The 10 best free checking accounts for May 2024 (2024)

Not sure where to start? The Fortune Recommends^TM editorial team ranked more than 35 free checking accounts and curated a list of our top 10 picks. We weighed minimum balance requirements, annual percentage yields (APYs) for interest-earning checking accounts, branch and free ATM access, mobile and online banking platforms, overdraft fees, and customer service options.

The best free checking accounts of May 2024: our picks

Rates last updated April 29, 2024. Read our full methodology here.

The top 10 free checking accounts

Here’s our rundown of the top 10 free checking accounts, including the key figures you should know before you open an account.

Note: APYs are up to date as of April 29, 2024 but are subject to change.

Why we picked it

Consumer Credit Union’s rewards checking account offers an impressive 3% APY on balances up to $10,000 when you meet certain requirements (with additional requirements met, it’s possible to earn as much as 5% APY).

The account also gives you access to more than 30,000 ATMs and 5,000 shared branches, as well as unlimited ATM fee reimbursem*nt as long as monthly activity requirements are met. You can also get paid up to two days early with direct deposit.

Why we picked it

NBKC has a large fee-free ATM network which has more than 37,000 ATMs. Plus, you’ll get reimbursed for up to $12 a month for out-of-network ATM fees.

NBKC’s free checking account boasts a 1.75% APY, which is 25 times the national average. The bank also offers mobile and online banking for Apple and Android users.

Why we picked it

The personal checking account from Customers Bank offers a 2.00% APY (you earn a base APY of 1.00% and an additional 1.00% when using direct deposit or bill pay). There are no minimum or maximum balance requirements tied to this account, but there is a fee of $5 for overdrafting your account. Customers Bank offers online and mobile banking on the Apple App and Google Play stores.

Learn more: read our Customers Bank review

Why we picked it

The More Spending checking account from Zynlo offers an impressive 2.00% APY with no monthly maintenance fees and just $10 to open. However, to get the most out of this account, you can also open a Tomorrow Savings account (which earns 5.00% APY) and opt into roundups.

With the ZYNO Round Up and Match program, you can earn an additional 4.11% on your money. Debit card purchases are automatically rounded up to the nearest dollar and transferred to your ZYNLO Tomorrow Savings account. Roundups are then matched at 100% for the first 100 days. After 100 days, roundups will continue to be matched at 100% if you maintain an average daily balance of $5,000 in your More Spending Account. Spending Accounts that maintain less than the minimum average daily balance will be matched at 25%.

Learn more: Read our review of Zynlo Bank

Why we picked it

Want a earn a solid interest rate without worring about monthly fees or minimum balance requirements? The American Express Rewards Checking account could be a solid option. With this account, you can earn a whopping 1% APY and even earn rewards on your debit card purchases.

You can score one Membership Rewards point for every $2 worth of eligible purchases with the Amex Rewards debit card. While this isn’t a substantial amount of rewards, existing Amex cardholders can still use the debit card to boost their total rewards.

Learn more: read our America Express review

Why we picked it

E*Trade checking accounts are provided through Morgan Stanley Private Bank. There are no minimum opening deposit or monthly fees required to earn the competitive rate of 1.50% APY. As an added bonus, you’ll never be charged a fee for withdrawing funds from any institution’s ATM, and if the owner/operator charges a fee, you’ll be refunded for ATM fees charged nationwide.

Why we picked it

If you’re thinking about opening a brokerage account and a checking account, look no further than the Schwab Bank Investor Checking account. To open the checking account, you’ll have to open a linked Schwab One brokerage account, too. Both accounts have no minimum opening deposit and no monthly maintenance fees.

With a checking account, you’ll receive a debit card and get unlimited ATM fee rebates on cash withdrawals using your card. Note that you won’t be refunded for certain fees, such as those imposed by merchants or ATM operators for point-of-sale transactions.

Why we picked it

Landmark National Bank’s Smart Money checking account requires a minimum opening balance of $50 and does not charge a monthly service fee. This bank also offers up to $20 in ATM refunds each month, as well as free online banking, online bill pay, and mobile banking for Apple and Android users. The checking account boasts a 1.25% APY, which is more than 17 times the national average.

Why we picked it

Betterment gives its checking account users the chance to earn cash back at thousands of brands, like Costco, Sam’s Club, Adidas, and more when you use your debit card. While it’s not an interest-bearing account, it could be a great option for someone looking to make a percentage back on debit card purchases. Plus, there are no overdraft fees and Betterment automatically reimburses any ATM fees.

Why we picked it

Upgrade’s Rewards Checking Plus users can enjoy no overdraft fees and 1% cash back on all purchases. Customers who set up direct deposit can get paid up to two days early and increase that cash back to 2% if the deposits total $1,000 or more. For those wanting to combine their checking and savings accounts, Upgrade offers up to 5.21% APY with qualifying activities.

With multiple options to reach them in their help center, plus a 4.8 Apple Store app rating and 4.7 rating on Google Play, Upgrade is simple to use and easy to get ahold of if you need support.

What is a free checking account?

Free checking accounts are just that: free to use, with no monthly maintenance fees or requirements in order to have the fee waived. Free checking accounts can be found at banks, credit unions, and online-only financial institutions.

Even though free checking accounts don’t charge monthly maintenance fees, there may be certain fees associated with specific activities or services. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) explains that banks “can offer a free account and still charge for certain services,” including using out-of-network ATMs or overdrafting, for example. The fee schedule for each account will vary by financial institution.

Free checking account pros and cons

There are many upsides to free checking accounts, the most notable of which is keeping more money in your pocket. But you’ll also want to consider the trade-offs that come with this type of account, as they may be bare bones accounts that offer little in the way of services or they may implement additional fees for services. Here’s a closer look at some of the potential benefits and drawbacks to consider.

Paid checking account pros and cons

You might be wondering: If you can get a free checking account, why bother with one that charges a monthly fee? Although free checking accounts are a cost-effective option, there are some advantages—and disadvantages—to paid checking accounts, too.

Are free checking accounts truly free?

Generally, yes. But it’s important to understand that “free” doesn’t necessarily mean there will be no fees whatsoever associated with the account. Sometimes, banks may offer accounts without a monthly fee but charge for a variety of activities, such as falling below a certain balance, receiving paper statements, or using ATMs outside of a specified network.

Financial institutions are required to disclose all fees and charges associated with an account. But it’s up to you to review the account disclosures and agreement when you establish an account.

Depending on which institution you open a free checking account with, there still could be hidden fees. So make sure to do your research prior to opening a free checking account and understand what fees are associated with your account.

Checking account fees to watch for

As a checking account holder, you may incur certain fees depending on your account type, spending habits, and financial institution. A few common fees to look out for include:

• Overdraft fees: This is a fee most banks or credit unions will charge you when you spend more than what you have in your account. Some overdraft fees can be as high as $40 per transaction.
• ATM fees: Each bank has its own network of ATMs and won’t charge you an extra fee for withdrawing your money. However, if you venture outside of that network and use an ATM owned by a different bank or a third-party provider, you’ll likely be charged a fee.
• Paper statement fees: Your bank may charge you a fee for printing and sending you a physical copy of your bank statement each billing cycle. An easy way to avoid this one is to sign up for e-statements.

Are free checking accounts safe?

Free checking accounts can be just as safe as those that charge fees, provided they are offered by reputable financial institutions. You should always ensure your account is held by an FDIC- or NCUA-insured institution, which protects your deposits up to $250,000 per depositor, per institution, in the event it fails.

Banks and credit unions, regardless of whether they charge fees for checking accounts, also employ a range of security measures to protect your account. However, it’s a good idea to double-check that your financial institution uses industry best practices, including web encryption, fraud monitoring, secure online and mobile banking platforms, and two-factor authentication.

In other words, the absence of a monthly maintenance fee doesn’t mean a checking account is less secure. It simply means the bank has chosen a different business model to attract and retain customers.

Interest rates on free checking accounts

The following are free checking accounts that also offer interest on balances. Some accounts may require you to meet certain requirements in order to earn the specified rate, which is noted in the far right column.

How to choose the best free checking account

As you search for the right free checking account for your needs, consider a number of variables and questions before making a final decision:

1. Check the requirements

The requirements to open a free checking account may vary depending on the type of financial institution you’re considering. You’ll also be required to provide a variety of documentation to establish the account, including a Social Security number, driver’s license, or other official government identification. A birth certificate or passport may also be required. You will also be asked for information documenting your address, which could be a mortgage, a utility bill, or a rental lease. Some banks may also have age minimums to open accounts, such as being at least 18 years old. In addition, some financial institutions require a minimum deposit to open an account.

2. Review fees

While the account may be presented as "free"—as in, there’s no monthly maintenance fee—it’s important to specifically ask about or read the fine print on the financial institution’s website regarding other fees associated with the account. You’ll want to find out whether there are ATM usage fees, wire fees, stop payment fees, and returned check fees, to name a few. Make sure you consider all of these costs to determine whether the account truly makes sense for your budget and lifestyle.

3. See what benefits come with the account

It’s not unusual for bank accounts to provide helpful financial management tools that can help you stay on top of your day-to-day spending. But bare-bones accounts may not offer such extra benefits.

Before you start looking for a new checking account, spend some time thinking about what features might be important to you now or in the future. For example, do you need tools that help you manage your cash flow? Some checking accounts offer helpful features in case things don’t go exactly as planned and help you make more informed spending choices.

4. Research the types of customer service options available

Having easy access to customer service is critical when it comes to managing your money or in the case of fraud or any other needs. Check the financial institution’s website to find out what type of customer service is available with your account, whether it’s phone, email, and/or chat support.

5. Double-check ATM access

Having a robust ATM network available to access your account is a particularly important convenience factor, especially if you make frequent cash withdrawals or regular deposits. In some cases, the bank offering the free checking account may partner with other providers to broaden the ATM network that its customers are able to access without a fee. But it’s important to specifically ask about this before selecting an account.

6. If everything checks out, open an account

Once you’ve sorted through all of these questions and any others that are important, it’s time to confirm your eligibility with the specific financial institution you’ve chosen and open the account. To complete this step, make sure to gather all required documents together. In many cases, you can open an account online. But for some traditional banks, you may need to visit the bank in person.

Our methodology

The Fortune Recommends^TM team compared over 35 no-fee checking accounts across major banks, credit unions, and online-only banks. Our top picks are available to customers across the U.S. no matter where you’re located, subject to the terms of each checking account.

For our best free checking accounts, we ranked the best accounts on the following categories and weighted each category as set forth in the percentages below:

• Minimum opening deposit requirement (25%): Some financial institutions require that account holders deposit a certain amount to open an account. We prioritized accounts with low and no minimums.
• Annual percentage yield (25%): APY represents the real rate of return on your balance; the higher the APY, the better.
• Branch and free ATM access (15%): Accounts belonging to financial institutions that have physical branches and fee-free ATMs ranked higher on our list than alternatives that were online-only or charged fees for ATM use.
• Cash back opportunities (10%): Many checking accounts give you the option to earn a percentage back on either specific purchases or all transaction made on the associated debit card. We favored accounts that offered cash back.
• Mobile and online banking platforms (10%): Accounts that can be accessed and managed via online or mobile banking platforms scored higher on our list than accounts that did not have digital banking services.
• Overdraft fees (10%): Overdraft fees are charged when there isn’t enough money in your account to cover your transactions. We favored accounts with lower overdraft fees.
• Customer service (5%): Top picks offer customers three ways to get in contact: chat support, phone, or email. Among the three options, we gave phone support the most weight.

We think that the best free checking accounts offer a low or zero monthly service fee, minimum opening deposit requirements, and a lucrative APY, among other perks. We also ranked accounts with physical branches and free ATM access higher on our list. The rates, fees, and minimum balance requirements on these checking accounts are available for limited time periods, and APYs are subject to fluctuation, which could impact how much interest you earn. All the banks and credit unions on this list are insured by the FDIC and NCUA, respectively.

Dig deeper: learn more about our banking methodology.