Best Free Checking Accounts of December 2024
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Want to dodge hefty banking fees? Learn about the best free checking accounts in this detailed guide. No hidden charges or high balances needed.
What is the best bank for free checking?
Online Checking Account - Earn Cash Back
- 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month. See website for details
- No fees
- Early Pay - Get your paycheck up to two days early with no charge
- No credit impact - You can apply without affecting your credit score.
- Access to over 60,000 no-fee ATMs in the U.S.
Minimum Deposit to Open | ||
---|---|---|
Discover Bank: Online Checking Account | $0 | See Offer |
Axos Bank: Rewards Checking | $0 | See Offer |
Quontic: High Interest Checking | $100 | See Offer |
Consumers Credit Union: Free Rewards Checking | $5 | See Offer |
KeyBank: Key Smart Checking® | $10 | See Offer |
Upgrade: Rewards Checking Plus | $0 | See Offer |
Online Checking Account - Earn Cash Back
- 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month. See website for details
- No fees
- Early Pay - Get your paycheck up to two days early with no charge
- No credit impact - You can apply without affecting your credit score.
- Access to over 60,000 no-fee ATMs in the U.S.
First Tech Rewards Checking® - Up to $300 Bonus
- New Direct Deposit Offer
- New and existing account holders can set up qualifying direct deposits to earn a one-time bonus: $50 for $1,000–$5,000 per month or $300 for over $5,000 per month.
- Direct deposits must meet the required amount for the bonus tier and occur at least once a month for three months.
- Earn up to 3.50% Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
- No minimum balance requirements and no monthly account maintenance fees
- Surcharge-free access at nearly 30,000 CO-OP network ATMs nationwide
- NCUA Insured
Rewards Checking - Up to 3.30% APY
- Build your own APY with up to 3.30% APY*
- Zero monthly maintenance fees
- Zero overdraft or NSF fees
- Zero minimum monthly balance reqs
- No initial deposit requirement
- Unlimited domestic ATM fee reimbursements
- Online debit card management
- Simple, 3-step process for direct deposit
High Interest Checking - Up to 1.10% APY
- Earn up to 1.10% APY
- $100 minimum opening deposit
- APY is based on the account balance and making at least 10 qualifying debit card point-of-sale transactions of $10.00 or more per statement cycle.
Free Rewards Checking
- Earn up to 5.00% APY*
- Unlimited reimbursement for any and all ATM fees**
- Over 30,000 ATMs & over 5,000 shared branches
- No monthly maintenance fees
- No minimum balance
Many people think that banking has to be expensive. But it does not have to be that way.
In fact, you can enjoy the conveniences of online, branch, or ATM banking without the pesky fees.
These great checking accounts prove you don't have to break the bank, to bank.
Other New Checking Account Promotions You May Like
Bank of America Advantage Banking - $300 Bonus Offer
- The $300 bonus offer is an online only offer and must be opened through the Bank of America promotional page.
- The offer is for new checking customers only.
- Offer expires 01/31/2025.
- To qualify, open a new eligible Bank of America Advantage Banking account through the promotional page and set up and receive Qualifying Direct Deposits* totaling $2,000 or more into that new eligible account within 90 days of account opening. Bank of America Advantage SafeBalance Banking® for Family Banking accounts are not eligible for this offer.
- Once all requirements are met, Bank of America will attempt to pay bonus within 60 days.
- Additional terms and conditions apply. See offer page for more details.
- *A Qualifying Direct Deposit is a direct deposit of regular monthly income – such as your salary, pension or Social Security benefits, which are made by your employer or other payer – using account and routing numbers that you provide to them.
- Bank of America, N.A. Member FDIC.
U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking - Up to $450 Bonus
Earn up to $450 with a new Bank Smartly Checking account. Complete the following within 90 days of account opening:
- Enroll in online banking or the U.S. Bank Mobile App
- Make two or more direct deposits(s) totaling $2,000 to $4,999.99 to earn $250, $5,000 to $7,999.99 to earn $350 or $8,000 or more to earn $450.
Fund your new account within 30 days to start qualifying activities. Offer may not be available if you are an existing U.S. Bank customer or live outside of the U.S. Bank footprint.
HSBC Premier - Earn Up to $2,500
Start an HSBC Premier relationship today. You'll enjoy premium banking with both local and global benefits and access to wealth solutions offered through HSBC Securities, (USA), Inc*.
You could earn $1,500 or $2,500 if you open a new, eligible HSBC Premier checking account from July 1, 2024 through January 2, 2025, and complete qualifying activities.
- Get a $1,500 Cash Bonus: Add New Money of $100,000 to $249,999 in deposit and/or eligible investment accounts within 20 days of opening your new checking account and maintain the Qualifying Balance for 3 full consecutive months.
- Get a $2,500 Cash Bonus: Add New Money of $250,000+ in deposit and/or eligible investment accounts within 20 days of opening your new checking account and maintain the Qualifying Balance for 3 full consecutive months.
- Cash Bonus will be deposited into your new checking account within 8 weeks of meeting all the offer requirements.
Chase Total Checking® - $300 Bonus
- New Chase checking customers enjoy a $300 bonus when you open a Chase Total Checking® account with qualifying activities
- With over 4,700 branches, Chase has the largest branch network in the U.S. plus access to more than 15,000 ATMs.
- Chase Mobile® app - Manage your accounts, deposit checks, transfer money and more -- all from your device.
- JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC
- Open your account online now
- Available online nationwide except in Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. For branch locations, visit locator.chase.com.
- Chase Overdraft Assist℠ - no overdraft fees if you're overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the business day or if you're overdrawn by more than $50 and bring your account balance to overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the next business day*
Discover® Cashback Checking - Up to $30/Month Cashback
Earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month, for a total of up to $30 cashback per month. Discover Cashback Debit checking account has no minimum balance requirement, no fees, and free online bill pay. See website for details.
Discover® Cashback Checking
Online Checking Account - Earn Cash Back
- Minimum Deposit Required: $0
- Balance Requirement: $0
- Monthly Fee: $0
- APY: N/A
- ATMs: 60,000+ Allpoint or MoneyPass ATMs
- Perks: 1% cashback on up to $3,000 in purchases each month. See website for details
The Discover® Cashback Debit account is a great choice for free banking. There are no monthly fees, and you pay $0 for checks, stop payment orders, and insufficient funds.
Plus, you earn 1% cash back when you use your debit card (on up to $3,000 in purchases each month). That's potential for some pretty awesome earnings.
But remember, cash back is only for debit card purchases, not for ATM transactions, money orders, paying friends, or loan payments. See website for details.
You get free ATM withdrawals at over 60,000 locations, including ATMs in popular grocery stores, CVS, Walgreens, and Costco.
Discover® Bank offers 24/7 phone and email customer support from a U.S.-based team. Simply call 1(800) 347-7000 or send a message through the online Message Center.
Discover® Cashback Checking - Up to $30/Month Cashback
Earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month, for a total of up to $30 cashback per month. Discover Cashback Debit checking account has no minimum balance requirement, no fees, and free online bill pay. See website for details.
Not sure about purely mobile banking? You may consider a national bank if you like doing banking in person.
Chase Total Checking®
Chase Total Checking® - $300 Bonus
- New Chase checking customers enjoy a $300 bonus when you open a Chase Total Checking® account with qualifying activities
- With over 4,700 branches, Chase has the largest branch network in the U.S. plus access to more than 15,000 ATMs.
- Chase Mobile® app - Manage your accounts, deposit checks, transfer money and more -- all from your device.
- JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC
- Open your account online now
- Available online nationwide except in Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. For branch locations, visit locator.chase.com.
- Chase Overdraft Assist℠ - no overdraft fees if you're overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the business day or if you're overdrawn by more than $50 and bring your account balance to overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the next business day*
- Minimum Deposit Required: None
- Direct Deposit Required: Yes
- Monthly Fee: $12 or $0 with one of the following, each monthly statement period:
- Electronic deposits made into this account totaling $500 or more, such as payments from payroll providers or government benefit providers, by using (i) the ACH network, (ii) the Real Time Payment or FedNow℠ network, (iii) third party services that facilitate payments to your debit card using the Visa® or Mastercard® network,
- OR a balance at the beginning of each day of $1,500 or more in this account,
- OR an average beginning day balance of $5,000 or more in any combination of this account and linked qualifying Chase checking, savings, and other balances.
- APY: N/A
- ATMs: 15,000+ Chase ATMs
Chase is one of the largest banks in the US. Even though it's so big, Chase has great customer service reviews, plus a highly-rated mobile app.
Chase Total Checking® isn't exactly free, but it's easy to waive the $12 monthly maintenance fee. All you need is at least $500 in direct deposits. If you can do that, then you don't need to worry about maintaining a minimum balance.
- Electronic deposits made into this account totaling $500 or more, such as payments from payroll providers or government benefit providers, by using (i) the ACH network, (ii) the Real Time Payment or FedNow℠ network, (iii) third party services that facilitate payments to your debit card using the Visa® or Mastercard® network,
- OR a balance at the beginning of each day of $1,500 or more in this account,
- OR an average beginning day balance of $5,000 or more in any combination of this account and linked qualifying Chase checking, savings, and other balances.
Chase Total Checking® - $300 Bonus
- New Chase checking customers enjoy a $300 bonus when you open a Chase Total Checking® account with qualifying activities
- With over 4,700 branches, Chase has the largest branch network in the U.S. plus access to more than 15,000 ATMs.
- Chase Mobile® app - Manage your accounts, deposit checks, transfer money and more -- all from your device.
- JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC
- Open your account online now
- Available online nationwide except in Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. For branch locations, visit locator.chase.com.
- Chase Overdraft Assist℠ - no overdraft fees if you're overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the business day or if you're overdrawn by more than $50 and bring your account balance to overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the next business day*
Chase Secure Banking℠ - $100 Bonus
- New Chase checking customers enjoy a $100 checking account bonus when you open a Chase Secure Banking℠ account with qualifying transactions. Open online or at any Chase branch.
- Set up direct deposit and you may get your money up to two business days early-exclusively for Chase Secure Banking℠ customers.
- No minimum deposit to open an account and get started plus no overdraft fees with a Chase debit card that helps you stay within your balance.
- No need to worry about overdraft fees - Chase Secure Banking℠ allows you to spend only the money you have available.
- Chase Secure Banking℠ customers told us they save an average of more than $40 per month on fees after opening their account.
- Pay bills, cash checks and send or receive money with Zelle® with a Chase Secure Banking℠ account.
- Bank from anywhere with access to more than 15,000 Chase ATMs, more than 4,700 Chase branches, the Chase Mobile® app and Chase.com.
- JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.
Chase College Checking℠ - $100 Bonus
- Enjoy $100 as a new Chase checking customer when you open a Chase College Checking℠ account and complete 10 qualifying transactions within 60 days of coupon enrollment.
- $0 Monthly Service Fee while in school up to the graduation date provided at account opening (five years maximum) for students 17-24 years old.
- Wire funds internationally using the Chase Mobile® app or chase.com. Send money to recipients around the world with multiple currency options. Fees apply.
- Keep track of your money with confidence and control in the Chase Mobile® app. The Chase Mobile app helps you bank securely and conveniently from anywhere.
- Zelle® is available in more than 1,000 banking apps in the U.S. So, you can send and receive money from almost anyone you know and trust who has a bank account in the U.S.
- With over 4,700 branches, Chase has the largest branch network in the U.S. plus access to more than 15,000 ATMs.
- With Fraud Monitoring, Chase may notify you of unusual debit card purchases and with Zero Liability Protection you won't be held responsible for unauthorized debit card purchases when reported promptly.
- JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC
Bank of America Advantage Plus Banking®
Bank of America Advantage Plus Banking®
- Minimum Deposit Required: $100
- Monthly Fee: $12 Monthly Maintenance Fee or $0 – No monthly maintenance fee each statement cycle when you meet one of the following:
- have at least one qualifying direct deposit of $250 or more or
- maintain a minimum daily balance of $1,500 in your account or
- are a member of Bank of America Preferred Rewards®
- APY: N/A
- ATMs: 16,000+
- Perks: Preferred Rewards program for extra benefits
Bank of America also offers bonuses for new customers opening a checking account.
The mobile app is packed with features, like built-in budgeting tools and cash rewards program. You also get Erica, the virtual assistant, who can help you manage bills, track your FICO score, lock your debit card, and more.
The monthly fee is easily waived with just a $250 qualifying direct deposit per statement cycle.
Bank of America Advantage Banking - $300 Bonus Offer
- The $300 bonus offer is an online only offer and must be opened through the Bank of America promotional page.
- The offer is for new checking customers only.
- Offer expires 01/31/2025.
- To qualify, open a new eligible Bank of America Advantage Banking account through the promotional page and set up and receive Qualifying Direct Deposits* totaling $2,000 or more into that new eligible account within 90 days of account opening. Bank of America Advantage SafeBalance Banking® for Family Banking accounts are not eligible for this offer.
- Once all requirements are met, Bank of America will attempt to pay bonus within 60 days.
- Additional terms and conditions apply. See offer page for more details.
- *A Qualifying Direct Deposit is a direct deposit of regular monthly income – such as your salary, pension or Social Security benefits, which are made by your employer or other payer – using account and routing numbers that you provide to them.
- Bank of America, N.A. Member FDIC.
Can't decide between Discover, Chase, and Bank of America? Take a look at how the 3 compare:
Learn More | Learn More | Learn More | |
Online Checking Account - Earn Cash Back | Chase Total Checking® - $300 Bonus | Bank of America Advantage Plus Banking® | |
---|---|---|---|
Monthly Fee | $12 or $0 with one of the following, each monthly statement period:
| $12 Monthly Maintenance Fee or $0 – No monthly maintenance fee each statement cycle when you meet one of the following:
| |
Minimum Deposit Required | |||
ATMs | 60,000+ Allpoint or MoneyPass ATMs | ||
Learn More | Learn More | Learn More |
Axos Rewards Checking
Rewards Checking - Up to 3.30% APY
- Minimum Deposit Required: $0
- Balance Requirement: $0
- Monthly Fee: No monthly maintenance fee
- APY: Up to 3.30%
- ATMs: Unlimited domestic ATM reimbursements
- Perks: Get your first set of 50 checks free
Not only does the Axos Bank Rewards Checking Account have no fees, you can even earn Up to 3.30% interest. That's considered really high right now.
Axos doesn't have its own ATM network. But it gives unlimited rebates of domestic ATM fees, so you can use any machine you want.
In simple terms, annual percentage yield (APY) is how much your money will grow in one year, with compounding interest. This assumes that you don't add or withdraw money. For example, if you deposit $1,000 into an account with 1% APY, you'll earn $10 by end of one year.
Bluevine Business Checking
Free Business Checking - Up to 1.5% APY
- Balance Requirement: $0
- Monthly Fee: $0
- APY: 1.5% APY on balances up to $250,000 with monthly eligibility requirements; 0% APY on balances over $250,000
- ATMs: Approximately 40,000 MoneyPass ATMs
Bluevine is a great choice for small business owners and freelancers. Not only does it have no monthly fee, you have the potential to earn a high APY.
Even though Bluevine is an online-only bank, it has a lot of the same features as traditional banks. So it's a good fit for a lot of types of businesses.
You get free cash withdrawals from over 37,000 MoneyPass ATMs. And if you need to deposit cash, you can do so at 90,000+ Green Dot locations and 1,500+ Allpoint+ ATMs (with a small fee). It even gives you 2 free checkbooks. You can also issue up to 4 additional debit cards for your team members.
You can create up to 5 sub-accounts for free. They get their own account numbers. And they can earn interest too (up to $250k in combined balance across all the accounts for Standard tier, up to $250k for Plus tier, and up to $3M for Premier tier).
Other Checking Accounts Offers
If none of the above seem like the right fit for you, here are some other checking account offers.
Bank of America Advantage Banking - $300 Bonus Offer
- The $300 bonus offer is an online only offer and must be opened through the Bank of America promotional page.
- The offer is for new checking customers only.
- Offer expires 01/31/2025.
- To qualify, open a new eligible Bank of America Advantage Banking account through the promotional page and set up and receive Qualifying Direct Deposits* totaling $2,000 or more into that new eligible account within 90 days of account opening. Bank of America Advantage SafeBalance Banking® for Family Banking accounts are not eligible for this offer.
- Once all requirements are met, Bank of America will attempt to pay bonus within 60 days.
- Additional terms and conditions apply. See offer page for more details.
- *A Qualifying Direct Deposit is a direct deposit of regular monthly income – such as your salary, pension or Social Security benefits, which are made by your employer or other payer – using account and routing numbers that you provide to them.
- Bank of America, N.A. Member FDIC.
U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking - Up to $450 Bonus
Earn up to $450 with a new Bank Smartly Checking account. Complete the following within 90 days of account opening:
- Enroll in online banking or the U.S. Bank Mobile App
- Make two or more direct deposits(s) totaling $2,000 to $4,999.99 to earn $250, $5,000 to $7,999.99 to earn $350 or $8,000 or more to earn $450.
Fund your new account within 30 days to start qualifying activities. Offer may not be available if you are an existing U.S. Bank customer or live outside of the U.S. Bank footprint.
- Monthly Fee: Waive the $6.95 Monthly Maintenance Fee with one of the following:
- Are 24 and under, 65 and over or a member of the military (must self-disclose), OR
- Have combined monthly direct deposits totaling $1,000+, OR
- Keep average account balance of $1,500+, OR
- Hold an eligible U.S. Bank credit card, OR
- Qualify for one of the four Smart Rewards™ tiers (Primary, Plus, Premium or Pinnacle)
HSBC Premier - Earn Up to $2,500
Start an HSBC Premier relationship today. You'll enjoy premium banking with both local and global benefits and access to wealth solutions offered through HSBC Securities, (USA), Inc*.
You could earn $1,500 or $2,500 if you open a new, eligible HSBC Premier checking account from July 1, 2024 through January 2, 2025, and complete qualifying activities.
- Get a $1,500 Cash Bonus: Add New Money of $100,000 to $249,999 in deposit and/or eligible investment accounts within 20 days of opening your new checking account and maintain the Qualifying Balance for 3 full consecutive months.
- Get a $2,500 Cash Bonus: Add New Money of $250,000+ in deposit and/or eligible investment accounts within 20 days of opening your new checking account and maintain the Qualifying Balance for 3 full consecutive months.
- Cash Bonus will be deposited into your new checking account within 8 weeks of meeting all the offer requirements.
- Monthly Fee: $50 monthly maintenance fee, unless eligibility criteria is met:
- Balances of $100,000 in combined U.S. consumer and qualifying commercial U.S. Dollar deposit and investment accounts; OR
- Monthly recurring direct deposits totaling at least $5,000 from a third party to an HSBC Premier checking account(s); OR
- Any HSBC U.S. residential mortgage loan serviced by HSBC. Home Equity products, loans that are in foreclosure or bankruptcy, and loans for which servicing rights have been transferred are not included.
- Consumers who maintain Private Bank status
Chase Total Checking® - $300 Bonus
- New Chase checking customers enjoy a $300 bonus when you open a Chase Total Checking® account with qualifying activities
- With over 4,700 branches, Chase has the largest branch network in the U.S. plus access to more than 15,000 ATMs.
- Chase Mobile® app - Manage your accounts, deposit checks, transfer money and more -- all from your device.
- JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC
- Open your account online now
- Available online nationwide except in Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. For branch locations, visit locator.chase.com.
- Chase Overdraft Assist℠ - no overdraft fees if you're overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the business day or if you're overdrawn by more than $50 and bring your account balance to overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the next business day*
- Monthly Fee: $12 or $0 with one of the following, each monthly statement period:
- Electronic deposits made into this account totaling $500 or more, such as payments from payroll providers or government benefit providers, by using (i) the ACH network, (ii) the Real Time Payment or FedNow℠ network, (iii) third party services that facilitate payments to your debit card using the Visa® or Mastercard® network,
- OR a balance at the beginning of each day of $1,500 or more in this account,
- OR an average beginning day balance of $5,000 or more in any combination of this account and linked qualifying Chase checking, savings, and other balances.
First Tech Rewards Checking® - Up to $300 Bonus
- New Direct Deposit Offer
- New and existing account holders can set up qualifying direct deposits to earn a one-time bonus: $50 for $1,000–$5,000 per month or $300 for over $5,000 per month.
- Direct deposits must meet the required amount for the bonus tier and occur at least once a month for three months.
- Earn up to 3.50% Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
- No minimum balance requirements and no monthly account maintenance fees
- Surcharge-free access at nearly 30,000 CO-OP network ATMs nationwide
- NCUA Insured
- Monthly Fee: $0
Is free checking really free?
Not all "free" checking accounts are equal. Some accounts may have requirements you have to meet.
Make sure there are no strings attached to your free checking account by asking the following questions:
- Does the account have a monthly maintenance fee?
- Is there a monthly minimum balance requirement?
- Am I required to have direct deposit?
- What types of other fees are associated with the account?
- What services are not included with free checking? (e.g., wire transfers)
A truly free checking account should mean zero monthly maintenance fees and no minimum balance requirements. But if you're interested in more than just free checking, here are banks that offer bonuses without requiring a direct deposit.
Online Checking Account - Earn Cash Back
- 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month. See website for details
- No fees
- Early Pay - Get your paycheck up to two days early with no charge
- No credit impact - You can apply without affecting your credit score.
- Access to over 60,000 no-fee ATMs in the U.S.
- Monthly Fee: $0
- Balance Requirement: $0
How to Avoid Overdraft Fees
Overdrafts is one of the biggest banking problems for Americans. In just one year, 54% of Americans overdrafted 2-5 times.[1] With overdraft fees averaging $35 each, it can add up fast.
So how can you avoid these stressful fees? Luckily, banks usually have some overdraft programs to help.
- Sign up for text alerts. You can get an alert when your account balance is low. This way, you can add more money before an overdraft happens.
- Opt out of overdraft coverage. If you don't sign up for overdraft coverage, your bank will auto-decline transactions if you don't have enough money. This could be embarrassing at the cash register, but hey, at least you avoid the fee.
When a bank says there's no overdraft fee, what it means is that they will just decline transactions when you don't have enough funds. It doesn't mean that you can overdraw and have a negative balance.
- Grace period to add funds. Some banks give you a chance to avoid the fee if you deposit or transfer money to cover the overdraft by a deadline. This is not a bad option if you realize you've overdrawn your account and can act quickly.
For example, Chase gives you until end of the business day to add funds. Capital One gives you 1 day to add funds.
- Overdraft transfer protection. This is when you link a savings account with your checking account. When you overdraw, money can automatically be transferred from your savings to cover the amount.
But be aware - some banks charge you for the transfer. Some banks will make the transfer for free (like Chase). And note that usual 6/mo transaction limits still apply for savings accounts.
- Overdraft line of credit. This option isn't available for all banks. But some will let you take out a line of credit to cover overdrafts. You pay it back with interest.
It's okay if your checking account balance falls to $0. However, if it goes below $0, you could incur overdraft fees. And be careful that some checking accounts charge a monthly fee unless you maintain a certain balance.
If you have a free checking account with no minimums, you could have $0 balance. But if you leave your account empty and never use it, the bank may automatically close your account.
Hidden Fees to Watch Out For
Even if your account has no service fee, here are common hidden fees you may encounter.
- Overdraft fee: This is when you don't have enough money to cover a purchase, but your bank covers it. The average bank charges $30-$35 each overdraft. And you can be charged multiple times in a single day.
- Non sufficient funds: This is triggered when your bank rejects a payment because your account doesn't have enough money. Even if you have overdraft protection, you can still be charged this fee if you bounce a check. This is also called a returned item fee.
- Out of network ATM withdrawals: Most banks have their own ATM network. If you're in a pinch and need to use a random ATM, you'll be charged a fee - usually around $2.50 - $3.50. Some banks will reimburse out-of-network ATM fees.
- Paper checks: Still need to write checks? Some banks charge you for each set of checks. If you write checks often, look for an account with free checks.
- Inactivity fee: Some banks charge an inactivity fee if you don't have any banking activities. It can be as much as $5 - $20 per month. You can avoid this fee by simply making any deposit or withdrawal, or using the debit card just once.
- Paper statement: As more banks are going green, they may charge a fee for printing and mailing statements to you. To avoid this, simply opt-out and sign up for electronic statements only.
- Wire transfers: Wire transfers are usually used to transfer money internationally or for a big purchase (like a house down payment). They usually cost $25 - $50 each. Some banks may offer free domestic wire transfers.
What Experts Say
As part of our series on saving and banking, CreditDonkey assembled a panel of industry experts to answer readers' most pressing questions.
Here's what they said:
Where can I find free checking accounts?
Your best bet for a free checking account is an online bank. These institutions don't have the overhead costs of traditional brick-and-mortar banks. Oftentimes, they'll pass those savings on to you through no-fee accounts.
Local credit unions and community banks may also offer free checking accounts. But some may have a minimum balance requirement in order to waive the monthly service fee.
If you can easily meet the requirements, then don't overlook those either if they offer the convenience and features you need.
The minimum deposit is how much money you need to open a checking account (usually $0-$100). The minimum balance is how much you need to maintain in your account, to avoid a monthly fee. True free checking accounts don't have a minimum balance requirement.
Online Checking Account - Earn Cash Back
- 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month. See website for details
- No fees
- Early Pay - Get your paycheck up to two days early with no charge
- No credit impact - You can apply without affecting your credit score.
- Access to over 60,000 no-fee ATMs in the U.S.
First Tech Rewards Checking® - Up to $300 Bonus
- New Direct Deposit Offer
- New and existing account holders can set up qualifying direct deposits to earn a one-time bonus: $50 for $1,000–$5,000 per month or $300 for over $5,000 per month.
- Direct deposits must meet the required amount for the bonus tier and occur at least once a month for three months.
- Earn up to 3.50% Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
- No minimum balance requirements and no monthly account maintenance fees
- Surcharge-free access at nearly 30,000 CO-OP network ATMs nationwide
- NCUA Insured
Rewards Checking - Up to 3.30% APY
- Build your own APY with up to 3.30% APY*
- Zero monthly maintenance fees
- Zero overdraft or NSF fees
- Zero minimum monthly balance reqs
- No initial deposit requirement
- Unlimited domestic ATM fee reimbursements
- Online debit card management
- Simple, 3-step process for direct deposit
What is the easiest checking account to open?
If you've had some past banking mistakes, it can be hard to open a traditional checking account.
Most banks will do a soft credit check and run your banking history through the ChexSystem. They can deny you if you've had too many overdrafts or a bad credit score.
But not all hope is lost. Second-chance banking offers you an opportunity to get back into the game, so you can rebuild your banking history.
Chase Secure Banking℠ - $100 Bonus
- New Chase checking customers enjoy a $100 checking account bonus when you open a Chase Secure Banking℠ account with qualifying transactions. Open online or at any Chase branch.
- Set up direct deposit and you may get your money up to two business days early-exclusively for Chase Secure Banking℠ customers.
- No minimum deposit to open an account and get started plus no overdraft fees with a Chase debit card that helps you stay within your balance.
- No need to worry about overdraft fees - Chase Secure Banking℠ allows you to spend only the money you have available.
- Chase Secure Banking℠ customers told us they save an average of more than $40 per month on fees after opening their account.
- Pay bills, cash checks and send or receive money with Zelle® with a Chase Secure Banking℠ account.
- Bank from anywhere with access to more than 15,000 Chase ATMs, more than 4,700 Chase branches, the Chase Mobile® app and Chase.com.
- JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.
Bank of America Advantage SafeBalance Banking®
- Banking that helps you stay within your balance.
- No monthly maintenance fee each statement cycle when you meet one of the following: an owner of this account is under the age of 25 or maintain a minimum daily balance of $500 in your account or are a member of Bank of America Preferred Rewards®.
- Bank of America, N.A. Member FDIC.
Premier Savings - Up to 4.14% APY
- Earn 4.14% APY, on $1,000 or more
- No monthly account fees
- Up to $1 million FDIC or NCUA insurance through Cross River Bank or Participating Institutions
Build Credit While You Bank
- Get Paid Up to 2 Days Faster
- Build credit and earn points with every swipe
- 40,000 fee-free Allpoint ATMs in the U.S.
- No credit check, minimum balance or hidden fees
What to look for in a free checking account
Here are some of the best banks with free checking:
- Discover Bank:
Online Checking Account - Earn Cash Back - First Tech Rewards Checking®:
Up to $300 Bonus - Axos Bank:
Rewards Checking - Up to 3.30% APY - Quontic:
High Interest Checking - Up to 1.10% APY - Consumers Credit Union:
Free Rewards Checking - Upgrade:
Rewards Checking Plus - Up to 2% Cash Back - CIT Bank:
eChecking - KeyBank:
Key Smart Checking® - $300 Bonus
When looking for a free checking account, you'll have plenty of options. Here are some things to consider as you review your choices:
- Monthly fee / balance requirements
If you don't want any restrictions, then look for a bank with no maintenance fees. Most of the banks on our list have no monthly service fee. There are a couple of banks that have a fee, but it's incredibly easy to waive.How much should you have in your checking account?
You should keep at least 1 month worth of expenses in your checking account. It's smart to add a 30% buffer. This will give you enough to cover everyday living costs plus any unforeseen expenses.The most you should have is 2 months' worth of expenses. Any money above that will be better off in a high yield savings account or investment account.
- Other banking fees
Does the bank charge for things like overdrafts, insufficient funds, checks, wire transfers? Make sure the bank is transparent about their other fees. - Access
Do you want the option of banking in-person, or are you okay with completely online banking? Also make sure the bank has convenient ATMs near where you live and work. - Website & Mobile App
Whether on your computer or mobile device, you want to be able to handle your finances from anywhere. Choose a bank with a user-friendly website, mobile app, and features like online bill pay and mobile check deposits. - Security
Your bank should be FDIC insured. This means that if the bank defaults, the government will pay you back everything you had in the account (up to $250,000).
What you need to open a checking account
To open a checking account, you will need:
- Government issued ID, like a driver's license
- Social Security Number
- Proof of address (lease or utility bill)
- Contact information (name, home address, email address, phone number)
- Date of birth
- Money for the opening deposit (if required)
You can open a checking account either online or in-person at a branch. To open an account by yourself, you need to be at least 18.
Most financial institutions will run a soft credit check on you to see your past banking history and then approve or deny you for the account.
Several checking accounts will allow you to open an account without an initial deposit. These include:
- Discover Bank:
Online Checking Account - Earn Cash Back - Axos Bank:
Rewards Checking - Up to 3.30% APY - Upgrade:
Rewards Checking Plus - Up to 2% Cash Back
Checking Accounts with Free ATM Transactions
Here are some of the best banks to avoid ATM fees.
- Axos Reward Checking - unlimited domestic ATM fee reimbursements
- Charles Schwab Investor Checking - also reimburses international ATM fees
- Alliant Credit Union - reimburses up to $20 of ATM fees per month[2]
- Ally Interest Checking - reimburses up to $10 of ATM fees per month[3]
Some banks, like Capital One, Ally, and Citibank, offer free account access using the Allpoint ATM network. That means customers won't pay fees for transactions at more than 55,000 domestic ATMs. They may, however, be charged fees for out-of-network ATM withdrawals.
Bottom Line
With the rise of online banks, free checking accounts are becoming more popular. Compare accounts-and banks-to find the best fit for your financial needs. Some banks offer additional perks or bonuses.
And remember, "free" checking isn't always free. Do some research or speak to a bank representative to see if your fee-free checking comes with requirements like minimum account balances or direct deposits.
Online Checking Account - Earn Cash Back
- 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month. See website for details
- No fees
- Early Pay - Get your paycheck up to two days early with no charge
- No credit impact - You can apply without affecting your credit score.
- Access to over 60,000 no-fee ATMs in the U.S.
First Tech Rewards Checking® - Up to $300 Bonus
- New Direct Deposit Offer
- New and existing account holders can set up qualifying direct deposits to earn a one-time bonus: $50 for $1,000–$5,000 per month or $300 for over $5,000 per month.
- Direct deposits must meet the required amount for the bonus tier and occur at least once a month for three months.
- Earn up to 3.50% Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
- No minimum balance requirements and no monthly account maintenance fees
- Surcharge-free access at nearly 30,000 CO-OP network ATMs nationwide
- NCUA Insured
Rewards Checking - Up to 3.30% APY
- Build your own APY with up to 3.30% APY*
- Zero monthly maintenance fees
- Zero overdraft or NSF fees
- Zero minimum monthly balance reqs
- No initial deposit requirement
- Unlimited domestic ATM fee reimbursements
- Online debit card management
- Simple, 3-step process for direct deposit
High Interest Checking - Up to 1.10% APY
- Earn up to 1.10% APY
- $100 minimum opening deposit
- APY is based on the account balance and making at least 10 qualifying debit card point-of-sale transactions of $10.00 or more per statement cycle.
Free Rewards Checking
- Earn up to 5.00% APY*
- Unlimited reimbursement for any and all ATM fees**
- Over 30,000 ATMs & over 5,000 shared branches
- No monthly maintenance fees
- No minimum balance
Key Smart Checking® - $300 Bonus
- Open a Key Smart Checking® account online by May 16, 2025.
- Make the minimum opening deposit of $10, plus one single eligible direct deposit of at least $1,000 within the first 60 days of account opening.
- Your $300 cash bonus will be deposited into your account within 60 days of meeting requirements. Account must not be closed at the time of gift payment.
Rewards Checking Plus - Up to 2% Cash Back
- Up to 2% cash back on purchases.
- No monthly fees
- Get paid up to 2 days early.
- Maximize your rewards with direct deposit.
CashBack Checking - Earn up to 1.00% Cash Back
- Earn up to 1.00% cash back on signature-based purchases
- Unlimited domestic ATM fee reimbursement
- No monthly maintenance fee
- $50 minimum balance required to open account
Essential Checking
- Unlimited domestic ATM reimbursements
- No monthly maintenance fees
- No annual fee
- No overdraft or non-sufficient funds fee
eChecking
- Open your eChecking account with as little as $100
- No monthly fees. No overdraft fees.
- Up to $30 in bank ATM fees reimbursed per month
- Transfer, pay and purchase via mobile with Zelle®, Bill Pay, Samsung Pay and Apple Pay
- Deposit checks and make unlimited withdrawal and disbursements with the CIT Bank mobile app
Best Free Checking Accounts by State
Free Checking Account in Alabama
Free Checking Account in Alaska
Free Checking Account in Arizona
Free Checking Account in Arkansas
Free Checking Account in California
Free Checking Account in Colorado
Free Checking Account in Connecticut
Free Checking Account in Delaware
Free Checking Account in Florida
Free Checking Account in Georgia
Free Checking Account in Hawaii
Free Checking Account in Idaho
Free Checking Account in Illinois
Free Checking Account in Indiana
Free Checking Account in Iowa
Free Checking Account in Kansas
Free Checking Account in Kentucky
Free Checking Account in Louisiana
Free Checking Account in Maine
Free Checking Account in Maryland
Free Checking Account in Massachusetts
Free Checking Account in Michigan
Free Checking Account in Minnesota
Free Checking Account in Mississippi
Free Checking Account in Missouri
Free Checking Account in Montana
Free Checking Account in Nebraska
Free Checking Account in Nevada
Free Checking Account in New Hampshire
Free Checking Account in New Jersey
Free Checking Account in New Mexico
Free Checking Account in New York
Free Checking Account in North Carolina
Free Checking Account in North Dakota
Free Checking Account in Ohio
Free Checking Account in Oklahoma
Free Checking Account in Oregon
Free Checking Account in Pennsylvania
Free Checking Account in Rhode Island
Free Checking Account in South Carolina
Free Checking Account in South Dakota
Free Checking Account in Tennessee
Free Checking Account in Texas
Free Checking Account in Utah
Free Checking Account in Vermont
Free Checking Account in Virginia
Free Checking Account in Washington
Free Checking Account in West Virginia
Free Checking Account in Wisconsin
Free Checking Account in Wyoming
References
- ^ Pew Center on the States, Overdraft America: Confusion and
Concerns about Bank Practices, Retrieved 10/21/2023 - ^ Alliant. Does Alliant rebate fees if I use an out-of-network ATM?, Retrieved 10/21/2023
- ^ Ally. ATMs & withdrawals FAQs: What are your ATM fees?, Retrieved 10/21/2023
Write to Anna G at feedback@creditdonkey.com. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for our latest posts.
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7 days ago | CreditDonkey updated Rewards Checking - Up to 3.30% APY |
11 days ago | CreditDonkey updated Key Smart Checking® - $300 Bonus |
10/1/2024 | CreditDonkey updated Bank of America Advantage Banking - $300 Bonus Offer |
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