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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.

Checks aren’t as ubiquitous as they once were, but you may still have to write one.

Get started with a checking account

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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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Available balance vs. current balance

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

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Checking account fees

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

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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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Latest articles

Balancing your checking account may sound dated, but it still makes sense.

Online checking accounts stand out for different features. Here’s our top picks.

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.

Here are simple steps to take to avoid paying checking account fees.

Capital One Bank signage in New York City

Banks are cutting overdraft fees in response to consumers and regulators’ demands.

Two female fashion designers working together at their studio

Opening a business checking account isn’t as simple as opening a personal checking account. Here’s what to know.

Online bill pay can add convenience and security to managing your routine bills.

Depositing cash into someone’s account isn’t always possible, but there are options.

Knowing a savings bond’s value can help you decide whether to hold it or redeem it.

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.

Woman working with business document and laptop on the table

It’s a low interest rate environment, but there are ways to earn more on your money.

female soldier and her husband use a banking app to check the state of their finances

Bank account budgeting tools make it easy to track your personal finances.

Side view of father cooking food while daughter having apple in kitchen

These simple moves can help build a cash cushion.

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Savings yields topping inflation could let you hold onto your purchasing power.

The amount of money you should save each month will vary based on your goals. Here’s what to know.

Confused about finding an HSA? Use these tips to determine the best deal for you.

President Joe Biden stands behind Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell at the announcement of his renomination

Consumers are bracing for a longer stretch of high inflation. But when can it be expected to slow down?

senior woman looking at paperwork in front of a computer

Age and region are also factors in how much consumers pay in checking fees.

man looking at phone while having coffee in cafe

The fourth-largest U.S. bank is the latest to cut or drop overdraft fees.

Sweepstakes winners used their $10,000 prize for practical (and fun) purposes.

Mother using tablet with young sons on couch

These longer-run challenges make saving and investing all the harder.

person looking at american express digital checking account on phone

American Express launched a digital consumer checking account for card members.

Couple talking while standing on cliff by sea during sunny day

Even the small victories add up over time when you’re living on a fixed income.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speaks with lawmakers at a congressional testimony

Officials are sounding the alarm that they’re running the economy too hot.

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Explore checking basics

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Types of checking accounts

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