Expect more from your checking account^*

With American Express® Rewards Checking, there are no fees to open an account, no monthly fees, and no minimum deposit or balance requirements. Expand your membership with a checking account today.^†

Apply Now

^*We are currently accepting applications from Card Members with a U.S. Basic Consumer Card issued by American Express National Bank with 3+ months tenure. American Express Business Checking customers are not eligible to apply at this time.

Husband and wife unpacking suitcase and playing with their children

Everyday checking made more rewarding

Earn a 1.00% APY^† to build your balance

Earn Membership Rewards^® points on Debit Card purchases^†

No monthly account fees^† and no minimum balance required

Take advantage of a high-yield checking account

Keep cash available while earning a competitive 1.00% APY, which is 10X higher than the national rate.^†

Earn Membership Rewards® points on Debit Card purchases^†

Reward your everyday spending and earn 1 Membership Rewards point for each $2 of eligible Debit Card purchases. Then redeem those points for deposits right into your Amex Rewards Checking account. If you already have a Membership Rewards-enrolled Product, you can redeem points the same way you always have. If you're new to the Membership Rewards Program, the points you earn can be redeemed for limited options.

Manage your accounts from anywhere, 24/7

Easily manage your account transactions, balances, and statements, 24/7 online or in the Amex^® App.^† Plus, it’s simple to connect your existing bank accounts, so you can transfer money when you need to from an eligible account that’s connected.

No fee to open, no minimum deposit, and no monthly fees^†

You can apply online for an Amex Rewards Checking account in minutes, without paying a fee. Once you’ve opened your account, there are no minimum deposit or balance requirements, and no monthly account fees.

Checking built for your day-to-day

Use your Debit Card with confidence

With Zero Liability Fraud Protection, you won’t be held responsible for fraudulent charges on your Debit Card that you report promptly.^†

Purchase Protection¹ is an embedded benefit of your American Express^® Debit Card. The benefit requires no enrollment and is provided at no additional charge. It can help protect Covered Purchases made on your Eligible Card against accidental damage or theft, for up to 90 days from the Covered Purchase date. The coverage is limited up to $1,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per account per calendar year. Please read important exclusions and restrictions to see if your item is eligible for coverage.

¹Purchase Protection is underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company, Phoenix, AZ. Subject to additional terms, conditions and exclusions. For Terms and Conditions, see americanexpress.com/PPterms. If You have questions please call Us at 1-800-228-6855, if international, collect at 1-303-273-6498.

Frequently Asked Questions

Applying for an American Express Rewards Checking account can be completed in minutes. Only American Express^® Card Members with a Consumer Card can apply to open an American Express Rewards Checking account. You must be the primary Card Member and must have your Card for a minimum of three months before applying. At this time, Amex Rewards Checking accounts can be designated only for individual accountholders.

Submitted applications will be reviewed promptly, with decisions usually provided within minutes.

Once your application is approved, you can start managing your American Express Cards and Amex Rewards Checking account all in one place 24/7. After logging into your account in the American Express App or online, you can view your account balance and recent transactions, track Membership Rewards^® points, manage account settings and more.

After your account is created, you’ll need to fund your account within 60 days to keep it open. Your available options include:

Making a deposit online: After linking one of your other bank accounts, you can enable an online transfer into your Amex Rewards Checking account.
Setting up direct deposit: Use your routing and account number provided on your Amex Rewards Checking account home page to set up direct deposit directly into your checking account.
Using mobile check deposit: You can deposit a check quickly right from your mobile device using the American Express App. Available on iOS and Android only. Mobile data rates may apply.

You can withdraw cash anywhere you see an American Express logo, including unlimited fee-free ATM withdrawals with your Debit Card at 37,000 MoneyPass^® ATM locations nationwide. You can find a full list of ATMs near you by visiting americanexpress.com/atm-locator. Please know that third parties may impose fees for services and transactions on ATMs that are not on the MoneyPass network. ATM withdrawal limits also apply.

With Amex Rewards Checking, you can earn 1 Membership Rewards point for each $2 of eligible Debit Card purchases. Points can be redeemed for deposits into your Amex Rewards Checking account, with no cap on how many points you can earn.

If you already have a Membership Rewards-enrolled Card, in most cases your Amex Rewards Checking account will automatically be linked to your existing Membership Rewards Program Account. All points earned from your linked Card(s) and your Debit Card will accumulate together in a single Rewards Account, which can be redeemed for deposits or for any other eligible redemption options, including gift cards or travel. If your Amex Rewards Checking Account is not linked to a Card Rewards account, points earned from your Amex Rewards Checking account and American Express Debit Card can only be redeemed for deposits. If your Amex Rewards Checking account was not automatically linked to your existing Membership Rewards Program Account, please call us at 1-877-221-2639 or chat with us at americanexpress.com or in the Amex App, available on iOS and Android only. You can review the Membership Rewards^® Program Terms and Conditions at membershiprewards.com/terms.

Have other questions? Get more answers by reviewing our full list of FAQs.

Husband and wife standing, each holding a child

Modern banking designed for Members

Apply Now

^*Currently available only to Consumer Card Members who have had a Card account for 3 months or longer. American Express® Business Checking customers are not eligible at this time.

Privacy Statement

Rewards Checking Account Terms

Accounts offered by American Express National Bank. Member FDIC. Each depositor is insured to at least $250,000. Learn More from FDIC.gov.

^†Terms & Conditions

Annual Percentage Yield (APY)

The Annual Percentage Yield (APY) as advertised is accurate as of . APY is subject to change at any time without notice before and after a Rewards Checking Account is opened. Please see the Rewards Checking Account Terms for additional terms and Truth-in-Savings disclosures. Transaction fees may reduce APY. APY rate compared to national deposit rate from the FDIC’s published Monthly Rate Information for Interest Checking deposit products. FDIC national rate is calculated as the simple average of interest rates paid by US FDIC-insured depository institutions and branches for which data is available. This national deposit rate reflects APY paid on a variety of interest-bearing checking accounts with terms, services and limitations that may differ. See the FDIC Website for details.

American Express^® App

iOS and Android only. See app store listings for operating system info.

ATM Withdrawals

At MoneyPass^® locations in the U.S., you can withdraw cash and get account information at no charge. Access to ATMs outside of the MoneyPass^® network are subject to fees by the ATM owner and/or network. ATM withdrawal limits apply. American Express applies foreign exchange fees to withdrawals in foreign currencies. Visit americanexpress.com for Terms and Conditions and to find participating ATMs in the U.S.

Contactless Payments

Contactless payments are accepted at participating merchants only.

Digital Wallet

Digital wallets are Apple Pay^® and Google Pay^™.

Membership Rewards^® Program for Checking and Debit

When you open an American Express® Rewards Checking Account you will also receive a Membership Rewards® Account (a Rewards Account), in which you will earn one Membership Rewards point for every two dollars of eligible Debit Card purchases. Eligible Debit Card purchases are purchases of goods or services, minus returns and other credits, for anything except: cash withdrawals, cash equivalents, person-to-person transactions, purchases of traveler’s checks, American Express Gift Cards bought online, purchases or reloading of prepaid cards, and foreign exchange fees and fees for account services. You can redeem Membership Rewards points for a deposit into your checking account. Visit www.membershiprewards.com/pointsinfo to learn what other redemption options may be available. If you also have a Rewards Account in connection with a Card Account, your Rewards Accounts can be linked and you will have access to all redemption options offered with that Card Account. For more information, visit membershiprewards.com/terms.

Membership Rewards^® Program - Redeem for Deposits

You may redeem Membership Rewards^® points for deposits into your American Express^® Rewards Checking Account. To learn more about the redemption value for Redeem for Deposits, go to membershiprewards.com/pointsinfo. American Express will deduct the number of points you select from your Membership Rewards Account and deposit a corresponding dollar amount into your checking account. Generally, deposits will post to your account within 48 hours of redemption. For more information, visit membershiprewards.com/terms.

Membership Rewards^® Program

Terms and Conditions for the Membership Rewards^® program apply. Visit membershiprewards.com/terms for more information. Participating partners and available rewards are subject to change without notice. The value of Membership Rewards^® points varies according to how you choose to use them. To learn more, go to www.membershiprewards.com/pointsinfo.

Mobile Check Deposit

Mobile Check Deposit is subject to deposit limits and other restrictions, which may change in the future. Please see the Rewards Checking Account Terms (www.americanexpress.com/rewardscheckingterms) for details and for information about when funds deposited through Mobile Check Deposit are made available. Mobile data rates may apply.

No Monthly Account Fees and No Minimum Balance Requirements

No minimum balance is required to open an account or earn interest and no minimum balance fees are charged for Rewards Checking Accounts. Inactive and/or unfunded accounts may be subject to closure. Please see the Rewards Checking Account Terms for further details.

Purchase Protection

Purchase Protection is underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company, Phoenix, AZ. Subject to additional terms, conditions and exclusions. For Terms and Conditions, see americanexpress.com/PPterms. If You have questions please call Us at 1-800-228-6855, if international, collect at 1-303-273-6498

Zero Liability Fraud Protection

Zero Liability Fraud Protection does not include unauthorized charges made by users who you allow to use your Debit Card. You are responsible for notifying American Express promptly upon learning of an unauthorized transaction against your accounts or the loss or theft of your Debit Card or Debit Card number. Limitations apply. See the Rewards Checking Account Terms. Learn how we secure your payments at the American Express Security Center website.

Everyday checking made more rewarding

Earn a 1.00% APY† to build your balance

Earn Membership Rewards® points on Debit Card purchases†

No monthly account fees† and no minimum balance required