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
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

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

Latest articles

A brick and mortar bank building on a sunny day
There’s more than one way to bank. Here are the reasons to consider banking locally.
Woman using laptop
There’s no need to pay for a checking account when many banks offer free checking.
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.
Woman paying at the gas pump
Debit cards are inherently less secure than credit cards, especially at these spots.
Women using tablet
Online checking accounts stand out for different features. Here’s our top picks.
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.
Young Woman Depositing Check With Smartphone
The amount of time can vary from check to check.
woman doing headstand
Your bank accounts have two separate balances: the current balance and the available balance. Here’s the distinction.
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 looking tired at computer
Here’s how to financially prepare for the possibility of sudden unemployment.
coins in jar at the beach during sunset
We list three accounts to park your savings this summer as you wait to buy a house.
Man calculating finances
Here’s how to determine the amount to put in savings — and what to do with the rest.
Person on laptop computer
The APY percentage shows how much an account earns per year. Here’s what you need to know.
woman walking and looking at a phone
Subscriptions are easy to lose track of, but these apps can help restore order.
measuring the waistline of cash bills, comical
A spending diet can help you pursue your financial goals and save cash. Here’s how.
I’ve often referred to 2024 as the year of the certificate of deposit (CD). In tracking CD rates on a daily basis, I’ve seen how yields remain at an overall high, thanks to the Federal Reserve raising [...]
Happy young person on a laptop
These seven banks and credit unions offer competitive rates on CDs for businesses.
Piggy bank with doctors equipment. Cute and comical
A mid-year checkup is the most effective way to ensure my finances are on track.
Young woman using an ATM
Here’s how to find the nearest ATM in MoneyPass’s fee-free ATM network.
Mature businessman with electric vehicle using ATM machine on footpath
Here’s how to find the nearest ATM in Allpoint’s fee-free ATM network.
Illustration of American reaching for pennies and change
Even before inflation, Americans struggled to save for the future.
young man falling out of the sky along with various household items and cash
Inflation is slowing, but prices are still higher than they were four years ago.
Woman reaching in to the air for cash
Prices rise and fall all the time in the U.S. economy. It’s not always inflation.
The trusted provider of accurate rates and financial information
Wall Street Journal
USA Today
The New York Times
CNN
Bloomberg
ABC