Bank accounts aren’t often designed to be unique, which makes sense, since people want accounts handling their money to be functional and predictable.
But if you want something a little extra, these accounts have some of the most unique and innovative perks out there that make them stand out from the rest.
What do bank accounts normally offer?
For the most part, you can expect these typical perks from a bank account:
- Checking accounts usually come with a debit card for making purchases, checkbooks, unlimited transactions and ATM access, and can receive deposits such as paychecks or wire transfers
- Savings accounts typically restrict withdrawals up to six times per month, may come with an ATM card, earn interest to help your savings grow and can receive deposits.
While some accounts vary, the perks of those most basic accounts are pretty much the same for the majority of banks. The biggest variation will likely be the monthly fee to keep the account open.
3 unique bank accounts with cool perks
I’ve compared hundreds of bank accounts, and these accounts have some of the coolest and most unique features I’ve come across.
1. Cleo
Cleo is not a bank—it’s a fintech company with banking partners—but its account has some of the most unique features in recent memory.
One of those unique features is the Cleo AI chat. This AI assistant can praise you or roast you, depending on your spending and savings habits. For example, if you ask it to roast you, it will talk crap with your own transaction history, with quips like: “12 trips to McDonald’s this month. Any more, and I’ll start listing it as a bill.”
Another cool perk is the Swear Jar. This is a savings feature where Cleo “fines” you for spending at your guilty pleasure stores and adds the fine to your savings. You can choose your guilty pleasure and the amount you want to be fined for shopping there.
Cleo has a ton of other features, too, such as a credit-building card, cash advances and a savings account.
2. Chime checking account
Chime is another fintech company with banking partners. While the Chime checking account is pretty standard, it has a unique perk: Pay Anyone.
Ever wanted to send your friend money, but they don’t have the same app as you, like Venmo or Cash App? With Chime’s Pay Anyone feature, you can send money to anyone with a debit card — they don’t even need a Chime account or the app.
For non-Chime users, you just have to use the feature and enter their email or phone number. Then, they have 14 days to claim the payment and have it sent to the debit card of their choice.
The Chime checking account itself has no monthly fees, opening deposit requirements, or overdraft fees. Chime also has other cool perks, like its SpotMe overdraft protection service, a credit-building secured car,d and an optional savings account that earns 2% APY with no balance requirements.
3. Ally Bank
Ally is an online bank, and its Savings Account is easily accessible and comes with great savings features.
Ally’s savings account comes with “savings buckets,” which let you organize your savings into little digital envelopes. After you get the account, you can look at the option called Buckets. You can make up to 30 buckets, set a target goal, choose how to add money to it, and turn on savings boosters like recurring transfers or savings round-ups.
Another unique perk is Ally’s Surprise Savings. With this turned on, Ally analyzes your spending and automatically moves “safe-to-transfer” into your savings. The Surprise Savings doesn’t move amounts more than $100 and only up to three times per week.
The Ally Savings Account has no monthly fees or balance requirements and earns 3.70% APY. When it comes to the buckets, you earn the 3.70% APY on your total savings balance — meaning you don’t earn 3.70% on each separate bucket.
Don’t settle for boring
Most bank accounts are the same — and that’s no fun. With online banks and mobile apps being the staple now, we’re glad to see accounts offering perks outside of typical functions and making full use of modern tech.
