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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

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Senior Economic Analyst

Latest articles

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A second-chance checking account is designed for those whose banking history may prevent them from opening a standard account. Those who apply for this account sometimes have past issues such as an unpaid [...]
Male friends walk on a college campus.
Here are top accounts for features like ATM fee waivers, overdraft forgiveness and more.
Capital One Bank signage in New York City
Banks are cutting overdraft fees in response to consumers and regulators’ demands.
Spend money, pay bills, write checks or make fund transfers with a checking account.
close up of hands writing a check
Consumers without a bank account face hurdles when trying to cash a check.
Outside view of a bank with American flag
Learn the key characteristics of certified checks and how they differ from other types of payments.
woman sitting on her couch and looking at her phone and credit card
Knowing your limit before making a purchase can help you make smarter decisions.
Young Woman Checking Her Finances At Home
Finding the account number on a check is easy — if you know where to look.
Financial manager meeting with couple in bank branch office
Get the latest rates on top-yielding money market accounts.
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 studying a document and working on a laptop
Here’s how multiple savings accounts can help you reach your financial goals.
woman looking at her phone while walking outside
Top savings APYs remain above 4%, with plenty of account options to choose from.
Mother and daughter looking at savings account info on a cellphone
The best savings accounts for teenagers offer competitive rates and charge no fees.
Someone watering a plant that grows cash
Here’s how much $100,000 in a high-yield savings account can earn you.
female soldier and her husband use a banking app to check the state of their finances
Savings APYs remain high as the Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady.
Person looking at smartphone
The best account to save your money will vary by your goal.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell at a press conference
Here’s what the Fed said on interest rates and the economy.
Discover card
That includes their checking, savings, money market and CD accounts. Here are the details.
Federal Reserve seal
Is it still too soon for the Fed to cut rates?
President Donald Trump talking
Here’s why Fed officials are so concerned about the trade war right now.
Man in manufacturing plant
But the revision was less than economists thought it would be.
Digit app
For 99 cents per withdrawal, users can move money from their account into another within minutes.
Man paying with credit card
With the best job market in decades, the Fed is wondering why there isn’t more inflation.
Jerome Powell at press conference
The Fed continues to delay any interest rate moves amid persistently low inflation.
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