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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.
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.

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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

Mark Hamrick

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Senior Economic Analyst

Latest articles

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Finding the account number on a check is easy — if you know where to look.
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Balancing your checking account may sound dated, but it still makes sense.
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Online checking accounts stand out for different features. Here’s our top picks.
close up of hands signing a check
Checks aren’t as ubiquitous as they once were, but you may still have to write one.
Young woman withdrawing money using phone at the ATM machine on the street in Budapest in Hungary.
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Capital One Bank signage in New York City
Banks are cutting overdraft fees in response to consumers and regulators’ demands.
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Opening a business checking account isn’t as simple as opening a personal checking account. Here’s what to know.
Young couple paying bills online
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Pair of friends shoe shopping
Impulse buying can drain your savings. Here are five tips for avoiding it to protect your money.
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Interest is the price you pay to borrow money or the cost you charge to lend money.
A student withdraws cash at an ATM.
There are ways to access your money and ultimately spend it. Here’s how.
young woman smiling on city sidewalk
Creating a timeline is a useful way to plan and meet all your financial goals.
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ADHD can affect your ability to manage money — here are tips that work for me.
woman looking tired at computer
Here’s how to financially prepare for the possibility of sudden unemployment.
Illustration of worker juggling dollar bills over a background of a line signifying rising inflation
That’s even as the latest data shows that wages are rising faster than prices.
Young Woman Checking Her Finances At Home
Finding the account number on a check is easy — if you know where to look.
loan manager with paperwork talking with client in bank branch
The most impressive banks make it easy to interact both on old and new channels.
An attractive African American female creates content with a video camera in a bright office.
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exterior of Bank of America branch building
Knowing bank holiday schedules can help you avoid delays on necessary transactions.
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Get the latest rates on top-yielding money market accounts.
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Check out the latest CD rates from Bankrate’s weekly survey of banks and thrifts.
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