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Best Free Checking Accounts of 2024

Review Updated
David Chang, ChFC®, CLU®
Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures that our product ratings are not influenced by compensation. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page. APY = Annual Percentage Yield. APYs are subject to change at any time without notice.

You've probably heard the phrase "nothing in life is free." And while that's often true, some things come pretty close -- like free checking accounts.

We've scoured the industry to find what we consider to be the best free checking accounts. Take a look at our list below.

  • Our team of experts assessed 100+ banking institutions
  • We evaluate all banking institutions across the same 4 key criteria: annual percentage yield (APY), brand reputation, fees and minimum requirements, and additional perks
  • Our bank ratings are never influenced by our advertising partners
  • We strictly feature products that offer federal insurance and high customer satisfaction, keeping our recommendations unbiased

How to choose the best free checking account

Finding the right checking account is important since most people use their checking account for everyday banking. Here are steps on how to choose the best free checking account for you.

Discover® Cashback Debit
Open Account for Discover® Cashback Debit

On Discover Bank's Secure Website.

Member FDIC.

Rates as of Dec 20, 2024

Discover® Cashback Debit

Open Account for Discover® Cashback Debit

On Discover Bank's Secure Website.

Member FDIC.
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Open Account for Discover® Cashback Debit

On Discover Bank's Secure Website.

Offer alert
Earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month (see details when you click 'Open Account')
APY
0%
Min. To Earn APY
N/A
  • Cash back rewards on debit cards
  • Early direct deposit
  • No monthly maintenance, NSF, or overdraft fees
  • Great customer service
  • Cash back rewards capped
  • No interest-bearing checking account
  • No physical branches
  • No reimbursement for out-of-network ATMs

Discover is best known for its credit cards, but it is also a full-service online-only bank. Customers earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month. While it has no physical locations, it has over 60,000 fee-free ATM locations.

In addition, there are no minimum deposit and balance requirements, and no monthly fees. Customers who sign up for the optional overdraft protection will not be charged non-sufficient funds (NSF) fees. The bank offers no APY on checking accounts. Discover also offers early pay that gives you access to direct deposit funds up to two days early.

Discover offers free Online Privacy Protection through the mobile app. Every 90 days Discover will scan at least 10 people-search sites for your online personal information and help you submit opt-out requests.

SoFi Checking and Savings

Member FDIC.
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Excellent
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offer alert
Cash bonus up to $300 with direct deposit set up (see details when you click 'Open Account')
APY
0.50% Rate info Circle with letter I in it. You can earn the maximum savings APY by having Direct Deposit (no minimum amount required) or by making $5,000 or more in Qualifying Deposits every 30 days. See SoFi Checking and Savings rate sheet at: https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
Min. To Earn APY
$0
  • Competitive APY
  • FDIC insured (up to $2M with opt-in to SoFi Insured Deposit Program)⁴
  • Welcome bonus up to $300¹
  • No monthly service or overdraft fees³
  • Early access to direct deposits⁶
  • Savings and investing tools
  • Wide range of financial products
  • Cash back on debit card purchases at select retailers
  • Combo account only; no stand-alone savings or checking
  • Overdraft protection⁷ tied to monthly deposit minimum
  • No local branches or in-person support

With no fees or minimums and tools designed to maximize your savings, the combo account is a good fit for individuals who want to do most of their banking in one place online. SoFi also has a wide range of financial products. The account offers flexibility to access or move funds, especially if your employer's payroll system allows you to access the bank's early direct deposit benefit.



SoFi disclosure:

¹ New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 1/31/2026. Full terms at sofi.com/banking. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.

SoFi members with Direct Deposit can earn 4.00% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 4.00% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Direct Deposit will earn 1.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 12/3/2024. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.

² SoFi members with Direct Deposit or $5,000 or more in Qualifying Deposits during the 30-Day Evaluation Period can earn 4.00% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. Members without either Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits, during the 30-Day Evaluation Period will earn 1.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Only SoFi members with direct deposit are eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 12/3/24. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.

³ We do not charge any account, service or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. We do charge a transaction fee to process each outgoing wire transfer. SoFi does not charge a fee for incoming wire transfers, however the sending bank may charge a fee. Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Checking & Savings Fee Sheet for details at sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/.

⁴ SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations. Any additional

FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $2M through participation in the program. See full terms at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/terms

See list of participating banks at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/receivingbanks

We’ve partnered with Allpoint to provide you with ATM access at any of the 55,000+ ATMs within the Allpoint network. You will not be charged a fee when using an in-network ATM, however, third-party fees incurred when using out-of-network ATMs are not subject to reimbursement. SoFi’s ATM policies are subject to change at our discretion at any time.

Early access to direct deposit funds is based on the timing in which we receive notice of impending payment from the Federal Reserve, which is typically up to two days before the scheduled payment date, but may vary.

Overdraft Coverage is limited to $50 on debit card purchases only and is an account benefit available to customers with direct deposits of $1,000 or more during the current 30-day Evaluation Period as determined by SoFi Bank, N.A. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the“30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Members with a prior history of non-repayment of negative balances are ineligible for Overdraft Coverage.

Award Icon 2025 Award Winner

Quontic High Interest Checking

Member FDIC.
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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High APY when you complete 10 or more qualifying debit card purchases each month
APY
up to 1.10%
Min. To Earn APY
$1
  • High checking APY
  • One of the highest APY for CDs and savings account
  • No monthly fees, overdraft, or NSF fees
  • Comes with a debit card
  • Large fee-free ATM network
  • Quontic Pay Ring: the nation's first wearable payment ring
  • Must meet monthly transaction requirements to earn higher interest tier 
  • Limited CD terms
  • No physical branches

Quontic is an online bank. While it has only one physical location in Astoria, New York, it has over 90,000 fee-free ATM locations. In addition, there are no minimum balance requirements, no overdraft, or NSF fees. Money orders and cashier's checks are also free. There is a minimum of $100 to open an account.

Quontic High Interest Checking customers can use the Quontic Pay Ring, the nation's first wearable payment ring. While wearing the ring, customers can make contactless purchases with a simple tap of their hand.

The bank offers a high APY for those who meet requirements for the APY tiers.

10 debit card point of sale transactions of $10 or more per statement cycle required to earn the maximum APY. If the qualifying activity requirement is not fulfilled, the interest rate paid on the entire balance will be 0.01% APY.

Axos Bank Rewards Checking

Member FDIC.
Rating image, 4.25 out of 5 stars.
4.25/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Rating image, 4.25 out of 5 stars.
4.25/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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offer alert
Cash in on up to a $500 bonus† and up to 3.30% APY* with a new Rewards Checking account. Just use promo code RC500 before July 31.
APY
0.40% (up to 3.30%) Rate info Circle with letter I in it. To earn the full APY, account holders must do all of the following: Receive monthly direct deposits totaling more than $1,500; make 10 transactions a month with your Axos debit card, or sign up for Axos's Personal Finance Manager; maintain an average daily balance of $2,500 per month in an Axos Invest Self Directed Trading Account; and use your Rewards Checking account to make your full monthly Axos Bank consumer mortgage, personal, or auto loan payment.
Min. To Earn APY
Monthly direct deposits totaling at least $1,500
  • High checking account APY
  • Unlimited ATM fee reimbursements
  • No monthly maintenance, NSF, or overdraft fees
  • No monthly balance requirements
  • Cash back checking option
  • Must meet certain requirements to earn the highest interest tier
  • Low savings and CD APYs compared to competitors

Axos is an online-only bank and offers one of the highest APYs we've found. To earn the high APY, however, customers need to meet certain requirements, such as opening multiple investment and loan accounts.

Axos also offers unlimited domestic ATM reimbursements. In addition, there are no minimum balance requirements, no overdraft, or NSF fees. Axos provides a complimentary debit card and offers a number of digital tools to help customers manage their money. Axos has a minimum deposit requirement of $50, but there is no minimum balance requirement to earn interest.

Rewards Checking disclosure:

To be eligible to earn all or a portion of the cash incentive as part of the promotional offer "RC500," an application for a Rewards Checking account must be submitted between 06/20/2024 at 12:00 am PT and 07/31/24 at 11:59 pm PT.

Axos Bank reserves the right to limit each primary account holder to one (1) checking account promotional offer per year. Promotional terms and conditions are subject to change or removal without notice. Incentive may be taxable and reported on IRS Form 1099-MISC. Consult your tax advisor. After initial requirements above are met, the amount of incentive earned will depend on meeting the additional requirements outlined below:

Rewards Checking bonus up to $500: You must be approved for your new Rewards Checking account and fund it within 60 days of account opening. An incentive of up to $500 can be earned during the first six (6) statement cycles, starting in the statement cycle thirty (30) days after the account is opened. A statement cycle is a calendar month consisting of at least one day your account was open during that month. You can earn a maximum of five (5) payouts during the six (6) statement cycles, and the incentive will be deposited into the qualifying account within 15 business days following the end of the statement cycle in which the requirements were met.

$100 will be earned for each statement cycle, up to $500, when you meet two requirements during that statement cycle: 1) your Rewards Checking account receives qualifying direct deposits at least $1,500.00 in total, and 2) the average daily balance in your Rewards Checking account is at least $3,000.

Your Rewards Checking account must remain open and in good standing at the time the incentive is paid to be eligible.

A direct deposit is an electronic deposit of your paycheck or government benefits, such as Social Security, Disability etc. Other deposits (i.e., online banking transfers, ATM and mobile check deposits, etc.) or person-to-person payments are not considered a direct deposit. Account transactions may take one or more business days from the transaction date to post to the account.

Ally Spending Account

Member FDIC.
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Excellent
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APY
up to 0.25%
Min. To Earn APY
$1
  • Strong online and mobile tools
  • No monthly maintenance or overdraft fees
  • Monthly ATM fee reimbursements
  • Competitive APY
  • Early direct deposit
  • Higher APY available at other financial institutions
  • No physical locations
  • No cash deposits

Ally is an online-only bank with a top-rated mobile app. While it has no physical locations, it has over 43,000 fee-free Allpoint ATM locations. The Ally Spending Account, formerly known as Ally High Interest Checking, reimburses ATM fees up to $10 per statement cycle.

In addition, there are no minimum deposit and balance requirements, and there are no monthly maintenance or overdraft fees. There are also no fees for standard or expedited ACH transfers or official/cashier's checks. However, Ally's APY is low compared to other high-yield checking accounts.

Ally offers customer protection against accidental overspending with a double line of defense through its Overdraft Transfer Service and CoverDraft service. Customers can get paid up to two days sooner with early direct deposit. Ally also offers free standard and official checks, as well as free domestic and international wire transfers. The bank offers higher-than-average APY on all balances.

Capital One 360 Checking

Member FDIC.
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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APY
0.10%
Min. To Earn APY
$0
  • Branches and Capital One Cafes in some states
  • Variety of accounts
  • Robust digital platform and app
  • Great customer service
  • Higher APY available at other financial institutions

Capital One boasts a top-rated mobile app and has over 70,000 fee-free Capital One, MoneyPass, and Allpoint ATM locations. For those looking for face-to-face interaction, Capital One has over 450 locations and 50 Capital One Cafes, where customers can bank, get a cup of coffee, and ask for advice from a certified money coach.

However, the APY is lower than that of other online banks. Customers can add cash to their 360 Checking Account at any CVS location and get access to their money up to two days sooner with early paycheck. In addition, there are no minimum deposit and balance requirements, no foreign transaction fees, and no overdraft fees.

LendingClub Rewards Checking

Member FDIC.
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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APY
up to 0.15% Rate info Circle with letter I in it. Balances of $0 to $2,499.99 earn 0% APY, balances of $2,500 to $99,999.99 earn 0.10% APY, and balances of $100,000 and greater earn 0.15% APY.
Min. To Earn APY
$2,500
  • Unlimited cash back on debit card purchases
  • Unlimited ATM fee reimbursements worldwide
  • Get your paycheck up to two days early
  • No monthly maintenance or overdraft fees
  • Low balances won't earn interest
  • Most customers won't qualify for the highest APY
  • Higher APY available at other financial institutions
  • Must have at least $2,500 to earn cash back rewards

LendingClub Rewards Checking offers unlimited domestic and worldwide ATM reimbursements. In addition, there are no minimum balance requirements, no overdraft, or NSF fees. LendingClub Rewards Checking offers 1% cashback on debit card purchases. The account packs in an above-average APY, but there is a minimum balance requirement of $2,500 to earn interest and earn the 1% cashback.

Schwab Bank Investor Checking™

Member FDIC.
Rating image, 4.75 out of 5 stars.
4.75/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Rating image, 4.75 out of 5 stars.
4.75/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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APY
0.20%
Min. To Earn APY
$0.01
  • Competitive APY
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • No monthly maintenance fees
  • Unlimited ATM fee reimbursements worldwide
  • Great customer service
  • Free linked investment account with checking account
  • Requires a linked brokerage account
  • No cash deposits

This free checking account is available to Schwab brokerage customers. Schwab offers unlimited domestic and international ATM reimbursements. Schwab also doesn't charge a foreign transaction fee (which can be 1% to 3% of transaction cost). In addition, there is no minimum deposit requirement and no minimum balance requirements.

Charles Schwab Bank received the highest score in the checking segment of the J.D. Power 2019-2023 U.S. Direct Banking Satisfaction Studies, which measures overall satisfaction with branchless banks.

When you open a High Yield Investor Checking account, you'll also be opening a brokerage account at the same time and receive a separate account number for each. You can view both accounts online with a single login, pay no monthly fees, and easily transfer funds between accounts for free.

EverBank Performance℠ Checking

Member FDIC.
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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APY
0.40%
Min. To Earn APY
$0
  • Earns APY
  • Monthly ATM fee reimbursements
  • Purchase protections for debit cards
  • Higher APY available at other financial institutions

TIAA is an online bank that also offers other financial products and services. TIAA has over 92,000 fee-free ATM locations. TIAA also reimburses ATM fees up to $15 per statement cycle, but customers need to maintain a minimum balance of $5,000 to qualify for the ATM reimbursement. In addition, there is no minimum deposit required, no minimum balance requirements, or NSF fees. Customers need $100 to open an account.

TIAA guarantees high APY yields with its Yield Pledge promise. This states that it will guarantee that the APY will be within the top 5% of "competitive accounts." However, TIAA's APY is lower than other high-yield checking accounts.

What is a no-fee checking account?

A free checking account is a bank account with no monthly maintenance fees. Most checking accounts come with a debit card and checks for customers to make payments. Many people use their checking accounts to receive their wages and pay their bills.

What fees do I need to watch out for?

Even with free checking accounts, there are other fees that customers may have to pay. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the average monthly fee for a checking account is $9.87 ($118 annually). Account holders who are subject to certain fees such as overdraft and non-sufficient fund fees pay on average $29.09 per month ($349 annually).

Before opening a checking account, familiarize yourself with the fees below. Learning when and why banks charge these fees will help you get the most benefit from your checking account. It can also help you avoid checking account fees.

Monthly maintenance fee

This fee is also known as a service change. It is a recurring checking account charge that often ranges from $5 to $15 per month. Many banks waive this fee if a customer meets certain requirements.

Requirements might be a minimum ongoing deposit amount, minimum number of account transactions, or setting up direct deposit from an employer.

Overdraft fees

Customers who spend more than they have in their checking account are assessed an overdraft fee. The typical overdraft fee is $35 per incident. In addition, banks charge a sustained overdraft fee if the checking account remains negative. Some banks have a maximum number of charges they assess per day.

Some banks offer overdraft protection. This allows customers to link another bank account, a line of credit, or a credit card to their checking account. In case of an overdraft, the negative balance will be charged against their other account. Some banks charge a fee for overdraft protection.

ATM fees

Withdrawing money from an out-of-network ATM machine may cost a customer anywhere from $2 to $5 per withdrawal. ATM fees consist of a fee the bank charges the customer and the surcharge from the ATM's owner.

Many banks have a network of ATMs that offer free cash withdrawals. For example, Capital One has more than 70,000 fee-free in-network ATMs. Bank of America has about 16,000. Some banks will reimburse ATMs fees up to a certain amount per statement cycle.

Related: Banks With No ATM Fees

Returned item fees

Also known as a non-sufficient fund (NSF) fee, this fee is assessed by the bank if a customer writes a check and there are insufficient funds. The check will "bounce" and be returned to the customer. The bank will normally charge a bounced-check fee in addition to any overdraft fees. NSF fees range anywhere from $20 to $40.

Paper statement fees

Banks have been encouraging customers to opt-in for electronic statements. Some banks charge anywhere from $1 to $5 per paper statement for the printing and mailing costs.

Foreign transaction fees

Customers who use their debit card outside of the U.S. for purchases or to withdraw cash will incur additional charges. These fees range anywhere from 1% to 3% of the total purchase amount. In addition to the foreign transaction fee, banks may charge an international ATM fee. This fee is typically a flat fee of up to $5 per cash withdrawal.

Account closure fee

Some banks charge up to $25 for closing an account. Most banks charge early account closure fees if opened within 90 to 180 days of opening an account. This is to prevent customers from opening an account to receive any special perks and then immediately closing it afterward.

Can I open a free checking account without a deposit?

While there are many banks that require a deposit to open a free checking account, through our analysis, we have found the best banks that offer a free checking account with no required deposit.

In the past, free checking accounts often had many restrictions. Many banks have begun to now offer free checking accounts without a minimum deposit requirement.

Discover our other checking account top picks

Our checking account methodology

At Motley Fool Money, we rate checking accounts on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). We evaluate all checking accounts across four main criteria: brand and reputation, APY and rewards, fees and minimum requirements, and perks.

Our scores are weighted as:

  • Brand and reputation: 40%
  • APY and rewards: 30%
  • Fees and minimums: 15%
  • Other perks: 15%

Our aim is to maintain a balanced list featuring top-scoring products from reputable brands offering standout features. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates bank accounts.

Banks we monitor

  • Alliant, Ally, All America Bank, American First Credit Union, American Express National Bank, Arvest Bank, Aspiration, Axos Bank, B2 Bank, Bank of America, Bank5 Connect, Bank7, Barclays, Bask Bank, Betterment, Bluevine, BMO Bank, Bread Financial, Capital One, Carver Federal Savings Bank, Charles Schwab Bank, Chase, Chime, CIT, Citibank, Citizens, Citizens Savings Bank, Columbia Bank, Connexus Credit Union, Consumers Credit Union, Copper, Cross River Bank, Customers Bank, Discover® Bank, E*TRADEEdward Jones, EverBank, Fidelity, Fifth Third Bank, First Foundation Bank, First Internet Bank of Indiana, First National Bank, First Tech Federal Credit Union, Flushing Bank, Freedom Bank, Generations Bank, GN Bank, Golden 1 Credit Union, Greenlight, Harborstone Credit Union, HSBC, Huntington Bank, Ivella, Kabbage by American Express, KeyBank, Laurel Road, LendingClub, Liberty Bank, Liberty Federal Credit Union, Marcus by Goldman Sachs, Mercury, Municipal Credit Union, Mutual of Omaha, NASA Federal Credit Union, Nationwide Bank, Navy Federal Credit Union, NBKC Bank, New York Community Bank, Northpointe Bank, Novo, OceanFirst Bank, Old National Bank, ONE Finance, OneUnited Bank, Oxygen, Pacific Western Bank, PNC Bank, Ponce Bank, Popular Direct, Presidential Bank, Prime Alliance Bank, Quontic, Radius, Raisin, Redneck Bank, Regions Bank, Relay, Republic Bank of Chicago, Revolut, Salem Five Bank, Sallie Mae, Santander Bank, SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, Simple, SoFi®, Synchrony Bank, TAB Bank, TD Bank, Third Federal, Truist Bank, U.S. Bank, UFB, Upgrade, USAA, Valley Bank, Vanguard, Varo Bank, Vio Bank, Wealthfront, Wells Fargo, Western Alliance Bank, and Zeta.

FAQs

  • Free checking account requirements vary based on the financial institution. Some require a minimum deposit, and there are free checking accounts that don't.

  • Overdraft fees vary based on the financial institution. Some have overdraft fees, and some don't. Some banks have stopped charging them altogether.

  • Online checking account costs vary dramatically. Some have multiple fees, such as maintenance charges, overdraft fees, and ATM fees, while others are entirely free.