Free Checking Accounts

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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.

List of accounts

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The information in the table below was last verified in July 2008.

Bank	Account-opening bonus?	ATM rebates?	Free checks?	Notes
Compass Bank	—	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	—	unlimited if $2000 balance	—	Branches in Delaware, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Have ATMs in most other major U.S. cities.
Regions	—	—	first 50	Branches in Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.
Sovereign Bank	—	—	—	Branches in Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island.
SunTrust	$50 gift card	—	—	Branches in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
TD Banknorth	—	—	—	Branches in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont.
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	—	—	unlimited	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.