Here's a list of completely free checking accounts, with no minimum balance, direct-deposit requirement, per-check charges, ATM fees (at the bank's own ATMs), teller fees, or anything else of that sort.
A few banks additionally offer to rebate fees that other banks' ATMs charge you, and some will give you free checks.
I only list relatively large banks that cover at least 5 or so states. There may be free checking accounts offered by smaller local banks or credit unions in your area as well, but for reasons of practicality I can't list all of those.
The information in the table below was last verified in March 2009.
| Bank | Account-opening bonus? | ATM rebates? | Free checks? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank of America | MyAccess Checking is free when opened online. Branches in nearly all U.S. states. | |||
| Citizens Bank | Green Checking is the free one. Branches in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. | |||
| Compass Bank | $100 (check terms) | Optional (see notes) | Can add 2 of 7 "premium features" to the account for free, of which ATM rebates are one option. Branches in Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, New Mexico, and Texas. Must live in one of those states to open an account. | |
| PNC Bank | Branches in Delaware, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Have ATMs in most other major U.S. cities. | |||
| Sovereign Bank | Branches in Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. | |||
| SunTrust | Branches in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. | |||
| U.S. Bank | Branches in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. | |||
| Wachovia | Branches in Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. | |||
| Washington Mutual | Branches in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Washington, D.C. | |||
| Wells Fargo | Branches in most states, but free checking account available only to residents of: Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. |
I do have a few ads on here. Unlike many finance-related sites, though, I make a point to keep them from cluttering up the content too much.
Occasionally you might even find some of the ads useful, since some companies advertise promotional deals that aren't on their websites.
Contact: mark@pfstuff.com