Whether you’re looking to open your first ever Checking account, or just simply tired of paying monthly maintenance fees with your current one, a free personal Checking account may be what you’re searching for (see free business Checking accounts here).
Many traditional Checking accounts from local banks require monthly fees that can range from a few dollars, and on up to the $20 to $30 range. The more benefits the Checking account provides, the higher the fee typically is. You certainly can waive the fees most of the time, but that typically involves maintaining a minimum daily balance, making certain types of deposits, having a minimum number of monthly transactions, etc.
A lot of folks don’t need all the bells and whistles of a premium Checking account, and just need somewhere to carry a small balance and perform basic Checking tasks. If you’re in this boat, there are still plenty of Checking account options both with traditional banks and online banks. Some of these free Checking accounts also have sign-up bonuses as well.
You’ll have far more free Checking account options with online banks due to their lower overhead costs, but depositing cash will be an issue. Depositing checks has never been easier with mobile apps.
Our other top bank guides:
Best Bank Account Bonuses
Best CD Rates
Best Savings Accounts
Best Free Business Checking Accounts
We’ll review your best free Checking account options below.
Northpointe Bank UltimateAccount Checking
Best Choice For: Free Checking With Sign-Up Bonus And High Interest
The UltimateAccount Checking from Northpointe Bank is available online nationwide and doesn’t have monthly service fees. There are no minimum balance requirements to keep track of and the minimum opening deposit is just $100.
Plus, they’re currently offering a $50 sign-up bonus that is one of the easiest bank bonuses to qualify for. All you’ll have to do is open a new account with the $100 minimum deposited within 30 days.
On top of the bonus offer, your balance up to $5,000 will earn a 5.00% APY rate. Balances above the $5,000 will earn a corresponding APY of 2.54%-5.00%. For a more detailed explanation of the bonus and interest rate, read our Northpointe Bank review.
Availability? Account is open to everyone nationwide
Physical Branches? No physical branches.
Mobile app? iOS | Android
Bonus offer? Special offer for a $50 bonus and 5.00% APY on balances up to $5,000
Earns interest? Yes, 5.00% APY up to $5,000.
Monthly Fee? None
Minimum balance requirement? None
Minimum opening deposit? $100
Credit card funding options? You can fund the new account with a credit/debit card up to $100.
ATM access? Use any ATM you like. Surcharges are reimbursed up to $10 per month
Full review: Northpointe Bank Checking
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BBVA Compass ClearChoice Free Checking
Best Choice For: Free Checking With Branch Access
For those looking for a free Checking account option with physical branch access, the ClearChoice Free Checking is available from BBVA Compass. This account will be limited to those states where branches exist, which includes Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, New Mexico and Texas.
If you live in one of those above regions, this account is a solid option. You’ll have fee-free access to BBVA Compass ATMs. There are no monthly service charges and the minimum opening deposit is only $25. Your free Visa debit card can be personalized with your favorite photo.
You’ll also have the option to customize this free Checking account with additional features at a cost:
$5 for additional ATM Transactions: Pay no BBVA Compass fee for using another bank’s ATM and up to four automatic rebates per statement cycle of ATM fees charged by other banks.
$2 for Check Supply: Unlimited supply of standard checks and 50% off other styles.
$2 for Cashier’s Checks: Unlimited Cashier’s Checks.
$3 for Safe Deposit Box: 3X5 Safe Deposit Box.
Don’t opt for any of those additional features and your account is fee-free.
Availability? Account is open to residents of AL, AZ, CA, CO, FL, NM, and TX.
Physical Branches? Yes, find a branch or ATM here.
Mobile app? iOS | Android
Bonus offer? None currently available for this account.
Earns interest? No
Monthly Fee? None
Minimum balance requirement? None
Minimum opening deposit? $25
Credit card funding options? You can fund the new account with a Visa/Mastercard up to $5000.
ATM access? Use BBVA Compass ATMs fee-free. You can opt for out-of-network ATM access for a $5 fee.
Full review: BBVA Compass Checking
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EverBank Yield Pledge Checking
Best Choice For: Free Checking With Bonus Interest
The Yield Pledge Checking account from EverBank is an online Checking account available nationwide.
You can make mobile check deposits with their app, and you’ll also have access to a limited number of branch and ATM locations as well. There are no monthly service fees and you’ll actually receive unlimited ATM fee reimbursements if you can maintain a $5,000 minimum balance.
The Yield Pledge Checking account from EverBank is another solid free Checking account option for earning interest. This is especially the case for the first year, where you’ll receive a bonus rate of 1.11% APY on balances up to $250,000. After the first year, the following ongoing rates apply:
Balances
Ongoing APY
$100,000 – $10,000,000
0.61%
$50,000 – $99,999.99
0.51%
$25,000 – $49,999.99
0.41%
$10,000 – $24,999.99
0.36%
$0 – $9,999.99
0.25%
The ongoing rates may change, but this account gets its name from the pledge to always keep the rate within the top 5% of competitive accounts.
Availability? Available online nationwide.
Physical Branches? Yes, find a branch or ATM here.
Mobile app? iOS | Android
Bonus offer? Bonus 1st year interest rate of 1.11% APY.
Earns interest? Yes, a lower ongoing rate after the 1st year bonus.
Monthly Fee? None
Minimum balance requirement? None
Minimum opening deposit? $5,000
Credit card funding options? None – contact EverBank to verify.
ATM access? Use EverBank ATMs fee-free, and get ATM fees charged by other banks reimbursed when you keep a balance of at least $5,000.
Full review: EverBank Checking
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Bank5 Connect High-Interest Checking
Best Choice For: Interest Rate On All Balances
The Connect High-Interest Checking account from Bank5 has no monthly service fee and currently earns 0.76% APY on all balances when you keep at least a minimum $100 balance. You’ll have access to thousands of free ATMs and get reimbursement up to $15 monthly for ATM fees other banks charge. Bank5 Connect will never charge you for using any ATMs.
The minimum opening deposit is only $10, and there’s a lower than average $15 Overdraft Penalty fee.
Availability? Available online nationwide.
Physical Branches? No physical branches.
Mobile app? iOS | Android
Bonus offer? None currently available.
Earns interest? Yes, 0.76% APY on all balances when you keep a $100 minimum balance.
Monthly Fee? None
Minimum balance requirement? None, but $100 to earn interest.
Minimum opening deposit? $10
Credit card funding options? None – contact Bank5 to verify.
ATM access? Find an in-network free ATM here. Use any ATM and Bank5 Connect will never charge a fee on their side. They will reimburse up to $15 each month for ATM fees other banks charge.
Full review: Bank5 Connect Checking
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Ally Interest Checking
Best Choice For: Best Customer Service
Ally bank is an internet-only bank and has a big online presence. They offer the Ally Interest Checking account, which earns interest and will have access to over 43,000 free ATMs in the Allpoint network across the U.S. You’ll also be reimbursed up to $10 per statement cycle for fees charged at other ATMs nationwide.
They are well-known for their customer service and have an online call center that is staffed 24 hours a day, every day of the week. You’ll also have access to online Chat customer service as well.
There are no monthly service fees and you can make mobile check deposits with their app.
Interest Rate:
Less Than $15,000 Daily Balance
$15,000 Minimum Daily Balance
0.10% APY
0.60% APY
Availability? Available online nationwide.
Physical Branches? No physical branches.
Mobile app? iOS | Android
Bonus offer? None currently available.
Earns interest? Yes, 0.60% APY with a $15,000 minimum daily balance.
Monthly Fee? None
Minimum balance requirement? None
Minimum opening deposit? $0
Credit card funding options? None – contact Ally to verify.
ATM access? Use the more than 43,000 ATMs in the Allpoint network in the U.S. for free. Also, you’ll get reimbursed up to $10 per statement cycle for fees charged at other ATMs nationwide.
Full review: Ally Checking
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Capital One 360 Checking
Best Choice For: Low Overdraft Fees
The Capital One 360 Checking account is an online-only account, even though Capital One bank does have physical branches.
There is no monthly service fee and no minimum deposit to open. This Checking account also earns interest.
You’ll have access to 40,000+ free ATMs nationwide in the Allpoint network, as well as the few Capital One 360 Cafes located in eight cities around the country. When using your debit card for purchases abroad, Capital One 360 is one of the few banks that don’t charge foreign transaction fees.
Check deposits can be done with their mobile app. Another great feature the Capital One 360 Checking account provides is their Overdraft Policy. Instead of a flat fee like most banks, you’ll have the option of getting charged an 11.50% APY interest rate on the amount overdrawn. An overdraft of $100 over a one week period would cost you less than a quarter.
Interest Rate:
Account Balance
APY
$0 – $49,999.99
0.20%
$50,000.00 – $99,999.99
0.75%
$100,000 or more
0.90%
To top it all off, there are typically several sign-up bonus offers available for this account.
Availability? Available online nationwide.
Physical Branches? No physical branches.
Mobile app? iOS | Android
Bonus offer? Offers from $25 to $400, and referrals up to $1,000.
Earns interest? Yes, balances above $50,000 will earn the best rates.
Monthly Fee? None
Minimum balance requirement? None
Minimum opening deposit? $0
Credit card funding options? None – contact Capital One 360 to verify.
ATM access? Use the more than 40,000 ATMs in the Allpoint network in the U.S. for free.
Full review: Capital One 360 Checking
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Schwab High-Yield Investor Checking
Best Choice For: No ATM Fees Anywhere
Most people are familiar with Charles Schwab for offering brokerage services, but their High-Yield Investor Checking account is a secret weapon well known among savvy travelers. This is because the account provides unlimited fee rebates on ATM withdrawals worldwide.
There is no minimum deposit requirement and no monthly service fee. You’ll have access to online bill pay just like with other online-only banks, as well as mobile check deposits.
While you don’t have to use it or even deposit funds into it, you’ll receive a free brokerage account along with this Checking option.
Open a new Schwab brokerage account first with a minimum $1,000 deposit and you can earn a $100 bonus first.
Availability? Available online nationwide.
Physical Branches? No physical branches.
Mobile app? iOS | Android
Bonus offer? $100 bonus with the brokerage account; then you can add the Checking account for free.
Earns interest? Yes, but a low 0.14% APY.
Monthly Fee? None
Minimum balance requirement? None
Minimum opening deposit? $0
Credit card funding options? None – contact Schwab to verify.
ATM access? Any ATM worldwide that accepts the Visa debit card – unlimited ATM fee rebates. This is the best access for travelers!
Full review: Charles Schwab Checking
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Simple Checking Account
Best Choice For: Alternative To Traditional Checking
Simple is an online and mobile only bank that puts more emphasis on going mobile more than other internet banks. They have one of the most feature rich mobile apps and it is evident in the amount of user reviews left in the app stores compared to other banks’ apps.
With the app you can make mobile check deposits, as well as set goals and track your spending with their built-in tools.
There are is no monthly fee, no minimum balance requirement, no overdraft fee, no account closing fee, no card replacement fee, and no fee from Simple for out of network ATMs. You’ll have access to 50,000 in-network free ATMs. However, there is no allotted reimbursement for fees charged by other bank’s ATMs.
Availability? Available online nationwide.
Physical Branches? No physical branches.
Mobile app? iOS | Android
Bonus offer? No current offers.
Earns interest? No
Monthly Fee? None
Minimum balance requirement? None
Minimum opening deposit? $0
Credit card funding options? None – contact Simple to verify.
ATM access? 50,000 in-network ATMs fee-free available.
Full review: Simple Bank
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MoneysMyLife Top Offer Picks
Earn a $200 bonus when you open a new Chase Total Checking® account and set up direct deposit. Also earn a $150 bonus when you open a new Chase SavingsSM account, deposit a total of $10,000 or more in new money within 10 days & maintain a $10,000 balance for 90 days. Apply for both offers and get a $350 total bonus. Full Review
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Get $300 when you open a new Chase Premier Plus CheckingSM account and set up direct deposit. This account has more features than the Chase Total Checking® and the monthly service fee can be waived with a few different requirement options. A $300 Checking bonus is one of the best offers from Chase Bank. Full Review
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Apply for the Barclaycard Arrival PlusTM World Elite MasterCard® and earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 90 days. These 50K bonus miles are worth $525 in travel redemption. This is one of the best credit card bonus offers for a travel credit card. Full Review
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Apply online for a new TD Bank Checking account to earn either a $200 bonus for the TD Premier Checking account ( $2,500 in direct deposits required), or a $100 bonus for the TD Convenience Checking account ($500 in direct deposits required). This is a limited time offer. Full Review
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Get a $100 cash rewards bonus after you spend $500 in purchases in the first 90 days after account opening with the Barclaycard CashForwardTM World MasterCard®. Earn unlimited 1.5% cash rewards on every purchase and there's no annual fee. Full Review
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Open a new online checking account from Northpointe Bank and get a $50 bonus, along with a 5.00% APY on balances up to $5,000. This offer is available nationwide and is one of the easiest bank bonuses to earn (no direct deposit required). Just open with a $100 minimum deposit to qualify. Full Review
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