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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.
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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 reporters and editors bring the news and analysis you need—backed by data and firsthand experience.

About Bankrate
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Stephen Kates, CFP Arrow Right Icon

Bankrate 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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Mobile apps make managing your money a snap and mobile alerts can help protect it.
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Online bill pay can add convenience and security to managing your routine bills.
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A bank may deny you a checking account. Here is what you can do next.
Cash in gloved hand
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Knowing your limit before making a purchase can help you make smarter decisions.
person using mobile phone leaning on railing
A second-chance checking account is designed for those whose banking history may prevent them from opening a standard account. Applicants sometimes have past problems such as an unpaid negative balance [...]
Spend money, pay bills, write checks or make fund transfers with a checking account.
person on phone by computer looking at piece of paper
Here’s how these two bank fees compare and how to best avoid them.
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Here’s how to boost your savings.
Person imagining a piggy bank made out of cash.
Ready to open a savings account? Here’s what you’ll need to know.
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An emergency fund is an essential part of a solid financial plan.
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It’s a low interest rate environment, but there are ways to earn more on your money.
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Getting into the habit of paying yourself first is hard. Here are some ideas to help you start.
Illustration of an old-fashioned physical bank branch and a mobile phone.
Keeping your savings in a bank down the street may seem like the obvious play, but there may be real downsides for doing so.
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.
Trump and Biden, donkey and elephant, in a boxing ring
The historic rematch likely comes down to whose economic legacy outshines the other.
Couple talking to a financial advisor about an investment
Consumers move to interest-bearing accounts; banks increase funds for brokered CDs.
Someone shopping a sale rack at a grocery store
Today was a good day to stock up on Goldfish crackers at my local grocery store. A large sign announced that buying seven or more snack-sized cartons allows you to get them at a discounted price of $1 [...]
Tortoise turns 100 years old.
The 100-year CD targets investors with philanthropic or generational-wealth goals.
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All but four officials continue to expect rate cuts in 2024.
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How I saved nearly $50 this week
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