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.

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.

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.

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.

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, CFA

Chief Financial Analyst

Sarah Foster

Principal U.S. Economy Reporter

Mark Hamrick

Senior Economic Analyst

Learn more

Latest articles

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 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.

Man in coffee shop using laptop with a card in his hand.

The rule provides a framework for settling unauthorized debit-card transactions.

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.

Sixty percent of households feel behind on their emergency savings in 2023.

Despite inflation and expenses, there are ways to increase your emergency savings.

Here are some of the best savings accounts you can sign up for as a business owner.

Financial manager meeting with couple in bank branch office

Get the latest rates on top-yielding money market accounts.

If you’re struggling to save money right now, you’re not alone. Here’s how a few easy changes can help.

A man uses the Qapital app to save money.

Build up your savings by automatically setting aside small amounts of money.

Not having success with your savings? A budget can make things a little easier.

cityscape with a Wall Street sign in the foreground

Storm clouds are gathering above the economy amid high inflation and interest rates.

lawn of a house with a for rent sign in the yard

That’s even despite the Fed’s fastest rate hikes since the 1980s.

Keeping track of bills and payments can be difficult, here’s how to make it easier.

Native American-owned banks and credit unions help underserved communities by providing access to bank accounts, loans and other financial services.

People walking out of the subway station at Wall Street

Feeling deprived during lockdowns, Americans aren’t ready to fall back on progress.

Opening a checking account is easy. Finding the right one is the hard part.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speaks with journalists after the Fed's July meeting.

Not since the 1980s have officials raised rates this much in a single year.

What the Fed news really means: a demystification of Fed terms.

The trusted provider of accurate rates and financial information

Checking

Explore checking basics

Get started with a checking account

Types of checking accounts

Experts in all things banking

Compare top-rated banks

Review our top banks of 2024

Latest articles