Advantage Banking account through the promotional page and set up and receive Qualifying Direct Deposits* totaling $2,000 or more into that new eligible account within 90 days of account opening. Bank of America Advantage SafeBalance Banking® for Family Banking accounts are not eligible for this offer.
- Once all requirements are met, Bank of America will attempt to pay bonus within 60 days.
- Additional terms and conditions apply. See offer page for more details.
- *A Qualifying Direct Deposit is a direct deposit of regular monthly income – such as your salary, pension or Social Security benefits, which are made by your employer or other payer – using account and routing numbers that you provide to them.
- Bank of America, N.A. Member FDIC.
Chase Total Checking® - $300 Bonus
- New Chase checking customers enjoy a $300 bonus when you open a Chase Total Checking® account with qualifying activities
- With over 4,700 branches, Chase has the largest branch network in the U.S. plus access to more than 15,000 ATMs.
- Chase Mobile® app - Manage your accounts, deposit checks, transfer money and more -- all from your device.
- JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC
- Open your account online now
- Available online nationwide except in Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. For branch locations, visit locator.chase.com.
- Chase Overdraft Assist℠ - no overdraft fees if you're overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the business day or if you're overdrawn by more than $50 and bring your account balance to overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the next business day*
Discover® Online Savings - $200 Cash Bonus
To qualify for Bonus: Apply for your first Discover Online Savings Account, enter Offer Code CY924 at application, deposit into your Account a total of at least $15,000 to earn a $150 Bonus or deposit a total of at least $25,000 to earn a $200 Bonus. Qualifying deposit(s) may consist of multiple deposits and must post to Account within 45 days of account open date. Maximum bonus eligibility is $200.
What to know: Offer not valid for existing or prior Discover savings customers, including co-branded, or affinity accounts. Eligibility is based on primary account owner. Account must be open when bonus is credited. Bonus will be credited to the account within 60 days of the account qualifying for the bonus. Bonus is subject to tax reporting. Offer ends 03/13/2025, 11:59 PM ET. Offer may be modified or withdrawn without notice. Due to new customer funding limits, you may wish to initiate fund transfers at your other institution. For information on funding your Account, see FAQs on Discover.com/Bank. See advertiser website for full details.
U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking - Up to $450 Bonus
Earn up to $450 with a new Bank Smartly Checking account. Complete the following within 90 days of account opening:
- Enroll in online banking or the U.S. Bank Mobile App
- Make two or more direct deposits(s) totaling $2,000 to $4,999.99 to earn $250, $5,000 to $7,999.99 to earn $350 or $8,000 or more to earn $450.
Fund your new account within 30 days to start qualifying activities. Offer may not be available if you are an existing U.S. Bank customer or live outside of the U.S. Bank footprint.
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