Comments on: Best Free Checking Accounts

By: dc trader

dc trader — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 20:17:19 +0000

Capital One Bank (formerly Chevy Chase bank) has free checking with no minimum balance requirement.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 23:36:25 +0000

All of these banks now charge..none are free anymore try again..

By: Poor Boy

Poor Boy — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 11:31:25 +0000

You should update your list. I’m a SunTrust customer, as of Jan, 2011; now looking for a new bank, because they no longer have free checking. My basic, non-interest bearing checking account will be charged $17/mo. Unless I maintain a balance of $3K + direct deposit. Why should I let the bank use 10% of my annual income for free?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 15:04:51 +0000

Suntrust is changing the rules for the clients.

By: dee

dee — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 14:55:36 +0000

they also began a new fee schedule for things that wachovia did for free – such as overdraft protection transfers

By: Hilary

Hilary — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 07:35:36 +0000

Wells fargo just sent me a notice that the checking accounts are no longer free. Time to switch banks again I see :/

Oh, the fee can be waved if you have $1,500 in your account or do direct deposit of $500 or more, but I don’t consider that free.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 12:31:47 +0000

SunTrust is now charging as of Nov. 1. 2011

By: Anthony Mitchell

Anthony Mitchell — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 10:54:21 +0000

I am always astonished by the poor value for money US consumers get from thier checking or current accounts. In the UK virtually all are free and offer a wider range of features. Those banks that do charge tend to be for premium accounts which have private banking or offer perks such as free travel insurance or car recovery as part of a package. In addition UK banks have a non charge “link” agreement with each other so no one is charged ATM fees. Come on US banks learn from the Brits and play fair with your customers.

By: Darlene

Darlene — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 19:19:35 +0000

BB&T no longer offers free checking unless you qualify in 1 of 3 categories

By: Hilary

Hilary — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 21:18:11 +0000

Can anyone tell me of good NYC CUs?
Thanks!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 15:35:28 +0000

CU means Credit Union

By: AEC

AEC — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 00:10:53 +0000

I realize it has been over a year since lostAnnfound questioned why someone would keep more than one checking account open, but I thought I would comment in case someone else happens upon this article and wonders the same thing.
I recently opened an online Schwab High Yield Investor Checking Account with a linked free brokerage account in the hopes of replacing my account at a brick and mortar institution that has changed its terms and begun charging me fees.
Schwab, by far, has the most incredible features of all the online checking accounts (ING Electric Orange checking)is a great runner-up) but one thing it seems you can forget about with any online checking account is being able to quickly deposit cash or for that matter, paper checks (personal or payroll) into this type of account (Schwab does offer postage paid envelopes to send in paper checks, but I have seen no option for depositing cash).
Of course they offer multiple methods of making deposits and options to avoid overdraft charges, but if you’re paid in cash or receive cash as a gift and wish to deposit that into your personal checking account and draw off of that amount so as to keep a record of how and where that money was spent or you’ve made an oops in your spending and wish to quickly make a cash deposit to prevent yourself from becoming overdrawn, as far as I can tell, you’re out of luck and would need to maintain an account with an accessible brick and mortar institution.
ING Electric Orange even recommends you keep a link with a b&m for such purposes as depositing cash, but when you are trying to eliminate fuss and hassle instead of add to it, why would you want to do that?
As far as having a checking account with more than one brick and mortar institution, I don’t see the benefit unless, as other posters have stated, you wish to enjoy certain rewards, interest rates, etc. that one offers and another may not.

By: Rhonda

Rhonda — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 05:52:59 +0000

I just received a letter from chase stating that their free checking account will no longer be free. It will not be $25.00 per month service fee unless I keep a minimum of $1.500.00 in the account. I will be closing this account.

By: Hoppingmad in Illinois

Hoppingmad in Illinois — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 00:24:36 +0000

Time to update your info. Chase just announced $12/month fee for “free” checking unless one maintains a minimum $1,200 DAILY balance or has at least one direct deposit of $500 per month (NOT to be confused with two $250 direct deposits).

By: JC

JC — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 02:55:44 +0000

Bank of America MyAccess checking has a monthly maintenance fee of $8.95/mo unless you have a balance of $1500 or direct deposit enabled.

Chase Checking has a monthly maintenance fees of $6/mo unless one makes 5 debit card purchases/mo (ATMs don’t count) or direct deposit.

Numbers are accurate as of this writing.