The best checking rates for Memphis, Tennessee include Hope Federal Credit Union Jackson, MSHope Federal Credit Union Jackson, MS1451 Madison Ave, Memphis, TN 38104A5.0 ★Texas Ratio: 6.51% HOPE Rewards Checking and Checking Plus Accounts at 5.13% APY, Orion Federal Credit UnionOrion Federal Credit Union3155 Millbranch Rd, Memphis, TN 38116 1917A+5.0 ★Texas Ratio: 2.45% Premium Checking Accounts at 5.00% APY, FedTrust Federal Credit UnionFedTrust Federal Credit Union167 N Main St Ste 102, Memphis, TN 38103 1867A4.9 ★Texas Ratio: 8.25% Rewards Checking at 4.59% APY, FAA Federal Credit UnionFAA Federal Credit Union7974 Centennial Dr, Memphis, TN 38125 2376A+5.0 ★Texas Ratio: 1.67% Dividend Plus Checking at 3.52% APY, and FirstBank (TN)FirstBank (TN)3238 Players Club Cir, Memphis, TN 38125A5.0 ★Texas Ratio: 9.56% FirstRewards Checking at 1.51% APY. Checking account rates as of September 22, 2026 according to verified data from MonitorBankRates.
Memphis has 12 local institutions in our database, with checking rates as high as 5.13% APY from Hope Federal Credit Union Jackson, MS at 1451 Madison Ave, Memphis, TN, 38104. Use the tabs below to compare all available checking account types. Rates are continually updated, so we recommend checking back frequently.
Checking account rates reflect recent market quotes and representative offers available to depositors in Memphis, Tennessee. Checking Account Rates Last Updated and Verified: September 22, 2026
Qualifications Required: Qualifications Required; Balance: $0.01 - $10,000.00; Balance: $0.01 - $10,000.00
Balance: $0 to $10,000
Balance: $500 - $19,999.99
N/A
Qualifications Required: At least 10 debit card purchases post and clear; At least one ACH debit or ACH credit post and clear per monthly qualification cycle; Receive eStatement; Tier 1: Daily balance $0 to $25,000.00; APY for this tier will range from 1.51% to 0.79%, depending on the balance in the account.
On balances over $10,000.00; Rate: 0.50%
Balance: $50,000.00 and above; Minimum balance of $1,000 is required to accrue interest.
Balance: $100,000
Balance: $25,000.00 to $49,999.99; Minimum balance of $1,000 is required to accrue interest.
Balance: $1,000.00 to $9,999.99; Minimum balance of $1,000 is required to accrue interest.
Balance: Less than $100,000
No additional details provided.
Balance: $0-$99,999
Interest earned on a minimum average daily balance of $1,000.00 or more. First 20 debit transactions are free, and only $0.25 thereafter.
When Qualifications Not Met; Rate: 0.10%
No additional details provided.
No additional details provided.
No additional details provided.
No additional details provided.
No additional details provided.
Qualifications Required: Qualifications Required; Balance: $0.01 - $10,000.00; Balance: $0.01 - $10,000.00
Balance: $0 to $10,000
Balance: $500 - $19,999.99
N/A
Qualifications Required: At least 10 debit card purchases post and clear; At least one ACH debit or ACH credit post and clear per monthly qualification cycle; Receive eStatement; Tier 1: Daily balance $0 to $25,000.00; APY for this tier will range from 1.51% to 0.79%, depending on the balance in the account.
On balances over $10,000.00; Rate: 0.50%
Balance: $50,000.00 and above; Minimum balance of $1,000 is required to accrue interest.
Balance: $100,000
Balance: $25,000.00 to $49,999.99; Minimum balance of $1,000 is required to accrue interest.
Balance: $1,000.00 to $9,999.99; Minimum balance of $1,000 is required to accrue interest.
Balance: Less than $100,000
Interest earned on a minimum average daily balance of $1,000.00 or more. First 20 debit transactions are free, and only $0.25 thereafter.
When Qualifications Not Met; Rate: 0.10%
Qualifications Required: 1 direct deposit or ACH credit; 12 debit card purchases; e-statements enrollment; online banking enrollment/login
Qualifications Required: 1 direct deposit or ACH credit; 12 debit card purchases; e-statements enrollment; online banking enrollment/login; Balance: 0 - $15,000
Qualifications Required: 1 direct deposit or ACH credit; 12 debit card purchases; e-statements enrollment; online banking enrollment/login; APY on balances as much as $10,000
Qualifications Required: 1 direct deposit or ACH credit; 12 debit card purchases; e-statements enrollment; online banking enrollment/login; Balance: 0 - $10,000
Balance: 0 - $50,000; Qualifications Required; Rate applies to balances up to $50,000.00
Qualifications Required: 15 debit card transactions; Log in to online/mobile banking at least once; Receive eStatements; Have direct deposit.
Balance: $0.01-$5,000
Qualifications Required: Qualifications Required; Balance: $0.01 - $10,000.00; Balance: $0.01 - $10,000.00
Balance: $500 - $19,999.99
Qualifications Required: At least 10 debit card purchases post and clear; At least one ACH debit or ACH credit post and clear per monthly qualification cycle; Receive eStatement; Tier 1: Daily balance $0 to $25,000.00; APY for this tier will range from 1.51% to 0.79%, depending on the balance in the account.
On balances over $10,000.00; Rate: 0.50%
When Qualifications Not Met; Rate: 0.10%
Balance: $20,000 and over
Qualifications Required: 1 direct deposit or ACH credit; 12 debit card purchases; e-statements enrollment; online banking enrollment/login; Balance: 0 - $15,000
Qualifications Required: 1 direct deposit or ACH credit; 12 debit card purchases; e-statements enrollment; online banking enrollment/login; APY on balances as much as $10,000
Qualifications Required: 1 direct deposit or ACH credit; 12 debit card purchases; e-statements enrollment; online banking enrollment/login; Balance: 0 - $10,000
Balance: 0 - $50,000; Qualifications Required; Rate applies to balances up to $50,000.00
Balance: 0 - $25,000
Balance: $0 - $50,000
Qualifications Required: 10 debit card purchases post and clear per qualification cycle; 1 direct deposit or ACH auto debit post and clear per qualification cycle; Enroll and receive electronic statements; 0.20% APY* on your balances over $50,000 each qualifying cycle when the requirements are met. ATM fee refunds when requirements are met. If requirements are not met, your account will still function as a free checking account earning 0.10% APY; however, it will not receive ATM refunds for that time period. Rates are effective as of today's date. We may change the interest rate and APY at any time after the account is open. No monthly service charge. Available to Personal Accounts only.
Balance: $500,000.00 +
Balance: $200,000.00 - $499,999.99
Balance: $10,000+
Balance: $50,000 - $199,999.99
Balance: $10,000.01 and over; 4.50% APY on balances as much as $10,000; 0.05% APY on all balances if qualifications aren't met; Refunds on ATM withdrawal fees, nationwide (up to $25 monthly)
APY on portion of balance over $10,000
Balance: $25,000.00 - $49,999.99
No additional details provided.
No additional details provided.
Balance: $10,000.01 and over; 4.50% APY on balances as much as $10,000; 0.05% APY on all balances if qualifications aren't met; Refunds on ATM withdrawal fees, nationwide (up to $25 monthly)
Balance: $0.00; 4.50% APY on balances as much as $10,000; 0.25% APY on portion of balance over $10,000; Refunds on ATM withdrawal fees, nationwide (up to $25 monthly)
No additional details provided.
No additional details provided.
Balance: $0-$99,999
Balance: 100,000+
No additional details provided.
Balance: $100,001+
Qualifications Required: 15 debit card transactions of $10 or more post and settle per month; Be enrolled and agree to receive e-statements; Earn 1% APY on balances up to $250,000*. For any balance over $250,000, earn .50% APY*. Non-Qualification Interest rate if the above criteria is not met is .05% APY
No additional details provided.
Balance: $50,001 to $100,000
Balance: $25,001 to $50,000
Balance: $10,000 to $25,000
Balance: $100,000+
Balance: $50,000-$99,999.99
Balance: $50,000+
No additional details provided.
Dividend Compounded: Quarterly; Preferred Business Checking Account: No monthly fee on a preferred business checking account if $1,500.00 balance is maintained. If balance is under $1,500.00, then fees may apply. Must use eStatement for no-fee option. Available to qualifying Members. Some restrictions may apply. Fees may apply. Fees may reduce earnings. Ask for details.
Balance: $25,000 - $49,999.99
Balance: $10,000-$49,999.99
Balance $2,500 or more
Balance: $10,000 - $24,999.99
No additional details provided.
No additional details provided.
Compare local Memphis, TN checking rate quotes against the statewide average
Daily checking rate averages tracked across our database of 8,500+ banks and credit unions, updated every evening.
Tennessee high-yield checking rates fell 0.244 points over the past 7 days to 1.627% APY.
Tennessee free checking rates fell 0.069 points over the past 7 days to 0.793% APY.
Checking APYs move with Federal Reserve policy. Our model projects the likely path of high-yield and free checking averages from the current Tennessee figures.
Key assumptions: the Federal Reserve holds the federal funds rate at its current level over the next 12 months, with the possibility of one 25 basis point increase; deposit institutions typically pass policy-rate changes through to checking APYs within 60–90 days. Reward and high-yield checking adjust faster than standard accounts.
Important notice: this forecast is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for financial decisions. Rate forecasts carry significant uncertainty. The actual trajectory will depend on Federal Reserve decisions, economic conditions, and competitive dynamics among financial institutions.
Annual interest earnings at current Tennessee average APYs. Advertised high-yield rates typically require qualifying monthly activity, and most accounts cap the balance that earns the top rate. The calculator below models your exact balance against a cap.
| Balance | High-Yield Checking (1.627% APY) | Monthly Earnings | Free Checking (0.793% APY) | Monthly Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2,500 | $40.69 / year | $3.39 | $19.81 / year | $1.65 |
| $5,000 | $81.37 / year | $6.78 | $39.63 / year | $3.30 |
| $10,000 | $162.74 / year | $13.56 | $79.25 / year | $6.60 |
| $25,000 | $406.85 / year | $33.90 | $198.13 / year | $16.51 |
| Earnings estimates assume the full balance earns the average APY with qualifying requirements met every month. Actual earnings depend on the account’s rate cap, base rate, and whether requirements are met. The top offers above pay well over these averages. Source: Tennessee checking rate averages as of September 22, 2026. | ||||
MonitorBankRates tracks checking account rates from 22 banks and 20 credit unions offering checking accounts to Memphis, Tennessee residents, spanning high-yield, rewards, free, student, and business checking from community institutions, regional banks, and national online options. Our proprietary aggregation system pulls verified rate data directly from each institution’s official website, no estimates, no national averages passed off as real offers.
Every rate listed includes the institution’s Safety Grade (A+ to F), Star Rating (1–5), and Texas Ratio, objective financial health metrics calculated from FDIC and NCUA regulatory data, so you can compare yield and institutional safety in one place.
Current top rate: Hope Federal Credit Union Jackson, MS offers a checking account at 5.13% APY. High-yield checking rates typically require qualifying monthly activity. Check the account details before opening.
What to compare when shopping for an interest-bearing checking account in Memphis, Tennessee
To find the best checking APYs in Memphis, Tennessee, start with credit unions and online-only banks: Memphis, Tennessee has 20 credit unions in our database, and they dominate the high-yield and rewards checking market because they have lower overhead than traditional branch networks and use high rates to win your primary banking relationship.
Read the qualifying requirements before you’re drawn in by the headline rate. Most high-yield checking accounts require 10–15 debit card transactions per month, a direct deposit or ACH transfer, and e-statements. Miss them in a given month and you earn a near-zero base rate instead. Also check the balance cap: the advertised APY usually applies only up to $10,000–$25,000. The current TN high-yield checking average is 1.627% but top institutions serving Memphis, Tennessee are offering as high as 5.13%, so shopping around pays off.
Finally, weigh fees and access: a monthly maintenance fee can erase a year of interest on a modest balance, and out-of-network ATM fees add up fast. The best accounts pair a high rate with no monthly fee and nationwide ATM access or ATM-fee reimbursement, worth checking if an institution has branches or in-network ATMs near you in Memphis, Tennessee.
Local demographics and economic context for account holders. Source: U.S. Census Bureau
At today’s TN high-yield checking average of 1.627%, keeping 10% of the local median salary ($3,662) in a high-yield checking account would earn $60 annually, money a 0% traditional checking account leaves on the table. The top offers above pay even more.
Data: U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
How interest-bearing checking accounts compare to the other deposit products available at banks and credit unions in Memphis, Tennessee.
| Feature | High-Yield Checking | Free Checking | High-Yield Savings | Money Market |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current TN Avg APY | 1.627% | 0.793% | View Savings Rates | View MMA Rates |
| Monthly Activity Required | ✗ Usually yes (debit + direct deposit) | ✓ None | ✓ None | ✓ None |
| Balance Cap on Top Rate | Common ($10K–$25K) | Little or no interest paid | ✓ Rarely | Tiered: higher balances earn more |
| FDIC / NCUA Insured | ✓ Up to $250K | ✓ Up to $250K | ✓ Up to $250K | ✓ Up to $250K |
| Checks & Debit Card | ✓ Unlimited | ✓ Unlimited | ✗ No | ✓ Limited per month |
| Best For | Everyday spending money that also earns | Simple no-fee banking, modest balances | Emergency fund, larger balances | Larger balances wanting some check access |
APY data reflects Tennessee averages tracked in our database as of September 22, 2026. Rates are variable and may differ by institution. See individual product pages for full details.
See what an interest-bearing checking account earns on your everyday balance. Most high-yield accounts only pay the advertised APY up to a balance cap. Enter the cap to see the real number, or leave it at 0 for uncapped accounts. Click any current Memphis, Tennessee rate on the right to apply it. Interest compounds monthly.
Assumes monthly compounding, qualifying requirements met every cycle, and that balances above the cap earn 0%. Checking rates are variable and can change at any time. Estimates are for informational purposes only.
Independent, Free, and Unbiased Rate Comparisons: MonitorBankRates.com is an independent rate comparison service. Our Memphis, Tennessee checking rate tables are free for consumers to use, and we do not receive payment from any financial institution to be included or to be ranked in any particular order. Listings are based solely on the rates each institution publicly advertises on its own website.
A Note on Third-Party Rate Tools: Some pages on our site also feature rate comparison widgets and tools provided by third-party partners. These tools may include sponsored listings or affiliate links, and we may receive compensation when users click through them. We clearly label these widgets so you can tell at a glance which rates come from our independent MonitorBankRates.com tables and which come from our advertising partners.
Direct-Sourced & Verified Checking Rate Data: We aggregate checking account rates for Memphis, Tennessee directly from the official websites of banks and credit unions using a combination of our proprietary rate aggregation technology and a dedicated team of rate updaters. By sourcing this data from the institutions’ own digital properties and manually verifying the yields daily, we ensure that every checking rate displayed on MonitorBankRates.com is highly accurate and trustworthy.
Local, Regional, and National Coverage: Our systems and team constantly monitor the market to provide a complete picture of available yields in Memphis, Tennessee. We feature a comprehensive mix of financial institutions, allowing you to easily compare localized checking rates from neighborhood credit unions, competitive offers from mid-sized regional banks, and high-yield checking accounts available to account holders in TN.
Daily Updates & Time-Stamped Accuracy: To maintain the highest level of data integrity, our rate updaters verify and update checking rates daily. Because checking account yields can fluctuate based on market conditions, every single checking product listed on our platform features its own specific “last updated” date.