Skip to Main Content

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.
woman standing next to bike and looking at phone
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.

Arrow Right Icon
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.

Image for Bank account alerts to protect your money
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.

 

Arrow Right Icon

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

Greg McBride, CFA Arrow Right Icon

Chief Financial Analyst

Sarah Foster

Sarah Foster Arrow Right Icon

Principal U.S. Economy Reporter

Mark Hamrick

Mark Hamrick Arrow Right Icon

Senior Economic Analyst

Latest articles

Woman accessing her checking account at home on a laptop
Not paying fees and an easy way to bank should all be priorities. Here are some of our favorites.
Women using tablet
Online checking accounts stand out for different features. Here’s our top picks.
Young couple paying bills online
Online bill pay can add convenience and security to managing your routine bills.
Cash in gloved hand
Depositing cash into someone’s account isn’t always possible, but there are options.
Man in coffee shop using laptop with a card in his hand.
The rule provides a framework for settling unauthorized debit-card transactions.
Person reading credit card statement
Here are easy actions you can take to avoid the fee of get it waived.
Woman standing in front of an ATM
Withdrawing cash at an out-of-network ATM? Be prepared to pay more than ever.
Hand touching buttons on a ATM keypad
Convenient access to your cash often comes at a price — and sometimes it’s a very high one.
Easy mornings and working from home for this couple
Savings yields topping inflation could let you hold onto your purchasing power.
Garage sale in grass on street curb with autumn trees background
Here are some places to look for a source of funds.
family financial planning
Here’s how to boost your savings.
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.
Young woman working from her kitchen island and drinking a hot beverage
Here are some of the best savings accounts you can sign up for as a business owner.
man pumping gas into his car
Here are 11 creative ways to save money, regardless of your financial goals.
Close up, two hands holding a one hundred dollar bill
Even earning as little as $100 in extra income here and there can give you added spending money.
Side view of father cooking food while daughter having apple in kitchen
These simple moves can help build a cash cushion.
Globe and paper air plane
Sending money to another country can be a quick, easy and safe process. Read to find out the various ways you can utilize and how to transfer money internationally.
A woman and daughter work together
A savings account can be a great tool to teach your child about money. Here are a few of our favorites.
PNC Bank building
PNC Bank is one of the largest banks in the U.S. Here’s how to find one near you.
a chase bank in washington dc
Looking for a nearby Chase Bank location or ATM? Here’s how to find the closest ones.
Wells Fargo branch
Looking for a nearby Wells Fargo location or ATM? Here’s how to find the closest ones.
lots of coins and cash in a pile
Coins sitting around in an overloaded jar could be put to better use. Here’s how.
Woman using a cellphone near an ATM
Some brokerages offer checking to their investing clients. Here’s how they compare to a bank.
man signing a check
That string of numbers at the bottom of your check is really important. Find out why.
The trusted provider of accurate rates and financial information
Wall Street Journal
Usa Today
New York Times
Cnn
Bloomberg
Abc