The best checking accounts with cashback perks this November are Upgrade Rewards Checking Preferred and Happen Bank LevelUp Checking. Both pay cash back on debit-card purchases when you maintain direct deposit, but they reward different spending. Cashback checking means the bank returns a set percentage of eligible debit purchases to your account. Direct deposit means your paycheck is sent electronically to checking by your employer.
Table of Contents
- How Upgrade rewards everyday spending
- What Happen LevelUp pays for
- What does it cost and what must you do
- Which account fits your spending
How Upgrade rewards everyday spending
Upgrade Rewards Checking Preferred pays 2% cash back on common everyday expenses for Active Accounts with at least $1,000 in monthly direct deposit. The 2% rewards are capped at $500 per calendar year, according to the Upgrade, Inc. Help Center how you can earn cash back with Rewards Checking Preferred.
The same Active Account earns unlimited 1% cash back on all other eligible Visa debit purchases. That 1% rate also applies to everyday-category spending after the $500 annual 2% maximum is reached, according to Upgrade, Inc. Rewards Checking Plus Details.
What Happen LevelUp pays for
Happen Bank, formerly LendingClub Bank, LevelUp Checking pays 1% cash back on debit-card purchases at gas stations, grocery stores and pharmacies. You must receive direct deposit in the review month to earn it, according to the Happen Bank official LevelUp page LevelUp Checking details. The same account pays 2% cash back on on-time Happen personal-loan payments made electronically from an eligible checking account with direct deposit.
That loan reward helps existing borrowers only, not shoppers without a Happen loan. LevelUp also offers paycheck access up to 2 days early when payroll direct deposit is set up. Early arrival depends on employer timing and is not guaranteed by the bank, according to Happen Bank.
What does it cost and what must you do
Upgrade checking charges no monthly maintenance fees. Checking funds carry up to $250,000 FDIC insurance through Cross River Bank, Member FDIC, according to the Upgrade, Inc.
product page. Check direct deposit before you count on rewards:.
- Upgrade: keep at least $1,000 in monthly direct deposit for Active status.
- Happen: receive direct deposit in the review month for debit cash back.
- Happen loan reward: pay on time electronically from eligible checking with direct deposit.
Which account fits your spending
Pick Upgrade if most spending falls in common everyday expenses and you can keep monthly direct deposit. The cap means high spenders will fall to 1% after $500 in 2% rewards in a year. Pick Happen LevelUp if most debit spending happens at gas stations, grocery stores and pharmacies.
The former Discover Cashback Debit paid 1% back on up to $3,000 in monthly debit purchases. It is not open to new applicants after Discover merged into Capital One on May 18, 2025, according to NerdWallet reporting how the Capital One-Discover merger affects bank accounts. Apply to currently open Upgrade or Happen accounts instead of seeking Discover deposit accounts.
