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Checking

Maximize your checking: Compare high-yield checking accounts, no-fee checking accounts and more.

Explore checking basics

A woman uses mobile banking while eating.
From no fees to online bill pay, here are the must-have checking account features.
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If you overdraw your account frequently, then overdraft protection could be a good way to avoid hefty overdraft fees.
close up of hands signing a check
Checks aren’t as ubiquitous as they once were, but you may still have to write one.

Get started with a checking account

Checking

Types of checking accounts

Whether you’re making payments online, using a debit card, or writing a physical check, a checking account is a necessity for most people. Here are some of the most-widely available types of checking accounts offered at banks and credit unions.

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Checking

Available balance vs. current balance

Learn about the two separate balances you may see when looking at your bank account.

Checking

Checking account fees

Learn about the different kinds of checking account fees and what you can do to avoid them.

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Checking

Bank account alerts to protect your money

Explore the types of bank account alerts you can set up to help you stay informed about your finances whenever and wherever you are.

 

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Experts in all things banking

Our expert writers and editors bring you timely news and reliable information - backed by data and first-hand experience.

About Bankrate's team
Greg McBride

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Chief Financial Analyst

Sarah Foster

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Principal U.S. Economy Reporter

Mark Hamrick

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Senior Economic Analyst

Latest articles

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Here’s what you need to know about interest checking accounts.
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We list seven ways to endorse a check and how to process it correctly and securely.
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Finding the account number on a check is easy — if you know where to look.
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Balancing your checking account may sound dated, but it still makes sense.
close up of hands signing a check
Checks aren’t as ubiquitous as they once were, but you may still have to write one.
Young woman withdrawing money using phone at the ATM machine on the street in Budapest in Hungary.
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Capital One Bank signage in New York City
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Whimsical illustration of a hand putting a quarter into a miniature but realistic high end safe. As if it were a piggy bank
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These simple moves can help you build a cash cushion.
Senate building in Washington DC
Sweeping changes at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) signal what would be a significant shift in banking regulation under the Trump administration. While regulatory changes might sound like [...]
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Knowing how these accounts work, and how they differ, can help better your finances.
Cheerful young student woman excited with good news
Adding more to your savings goals is easier than you think. Here’s how.
A Capital One bank branch in Manhattan in New York
The CFPB dropped its lawsuit alleging Capital One cheated customers out of interest.
Person working on a computer on an office couch and drinking tea
Here’s the difference between APY and interest rate.
Illustration of hand reaching into a computer
On average, Americans have kept the same bank accounts for over a decade.
Financial manager meeting with couple in bank branch office
Get the latest rates on top-yielding money market accounts.
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Check out the latest CD rates from Bankrate’s weekly survey of banks and thrifts.
Whimsical illustration of a hand putting a quarter into a miniature but realistic high end safe. As if it were a piggy bank
Comparing savings rates can ensure you get the best return on your savings.
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These simple moves can help you build a cash cushion.
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If you have $25,000 to invest in a CD right now, here’s how much you could earn.
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Mobile apps make managing your money a snap and mobile alerts can help protect it.
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