If you’re looking to open your first ever checking account or you’re just tired of paying monthly maintenance fees with your current one, you may be interested in a free personal checking account.
Many traditional checking accounts require monthly fees ranging from a few dollars, up to even $30. Usually, the more benefits offered, the higher the fee. You can waive the fees most of the time; however, that involves maintaining a minimum daily balance, making certain types of deposits, having a minimum number of monthly transactions, and other requirements.
If you don’t need all the features a premium checking account offers, you can find a basic checking account that fits all your needs. Some of these free checking accounts also have sign-up bonuses.
Online banks will offer more free checking account options because of their lower overhead costs. Though you can’t deposit cash directly with online banks, it’s easy to deposit checks with mobile apps. Read on for the top ten free checking accounts that have made it to our list.
Best Free Checking Accounts
BBVA Online Checking & Savings – Earn Up To $250 Bonus
BBVA’s free online checking account — the BBVA Online Checking account — is available nationwide. This account is best for those who constantly need to withdraw or deposit cash. You’ll have access to over 43,000 ATMs in the Allpoint network and the BBVA ATMs. That’s 55,000 ATMs combined with no fees worldwide.
The minimum opening deposit is just $25 and you can only apply online. There is no monthly Service Charge, but be sure to opt out of Paper Statements to avoid the $3 charge for that service.
BBVA Earn Up To $250 Bonus:
- Open a new BBVA Online Checking account and receiving a qualifying direct deposit of $500 by January 15, 2021 to earn a $200 bonus.
- Increase your bonus to $250 by adding an Online Savings account and having a savings balance of at least $1000 on December 31, 2020.
- Apply Now at BBVA to earn up to $250 bonus
- Availability: Online account available nationwide except for AK and HI
- Branches in AL, AZ, CA, CO, FL, NM & TX (Bank Locator)
- Earns Interest: No
- Monthly Service Charge: None
- Minimum Balance Requirement: None
- Minimum Opening Deposit: $25
- ATM Access: 55,000 AllPoint® and BBVA ATMs worldwide (no fees)
Chase Total Checking
Though the Chase Total Checking account isn’t free unless you meet the monthly requirements, it’s important that we list one account option that will give you full in-branch service available to most residents nationwide.
The $12 monthly fee is easily waived with several options. You’ll need to do ONE of the following to waive the fee:
- Have monthly direct deposits totaling $500 or more made to this account; OR
- Keep a minimum daily balance of $1,500 or more in your checking account; OR
- Keep an average daily balance of $5,000 or more in any combination of qualifying Chase checking, savings and other balances
The easiest option is to keep a minimum daily balance of $1,500. Once you do so, this is one of the best checking account options available from a big bank.
 • Enjoy a $200 bonus when you open a new Chase Total Checking® account and set up direct deposit • Access to 16,000 Chase ATMs and nearly 4,900 branches • Chase Mobile® app - Manage your accounts, deposit checks, transfer money and more -- all from your device. • Open your account online now. • Available online nationwide except in Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. For branch locations, visit locator.chase.com. |
- Availability: (Bank Locator)
- Earns Interest: No
- Monthly Service Fee: $12; can be waived
- Minimum Balance Requirement: None
- Minimum Opening Deposit: $0
- ATM Access: Access to several Chase ATMs
Huntington Asterisk-Free Checking
Huntington Bank offers the Asterisk-Free Checking account with no fees. It comes with standard checking account features including Huntington’s 24-Hour Grace feature to give you more time to make a deposit in order to avoid an Overdraft Fee and All Day Deposit feature to deposit money to ATMs and the Huntington Mobile app any time up to midnight.
- Availability: IN, KY, MI, OH, PA, WV (Bank Locator)
- Earns Interest: No
- Monthly Service Fee: None
- Minimum Balance Requirement: None
- Minimum Opening Deposit: $25
- ATM Access: 1,800+ ATMs across eight Midwestern states
Aspiration
The Aspiration account is online-only and offers an excellent interest rate in the Save account. There are no monthly fees, no minimum monthly balance requirements and no overdraft fees. There’s a $10 minimum opening deposit.
With an Aspiration account, you’ll be reimbursed for any ATM fees you get, including ones at foreign ATMs.
- Apply Now at Aspiration
- Availability: Online
- Physical Branches: None
- Earns Interest: Yes
- Monthly Service Fee: None
- Minimum Balance Requirement: None
- Minimum Opening Deposit: $10
- ATM Access: Free access to every ATM in the world
BBVA Free Checking
The BBVA Free Checking account is a free checking account with physical branch access. This account is limited to areas where branches exist in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, New Mexico and Texas.
If you live in one of those regions, this account is a solid option. You can access BBVA ATMs for free. There are no monthly service charges and the minimum opening deposit is only $25. You can also personalize your free Visa debit card.
You can customize this free Checking account with additional features at a cost. However, if you don’t opt-in for any of those additional features, your account is fee-free.
- Apply Now at BBVA
- Availability: Online account available nationwide except for AK and HI
- Branches in AL, AZ, CA, CO, FL, NM & TX (Bank Locator)
- Earns Interest: No
- Monthly Service Charge: None
- Minimum Balance Requirement: None
- Minimum Opening Deposit: $25
- ATM Access: 55,000 fee-free AllPoint® and BBVA ATMs worldwide
Chime Free Mobile Banking
Chime is a mobile banking app that merges the low cost of online checking and savings accounts with the convenience of on-the-go banking. With Chime, its Deposit Account checking customers get paid two days faster with direct deposit. For example, if you have payday on Friday, but you really need the money on Wednesday, the Chime Deposit Account may be the free checking account you’ve been waiting for.
Chime has absolutely no fees except for a $2.50 over-the-counter cash withdrawal charge. However, that’s easily avoidable when you use one of the bank’s 38,000 fee-free ATMs.
In addition, there’s an automatic savings option that rounds up the change on every debit card transaction.
- Apply Now at Chime
- Availability: Online
- Physical Branches: None
- Earns Interest: No
- Monthly Service Fee: None
- Minimum Balance Requirement: None
- Minimum Opening Deposit: Any
- ATM Access: 38,000+ fee-free MoneyPass and Visa Plus Alliance ATMs
Capital One 360 Checking
Although Capital One has physical branches, the Capital One 360 Checking account is an online-only account. With this account, there is no monthly service fee and no minimum deposit to open. You’ll also earn interest with this account.
You’ll have access to 40,000+ free ATMs nationwide in the Allpoint network. When you use your debit card for purchases abroad, Capital One 360 is one of the few banks that don’t charge foreign transaction fees. You can deposit checks with their mobile app.
![Capital One 360 $450 Money Market Deal [Nationwide] *Targeted*](https://www.bankdealguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Capital-One-360-Branch.jpg)
- Apply Now at Capital One
- Availability: Online
- Physical Branches: Yes (Bank Locator)
- Earns Interest: Yes
- Monthly Service Fee: None
- Minimum Balance Requirement: None
- Minimum Opening Deposit: $250
- ATM Access: 39,000+ fee-free Allpoint® ATMs
Read our Capital One 360 Checking account review to learn more and earn a sign-up bonus. Also check out Capital One 360 promotions for other accounts.
Discover Cashback Debit Checking
The Discover Cashback Debit Checking account is unique because it offers 1% cash back on every debit card purchase up to $3,000 per month. If you’re planning to use your debit card a lot, the, Discover Cashback Debit Checking is the best no-fee choice. With a $3,000 monthly limit on purchases for cash back, you can earn $30 per month or up to $360 per year in cash back from this account.
The only downside is that the debit card is Discover branded, meaning it’s not as widely accepted as Visa or Mastercard branded debit cards. This means you may need another credit or debit card handy if you want to shop everywhere around the country and around the world.
Besides that, you’ll get free access to 60,000 in-network ATMs and the account offers free checks and debit card replacements. You can also send and receive funds to other banks accounts in the U.S. for no fee, as well as use online bill pay and other online banking tools for free.
- Availability: Online
- Physical Branches: None
- Earns Interest: No, but earns cash back
- Monthly Service Fee: None
- Minimum Balance Requirement: None
- Minimum Opening Deposit: None
- ATM Access: 60,000+ no-fee ATMs in the U.S.
Betterment Checking
With Betterment Checking, you will be able to take advantage of fantastic features such as ATM and foreign fees reimbursed worldwide as well as Visa foreign transaction fees reimbursed.
Additionally, you would be able to utilize features such as joint checking accounts as well as depositing checks from your phone.
- Availability: Online
- Physical Branches: None
- Monthly Service Fee: None
- Minimum Balance Requirement: None
- Minimum Opening Deposit: None
Ally Bank Interest Checking
Ally bank is a popular online-only bank. Their Ally Interest Checking account 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’re well-known for their customer service and have a 24/7 online call center. 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.
- Apply Now at Ally
- Availability: Online
- Earns Interest: Yes
- Monthly Service Fee: None
- Minimum Balance Requirement: None
- Minimum Opening Deposit: $0
- ATM Access: 39,000+ fee-free Allpoint® ATMs, plus reimbursement of up to $10 per statement cycle for fees charged at other ATMs nationwide (Find ATMs)
Charles Schwab High Yield Invest Checking
Charles Schwab doesn’t offer only brokerage services. They also have a High-Yield Investor Checking account, highly beneficial to travelers. It’s because this account gives unlimited fee rebates on ATM withdrawals worldwide. There’s no minimum deposit requirement and no monthly service fee.
As an online-only bank, you can access online bill pay and mobile check deposits. Charles Schwab will also give you a free brokerage account, though you don’t have to use it or even deposit funds into it.
- Apply Now at Charles Schwab
- Availability: Online
- Physical Branches: None
- Earns Interest: No
- Monthly Service Fee: None
- Minimum Balance Requirement: None
- Minimum Opening Deposit: $1,000
- ATM Access: Any worldwide; get unlimited fee rebates
Read our Charles Schwab High Yield Invest Checking account review to learn more and earn a sign-up bonus.
SoFi
SoFi offers interest with their SoFi Checking Savings account. There are no fees with this account, plus SoFi doesn’t charge any ATM fees. They will reimburse ATM fees charged by other institutions when you use your debit card any ATM displaying the Visa, Plus, or NYCE logo. Although SoFi doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, there’s a foreign exchange fee of 1% charged by Visa that isn’t waived.
- Apply Now at SoFi
- Availability: Online
- Physical Branches: None
- Earns Interest: No
- Monthly Service Fee: None
- Minimum Balance Requirement: None
- Minimum Opening Deposit: None
- ATM Access: Any worldwide; get unlimited fee reimbursements
Read our SoFi account review to learn more.
Alliant Credit Union High-Rate Checking
Alliant Credit Union offers a High-Rate Checking account that’s fee-free. However, since it is a credit union, you must meet its eligibility requirements to join. You’ll get all the standard checking account features like free checks, a free ATM/debit VISA card, and more.
- Apply Now at Alliant Credit Union
- Availability: IA, WI (Bank Locator)
- Earns Interest: No
- Monthly Service Fee: None
- Minimum Balance Requirement: None
- Minimum Opening Deposit: None
- ATM Access: Any worldwide; get unlimited fee reimbursements
Axos Bank Rewards Checking
Formerly known as Bank of Internet USA, Axos Bank offers the Axos Bank Rewards Checking account. This Rewards Checking doesn’t automatically pay interest, but you can earn a yield of up to 1.25% on your funds by meeting certain qualifications. These include using your debit card 10 times per month and accepting a monthly direct deposit of at least $1,000.
- Apply Now at Axos
- Availability: Nationwide
- Earns Interest: No
- Monthly Service Fee: None
- Minimum Balance Requirement: None
- Minimum Opening Deposit: None
- ATM Access: Any in the U.S.; get unlimited fee reimbursements
Though the bank advertises free checks with a new checking account, you may actually need to request them when you open the account.
Simple Account
Simple is an online and mobile only bank that emphasizes going mobile more than other internet banks. Their mobile app is one of the most feature rich mobile apps, highly rated by their users. With the app you can make mobile check deposits and set goals and track your spending with their built-in tools.
There are 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 40,000 in-network free ATMs. However, there’s no reimbursement for fees charged by other bank’s ATMs.
- Apply Now at Simple
- Availability: Nationwide
- Earns Interest: No
- Monthly Service Fee: None
- Minimum Balance Requirement: None
- Minimum Opening Deposit: None
- ATM Access: 40,000+ in-network ATMs; get fee reimbursements
Read our Simple Checking account review to learn more and earn a sign-up bonus.
Bank5 Connect High-Interest Checking Account
The Connect High-Interest Checking account from Bank5 has no monthly service fee. One of its notable feature is that it earns interest. You can access 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.
There’s a $10 minimum opening deposit and a lower than average $15 Overdraft Penalty fee.
- Apply Now at Bank5
- Availability: Nationwide
- Earns Interest: Yes
- Monthly Service Fee: None
- Minimum Balance Requirement: None
- Minimum Opening Deposit: $10
- ATM Access: Any worldwide; up to $15 reimbursement for other banks’ surcharges per statement cycle
Read our Bank5 Connect High-Interest Checking account review to learn more.
Author’s Verdict
On BankDealGuy, we’ve compiled the best free checking accounts for your convenience.
For all other checking accounts, visit our list of bank promotions to possibly get a sign-up bonus along with your account.
Most of these accounts have monthly fees you can waive. However, if you don’t like that hassle, these are the best free checking accounts.
You may also want to check out savings accounts if you want to get started on saving up money.
| PROMOTIONAL LINK | OFFER | REVIEW |
| Chase Business Complete BankingSM | $300 Cash | Review |
| Chase Private Client | $2,000 Cash | Review |
| Chase Total Checking® | $200 Cash | Review |
| Chase SavingsSM | $150 Cash | Review |
| HSBC Premier Checking Member FDIC | $450 Cash | Review |
| HSBC Premier Checking Member FDIC | Up To $600 | Review |
| HSBC Advance Checking Member FDIC | $200 Cash | Review |
| HSBC Advance Checking Member FDIC | Up To $240 | Review |
| Huntington 25 Checking | $500 Cash | Review |
| Huntington Bank Unlimited Plus Business Checking | $750 Cash | Review |
| Huntington Bank Unlimited Business Checking | $400 Cash | Review |
| Huntington Bank Business Checking 100 | $200 Cash | Review |
| TD Bank Beyond CheckingSM | $300 Cash | Review |
| TD Bank Convenience CheckingSM | $150 Cash | Review |
| Axos Bank Basic Business Checking | $100 Cash | Review |
| Aspiration Spend & Save | $100 Cash | Review |
