no monthly service fee
up to 4.00% bonus
$0
- 3 Savings Pods that let you earn up to 4.00% bonus
- No minimum opening deposit
- No monthly service fees
- No overdraft fees
- No instant transfer fees to other Current members
- Early direct deposit
- Debit card included
- Budgeting tools: Round-ups and Spending Insights
- Earn cash back on debit card purchases
- $2.50 out-of-network ATM fee
- Can't overdraw from your account without the Overdrive feature
- Access to 40,000 fee-free Allpoint ATMs
- You may overdraw up to $200 from your account with no overdraft fees if you're eligible for Overdrive
- To be eligible for the Overdrive feature, you'll need to receive direct deposits $500 per month
- 3 Savings Pods: You may deposit up to $2,000 in each Savings Pod; Money that is kept in Savings Pods can earn 4.00% bonus
- Round-Ups: Debit card purchases are rounded up to the nearest dollar and the change is deposited into a Savings Pod
- Spending Insights: You can create a budget that keeps track of specific categories of spending; Spending Insights monitors how much you spend and can issue alerts if you are close to your limit
- Cash back: You can earn cash back at 14,000 select stores when you use your debit card; Points be redeemed at the Current Shop for cash
- Issued through Choice Financial Group (Member FDIC)
The bottom line: Current could be a great choice if you'd like to earn a high interest rate on some of your savings, or are looking for budgeting features to help track your spending. It also might be ideal if you're a parent searching for a fee-free debit card for a teen. The best high-yield savings accounts pay a high interest rate on balances over $6,000, though.
Current Pros and Cons
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Current Account
The Current Account is a solid free hybrid checking/savings account. It might be appealing if you're comfortable keeping your money all in one place and looking for budgeting tools and savings features.
Most notably, Current lets you earn up to 4.00% bonus through a savings feature called a Savings Pod. A Savings Pod may be used to save money for individual goals, and you can add an image and description to label how the money will be used. Each account has three Savings Pods, which can earn bonuses maximum of $2,000 per pod.
You'll also get some notable perks common in checking accounts — for example, the Current Account has a two-day early direct deposit and lets you earn cash back on debit card purchases.
Current Teen Account
Current also has a debit card for teens. To be eligible for the debit card, at least one parent will have to get a Current Account. Teens will need to open and link a separate account through a QR code.
Teens will be able to manage their debit card through the Current Teen Account, which doesn't have minimum balance requirements or monthly service fees.
With the Teen Account, you also have the unique option to donate to charities — choose from a list of organizations and save money through a Giving Pod.
How Current Works
Current is a mobile fintech platform with banking products for adults and teens. Anyone over the age of 18 may open a hybrid checking/savings account. You may also open a debit card for a minor if you're a parent, but you'll have to open a Current Account first.
While Current isn't a bank, its banking services are issued through Choice Financial Group (Member FDIC). You may safely keep up to $250,000 in an FDIC-insured bank account.
If you have questions about Current's banking products, you'll have to search through the website FAQ section or submit an email request. You can't call a customer representative on the phone.
The platform's mobile app is rated 4.6 out of 5 stars in the Google Play Store and 4.7 out of 5 stars in the Apple store.
Current Trustworthiness and BBB Rating
The Better Business Bureau rates businesses by assessing how they respond to customer complaints. Current has an A rating because the BBB has received 588 customer complaints.
Current hasn't been involved in any recent public controversies or lawsuits.
How Current Compares
Current vs. Chime
See how the Current app compares to Chime, another popular fintech banking platform.
Choosing between Current and Chime may depend on what you prioritize in your banking experience.
Current offers a higher interest rate than Chime, but there are account balance limits and money that isn't kept in Saving Pods won't earn any interest.
Meanwhile, the Chime Savings Account has a bit more of a straightforward approach. There aren't any limits on account balance to earn the bonus. However, you would need to open the Chime® Checking Account before opening the Chime Savings Account.
You may also prefer Current to Chime if you're looking for more unique budgeting features. You can create a budget to keep track of your spending in certain categories or earn cash back on debit card purchases.
Current vs. Spruce
Current and Spruce both offer mobile banking products. See how the two stack up below.
Your decision between these two mobile banking platforms may ultimately hinge on how you would conduct your finances.
With Current, you'd be opening a hybrid checking/savings account. A hybrid account combines savings and checking features. You'll earn a high interest on money kept in three Savings Pods like you would with a savings account (although, there's a limit of $2,000 per pod that can earn bonuses). In terms of checking account features, you'll be able to receive early direct deposit and have access to a debit card.
Spruce has separate savings and checking accounts. The Spruce Spending Account also has a debit card and offers early direct deposit. Meanwhile, the Spruce Savings Account lets you save for individual savings goals.
Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed Current
We rate bank accounts on a scale from one to five stars. For Current, we used Personal Finance Insider's bank account ratings methodology. The exact factors we evaluate vary depending on the type of account.
We use a weighted average to get our star rating, which means we weigh certain features, like interest rates and fees, at a higher weight percentage than others. We understand that these areas can more heavily impact a person's overall banking experience.
Current Frequently Asked Questions
Is Current a free app?
You can open a Current Account and Teen Account, and there are no monthly service fees or subscription fees.
Can I deposit cash in the Current Account?
You may deposit cash at over 60,000 stores. You may also link an external bank account and make transfers to deposit money into a Current Account.
If you're looking for more online-only institutions that accept cash deposits at ATMs or stores, review our list here.
Which ATMs can I use with Current?
You'll have access to 40,000 fee-free ATMs in the Allpoint ATM network.
How much can you withdraw from the Current Account?
You may withdraw up to $500 daily from ATMs. The debit card has a daily spending limit of $2,000.
Current does not permit daily limit increases, so you won't be able to make one-time withdrawals or debit card purchases that exceed the limits.
Current is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group, Member FDIC, and Cross River Bank, Member FDIC. The Current Visa® Debit Card is issued by Choice Financial Group pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. The Current Visa® secured charge card is issued by Cross River Bank pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa credit cards are accepted. Please see the back of your Card for its issuing bank. Current Individual Account required to apply for the Current Visa® secured charge card. Independent approval required.
Chime® Disclosures:
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.
Out-of-network ATM withdrawal fees may apply except at MoneyPass ATMs in a 7-Eleven, or any Allpoint or Visa Plus Alliance ATM.
Early Pay: Early access to direct deposit funds depends on the timing of the submission of the payment file from the payer. We generally make these funds available on the day the payment file is received, which may be up to 2 days earlier than the scheduled payment date.
The Annual Percentage Yield ("APY") for the Chime Savings Account is variable and may change at any time. The disclosed APY is effective as of September 20, 2023. No minimum balance required. Must have $0.01 in savings to earn interest.
Round Up: Round Ups automatically round up debit card purchases to the nearest dollar and transfer the round up from your Chime Checking Account to your savings account.
SpotMe® on Debit is an optional, no fee overdraft service attached to your Chime Checking Account. To qualify for the SpotMe on Debit service, you must receive $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits to your Chime Checking Account each month and have activated your physical Chime Visa® Debit Card or secured Chime Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card. Qualifying members will be allowed to overdraw their Chime Checking Account for up to $20 on debit card purchases and cash withdrawals initially but may later be eligible for a higher limit of up to $200 or more based on Chime Account history, direct deposit frequency and amount, spending activity and other risk-based factors. The SpotMe on Debit limit will be displayed within the Chime mobile app and is subject to change at any time, at Chime's sole discretion. Although Chime does not charge any overdraft fees for SpotMe on Debit, there may be out-of-network or third-party fees associated with ATM transactions. SpotMe on Debit will not cover any non-debit card transactions, including ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, or Chime Checkbook transactions. SpotMe on Debit Terms and Conditions.
Money added to Credit Builder will be held in a secured account as collateral for your Credit Builder Visa card, which means you can spend up to this amount on your card. This is money you can use to pay off your charges at the end of every month.
The secured Chime Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card is issued by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa credit cards are accepted. Please see the back of your card for its issuing bank.
On-time payment history may have a positive impact on your credit score. Late payment may negatively impact your credit score. Chime will report your activities to Transunion®, Experian®, and Equifax®. Impact on your credit may vary, as Credit scores are independently determined by credit bureaus based on a number of factors including the financial decisions you make with other financial services organizations.
Qualifying Direct Deposit: The qualifying direct deposit must be from your employer, payroll provider, gig economy payer, or benefits payer by Automated Clearing House (ACH) deposit OR Original Credit Transaction (OCT). Bank ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, verification or trial deposits from financial institutions, peer to peer transfers from services such as PayPal, Cash App, or Venmo, mobile check deposits, cash loads or deposits, one-time direct deposits, such as tax refunds and other similar transactions, and any deposit to which Chime deems to not be a qualifying direct deposit are not qualifying direct deposits.
Save When You Get Paid: Save When I Get Paid automatically transfers 10% of your direct deposits of $500 or more from your Checking Account into your savings account.
Once the retailer accepts your cash, the funds will be transferred to your selected Chime Account. Barcode and debit card cash deposits land in the Checking Account. Credit Builder card cash deposits first go through your Card Account and then land in your Secured Account. Cash deposit fees may apply if using a retailer other than Walgreens and Duane Reade.
Tax e-file services provided by April Tax Solutions Inc. ("april") or Column Tax, Inc. ("Column Tax"). These tax filing offers are not endorsed or offered by our partners, The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A.
Maximum refund guarantee is provided by april or Column Tax. If you use april's service to prepare and file your return and you find an error in the tax preparation that entitles you to a larger refund (or smaller liability), you may use their service to amend that return at no additional charge. To qualify, the larger refund or smaller tax liability must not be due to differences or inaccuracies in data supplied by you, your choice not to claim a deduction or credit, positions taken on your return that are contrary to law, or changes in federal or state tax laws. See here for details. If you use Column Tax's service, Column Tax will reimburse you for up to $250 if you are able to pay less federal or state income tax or receive a larger federal or state income tax return by using another tax return preparation provider. Eligibility requirements apply. See terms for details.
If the april tax preparation software makes a mathematical error that results in your payment of a penalty and/or interest to the IRS that you would otherwise not have been required to pay, april will reimburse you up to a maximum of $10,000. See april terms for details. If interest and/or a penalty is imposed by the IRS as a result of a computational error by Column Tax, you may be entitled to up to $10,000 reimbursement by Column Tax. See Column Tax terms for details.
There are no fees required to use this product. Chime does not require you to deposit your refund into your Chime Account to qualify for free tax filing. Certain costs may be incurred if you decide to obtain other optional financial products offered in relation to your tax filing. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) may impose penalties or other charges depending on your personal tax situation. If the april tax preparation software makes a mathematical error that results in your payment of a penalty and/or interest to the IRS that you would otherwise not have been required to pay, april will reimburse you up to a maximum of $10,000. See april terms for details. If interest and/or a penalty is imposed by the IRS as a result of a computational error by Column Tax, you may be entitled to up to $10,000 reimbursement by Column Tax. See Column Tax terms for details.
Chime does not guarantee timing of refund. Six day refund estimate is based on 2023 tax year filing data. Refund timing estimates are dependent upon timing of complete tax return submission and when the IRS submits your refund.
