Discover Bank Review

How does your bank stack up?

  • Financial Rates: 4.5 Star Icon
  • Customer Service: 4.0 Star Icon
  • Website Experience: 5.0 Star Icon
  • Bank Fees: 5.0 Star Icon
Advertiser Disclosure
4.00%APY
Savings/MMA · Member FDIC Insured

Pros:

  • No monthly fees or required balances
  • Personal deposit accounts offered
  • Can open all accounts online
  • Competitive interest rates on accounts

Cons:

  • Only personal deposit accounts
  • Not wide variety of accounts
  • Outgoing wires have a high fee
  • MMA has high opening balance and fee

What You Need to Know

Most Discover online bank accounts do not have monthly fees. They also do not have required balances to keep in the accounts. The online checking account, savings accounts, and CDs do not have a monthly fee. They are completely free. Only the money market account has a fee if your balance falls below $2,500.

Personal deposit accounts are available through Discover. They offer online savings, money market, and checking accounts. Their CDs range in terms from three months to ten years. Discover offers IRA CD terms as well as regular CDs.

These Discover accounts are entirely online accounts. Open the savings, money market accounts, and CDs online or by calling customer service. The checking account can only be opened online. Everything for these accounts is done online.

Discover accounts offer competitive interest rates. The rates for every account are much higher than your typical brick and mortar bank rates. The rates are competitive with other online accounts. The only account that has tiered interest rates is the money market account. The difference between the two-tiered rates is very small. Balances over $100,000 in the money market account earn a slightly higher rate. All balances earn competitive rates.

Discover Bank offers only personal deposit accounts. Those accounts include a savings, checking, and money market account, as well as CDs. Discover Bank does not offer any business accounts.

There is not a wide variety of personal deposit accounts offered through Discover. Discover offers one savings, one money market, and one checking account. No business accounts are available. CD terms range from three months to ten years.

One way to access your money in your Discover accounts is through a wire transfer. There is a fee to complete each wire. That fee is $30 for each outgoing wire sent from your Discover account. There is not a fee for domestic wire transfers received into Discover accounts. There may be a $20 fee for wire transfers received in a foreign currency.

The Discover money market account has a high opening required amount. That account requires $2,500 to open. There is a monthly fee of $10. Waive that fee by keeping $2,500 in the money market account.

Cool Things

Discover Cashback Bonus Debit Card

The Discover checking account comes with a cashback bonus program. Customers earn 1% cash back on debit card purchases of up to $3,000 each month. Earn the cashback bonus through transactions using your debit cards. ATM transactions, person-to-person payments, and other transactions may not apply. The rewards do not expire.

History

Discover started first with credit cards. The first card transaction was made in 1985 at a Sears store in Atlanta. It was not until 1986 that the Discover Card launched across the nation. In 1989, Discover signed its 1 millionth merchant to do business with. The DiscoverCard.com website launched in 1995.

In 2000, the Greenwood Trust Company, which Discover acquired in 1985, changed its name to Discover Bank. This is the companies only banking branch. In 2018, Discover introduced the cashback for checking account customers. Through this program, customers with checking accounts earn a percentage bank each month. Customers earn 1% back on up to $3,000 in purchases each month.

Discover Bank offers personal deposit online accounts. They offer credit cards, student, personal, and home equity loans.

Awards and Recognition

  • Named one of NerdWallet’s Best Checking Accounts for 2018
  • Named one of NerdWallet’s Best Savings Accounts for 2018
  • Named one of NerdWallet’s Best Money Market Accounts for 2018

Giving Back

Discover works to give back to the communities they serve. They support Boys and Girls Clubs in many cities. They provide financial support for academic programs and resource. Employees volunteer at the clubs. They help with upgrades to the building as well as mentoring Club members. Discover also works with Junior Achievement. Volunteers teach programs focused on financial literacy and entrepreneurship.

Discover has an Employee Giving Program. Each year employees donate thousands of dollars to different charities. Discover matches their donations through the You Care, We Share Employee Program.

In 2018, Discover started the Discover College Commitment for their employees. Their employees earn a full-ride scholarship. This includes tuition, books, fees, and supplies for a bachelor’s degree to one of three online schools. The benefit has no tenure requirement for employees. Employees can start this program on the first day of their job.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Discover Bank FDIC insured?

Yes. Discover Bank is FDIC insured. The FDIC is an agency of the United States government that protects funds deposited in banks, up to $250,000 per customer, per bank. The money deposited in FDIC insured banks means money is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government.

How do I access my money?

By ATM or debit cards, checks, or through electronic transfers. You can use online bill pay or send money through wire transfers.

Does Discover Bank offer mobile banking?

Yes. With the mobile app, you can deposit checks, view account balances, and make transfers. You can pay bills and manage account alert preferences.

Is Discover Bank free?

Only the money market account has a monthly fee. You are only charged the fee if your balance falls below $2,500. All other Discover accounts are free, with no monthly balance or required amount.

Is Discover Bank a good bank?

They offer personal deposit online accounts. There are no monthly fees or required amounts. The interest rates on Discover accounts are competitive and not tiered.

Is Discover Bank secure online?

Discover provides the security required by federal law. Discover will time-out your online session after a set period of inactivity. They offer a $0 liability protection. You are not responsible for the unauthorized debit card, online, or mobile banking transactions. You must notify Discover immediately of fraudulent activity.

Does Discover Bank offer competitive interest rates?

Yes. Discover interest rates are competitive with other online accounts. Only the money market account has tiered interest rates. The difference between the two rates is small.

Can I use Discover Bank for my business accounts?

No. Only personal deposit accounts are available through Discover. Those offered are checking, savings, and money market accounts, and CDs.

How is Discover online banking different from the online banking my bank offers?

The account is entirely online. The interest rates for each of the accounts are much higher than typical brick and mortar bank rates.

Do Discover Bank checking accounts pay interest?

The Discover checking account does not earn interest. Instead, you earn 1% cash back on purchases. You can earn that 1% for up to $3,000 in purchases each month.

How do I reach customer service?

By phone, email or mail. You can follow Discover on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.

Does Discover Bank offer bill pay?

Yes. Discover checking, and money market accounts offer free account bill pay.

Can I deposit cash?

You cannot mail cash to have deposited into your account. Deposit money by direct deposit, electronic transfers, ATMs, or by mailing in a check.

How long do transfers take?

Most transfers are available the same day as the transfer. For large deposits or specialty checks, the first $200 is available the same day. The rest of the deposit is available the next business day.

Can I sign up for direct deposit to Discover Bank accounts?

Yes. Money can be directly deposited into Discover checking, savings, or money market accounts.

Bank Contact Information

Discover Bank
PO Box 30416
Salt Lake City, UT 84130
1-800-347-7000

BankTruth works to have the most up-to-date information on our website. The listings that appear on our pages are from companies from which this website may receive compensation, which may impact how, where and in what order products appear. Even so, we work hard to review banks fairly and pass the information onto you, the consumer. Please be aware that we cannot guarantee bank services and promotional offers. If you find a mistake, please contact us.

Sponsored Offers

Advertiser Disclosure
LendingClub
Savings (Rate as of 3/29/2024)
APY 5.00%
Rate 5.00%
For APY $0
Monthly Fee $0.00
Checkbook No
Member FDIC Plus, no monthly fees and unlimited free external transfers
Next >
American Express
Savings (Rate as of 3/29/2024)
APY 4.35%
Rate 4.26%
For APY $1
Monthly Fee $0.00
Checkbook No
Member FDIC
Next >
Jenius Bank
Savings (Rate as of 3/29/2024)
APY 5.25%
Rate 5.25%
For APY $0
Monthly Fee $0.00
Checkbook No
Member FDIC. No fees. Easy deposits and quick withdrawals.
Next >
CIT Bank
Savings (Rate as of 3/29/2024)
APY 5.05%
Rate 4.93%
For APY $5,000
Monthly Fee $0.00
Checkbook No
Member FDIC CIT Bank, a division of First Citizens, 125+ years of experience.
Next >
EverBank
Savings (Rate as of 3/29/2024)
APY 5.15%
Rate 5.02%
For APY $0
Monthly Fee $0.00
Checkbook No
Member FDIC
Next >
Capital One
Savings (Rate as of 3/29/2024)
APY 4.35%
Rate 4.35%
For APY $0
Monthly Fee $0.00
Checkbook No
Member FDIC It only takes about 5 minutes to open a fee-free account.
Next >
Barclays
Savings (Rate as of 3/29/2024)
APY 4.35%
Rate 4.35%
For APY $0
Monthly Fee $0.00
Checkbook No
Member FDIC
Next >
Laurel Road
Savings (Rate as of 3/29/2024)
APY 5.00%
Rate 5.00%
For APY $0
Monthly Fee $0.00
Checkbook No
Member FDIC
Next >
Sallie Mae
MMA (Rate as of 3/29/2024)
APY 4.65%
Rate 4.54%
For APY $0
Monthly Fee $0.00
Checkbook Yes
Member FDIC
Next >
VirtualBank, a division of First Horizon Bank
MMA (Rate as of 3/29/2024)
APY 5.00%
Rate 5.00%
For APY $0
Monthly Fee $0.00
Checkbook Yes
VirtualBank is a division of First Horizon Bank. Member FDIC.
Next >