- Earn 1% cash back rewards on debit card purchases.
- No minimum initial deposit or account-balance requirements.
- No monthly service fees, NSF fees, or overdraft fees.
- Paper checks available on request.
Discover Bank Review 2024
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Personal Finance
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Discover® is best known for its lineup of rewards credit cards, which are some of the best in the business. But did you also know that you can earn high interest, and even cash back rewards, on deposit accounts at Discover® Bank?
Discover® Bank doesn’t pay the highest rates on any particular account. But what sets this bank apart is that it pays high interest on all its savings accounts and on most certificates of deposit (CDs). In addition, the bank charges very few fees. And if that isn’t enough, checking and savings accounts have no minimum deposit or balance requirements.
That’s why Discover® Bank is worth investigating for anyone looking for a new place to bank.
Who is Discover® Bank for?
Discover® Bank is a good choice for anyone who is looking to earn higher interest on deposit accounts than what is typically offered at brick-and-mortar banks. Discover pays above-average interest on nearly all account types. But where it shines most is with its online savings account, which pays high interest on all account balances, and its CDs.
Discover® Bank also has an excellent checking account, offering cash back rewards on purchases made with the debit card. The account doesn’t pay interest, but there are no fees or minimum-balance requirements.
In addition, Discover® offers some of the best credit cards in the industry. If you have one of those cards, Discover® Bank can be a natural choice to open a savings account to earn high interest or a checking account with cash back rewards.
Review of Discover® products
Here’s a closer look at the products Discover® offers.
Discover® Checking Account
Discover® Checking Account
Discover® Checking Account
APY*
1% in cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month
Min. deposit
$0
Monthly fee
$0
Pros & cons:
Pros:
Cons:
- No branch locations.
- Account is not interest-bearing.
The Discover® Checking Account comes with the Discover It® Cash Back debit card, which pays 1% in cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month.That adds up to $30 each month, or as much as $360 per year.
The account requires no minimum initial deposit and no ongoing minimum balance. And though it pays no interest, there are no monthly service fees, non-sufficient funds (NSF) fees, or overdraft fees.
RELATED: Best checking accounts
Why we recommend it: Relatively few banks offer debit cards providing cash back rewards. Not only does the Discover It® Cash Back debit card pay 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in purchases each month, but there is no minimum deposit or balance requirements and practically no fees.
Discover® Checking Account alternatives
|  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Account | Discover® Checking Account | Axos Rewards Checking | Sofi Online Checking Account |
| APY* | 1% in cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month | Up to 3.30% | 0.50% (though Up to 4.00% APY with direct deposit or $5,000 or more in qualifying deposits during the 30-day evaluation period.) |
| Min. deposit | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Monthly fee | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| View Offer | View Offer |
Discover® Online Savings Account
Discover® Online Savings Account
Discover® Online Savings Account
APY*
3.75%
Min. deposit
$0
Min. balance to earn APY
$0.01
Monthly fee
$0
Pros & cons:
Pros:
- Pays high interest on all account balances.
- No minimum initial deposit or account-balance requirements.
- No monthly service fees or fees for excessive withdrawals, insufficient funds, or deposited items returned.
Cons:
- Does not provide ATM access.
- It isn’t the highest-yielding savings account, but it’s not far below either.
The Discover® Online Savings Account pays 3.75% APY on all balances. Not only is there no minimum balance requirement, but there are practically no fees connected to the account. Interest is compounded daily and credited monthly.
RELATED: Best high yield savings accounts
Why we recommend it: The Discover® Online Savings Account is a good choice because it combines a high APY on all balances, with no minimum balance requirements and practically no fees.
Discover® Online Savings alternatives
|  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Account | Discover® Online Savings Account | CIT Bank Platinum Savings | SoFi Savings |
| APY* | 3.75% | 4.55% | Up to 4.00% APY with direct deposit or $5,000 or more in qualifying deposits during the 30-day evaluation period. |
| Min. deposit | $0 | $100 | $0 |
| Min. balance to earn APY | $0.01 | $5,000 | $0.01 |
| Monthly fee | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| View Offer | View Offer | View Offer |
Discover® Money Market Account
Discover® Money Market Account
Discover® Money Market Account
APY*
3.60% for balances under $100,000
3.65% for balances over $100,000
Min. deposit
$0
Min. balance to earn APY
$0
Monthly fee
$0 on account
$30 for wire transfer
ATM fee if outside ATM network
Pros & cons:
Pros:
- Pays very competitive interest.
- No monthly service fees or fees for excessive withdrawals, insufficient funds, or deposited items returned.
- Multiple ways to access funds.
- No initial or ongoing deposit requirement.
Cons:
- There are other money market accounts paying higher interest.
The Discover® Money Market Account pays a competitive interest rate for all balances, including a slightly higher rate for accounts $100,000 and over. Like other Discover® deposit accounts, the account comes with practically no fees.
You can access funds using standard checks, official bank checks, or your debit card. You can even use the account to make payments through online bill pay.
LEARN MORE: Best Money-Market Accounts
Why we recommend it: Pays high interest on all account balances and charges practically no fees. The account also offers multiple ways to access your funds, comparable to a checking account.
Discover® MMA alternative
|  | |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Discover® Money Market Account | Quontic Money Market Account |
| APY* | 3.60% for balances under $100,000 3.65% for balances over $100,000 | 4.75% |
| Min. deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Min. balance to earn APY | $0 | $0 |
| View Offer |
Discover® CDs
Discover® CDs
Discover® CDs
APY*
Up to 4.00%
Term
3 months to 10 years
Min. deposit
None
Monthly fee
$0
Terms of Discover® CDs range from three months to 10 years. Interest rates range between 2.00% and 4.00% APY. Discover® CDs extend the high rates on the longest terms, including the seven and 10-year certificates. Most other banks pay high rates on short-term CDs, and much lower ones on CDs beyond five years if they even offer terms that long.
There is no minimum initial investment for Discover® CDs.
RELATED: Best CD rates
Why we recommend it: Discover® CDs yield higher interest on a larger number of maturities than those offered by most competing banks. There is no minimum deposit required for Discover CDs.
Discover® CDs alternative
|  | |
|---|---|---|
| Account | Discover CDs | Bread Savings CDs |
| APY* | 4.00% | 4.10% |
| Term | 1 Year | 1 Year |
| Min. deposit | $0 | $1,500 |
| Monthly fee | $0 | $0 |
| View Offer | View Offer |
Other Discover® products
IRAs
Discover® offers CDs for IRAs with rates and terms comparable to their ordinary CDs.There is a minimum investment of $2,500. The IRA Savings Account currently pays 3.90% APY, with no fees and no minimum deposit requirements. Both traditional and Roth IRAs are available.
RELATED: Best Roth IRA Accounts
Credit cards
Discover® offers seven different credit cards, under the “Discover It®” label. This includes two student credit cards and a secured card to help build or rebuild credit. Discover® credit cards are popular for generous cash back rewards and no annual fee.
RELATED: Best Credit Cards
Loans
Discover® offers student loans, personal loans, mortgages, and home equity loans.
Discover® Bank
Discover® Bank
APR
7.99% to 24.99%
Loan amount
$2,500 to $40,000
Term
36 to 84 months
Min. credit score
660
Review of Discover® features
ATM network
Discover® Bank participates in the Allpoint and MoneyPass networks, giving depositors access to more than 60,000 fee-free ATMs across the U.S..
Bank fees
Discover® Bank doesn’t have the usual fees associated with deposit accounts, like monthly service charges, NSF, and overdraft fees. The only fee Discover® Bank charges is $30 for outgoing wire fees.
CDs, like most, are subject to early-withdrawal penalties:
- Term of <1 year: 3 months simple interest.
- 1 to <4 years: 6 months simple interest.
- 4 to <5 years: 9 months simple interest.
- 5 to <7 years: 18 months simple interest.
- 7 years or greater: 24 months simple interest.
Security
Since Discover®Bank operates entirely online, the bank uses multiple strategies to maintain security. This includes encryption technology to prevent unauthorized access to your information and regular monitoring of your account for potential fraud.
Discover® Bank will automatically send you an ID code by text or phone to verify your identity if you are attempting to log into your account from an unrecognized device. You can also add optional security steps, such as account alerts and mobile fingerprint login.
All deposit accounts are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
(FDIC) for up to $250,000 per depositor.
Customer service
Customer service is available by toll-free phone, 24/7, at 1(800) 347-7000.
UI/technology
Discover® Bank offers online and mobile banking for both Android and iOS devices. The mobile app offers all the services of the online version, including paying bills online, transferring funds between accounts, and making mobile check deposits.
You can send money to family and friends using Zelle and make payments with digital wallets when you add Apple Pay to your debit card.
More about Discover® Bank
Who owns Discover® Bank?
Discover® Bank is owned by Discover Financial Services, which is a publicly traded company (NYSE: DFS).
Discover® Bank history and reputation
Discover® started with the Discover® Credit Card, which was created in 1985. At the time, Discover was part of Sears, Roebuck, and Co., and the card itself was launched nationally by the Dean Witter Financial Services Group subsidiary in 1986.
In 1993, Dean Witter spun off from Sears, under an independent, publicly traded company, Dean Witter, Discover & Co. Discover Financial Services came into existence in February 1999 and, in 2006, Discover was spun off to become the independent, publicly traded company it is today, operating as Discover Financial Services.
The company enjoys a Better Business Bureau rating of A+, the agency’s highest rating. The mobile app has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars by more than 280,000 Android users, and 4.9 out of 5 stars by more than 4.2 million iOS users.
World presence
Similar to many online banks, Discover® Bank has no brick-and-mortar branch locations. Instead, you can take advantage of online and mobile banking, as well as deposit and access cash at more than 60,000 fee-free ATMs nationwide.
How does Discover® Bank compare?
Discover® Bank stacks up well against the competition in all four major deposit account types— savings, money market accounts (MMAs), certificates of deposit (CDs), and checking accounts
Based on our analysis below, Discover® Bank offers what we believe to be the most attractive checking account, with 1% cash back on debit card purchases, no fees, and no minimum deposit. That’s because the cash back provision has real potential to provide a larger benefit than the interest being paid on competitor accounts.
TIME Stamp: Discover® Bank offers attractive deposit accounts and credit card offerings
If you’re looking for a new deposit account, Discover® Bank should be on your shortlist. We believe they have one of the top checking accounts available and are close to the top performers with savings accounts, money market accounts, and CDs.
Discover® is also a major player in the credit card arena, with the popular “Discover It®” series. The cards offer 5% cash back on revolving categories and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. If you maintain one of these credit cards, you may appreciate the convenience of also having one or more high-yield deposit accounts with Discover® Bank.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
How do you deposit cash into Discover® Bank?
Discover® Bank can accommodate deposits by mobile check deposit, cash, and check deposits at more than 60,000 fee-free ATMs, or by wire, ACH, or direct deposit. Discover® Bank has no physical bank branches.
If you prefer, you can also mail checks to the following address:
Discover® Bank
P.O. Box 30417
Salt Lake City, UT 84130
Where is Discover® Bank located?
Discover® Bank is headquartered in Riverwoods, Ill. It has regional operations centers around the country, but no branch locations.
Are there better rates than the Discover® Online Savings Account?
Quontic’s savings account pays slightly higher interest than Discover® Bank. CIT pays a higher rate than both banks—4.70% APY—but only on balances of $5,000 or more. Balances below $5,000 earn just 0.25%.
SoFi Disclosures: 1. Up to $300 Bonus Tiered Disclosure: New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 1/31/2026. Full terms at sofi.com/banking. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC. SoFi members with Direct Deposit can earn 4.00% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 4.00% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Direct Deposit will earn 1.20% 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 12/3/2024. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
2. APY disclosures: SoFi members with Direct Deposit or $5,000 or more in Qualifying Deposits during the 30-Day Evaluation Period can earn 4.00% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. Members without either Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits, during the 30-Day Evaluation Period will earn 1.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Only SoFi members with direct deposit are eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 12/3/24. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
3. Fee Policy: 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/.
The information presented here is created by TIME Stamped and overseen by TIME editorial staff. To learn more, see our About Us page.
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