Best Free Checking Accounts of 2025

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Finding a free checking account with no hidden fees can save you money and make banking hassle-free. Whether you’re looking for a traditional bank account or an online checking account, there are plenty of options in 2025 that offer zero monthly fees, mobile banking, and ATM access. In this guide, we’ll break down the best free checking accounts of 2025, what features to look for, and how to choose the right account for your needs.

How to Guard Your Wealth From a Potential Banking Crisis With Gold

Even with the high value a checking account offers, most people don’t want to pay fees or have a minimum deposit. GOBankingRates identified banks with free checking and no minimum deposit requirements so you can find the best checking account for your needs. What’s more, all these accounts have no minimum balance requirements.

Best Free Checking Accounts of 2025

As you might guess, many banks with free checking are online banks offering lower costs than traditional brick-and-mortar banks.

If you’re searching for the best checking accounts with no fees, here are the top options for 2025:

Ally Bank Interest Checking

Ally Bank's Interest Checking is one of the few on this list that pays interest, and while the annual percentage yield is 0.10%, it's better than many savings accounts pay. The account also includes complimentary standard checks, a debit Mastercard and online bill pay. Customers can use Allpoint ATMs free of charge. What's more, Ally no longer charges overdraft fees. 

Why Consumers Like It: Accounts are easy to set up and use, plus customer service earns high marks.

Benefits:

• Plenty of options for sending and receiving money
• Online bill pay

Drawbacks:

• No cash deposits

Fees:

• Outgoing domestic wire transfer: $20

Minimum Deposit: $0

APY: 0.10%  READ OUR FULL BANK REVIEW

Axos Bank Essential Checking

Axos Bank offers a free checking account with great perks. Direct Deposit Express means customers receive their paychecks up to two days early. This account also comes with unlimited domestic ATM fee reimbursements, no overdraft or non-sufficient funds fees and a suite of personal finance tools that can help you manage all your accounts. You can also make peer-to-peer payments from your Axos Essential account using just the recipient's email address or mobile number. If your family or friends open an account and meet Axos' welcome bonus requirements, you'll each get $50.

Why Consumers Like It: No fees, a referral bonus, access to upgraded FDIC coverage, and a linked savings with a high APY. 

Benefits:

• Unlimited ATM fee reimbursement
• No overdraft fees
• Peer-to-peer payments
• Free bill pay
• Referral bonus

Drawbacks:

• Doesn't pay interest

Fees:

• Rush delivery for a replacement debit card: $50
• Stop payments: $10 for unassisted online requests
• Outgoing domestic wire transfer: $35

Minimum Deposit: $0

APY: None READ OUR FULL BANK REVIEW

Capital One 360 Checking

The Capital One 360 Checking account charges no fees, has no minimum balance requirement and pays interest — the trifecta of bargain checking accounts. It also offers a free debit card, and you can avoid ATM fees by using any of more than 70,000 fee-free ATMs. This account also offers online and mobile banking, including mobile check deposit, and you can deposit cash into your account at CVS stores. Granted, the annual percentage yield for account balances is just 0.00%, but it's better than nothing — and more than most traditional savings accounts typically offer.

Why Consumers Like It: Capital One's award-winning mobile app makes it easy to track balances and pay bills.

Benefits:

• Online and mobile banking
• Can choose one $0 overdraft option: auto-decline, free transfer from savings or money market account or no-fee overdraft
• No minimum balance
• Physical locations
• Peer-to-peer payments with Zelle
• First 50 checks free

Drawbacks:

• APY isn't as high as for other online accounts

Fees:

• Cashier's check: $20 online (expedited delivery), $10 at physical branch
• Outgoing domestic wire transfer: $30

Minimum Deposit: $0

APY: 0.00% *Capital One interest rates accurate as of 4/5/24. See website for all current rates. READ OUR FULL BANK REVIEW  

Charles Schwab Investor Checking

The Investor Checking account from Charles Schwab comes with something that none of the others offer: a brokerage investment account. You won't pay a fee or need to deposit a minimum amount to open the accounts. You get 0.05% APY on your balance, and you can transfer money from your checking account to your brokerage account and vice versa. What's more, Schwab doesn't charge overdraft or insufficient funds fees, and you get a free debit card, free standard checks and access to online and mobile banking and bill pay.

Why Consumers Like It: A single login makes it easier to manage multiple accounts, and there is no charge to transfer money between accounts.

Benefits:

• No foreign transaction fees
• Unlimited ATM rebates
• No overdraft or insufficient funds fee

Drawbacks:

• Customers must have a brokerage account
• No interest

Fees:

• Rush delivery of debit card: $15
• Outgoing domestic wire transfer: $25

Minimum Deposit: $0

APY: 0.05%  READ OUR FULL BANK REVIEW

NBKC Everything Account

The Everything Account from NBKC Bank combines the checking and savings features you use most into a no-fee account that pays 1.50% APY on all balances. You get 24/7 mobile banking with free bill pay and free transactions at over 37,000 MoneyPass ATMs plus $12 in non-network ATM reimbursements each month. The Everything Account also lets you create savings goals and transfer money in and out of savings whenever you want.

Why Consumers Like It: The Everything Account gives you the flexibility of no fees and an opportunity to earn interest on your balance.

Benefits:

• No overdraft or return-item fees
• Ability to earn interest
• $12-per-month reimbursement for out-of-network ATM fees

Drawbacks:

• Limited reimbursement for out-of-network ATM fees

Fees:

• Outgoing domestic wire transfer: $5

Minimum Deposit: $0

APY: 1.50% READ OUR FULL BANK REVIEW

Huntington Asterisk-Free Checking

Asterisk-Free Checking from Huntington is free of maintenance fees, has no minimum balance requirement and comes with features like the $50 Safety Zone and 24-Hour Grace to help you avoid overdraft fees. Eligible customers can qualify for a credit line based on their checking and deposit history. Asterisk-Free Checking customers who open a Premier Savings account have the $4 monthly savings account fee and $300 minimum balance requirement waived as long as they maintain their Asterisk-Free account.

Why Consumers Like It: The bank gives a 24-hour grace period for customers to deposit money if they overdraw the account, and it credits deposits made at ATMs and through the mobile app before midnight the same day.

Benefits:

• Extended hours for making deposits
• Several ways to avoid overdrafts
• Email and text alerts
• Credit line for qualified customers
• Fees waived on Premier Savings

Drawbacks:

• $3.50 fee for using another bank's ATM
• Doesn't pay interest

Fees:

• Non-Huntington ATM: $3.50
• International transactions: 3% of transaction amount
• Overdrafts: $15, only charged if account is overdrawn by more than $50

Minimum Deposit: $0

APY: None READ OUR FULL BANK REVIEW

Chase College Checking^SM

Chase College Checking is available to college students ages 17 to 24, offering free checking for up to five years or until after your expected graduation date. In addition to benefits like free access to 15,000 ATMs and 4,700 bank branches, Chase provides free Overdraft Assist* for account holders overdrawn by less than $50 or who bring their overdraft to $50 or less by the end of the next business day.

Why Consumers Like It: Chase Overdraft Assist helps students avoid overdraft fees.

Benefits:

• Service fee waived on Chase Savings account linked to checking for overdraft protection
• Can also avoid monthly service fee by making eligible direct deposit or maintaining $5,000 balance
• Peer-to-peer payments with Zelle
• Next-day availability of deposited checks with QuickDeposit
• Occasional bonus incentives

Drawbacks:

• Doesn't pay interest

Fees:

• Overdraft: $34
• Non-Chase ATM: $3-$5
• Counter checks: $3 per three-check page printed at a branch
• Online domestic wire transfer: $25

Minimum Deposit: $0

APY: None READ OUR FULL BANK REVIEW

Pro Tip: Before opening a bank account online for free, check if the bank offers free overdraft protection, ATM fee reimbursements and cash-back perks.

How to Choose the Best Free Checking Account for Your Needs

When selecting a free checking account online or in a branch, you’ll want to look at other important features like:

• ATM Access: Look for banks with a wide ATM network or fee reimbursements.
• Mobile Banking Features: Ensure the bank offers a user-friendly mobile app, mobile deposits and online bill pay.
• Overdraft Protection: Some banks charge high overdraft fees, while others offer free overdraft coverage.
• Cash-Back Rewards: Some accounts offer cash-back on debit card purchases, making them more rewarding.

Make sure to read the fine print on bank websites when comparing fees. Wire transfer fees are fairly common, but you don’t want hidden fees for dropping below a minimum balance or using out-of-network ATMs.

Do Free Checking Accounts Have Hidden Fees?

When a checking account is advertised as “free,” it refers only to monthly maintenance charges. Even though they’re labeled free checking accounts, some banks may still charge fees for certain services.

Watch out for:

• Non-Sufficient Funds (NSF) Fees – Charged if you overdraw your account without overdraft protection.
• Paper Statement Fees – Many banks charge a small fee for paper statements instead of digital ones.
• Out-of-Network ATM Fees – Some banks charge you for ATM use outside their network.

How to avoid these fees: Opt for digital statements, overdraft protection and check ATM locations before withdrawing cash.

Can You Get Cash Back with a Free Checking Account?

While they are rare, some free checking accounts offer cashback rewards. Typically, these accounts, like Discover Cashback checking, offer 1% cashback on debit card purchases. Others may allow you to cash in points for merchandise, gift cards or a statement credit, just like a rewards credit card.

Here are a few options:

• Discover Cashback Debit – Earn cash back on up to $3,000 in monthly debit card purchases.
• SoFi Checking & Savings – Provides high-yield interest plus cash-back offers with select merchants.
• Axos Rewards Checking – Earn a hefty APY when you meet direct deposit and spending requirements.

Free Checking Accounts vs. Free Online Checking Accounts

What’s the difference between traditional free checking accounts and free online checking accounts? Here’s a comparison:

The key difference between the two is the presence of brick-and-mortar branches, possibly leading to more personalized (and certainly, face-to-face) customer service. However, online banks often have extended service hours and access to experts via phone, chat, or email, which makes them more flexible. Choose online banks for higher interest rates and fewer fees, or traditional banks if you need in-person service.

It can be challenging to make cash deposits at some online banks. If that’s important to you, look for a bank that accepts cash deposits via ATM or local stores. Ironically, many online banks have a much larger ATM network than the “big four” banks. For instance, the Allpoint network of ATMs has more machines than Chase Wells Fargo.

When it comes to the question of online banks or traditional banks, there’s no right answer. It all depends on what works best for your lifestyle.

Are Free Checking Accounts Safe?

Free checking accounts are as safe and secure as a checking account with a monthly fee, often offering similar features and benefits for free.

Free checking accounts at reputable banks are FDIC-insured, meaning your money is protected up to $250,000.

• FDIC or NCUA Insurance: Protects your money in case of bank failure.
• Online Security Features: Many banks offer two-factor authentication (2FA) and fraud monitoring.
• Zero Liability Protection: Debit card transactions are usually protected against fraudulent charges.

Take advantage of any security features offered, and make sure to use common sense to protect your account:

• Never give your PIN to anyone else
• Always use strong passwords and enable account alerts to monitor unauthorized transactions.
• Use in-app security features to turn off lost or stolen debit cards
• Monitor your statements for unusual activity
• Set alerts for any unauthorized transactions

Tips for Choosing the Best Checking Account

The best checking account is the one that suits your lifestyle and helps you meet your financial goals. The following tips can help you narrow your choices and guide you toward the best checking account for you:

1. Determine what kind of bank best meets your needs. Online banks are convenient and often have better rates than brick-and-mortar banks with higher overhead costs. However, an online bank might not be the right choice if you like the convenience of walking into a local branch or don’t feel comfortable using technology.
2. Find out how the bank will help you manage your account. Online banking and mobile banking apps make it easy to keep track of your balances and spending habits, but some banks also offer features like budgeting tools.
3. Read the fine print and review the fee schedule. Even a free checking account might charge fees for services like requesting a cashier’s check or using an out-of-network ATM.

There’s no reason to pay a bank to hold your money between payday and the due dates for your bills. By choosing the right free checking account for your needs, you could save money and even receive extra perks.

Final Thoughts to GO: How to Find the Right Free Checking Account for You

The best free checking accounts of 2025 offer a mix of zero fees, online banking and rewards. When choosing an account, consider your ATM needs, mobile banking preferences and extra perks like cashback or interest earnings.

Looking for the best checking accounts with no fees? Compare your options and find one that fits your financial goals today!

Compare Checking Accounts

• Best Free Checking Accounts With No Minimum Balance
• Best Rewards Checking Accounts
• Types of Checking Accounts
• Best Student Checking Accounts
• Best Checking Accounts for Seniors
• Best Debit Cards for Kids and Teens

Best of Checking Accounts

• Best Checking Accounts
• Best Free Checking Accounts With No Minimum Balance
• Best Online Checking Accounts
• Best Rewards Checking Accounts
• Best Student Checking Accounts
• Best Checking Accounts for Seniors

Karen Doyle, Daria Uhlig and Cynthia Measom 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 Feb. 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.

The information related to Chase College Checking was collected by GOBankingRates and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product. Product details may vary. Please see the issuer’s website for current information. GOBankingrates does not receive commission for this product.

*With Chase Overdraft Assist^SM, Chase won’t charge an insufficient funds fee if you’re overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the business day, or if you’re overdrawn by more than $50 and you bring your account balance to overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the next business day (you have until 11 p.m. ET, or 8 p.m. PT, to make a deposit or transfer). Chase Overdraft Assist does not require enrollment and comes with eligible Chase checking accounts.

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