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Maximize your checking: Compare high-yield checking accounts, no-fee checking accounts and more.

Explore checking basics

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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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Latest articles

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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.
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Getting into the habit of paying yourself first is hard. Here are some ideas to help you start.
Mother using tablet with young sons on couch
These longer-run challenges make saving and investing all the harder.
Couple talking while standing on cliff by sea during sunny day
Even the small victories add up over time when you’re living on a fixed income.
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Budgeting on an irregular income is challenging, but it’s possible. Here’s how to do it.
Man using a tablet for banking
Online banks offer a number of benefits, and they’re just as safe as brick-and-mortar banks.
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Five winners won $10,000 each in Bankrate’s first Drop Your Debt Sweepstakes.
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U.S. consumers see inflation as the biggest threat to improving personal finances.
Two young brothers bake cookies together.
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Federal Reserve Chair Powell at a podium
As the job market weakens, some economists say the Fed should’ve cut rates already.
People walk by a Western Union location in New York.
Wire transfer fees can be expensive, but here are ways to send money for less.
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.
Piggy bank with cash overflowing
Walk away with stacks of cash just for opening a checking or savings account.
Man at laptop, deep in thought
Certificates of deposit offer peace of mind, but they’re not without some drawbacks.
Woman watering plants.
Check out the latest CD rates from Bankrate’s weekly survey of banks and thrifts.
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Our list consists of FDIC-insured banks offering product suites ideal for startups.
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