Zeta is a financial technology company that focuses on providing a joint banking experience through its mobile app. (Deposits are handled by Piermont Bank, member FDIC.) Users can easily share bills and manage finances through Joint and Personal accounts. See all that Zeta has to offer in our complete Zeta review.
Zeta checking account review
Zeta has two account types, Joint and Personal. Users must begin by opening a Joint account. Personal accounts are only available for active Joint account users.
Zeta Joint Account
This is the foundation of a Zeta account, and it's a checking account that can easily be shared by couples (and potentially whole families, though Zeta is still working on those features). But it's not only couples who are eligible to share a Zeta Joint account. Co-parents, friends, roommates, and friends can also team up to share an account. Users will share a true joint account, in that all funds will be equally owned between the two account holders.
Joint accounts have no monthly fee and no minimum balance requirement. That said, if you have at least $1,000 a month in direct deposits or a minimum balance of $5,000, you'll reach VIP level and can earn interest on your deposits (the APY is decent, but not the best).
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Ratings Methodology
Rates asof Apr 29, 2024
Zeta
Member FDIC.
Rating image, 3.50 out of 5 stars.
3.50/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Rating image, 3.50 out of 5 stars.
3.50/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
APY
up to 2.43%Rate info2.43% APY applies to the entire balance for customers who qualify for VIP status by setting up $1,000 in direct deposits each month or maintaining a $5,000 minimum daily balance.
Min. To Earn APY
$0.01
- Well-rated mobile apps
- No monthly account fees
- Lots of in-app features for joint banking
- No separate savings products
- APYs aren't very competitive
- Premium features require monthly fee
Zeta's interface and extra features can be useful for couples who want to seamlessly blend their finances. A lower APY and lack of other product offers could be limiting for some folks.
Zeta is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Piermont Bank; Member FDIC.
Zeta Personal Account
As long as you are part of an active Joint account, you can also open a Personal Zeta account. This lets you manage those finances you want to keep separate while also easily interfacing with your Joint account.
Personal accounts have no monthly fee, and your account will have its own individual account number and debit card. You can use many of the same features as the Joint account, including everything in the Zeta mobile app, like help from the Zeta Concierge.
Checking account comparison
We recommend comparing checking account options to ensure the account you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout accounts.
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| Account | APY | Promotion | Next Steps |
|---|---|---|---|
Open Account for Discover® Cashback Debit Member FDIC. Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars. 4.00/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. | 0% Min. to earn: N/A | Earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month (see details when you click 'Open Account') | Open Account for Discover® Cashback Debit |
Open Account for SoFi Checking and Savings Member FDIC. Rating image, 4.75 out of 5 stars. 4.75/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. | 0.50% Rate infoYou can earn the maximum savings APY by having Direct Deposit (no minimum amount required) or by making $5,000 or more in Qualifying Deposits every 30 days. See SoFi Checking and Savings rate sheet at: https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.Min. to earn: $0 | Cash bonus up to $300 with direct deposit set up (see details when you click 'Open Account') | Open Account for SoFi Checking and Savings |
Open Account for Axos Bank Rewards Checking Member FDIC. Rating image, 4.25 out of 5 stars. 4.25/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. | 0.40% (up to 3.30%) Rate infoTo earn the full APY, account holders must do all of the following: Receive monthly direct deposits totaling more than $1,500; make 10 transactions a month with your Axos debit card, or sign up for Axos's Personal Finance Manager; maintain an average daily balance of $2,500 per month in an Axos Invest Self Directed Trading Account; and use your Rewards Checking account to make your full monthly Axos Bank consumer mortgage, personal, or auto loan payment.Min. to earn: Monthly direct deposits totaling at least $1,500 | Use promo code AXOS300 and apply by June 30th, to earn up to a $300 bonus! | Open Account for Axos Bank Rewards Checking |
Zeta (free) vs. Zeta+ (paid)
Zeta itself is a tech company, not a bank. (The banking side is handled by Piermont Bank.) So what you get from going through Zeta, rather than getting an account right from a bank, is the suite of extra banking tools and features and access to the Zeta app.
With that in mind, there are two different tiers of Zeta membership. The free Zeta membership includes up to three bank accounts and three household members. It offers all the basic features, including Zeta's envelope system, digital banking, and Zeta Pay.
If you want access to the premium features, you need Zeta+, which costs $6.99 a month. With Zeta+, you can have up to four accounts and four household members. You also unlock Automation+, a host of custom automations for bills and goals, and Cards+, which offers more virtual cards and additional card controls.
Other outstanding Zeta features
For a newcomer to the banking app space, Zeta has managed to integrate a nice menu of features, including:
- Both Joint and Personal accounts can send and receive wire transfers.
- When a Zeta user's account hits VIP status, it gains access to mobile check deposit and higher card limits.
- Zeta account holders can file their income taxes for free in the app, powered by April and its exclusive AI-powered tax software.
Zeta customer service and experience
The company hasn't been around for all that long, so there's limited feedback about its services. Browsing user anecdotes and comments, it looks as if most folks are pretty happy with their accounts. Zeta's mobile banking apps have decent reviews, rating 3.9 out of 5 stars in the Google Play store and 4.5 out of 5 stars in the App Store.
| iOS App Rating | 4.5/5 stars |
| Android App Rating | 3.9/5 stars |
| Cost | Free |
Regarding customer service, Zeta is a bit unique in that it assigns you a dedicated Zeta Concierge when you create an account. You can contact your Concierge through the app to get assistance on a variety of issues.
Zeta also offers email support. What's more, the team seems to be fairly active on social media; even the r/ZetaJointCards subreddit seems to be actively monitored by customer service folks.
Zeta relationship benefits
Unfortunately, Zeta is a young enough service that it isn't set up for relationship benefits like some giant banks. (On the plus side, younger, smaller companies tend to take feedback more readily, and you can be a part of growing the service.)
Alternatives to Zeta
Although some folks might find its features useful, Zeta isn't for everyone. There are other joint bank accounts out there that are simpler, with fewer features but cleaner interfaces, debit rewards, or even better interest rates.
Discover® Bank
If you want a bank that acts like a tech company, Discover could be a good fit. Discover is an online-only bank with a great customer service reputation, and a very highly rated mobile app. The Discover® Cashback Debit checking account has a joint option, no monthly fees, and even earns 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month.
SoFi
SoFi is another online bank with the heart of a tech company, offering tons of digital banking features, including a solid mobile app. SoFi Checking and Savings is a dual account option that pairs both checking and savings in one place, and you can set it up as a joint account without much hassle. You can even earn a competitive APY when setting up direct deposit.
Is Zeta right for you?
Zeta could be a good choice if you:
- Want a joint account with your partner, roommate, friend, co-parent, or other person you trust
- Are happy doing all of your banking online or via a mobile app
- Will receive $1,000 or more a month in direct deposits (to qualify for interest)
Our bank and credit union methodology
Our methodology for scoring banks and credit unions revolves around evaluating key aspects such as annual percentage yield (APY), brand reputation, fees and minimum requirements, and additional perks.
These criteria are weighted differently across various account types, ensuring a comprehensive assessment that reflects the competitive landscape and economic conditions.
We strictly feature products that offer federal insurance and high customer satisfaction, keeping our recommendations unbiased by advertiser influence. This robust evaluation process helps us generate balanced, reliable best-of lists that guide consumers to top financial products.
Learn more about how The Motley Fool Ascent rates bank accounts.
FAQs
No. Zeta is a financial technology company, but it isn't a bank. Instead, your deposits are held by Piermont Bank, member FDIC.
The funds in joint accounts are equally owned by both people on the account.
Yes. Personal Zeta accounts are only available to active Joint account users.
Our Banking Experts
By:Brittney Myers
Writer
Brittney started her writing career in the world of science, putting her physics degree to good use. Her journey into finance started with building her personal credit, but soon grew into a borderline obsession with credit cards and travel rewards. For the last 7 years, she has enjoyed the ability to share her expertise with readers, as well as the opportunity to interview companies and individuals making an impact on our financial lives. She wholly believe most problems can be solved with the right research -- and a good spreadsheet -- and she specializes in translating complex financial topics into actionable advice to help educate and empower readers.
By:Dana George
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Dana George has a BA in Management and Organization Development from Spring Arbor University. For more than 25 years, she has written and reported on business and finance, and she's still passionate about her work. Dana and her husband recently moved to Champaign, Illinois, home of the Fighting Illini. And though she finds the color orange unflattering on most people, she thinks they'll enjoy Champaign tremendously.
Fact CheckedNathan Alderman
Fact checker
Nathan Alderman has worked with The Motley Fool since 2005, making errors his arch-enemies in a variety of roles including a six-year stint as the dedicated fact-checker for The Motley Fool's premium newsletter services. As The Ascent's Compliance Lead, he makes sure that all the site's information is accurate and up to date, which ensures we always steer readers right and keeps various financial partners happy. A graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Nathan spends his spare time volunteering for civic causes, writing and podcasting for fun, adoring his wife, and wrangling his two very large young children.
