A checking account can cost you $5 to $25 a month if you don’t meet the bank’s conditions, and the conditions are usually buried in a fee schedule. We read the bank’s own pages so you don’t have to, and we list what each account costs and exactly how to avoid the fee.
Covering 29 institutions. Every entry links to the bank’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. We review every figure every six months; the next full review is due Mar 25, 2027.
Branch-based banks with the widest ATM and branch networks. Most charge a monthly fee that you can waive by meeting a condition.
Chase Total Checking
$15/month
How to waive it: Any one of: $500+ in qualifying electronic deposits; $1,500+ beginning-day balance; $5,000+ average beginning-day balance (alone or with linked qualifying accounts); or a linked qualifying checking account.
Chase Secure Banking
$4.95/month
How to waive it: $250+ in qualifying electronic deposits per statement period, or an account owner aged 17–24.
Last verified Sep 25, 2026 · Source: chase.com fee pages
Advantage SafeBalance Banking
$4.95/month
How to waive it: Any one of: $500 minimum daily balance; an account owner under 25; or an owner in Bank of America Rewards at the Preferred Plus tier or higher.
Last verified Sep 25, 2026 · Source: SafeBalance Clarity Statement
Everyday Checking
$15/month
How to waive it: Any one of: $500+ in qualifying electronic deposits; $1,500 minimum daily balance; $5,000+ in qualifying deposit and/or investment balances; an owner aged 17–24; or a qualifying Worldwide Military Banking direct deposit. Mobile deposits, Zelle, transfers and branch/ATM deposits don't count as qualifying deposits.
Prime Checking
$25/month
How to waive it: $20,000+ in qualifying linked deposit and investment balances at statement end.
Last verified Sep 25, 2026 · Source: wellsfargo.com fee pages
Regular Checking
$15/month
How to waive it: $250+ in direct deposits or other qualifying transactions per month.
Access Checking
$5/month
How to waive it: $250+ in direct deposits or qualifying transactions, or an account owner aged 23 or younger.
Last verified Sep 25, 2026 · Source: Citi account comparison
Bank Smartly Checking
$12/month
How to waive it: Waived for the first 2 statement periods. After that, any one of: $1,500+ in combined monthly direct deposits; $1,500+ average balance; owning a U.S. Bank Smartly Visa Signature card; or owning an eligible small business checking account. Also waived for ages 13–24, ages 65+, and military.
Safe Debit Account
$4.95/month
How to waive it: This fee can't be waived.
Last verified Sep 25, 2026 · Source: U.S. Bank Consumer Pricing Information (effective Aug 10, 2026)
Virtual Wallet (Spend account)
$7/month
How to waive it: $0 with either a $500 combined average balance across Spend and/or Reserve, or $500 in qualifying monthly direct deposits into Spend.
Last verified Sep 25, 2026 · Source: PNC Virtual Wallet features and fees
Truist One Checking
$12/month
How to waive it: Any one of: $500+ in qualifying direct deposits per statement cycle; $500+ in combined linked Truist balances; a personal Truist credit card, mortgage or consumer loan; a linked Small Business Checking account; or an owner who is a student, under 25, or 62+.
Truist Confidence Account
$5/month
How to waive it: Any one of: $500+ in total deposits per cycle; 10+ qualifying transactions per cycle; or an owner who is a student, under 25, or 62+.
Last verified Sep 25, 2026 · Source: truist.com disclosures and fees
360 Checking
$0
Details: No monthly fee and no minimum balance.
Last verified Sep 25, 2026 · Source: capitalone.com checking accounts
TD Complete Checking
$15/month
How to waive it: Any one of: $500+ in direct deposits per statement cycle; $500 minimum daily balance; or a $5,000 minimum daily combined balance across linked personal deposit accounts. Also waived for ages 17–23.
TD Beyond Checking
$25/month
How to waive it: Any one of: $5,000+ in direct deposits per cycle; $2,500 minimum daily balance; or $25,000 combined daily balance across deposit, home equity and/or mortgage accounts.
Last verified Sep 25, 2026 · Source: TD Complete Checking
One Deposit Checking
$9.99/month
How to waive it: Waived when you make one deposit of any amount each statement period.
Citizens Quest Checking
$25/month
How to waive it: Waived with either $5,000 in total deposits to your primary checking each statement period, or $25,000 in monthly combined deposits and investments.
Citizens EverValue Checking
$5/month
How to waive it: This fee can't be waived.
Last verified Sep 25, 2026 · Source: citizensbank.com checking accounts
Member-owned, not-for-profit institutions. Fees are often lower, but you have to qualify for membership.
Free Everyday Checking
$0
Details: No requirements.
Flagship Checking
$10/month
How to waive it: Waived with a $1,500 average daily balance.
Last verified Sep 25, 2026 · Source: navyfederal.org checking
Checking Account
$1/month
How to waive it: The $1 is a contribution to the SECU Foundation by default. If you opt out of the contribution, it becomes a $1 monthly maintenance fee.
Last verified Sep 25, 2026 · Source: ncsecu.org checking
Free Checking
$0
Details: No monthly service fees and no monthly minimum balance. Some activity fees, such as outgoing wires and stop payments, still apply.
Last verified Sep 25, 2026 · Source: penfed.org free checking
Checking Account
$0
Details: No monthly maintenance fee and no minimum balance.
Member Advantage Checking
$0
Details: No monthly maintenance fee. It must be paired with Member Advantage Savings to earn its rate.
Last verified Sep 25, 2026 · Source: becu.org checking
Alliant checking accounts
$0
Details: No monthly maintenance fees, no overdraft fees, no minimum balance and no maximum balance limit.
Last verified Sep 25, 2026 · Source: alliantcreditunion.org checking fees
Free Checking
$0
Details: The account page states there is no monthly fee.
Last verified Sep 25, 2026 · Source: schoolsfirstfcu.org checking
Free Checking
$0
Details: No monthly maintenance fee and no minimum balance.
Premium Checking
$8/month
How to waive it: Any one of: an electronic direct deposit of a recurring paycheck or retirement check; a $500 minimum daily balance; $5,000+ aggregate savings balance under the same membership; or enrollment in Golden Prestige (age 62+).
Last verified Sep 25, 2026 · Source: golden1.com checking
Smart Checking
$0
Details: $0 monthly service fee, no minimum balance, and no activation fee.
Last verified Sep 25, 2026 · Source: suncoast.com Smart Checking
MyFree Checking
$0
Details: No minimum balance requirements, maintenance fees or hidden restrictions.
Last verified Sep 25, 2026 · Source: macu.com MyFree Checking
Classic Checking
$0
Details: No monthly fees and no low-balance fees.
Premium Checking
$6/month
How to waive it: Can be waived by using America First Rewards points or by qualifying for the cost waiver.
Last verified Sep 25, 2026 · Source: americafirst.com checking comparison
No branches, and most advertise no monthly fees. Some are financial technology companies that partner with an FDIC-insured bank rather than being banks themselves.
Spending Account
$0
Details: No monthly maintenance, overdraft or minimum balance fees.
Last verified Sep 25, 2026 · Source: ally.com checking
Chime Online Checking Account
$0
Details: No monthly service fees.
Last verified Sep 25, 2026 · Source: chime.com checking
Discover 360 Checking
$0
Details: Discover's site states no fees and no minimums.
Last verified Sep 25, 2026 · Source: discover.com online banking
SoFi Checking and Savings
$0
Details: SoFi states it does not charge account, service or maintenance fees. Wire and international transaction fees can apply.
Last verified Sep 25, 2026 · Source: sofi.com banking
Varo Bank Account
$0
Details: No monthly fees.
Last verified Sep 25, 2026 · Source: varomoney.com bank account
Axos Essential Checking
$0
Details: No monthly maintenance, balance, opening or overdraft fees.
Axos ONE Bundle (checking + savings)
$0
Details: No monthly maintenance, minimum balance, opening or overdraft fees.
Last verified Sep 25, 2026 · Source: axosbank.com checking
Rewards Checking Preferred
$0
Details: No monthly maintenance fees.
Last verified Sep 25, 2026 · Source: upgrade.com rewards checking
Dave membership (includes Dave Checking)
Up to $5/month
How to waive it: Dave lists its membership at up to $5 per month. It covers ExtraCash access, income tools and budgeting features.
Last verified Sep 25, 2026 · Source: Dave membership support page
MoneyLion Spend with MoneyLion One membership
$9.99/month
How to waive it: $0 per month if you receive at least $500 in eligible direct deposits into your Spend account during the previous 30 days.
Last verified Sep 25, 2026 · Source: moneylion.com Spend
Most monthly fees aren't really meant to be paid. They're a nudge toward the behavior the bank wants. Here's how people usually get them waived.
Fees, thresholds and waiver rules change, and some vary by state. Read the bank's current fee schedule for the account you're considering, and note how the balance or deposit requirement is measured: a fee can appear if your balance dips below the minimum for even one day.
The monthly fee isn't the only cost. Overdraft charges, out-of-network ATM fees, wire transfer fees and paper statement fees can add up more than the monthly fee does. Online banks and credit unions tend to charge less of these, but not always.
We take each figure from the institution’s own website or published fee schedule and show the date we checked it. Banks can change their fees at any time, and some fees vary by state or account details, so always confirm on the bank’s site before opening an account. This page is for general information and isn’t financial advice. Some newer banks listed here are financial technology companies that partner with an FDIC-insured bank, and we note that where it applies. If you spot something out of date, let us know.
