Wealthfront cash account as a checking account — 2-month review
After 2 months using Wealthfront cash account as my primary checking, here's the real breakdown.
What works: Direct deposit arrives 1 day early, same as SoFi. Free ATM withdrawals at 55,000 Allpoint ATMs—I found one within 2 blocks of my apartment. The 4.50% APY on checking is unmatched. Bills auto-pay through the ACH routing number.
What doesn't: No physical checks. If you need to mail a check, you're out of luck. Also, the debit card took 12 days to arrive. Cash deposits are impossible—there's no branch network. Zelle is through the app but limited to $500/day.
Bottom line: Great for daily spending + emergency fund in one place. But keep a free checking account at a local credit union for cash deposits and physical checks. I keep $500 at a CU for exactly this reason.