American Express · U.S. checking accounts

American Express Rewards Checking

Online checking with no monthly fee or minimum opening deposit, for eligible existing American Express National Bank customers. U.S. residence and an SSN or ITIN are required.

Pros

No monthly maintenance fee or minimum opening deposit.
Earn 1 Membership Rewards point per $2 of eligible debit purchases.
Fee-free withdrawals at participating U.S. Allpoint and MoneyPass ATMs.
No Amex fee for incoming U.S.-dollar wires.
Earns 1.00% APY on balances; variable rate, accurate as of Oct 31, 2026.
Earn a $300 welcome bonus when you open by Feb 1, 2027 and receive $7,500 or more in qualifying direct deposits within 90 days of opening.

Cons

Requires an eligible existing Amex relationship; the FAQ specifies at least five days for qualifying basic consumer card, savings or CD customers. Other eligibility conditions apply.
Applicants need an SSN or ITIN, qualifying home address and U.S. citizenship or resident-alien status.
ATM cash deposits are not accepted.
Outgoing wires cost $20; limits and additional terms apply.
Non-U.S.-dollar debit purchases and ATM withdrawals incur a 2.7% Amex foreign exchange fee; third-party fees may also apply.
Overdraft service is not offered. Amex charges no overdraft or returned-item fee; any negative balance must be repaid.

Generated from the provider's published terms and reviewed against official sources.

Costs and key facts

Recurring fee	0 (currency not confirmed)
Minimum opening deposit	0 (currency not confirmed)
SSN requirement	Conditional
ITIN accepted	Accepted
Credit check	NotStated

Fee waiver: No monthly maintenance fee or minimum balance requirement; no waiver needed.

Eligibility and application requirements

U.S. address: Required

Residency and other conditions: Applicants must be at least 18, a U.S. citizen or resident alien, have a valid SSN or ITIN and a U.S. residential address. An eligible existing U.S. Amex consumer card (including an additional card), Amex high-yield savings account or CD is also required. A visa alone does not establish resident-alien eligibility; confirm your situation with Amex before applying.

Geographic restrictions: Requires a qualifying home address in the U.S. or the territories/APO/FPO/DPO listed in the deposit agreement; not an account for applicants residing abroad. No narrower state exclusion identified in the reviewed terms.

Product review: 31 Oct 2026. Source retrieval dates below are separate from editorial verification. An accepted ITIN does not establish residency eligibility.

Compare u.s. checking accounts requirements and costs · How we assess published requirements

Service fees

Overdraft / returned item	0 (currency not confirmed)
Outgoing domestic wire	20 (currency not confirmed)
Incoming wire	0 (currency not confirmed)
Outgoing instant transfer	Not confirmed
Incoming instant transfer	Not confirmed
Global remittance	Not confirmed
Allpoint ATM	0 (currency not confirmed)
Other ATMs	Allpoint and MoneyPass withdrawals are fee-free in the U.S.; other ATM owners or networks may charge. Foreign-currency withdrawal fees and withdrawal limits can apply.
Cash deposit	ATM cash deposits are not accepted. Fund by eligible bank transfers, direct deposit, mobile check deposit or incoming wires.