10 Best Free Checking Accounts In September 2026
We’ve found the best free checking accounts so that you don’t have to settle for monthly fees.
We understand how important it is to have a reliable and convenient checking account to manage your daily finances. That’s why we’ve researched and analyzed dozens of options to bring you the top free checking accounts available today.
Depending on where you bank, what you do, or what you’re comfortable with, there is likely a free checking account that will work for you.
Too many people fall for the myth that banking is expensive and that the only options for a checking account involve fees, or maintaining outrageously high balances to keep the fees waived. But today, we’re fighting this myth!
We’re going to show you our favorite options depending on your situation, as well as a full round-up of free checking account options that might work for you.
Note: Most of these banks require a credit score of 600 or higher to open a free checking account online. If you don’t have a great score, or don’t have a solid banking history, check out this list of second-chance checking accounts.
We break down the best free bank account and checking account options below. This list includes mostly online checking options, but you may also find banks near you with free checking (or even credit unions). However, we find that most people prefer the convenience of solid online banking.
KeyBank offers the Key Smart Checking® Account. This checking account is a free, non-interest-bearing account that has no minimum balance requirement, offers automatic overdraft protection from a linked KeyBank savings account, paper checks, and more!
They are very mobile friendly, have access to over 40,000+ KeyBank and Allpoint® ATMs nationwide.
Plus, right now they are offering a great bonus offer! You can earn a $300 cash bonus when you open a Key Smart Checking® account online by December 11, 2026 and complete qualified activities.
To qualify, you must do the following:
Your $300 cash bonus will be deposited into your account within 60 days of meeting requirements. Accounts must not be closed at the time of gift payment.
Learn more about Key Smart Checking® here.
Read our full KeyBank review here.
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AK, CO, CT, ID, IN, ME, MA, MI, NY, OH, OR, PA, UT, VT, WA |
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The Chase Total Checking® is one of our favorite checking accounts because it’s available nationwide online, has branches nearly everywhere, and is one of the most robust banking products out there currently. Chase Mobile® app makes banking simple. You can manage accounts, pay bills, send money to friends with Zelle® and deposit checks on the go with Chase Quick Deposit℠.
And right now, you can get up to a $400 bonus when you open a Chase Total Checking® account and make direct deposits totaling $1,000 or more within 90 days of coupon enrollment. That’s awesome!
Chase Total Checking® has a $15 per month fee that’s easily waived if you simply do ONE of the following:
Read our full Chase Bank review here.
Why I Like It: A great account opening bonus, with one of the largest, most well known banks in the United States.
Learn more about Chase Total Checking® here.
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$15* (waived when requirements met) |
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Online nationwide, except HI, AK, and PR |
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Charles Schwab is best known as a brokerage, but its Investor Checking account is one of the strongest free checking accounts available – especially if you travel. There are no monthly maintenance fees, no minimum balance, and no overdraft fees. The account earns interest, which most free checking accounts don’t offer.
The standout feature is the Schwab Bank Visa® Platinum Debit Card: you get unlimited ATM fee rebates for cash withdrawals worldwide, and Schwab Bank doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees. That combination makes it a favorite for international travelers and anyone who doesn’t want to hunt for in-network ATMs.
The account is only available as a linked account with a Schwab One® brokerage account, which is also free to open with no minimums. You get mobile check deposit, Zelle® transfers, contactless payments, and card lock/unlock in the Schwab app. Deposits at Charles Schwab Bank, SSB are FDIC insured up to $250,000.
Schwab Bank has also ranked #1 in Customer Satisfaction for Direct Bank Checking Accounts by J.D. Power for eight straight years (2019-2026). Read our full Charles Schwab review.
Why I Like It: Unlimited worldwide ATM fee rebates, no foreign transaction fees, and it earns interest – all with no fees or minimums.
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Schwab Bank Investor Checking |
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Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU) is another extremely well known credit union for military members – and with good reason. They offer great accounts, low fees, and more. They also make our list of the best business checking accounts, as they support service members and their families who want to start a business as well.
There are no monthly service fees or minimum balance to open. You get up to $20 per statement period in ATM reimbursements. The ability to access military pay via direct deposit one business day earlier is available. This product does require military direct deposits. Free personalized checks for the life of the account are included.
Other products include student loans, auto loans, CDs, and credit cards. Read our full Navy Federal Credit Union review here.
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Free EveryDay Checking Account |
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Up to $20 per Statement Period Reimbursement |
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Current is a leading mobile banking app that has been endorsed by a huge range of personalities, including YouTuber Mr. Beast. It makes banking convenient and easy – it’s that simple.
Current offers a free solid checking account that you should consider. It has no minimum balance requirements, no overdraft fees, fee-free ATM withdrawals at over 40,000 ATMs, and you can earn up to 15x points for cash back!
Plus, you can get up to 4.00% APY on balances up to $6,000 by adding money to your Savings Pods and enabling the Interest feature.
Check out our Current Review here.
Why I Like It: Free mobile banking.
Learn more about Current Free Checking here.
Current is a financial technology company, not a bank. While it uses partner banks to provide banking services, your FDIC-insurance protection may be limited. Read this article from the FDIC to understand the risks of using a non-bank company.
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4% APY on balances of up to $6,000 |
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40,000 Fee-Free ATMs nationwide |
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Chime® was one of the original free mobile banking apps that revolutionized mobile banking. They started with a mobile-first mindset, and also wanted to keep fees as low as possible.
As such, they have a top notching free checking account if you’re okay with a mobile only platform. Chime has no physical locations, and all of their banking is done online – in the app.
Check out our Chime Review here.
Why I Like It: Free mobile banking.
Learn more about Chime Checking here.
Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. While it uses partner banks to provide banking services, your FDIC-insurance protection may be limited. Read this article from the FDIC to understand the risks of using a non-bank company.
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60,000 ATMs nationwide⁵ |
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Varo is a modern app and online bank that is delivering awesome account with no monthly maintenance fes.
Varo has no minimum balance requirements, no monthly fees, and earns a solid rate on their savings account!
It includes a debit card and a solid mobile app experience!
Read our full Varo review here.
Why I Like It: A no monthly-fee checking account, at a bank with an amazing savings account as well.
Learn more about Varo.
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Up To 3.75% APY on Savings |
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40,000+ at U.S. based Allpoint® ATMs |
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Axos Bank calls themselves America’s most experienced digital bank. And their Axos ONE® Checking account hits every feature you’d expect from a top notch online bank.
Axos ONE® Checking has no minimum balance requirements, no monthly fees, and no overdraft or insufficient fund fees. Plus, they offer unlimited domestic ATM reimbursements!
Axos Bank does require that you have good banking history to get approved.
Axos ONE® accounts are eligible to receive a promotional APY for each statement cycle where the promotional criteria are met during the Qualification Period. To receive the promotional APY on both Axos ONE® Checking and Axos ONE® Savings, the Axos ONE® Checking account must meet both of the requirements in either Option 1 or Option 2 below during the Qualification Period:
Option 1
Option 2
If both of the requirements in either Option 1 or Option 2 above are met during the Qualification Period:
The Qualification Period begins on the first business day of the month and runs through the 25th of the month. If the 25th of the month is followed by a non-business day, the average daily balance will be calculated including the following non-business day(s). Any qualifying deposits or qualifying direct deposits received after the 25th of the month will count toward the next Qualification Period. The Qualification Period for new accounts will begin on the day the account is approved. New accounts opened on or after the 25th of the month will be eligible to earn the promotional APY starting in the following month.
Read our full Axos Bank review here.
Why I Like It: A great free checking account with the ability to earn a high APY.
Learn more about Axos Rewards Checking here.
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Unlimited via ATM fee reimbursement |
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GO2bank is a mobile bank that is working to take mobile banking to the next level. What we love about GO2bank is that they are really helping people access banking who may have never had a bank account before. GO2bank was created by Green Dot Corp, which many people may already be familiar with.
This account has a $5 monthly fee, but it’s easily waived if you receive an eligible direct deposit payment during the previous monthly statement period.
Plus, the perks are amazing. You can currently earn 2.50% APY (Annual Percentage Yield) on up to $5,000 in your savings account, paid quarterly¹. You can also earn up to 7% cash back when you purchase eGift Cards from the nearly 100 popular merchants in the GO2bank mobile app as well as 3% cash back on Amazon eGift Cards bought in the app².
Plus, they offer up to $200 in overdraft protection with opt-in and eligible direct deposit³.
Read our full GO2bank review here.
Why I Like It: A savings account that earns interest combined with a deposit account that has amazing overdraft protection.
Learn more about GO2bank here.
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$5 (waived with qualifying direct deposit) |
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2.50% APY on first $5,000 |
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Ally Bank is one of the most well-known internet only banks around, and they have a great free checking account that matches their brand.
They are known for solid customer service and great banking products. They have no monthly fee free checking, and a great mobile app that allows mobile check deposit.
Plus, their Spending Account earns interest as well – up to 0.25% APY. They have two tiers:
Read out full Ally Bank review here.
Why I Like It: Well known free checking brand.
Learn more about Ally Bank Checking here.
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43,000 Free ATMs, Up To $10 In Reimbursement/Mo |
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We talked about it slightly above, but there is a long standing myth in America that checking accounts are expensive. As a result, too many people go without this tool, and end up using expensive tools like check cashing, money orders, and more.
According to a CFPB report, the average checking account charge $10-12 in monthly maintenance fees. That’s crazy! There is no reason than anyone should pay these fees when opening a checking account.
Furthermore, to waive these fees, many “big banks” require you to open other products with them (such as a savings account), or maintain a monthly minimum (say $5,000 at all times, or pay the fee), or they require you to have direct deposit setup.
Some banks even have a transaction requirement to waive the fee – for example, you must have 25 debit cards transactions per month, or you get charged a fee. All of these fees and requirements are wrong.
Students (and other people) typically maintain lower balances than older Americans. They also might not have a job yet (for direct deposit), or have other accounts at the bank.
As such, they have unique requirements that we wanted to share, so that you can see how we based our criteria for the best free checking account options.
In order to be one of the best free checking accounts, we put the following criteria in place:
When you’re ready, it’s extremely easy to open a new checking account. While the process will vary, if you’re opening an account online, you simply click the link above and follow the directions. You simply need to fill out the personal information, including Name, Address, and SSN, and you’re set.
Some banks may need you to upload copies of your identification or other items. You can typically do this online.
When it comes time to fund your account, you can simply setup a transfer into the account.
If you’re opening an account at a brick and mortar bank, the same steps will apply, except you will need cash or a check to fund the account.
The College Investor has been testing and reviewing checking accounts for over 10 years. I personally have been actively writing about banking products and the need for free checking since 2009.
In creating this guide, we’ve looked at our extensive list of bank reviews, our knowledge of the banking industry, and compared at least 50 of the top banks in the United States to see which free checking accounts are the best for consumers.
Furthermore, our compliance team checks the accuracy of any rates on this list every weekday, to ensure that you’re getting the most accurate information we can create.
Still on the fence about what type of checking account to open? We break down the most common checking account questions below:
Is Free Checking Real?
Yes! When we refer to free checking accounts, we are talking about accounts that don’t charge any type of monthly fee to use their service. In some rare cases, we might include a checking account that does have a monthly fee, but it can be easily waived.
What are common checking account fees?
Beyond the monthly fees, you may find checking accounts that charge for ATM withdrawals, ACH transfers, and more.
Do checking accounts pay interest?
Some do! There are interest-bearing checking accounts and non-interest bearing checking accounts. Some pay interest, but only if you maintain a certain balance level in the account. While this can be very helpful, you typically will earn a higher yield in a high yield savings account versus a checking account.
Do you have to pay for ATM withdrawals?
Most banks that advertise free checking don’t make you pay for ATM withdrawals. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t restrictions. For example, many banks either make you utilize their network of ATMs to remain free, or some banks even offer ATM fee reimbursement – where they will refund you a fee charged by an ATM. Banks that offer ATM fee reimbursement typically don’t operate their own network of ATMs.
Are there limits to how much you can have in a checking account?
While there are no limits to how much you can have in a checking account, your money is only insured up to the FDIC insurance deposit limits. As such, you should be mindful of holding more in the account than the insurance limits allow for your account type.
What’s the difference between a fee and service charge?
While many checking accounts are fee-free, most still have service charges. What’s the difference? A service charge is something you pay when you use a service beyond the basics of the account (such as a wire transfer). These services typically cost the bank a lot of money, and they are passing on the cost to you.
Do any banks offer a bonus for opening a checking account?
Yes! Some banks do offer opening account bonus offers if you meet the criteria. While you shouldn’t necessarily make your pick of a bank on a bonus offer, it can be a helpful motivating factor.
The College Investor is dedicated to helping you make informed decisions around complex financial topics like finding the best checking account. We do this by providing unbiased reviews of the top banks and checking accounts for our readers, and then we aggregate those choices into this list.
We have picked checking accounts based on our opinions of how easy they are to use, their costs and fees, any interest rates and bonuses provided, and a variety of other factors. We believe that our list accurately reflects the best free checking accounts in the marketplace for consumers.
Chime
Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by The Bancorp Bank or Stride Bank, N.A.; Members FDIC
⁴ The Annual Percentage Yield (“APY”) for the Chime Savings Account is variable and may change at any time. The disclosed APY is accurate as of January 30, 2026. No minimum balance required. Must have $0.01 in savings to earn interest.
⁵ ATM disclosure: Out-of-network ATM withdrawal fees may apply except at MoneyPass ATMs in a 7-Eleven, or any Allpoint or Visa Plus Alliance ATM.
GO2bank
² High-Yield Savings Account: Interest paid quarterly on the average daily balance of all savings during the quarter up to a $5,000 average daily balance and if the account is in good standing. Fees on your primary deposit account may reduce earnings on your savings account. [4.50]% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) and [4.41]% interest rate are accurate as of (Current Month, Year). APY and interest rate may change before or after you open an account. See Deposit Account Agreement (PDF) for terms and conditions. The national deposit rate for savings accounts is used when stating GO2bank savings accounts “Earn well over the national savings rate average”. Visit https://www.fdic.gov/regulations/resources/rates/ to learn more.
³ e-Gift Cards: Activated, chip-enabled debit card required to purchase eGift Cards. Active GO2bank account required to receive eGift Cards. eGift Card merchants subject to change. See Deposit Account Agreement for details.
⁴ Overdraft Protection: Opt-in required. Account must have initial eligible direct deposits, must be in good standing and have an activated chip-enabled debit card to opt-in. Ongoing eligible direct deposits and other criteria apply to maintain eligibility for overdraft protection. Only debit card purchase transactions are eligible for overdraft protection and overdrafts are paid at our discretion. We reserve the right to not pay overdrafts. For example, we may not pay overdrafts if the account is not in good standing, or is not receiving ongoing eligible direct deposits, or has too many overdrafts. Overdraft fees may cause your account to be overdrawn by an amount that is greater than your overdraft coverage. A $15 fee may apply to each eligible purchase transaction that brings your account negative. Balance must be brought to at least $0 within 24 hours of authorization of the first transaction that overdraws your account to avoid a fee. Learn more (Overdraft Protection PDF).
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