Students should look at the location and ease of access of a bank when choosing a student checking account, Walbert says. This includes selecting an institution that has ATM locations on and around campus, so students can avoid using out-of-network ATMs and their high usage fees, she says.
In many cases, convenience for students can also mean selecting the same bank as their parents, Weade says. That would make it easier to receive deposits from Mom and Dad, he says.
In fact, Weade says that was exactly what he did in school. "My parents took me right into our bank branch to open an account," he says. And if the student is under 18 years of age, they have to open up a joint account with an adult anyway, Walbert says.