Fidelity Checking Account Review: Use Any ATM for Free

Find out if Fidelity Bank is a good choice for checking.

By Gabrielle Olya July 28, 2018 Checking Accounts 101

Fidelity Bank serves metro Atlanta and other communities throughout the Southeast. In addition to checking accounts, Fidelity Bank — which is not affiliated with Fidelity Investments — offers a number of other personal banking products and services, including savings accounts, a personal check card, credit cards, Mobile Wallet and IRAs. Keep reading this checking account review to find out if you should bank with Fidelity.

Fidelity Bank Checking Account Review

When choosing a personal checking account, consider any minimum balance requirements, monthly fees and the features that come standard with your account. Fidelity Bank offers three personal checking accounts:

Totally Free Checking
Direct Free Interest Checking
Lion Share Interest Checking

Each account has its own pros and cons, but all three checking accounts come with several free features:

Visa Check Card debit card
Online banking with Bill Pay
Use of any ATM: Fidelity Bank does not charge a non-Fidelity ATM usage fee. If the institution you withdraw from charges a fee, you can get reimbursed for up to three non-Fidelity ATM usage fees monthly, up to $10, when you provide the receipts.
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Mobile banking with mobile deposit
Return of check images
Direct Deposit and automatic payments available
Check card text alerts

Also See: Fidelity Rewards Visa Signature Review — Cash Back and No Annual Fees

Pros and Cons of Fidelity Bank Totally Free Checking

Totally Free Checking is a good option for those who don’t want to have to worry about maintaining a minimum balance to avoid paying monthly fees. A minimum opening deposit of $50 is required with this account.

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Fidelity Bank Totally Free Checking Account Pros:

No monthly maintenance fee
No minimum daily balance
No per check charge
Unlimited check writing

Fidelity Bank Totally Free Checking Account Cons:

No interest accrued on your balance
$34 non-sufficient funds fees for paid items and returned items
$8 per day overdraft protection fee

Learn: How to Find Your Fidelity Routing Number

Pros and Cons of Fidelity Bank Direct Free Interest Checking

Direct Free Interest Checking offers competitive interest rates and is a good choice for customers who receive Direct Deposit or automatic payments. A minimum opening deposit of $50 is also required with this account.

Fidelity Bank Direct Free Interest Checking Account Pros:

No monthly maintenance fee
No minimum daily balance
No per check charge
Unlimited check writing
0.05% APY; this is on-par with the national average

Fidelity Bank Direct Free Interest Checking Account Cons:

$34 non-sufficient funds fees for paid items and returned items
$8 per day overdraft protection fee

Learn: How to Avoid Bank Fees

Pros and Cons of Fidelity Bank Lion Share Interest Checking

This Fidelity account is intended for individuals who plan to maintain a balance of $1,000 or more in their account. There is a minimum opening deposit of $50 required with this account.

Fidelity Bank Lion Share Interest Checking Account Pros:

No per check charge
Unlimited check writing
Highest interest rates of the three accounts offered:
- 0.15% APY for balances of $0 to $2,499
- 0.2% APY for balances of $2,500 to $49,999
- 0.25% APY for balances of $50,000 to $249,999
- 0.3% APY for balances of $250,000 and above

Fidelity Bank Lion Share Interest Checking Account Cons:

$1,000 minimum daily balance
$8 monthly maintenance fee if daily balance falls below $1,000
$34 non-sufficient funds fees for paid items and returned items
$8 per day overdraft protection fee

Where to Get the Best Interest Rates: Online Banks vs. Traditional Banks

Fidelity Bank Products and Services

In addition to the three personal checking accounts, Fidelity also offers five different savings services and products: Personal Savings Account, Little Lion’s Savings Account, Money Market Account, Health Savings Account and Certificates of Deposits. The other personal banking products offered by Fidelity are a personal check card, credit cards, Mobile Wallet and IRAs. Fidelity Bank also offers a range of loans, including mortgages, auto loans, personal loans and home equity lines of credit.

For businesses, Fidelity has a number of business banking services, commercial banking services and SBA lending. In addition, Fidelity can provide wealth management services.

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Banking with Fidelity can be done from anywhere, anytime with Fidelity’s online banking and through its mobile app.

Should You Open a Checking Account With Fidelity Bank?

Fidelity Bank branch locations are limited to Georgia and Florida, but with free withdrawals at any ATM, you can access your funds from anywhere. Plus, with mobile deposit, you can also deposit checks without having to go to a physical branch. And with three different checking account options, you can choose an account that works best for you. It could be an especially good option for those planning to maintain a balance of $1,000 or more, as the Lion Share Interest Checking account offers above-average interest rates.

This bank might not be the best option for those living outside of metro Atlanta and select areas in Florida, where branch locations are located, if you prefer to do your banking in-person.

More on Checking Accounts

This content is not provided by the companies mentioned. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by Fidelity Bank.