U.S. Bank Fees: What They Cost and Ways To Avoid Them

Commitment to Our Readers

GOBankingRates' editorial team is committed to bringing you unbiased reviews and information. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and services - our reviews and ratings are not influenced by advertisers. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and our products and services review methodology.

20 Years
Helping You Live Richer

Reviewed
by Experts

Trusted by
Millions of Readers

About U.S. Bank Fees

As the fifth-largest bank in the country, Minnesota-based U.S. Bank has a lot of checking and savings accounts to choose from. Although the account features vary widely, one thing most have in common is a monthly fee you incur just for having the account. Add in other fees — like using an out-of-network ATM or overdrawing your account — and the costs can add up.

The good news is, U.S. Bank’s monthly maintenance fees can be avoided for most accounts as long as you keep a certain amount of money in your accounts, open a credit account or schedule direct deposits each month. You might also qualify for a fee waiver based on age.

U.S. Bank Monthly Service Fees

Here’s a look at the monthly service fees for U.S. Bank:

U.S. Bank Checking Account Fees

U.S. Bank monthly checking account fees range from $0 to $30, depending on the account. But younger customers bank can for free as long as they use U.S. Bank ATMs and avoid overdrafts and fee-based services.

Here’s a detailed look at U.S. Bank checking accounts and the fees associated with them. 

U.S. Bank Savings Account Fees

U.S. Bank savings account fees are $10 or less — lower than checking account fees overall. Most U.S. Bank savings accounts have tiered interest rates that pay higher rates for higher account balances.

U.S. Bank Overdraft Fees

Overdraft fees can take a big bite out of your account balance. Here’s what you need to know about U.S. Bank overdraft charges:

• U.S. Bank charges $36 per item that it chooses to pay with its Standard Overdraft Coverage feature.
• This fee is only charged if the amount you’ve overdrawn is $5.01 or more and you have a negative balance of $50.01 or higher.
• Amounts less than $5 that U.S. Bank pays for do not incur a fee.
• Additionally, if you have less than $50 at the close of each business day, there are no overdraft fees.
• You will only be charged a maximum of three overdrafts each day and there isn’t a limit to how many items that the bank will cover.

The most important step you can take to avoid overdraft fees is to track your spending and account balances carefully. It’s best to avoid playing “beat the bank” when it comes to covering upcoming withdrawals from your account, but in a pinch, you might avoid an overdraft if you can make a deposit on the same day the withdrawals are debited.

Here are more steps you can take:

1. Use Mobile Banking

The U.S. Bank mobile app has an Instant Balance feature that displays your balance on the first screen you see whenever you log into your U.S. Bank account. The app also makes deposits fast and easy — just photograph the front and back of your check and follow the prompts to complete the deposit.

2. Take Advantage of Overdraft Protection

Overdraft Protection lets you link eligible U.S. Bank savings and credit accounts to your U.S. Bank checking account to cover overdrafts. You can link up to three accounts — U.S. Bank will automatically transfer funds from the linked account(s) to your checking account to prevent a negative balance. These are the accounts that qualify:

• Savings and money market accounts
• Credit card
• Line of credit
• Secondary checking account

Other Common U.S. Bank Fees

Beyond monthly fees and overdrafts, another common fee you might encounter are ATM fees. Out-of-network ATM fees are $2.50 on the Smartly Checking and Safe Debit Account checking options.

The best way to avoid this fee is to use in-network ATMs. You’ll know it’s a U.S. Bank ATM based on the logo on network machines. In addition, you can use MoneyPass ATMs with no surcharges.

There are some U.S. Bank accounts that offer ATM fee reimbursements:

• Smartly Checking: First two transactions are waived during each statement cycle
• Safe Debit: First four transactions are waived each statement cycle

Tips for Minimizing U.S. Bank Fees

U.S. Bank’s monthly maintenance fees can cost you up to $30 depending on which account you have. But U.S. Bank gives you a number of ways to avoid paying them.

Meeting minimum balance requirements can get your U.S. Bank fee waived, as can receiving a certain number of qualifying direct deposits each month. You can also eliminate fees by combining U.S. Bank accounts. And in the case of two accounts, younger or older customers pay no monthly fee.

Follow these tips to avoid paying U.S. Bank fees:

1. Keep a Minimum Balance in Your Account

Maintaining a minimum account balance eliminates the monthly maintenance fee for these accounts:

Checking Accounts

• Smartly Checking: $1,500 average account balance
• Platinum Business Checking: $25,000 with an average collected balance or $75,000 in combined business deposits and/or business credit balances

Savings Accounts

• Elite Money Market Account: $10,000 minimum daily ledger balance

3. Combine Qualifying Deposits With Credit Balances

You won’t pay a monthly maintenance fee with either of the following accounts as long as you have qualifying combined deposits:

• Smartly Checking: $1,000 in combined direct deposits
• Platinum Business Checking: $25,000 total combination of the following:
  • Deposits to U.S. Bank personal accounts
  • U.S. Bank credit balances
  • U.S. Bancorp Investment accounts

4. Meet Age Requirements

Two U.S. Bank accounts waive fees for customers who meet certain age criteria:

• Smartly Checking: Fee waived for customers ages 65 and older
• Smartly Savings Account: Fee waived for customers under age 18

Conclusion

You’d be hard-pressed to find a large bank that doesn’t charge fees on its accounts, but the fact that U.S. Bank charges fees doesn’t mean you have to pay them. Make it a point to review your account periodically to see if you’re missing out on discounts — or even consider other types of accounts such as CDs.

Don’t forget to compare your account to others the bank offers and consider whether opening a credit account or U.S. Bankcorp Investment account might provide you with additional opportunities to waive those costly fees.

More on U.S. Bank

• U.S. Bank Review
• U.S. Bank Promotions
• U.S. Bank Interest Rates
• U.S. Bank ATM Withdrawal and Deposit Limits
• How To Open a U.S. Bank Checking Account

Melanie Grafil contributed to the reporting for this article.

Rates are subject to change; unless otherwise noted, rates are updated periodically. All other information on accounts is accurate as of March 4, 2025.

Editorial Note: This content is not provided by any entity covered in this article. Any opinions, analyses, reviews, ratings or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author alone and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any entity named in this article.

Share This Article: