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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.

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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 reporters and editors bring the news and analysis you need—backed by data and firsthand experience.

About Bankrate
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Bankrate Financial Analyst

Sarah Foster

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Principal U.S. Economy Reporter

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Senior Economic Analyst

Latest articles

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Mobile apps make managing your money a snap and mobile alerts can help protect it.
Young couple paying bills online
Online bill pay can add convenience and security to managing your routine bills.
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A bank may deny you a checking account. Here is what you can do next.
Cash in gloved hand
Depositing cash into someone’s account isn’t always possible, but there are options.
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.
person using mobile phone leaning on railing
A second-chance checking account is designed for those whose banking history may prevent them from opening a standard account. Applicants sometimes have past problems such as an unpaid negative balance [...]
Spend money, pay bills, write checks or make fund transfers with a checking account.
person on phone by computer looking at piece of paper
Here’s how these two bank fees compare and how to best avoid them.
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Here’s how to boost your savings.
Person imagining a piggy bank made out of cash.
Ready to open a savings account? Here’s what you’ll need to know.
Illustration of construction workers on a roof
An emergency fund is an essential part of a solid financial plan.
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Getting into the habit of paying yourself first is hard. Here are some ideas to help you start.
Illustration of an old-fashioned physical bank branch and a mobile phone.
Keeping your savings in a bank down the street may seem like the obvious play, but there may be real downsides for doing so.
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.
pile of US savings bonds
Losing a savings bond doesn’t mean it’s money lost. Here’s how to find it.
Unrealistic depiction of cash moving directly from phone to phone
Follow these steps to send or request money easily with Zelle.
United States Treasury savings bonds.
You’ve matured, but those savings bonds from childhood may still need more time.
Family looking at their finances.
Early access to direct deposited funds can make managing your budget a bit easier.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau headquarters in Washington, D.C., U.S.
Feel like a victim of bad financial practices? Here’s how to file a CFPB complaint.
married couple looking at computer screen
Experts say you can cut many financial disputes off before they happen by having separate financial accounts.
You can’t take it with you, so what happens to your bank account after you pass on?
person standing next to bike and looking at phone
If you overdraw your account frequently, then overdraft protection could be a good way to avoid hefty overdraft fees.
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