Credit Karma does not offer checking accounts
Credit Karma is a credit monitoring and financial tools platform owned by Intuit, but it does not issue checking accounts or hold deposits. If you have seen "Credit Karma Checking" mentioned, you may be thinking of a feature that was discontinued in 2021. Credit Karma Money, which launched in 2020, was a checking and savings account product offered through a partner bank, but that service ended and is no longer available to new or existing users.
What Credit Karma does offer is a dashboard where you can link existing bank accounts, credit cards, and loans from other financial institutions. This lets you see your credit score, monitor accounts, and track spending all in one place. The accounts themselves remain with your original banks — Credit Karma simply displays the information.
Key Takeaways
- Credit Karma does not currently offer its own checking accounts; the Credit Karma Money product that did was shut down in 2021.
- You can link checking accounts from other banks to your Credit Karma dashboard to view them alongside your credit score and other financial data.
- To link an account, you provide your login credentials for that bank, and Credit Karma connects using read-only access — the bank remains the account holder.
- If you want a checking account, you will need to open one directly with a bank or credit union, then link it to Credit Karma afterward if you wish.
How to link an existing checking account to Credit Karma
If you already have a checking account at another bank and want to monitor it through Credit Karma, you can connect it to your Credit Karma account. Start by logging into Credit Karma on the web or mobile app, then look for the option to add an account — this is usually labeled "Add Account" or "Link Account" and appears in the accounts or dashboard section.
When you select the option to link an account, Credit Karma will ask you to search for your bank by name. Once you find it, you will enter your online banking username and password for that bank. Credit Karma uses read-only access, meaning it can see your account information but cannot move money or make changes. Your actual checking account remains with your bank; Credit Karma is only displaying the data.
After you enter your credentials, the connection usually takes a few minutes to establish. Once linked, your checking account balance, recent transactions, and account details will appear on your Credit Karma dashboard alongside your credit score and other linked accounts.
What information Credit Karma can show you from a linked checking account
When you link a checking account to Credit Karma, the platform displays your current balance, recent deposits and withdrawals, and transaction history. You can see spending patterns and categorized transactions if your bank provides that data. This information helps you track cash flow and spending habits in one place rather than logging into multiple bank websites.
Credit Karma does not charge fees for linking accounts or viewing this information. The data refreshes periodically, though there may be a slight delay between when a transaction posts at your bank and when it appears in Credit Karma. For real-time balance checks or immediate transaction details, you should still log into your bank's own app or website.
Where to open a checking account if you need one
If you do not currently have a checking account and want one, you will need to open it directly with a bank, credit union, or online financial institution. Traditional banks like Chase, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo offer checking accounts, as do credit unions and online-only banks like Ally, Charles Schwab, and Chime. Each has different fees, minimum balance requirements, and features, so compare options based on your needs.
Once you open a checking account with any of these institutions, you can then link it to Credit Karma if you want to monitor it there. The account itself remains with the bank you chose; linking to Credit Karma is optional and only for viewing and tracking purposes.
Why Credit Karma discontinued its checking account product
Credit Karma Money, the checking and savings account service, shut down in March 2021. Intuit, which owns Credit Karma, decided to focus the platform on credit monitoring, financial tools, and account linking rather than issuing its own deposit products. Customers who had Credit Karma Money accounts were given notice and time to transfer their funds to another bank before the accounts closed.
This change means Credit Karma now functions as an aggregation tool — a place to view and monitor accounts held elsewhere — rather than as a bank itself. For many users, this is still useful because it centralizes credit score tracking with account monitoring in one dashboard.
Security and privacy when linking accounts to Credit Karma
When you link a bank account to Credit Karma, you are providing your banking credentials to a third party. Credit Karma uses encryption and read-only access to protect your information, but you should understand what you are sharing. Your password is transmitted securely, and Credit Karma cannot withdraw money or make transfers because it only has read access to your account.
Before linking any account, review Credit Karma's privacy policy to understand how your data is used and stored. Credit Karma is free because it makes money partly through referrals — when you click through to open a credit card or loan product, Credit Karma may earn a commission. This does not cost you anything, but it is worth knowing how the service sustains itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still open a Credit Karma checking account?
No. Credit Karma Money, the checking account product, closed in March 2021 and is no longer available. You will need to open a checking account with a traditional bank, credit union, or online bank instead.
Is it safe to give Credit Karma my bank password?
Credit Karma uses encryption and read-only access, so it cannot move money or change your account. However, you are sharing your password with a third party. If you are uncomfortable doing so, you can skip linking and simply monitor your accounts directly through each bank's app.
Will linking my checking account to Credit Karma affect my credit score?
No. Linking an account is a read-only connection and does not trigger a hard inquiry or change your credit score. Credit Karma can see your balance and transactions, but this has no impact on your credit.
What happens if Credit Karma shuts down or I delete my account?
Your actual checking account remains with your bank and is unaffected. Deleting your Credit Karma account simply removes the link; your money and account stay where they are. You can always log into your bank directly.
Can I transfer money between linked accounts through Credit Karma?
No. Credit Karma only displays account information; it cannot move money or make transfers. Any transfers must be done through your bank's own app or website.