Frequent Traveler? 5 Things You Absolutely Need From Your Checking Account

Traveling poses plenty of hassles -- the cost, airline delays, long hours in the car -- so the last thing you need is to deal with irritating fees and access issues when you're trying to get hold of your money. Choosing the right checking account is crucial.

You might think they're all the same, but the top checking accounts for travelers have some unique features that make them more appealing than the average checking account you could get from your local bank. 

Here are five of the most important things to look for in a checking account if you find yourself on the road often.

1. A large fee-free ATM network

You'll most likely withdraw some cash in advance of your trip, but there's no way to guarantee you won't need more. If you're far from your bank's ATM network, you could face multiple fees -- one from the ATM owner and one from your bank -- just to access your cash. These fees are usually around $3 each, but they can add up quickly.

Our Picks for the Best High-Yield Savings Accounts of 2024

Product	APY	Min. to Earn
American Express® High Yield Savings Member FDIC. APY 3.80% Rate info 3.80% annual percentage yield as of January 9, 2025. Terms apply. Min. to earn $0 Open Account for American Express® High Yield Savings On American Express's Secure Website. Member FDIC.	3.80% Rate info 3.80% annual percentage yield as of January 9, 2025. Terms apply.	$0	Open Account for American Express® High Yield Savings On American Express's Secure Website.
Capital One 360 Performance Savings Member FDIC. APY 3.80% Rate info See Capital One website for most up-to-date rates. Advertised Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is variable and accurate as of Dec. 6, 2024. Rates are subject to change at any time before or after account opening. Min. to earn $0 Open Account for Capital One 360 Performance Savings On Capital One's Secure Website. Member FDIC.	3.80% Rate info See Capital One website for most up-to-date rates. Advertised Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is variable and accurate as of Dec. 6, 2024. Rates are subject to change at any time before or after account opening.	$0	Open Account for Capital One 360 Performance Savings On Capital One's Secure Website.
Western Alliance Bank High-Yield Savings Premier Member FDIC. APY 4.40% Rate info The annual percentage yield (APY) is accurate as of Jan. 2, 2025, and subject to change at the Bank’s discretion. Refer to product’s website for latest APY rate. Minimum deposit required to open an account is $500 and a minimum balance of $0.01 is required to earn the advertised APY. Min. to earn $500 to open, $0.01 for max APY Open Account for Western Alliance Bank High-Yield Savings Premier On Western Alliance Bank's Secure Website. Member FDIC.	4.40% Rate info The annual percentage yield (APY) is accurate as of Jan. 2, 2025, and subject to change at the Bank’s discretion. Refer to product’s website for latest APY rate. Minimum deposit required to open an account is $500 and a minimum balance of $0.01 is required to earn the advertised APY.	$500 to open, $0.01 for max APY	Open Account for Western Alliance Bank High-Yield Savings Premier On Western Alliance Bank's Secure Website.

Fee-free ATM networks help you avoid paying to get your own money. If you work with a large brick-and-mortar bank, its network might be fine for traveling through your state or even your region. But if you go to an area of the country where that bank isn't as popular, you might struggle to find a fee-free ATM.

Online banks, lacking physical branches, typically partner with nationwide fee-free ATM networks, like Allpoint, to give customers easy access to their cash. It's a good idea to scout out the available ATMs on your route so you know when and where you can replenish your supply of cash for free.

2. ATM fee reimbursements

Some banks offer ATM fee reimbursements as an alternative or in addition to a fee-free ATM network. ATM fee reimbursements are where your bank pays you back for any ATM fees you incur during the billing cycle.

There are a few caveats to be aware of here. First, you won't get your money back instantly. Usually, the bank pays these reimbursements at the end of each billing cycle. So there will be a window where you're without the funds you paid for the ATM fee, and you'll need to plan accordingly.

You also need to know that often, ATM fee reimbursements only apply to domestic ATM fees. However, a few accounts, like the Schwab Bank Investor Checking™ account, offer ATM fee rebates worldwide. This is a great option for international travelers who don't want to worry about getting penalized for withdrawing money abroad.

Finally, some checking accounts offer unlimited ATM fee reimbursements, while others cap them at a certain amount per statement cycle. Make sure you understand how your bank handles these charges before visiting an ATM.

3. Mobile check deposit

While you may not be receiving too many checks while traveling, it's still nice to have the option to deposit your checks remotely rather than driving to a bank branch during business hours. Most banks have this capability through their mobile apps these days, but it doesn't hurt to check with your bank to see if it offers these features.

4. Good fraud protection

Debit cards can get lost or stolen while traveling, and that can lead to huge headaches even after you return home. The best banks enable you to quickly freeze or cancel your debit card and may even alert you to fraudulent transactions so you can dispute them right away.

Check with your bank if you're unsure how these features work or if you have to do anything to set them up.

5. Accessible customer service

The top banks have multiple channels you can turn to for support when you need it -- phones, email, live chat, and possibly bank branches. Make sure your bank has decent customer support hours, so you can get help quickly if you run into any problems accessing your cash or account information.

If you have any questions about these or other features on your existing checking account, it's best to reach out to your bank for clarification. Otherwise, look for a fee-free checking account that checks the boxes above. If you prefer to do your banking all in one place, choose a bank that offers a competitive high-yield savings account, as well.