Skip to Main Content

Checking

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

Explore checking basics

A woman uses mobile banking while eating.
From no fees to online bill pay, here are the must-have checking account features.
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.
close up of hands signing a check
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.

Arrow Right Icon
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.

Image for Bank account alerts to protect your money
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.

 

Arrow Right Icon

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
Stephen Kates headshot

Stephen Kates, CFP Arrow Right Icon

Bankrate Financial Analyst

Sarah Foster

Sarah Foster Arrow Right Icon

Principal U.S. Economy Reporter

Mark Hamrick

Mark Hamrick Arrow Right Icon

Senior Economic Analyst

Latest articles

close up of hands signing a check
Checks aren’t as ubiquitous as they once were, but you may still have to write one.
A woman uses mobile banking while eating.
From no fees to online bill pay, here are the must-have checking account features.
Young woman withdrawing money using phone at the ATM machine on the street in Budapest in Hungary.
Here are simple steps to take to avoid paying checking account fees.
close up of hands writing a check
Consumers without a bank account face hurdles when trying to cash a check.
This old-school way of paying is still in demand. Here’s everything you need to know.
A young man uses an ATM.
Over time, ATM fees have climbed. Here’s what you need to know.
Young Woman Checking Her Finances At Home
Finding the account number on a check is easy — if you know where to look.
Young woman using the ATM
Knowing your ATM withdrawal limits can make a sudden need for cash easier to handle.
Happy woman reacting to news from her laptop
Here are five ways automatic transfers can make growing your savings easy.
man sitting on the couch at home working on his laptop
Having multiple bank accounts has its perks but keeping them organized is key.
young woman working on her laptop
A savings account is a useful financial tool for building a stable financial future.
headshot of Greg McBride
It’s easy to open a savings account. Just make sure you have this information handy.
People walking back and forth in front of Capital One Bank entrance.
A CFPB lawsuit claims Capital One underpaid savings account interest by $2 billion.
A graphic of origami of a dollar bill folded to look like a piggy bank with a penny on top.
Expect savings and money market account yields to slide lower this year, but they still should outpace inflation, according to the latest forecast from Bankrate chief financial analyst Greg McBride. McBride [...]
Pink piggy bank stuffed with dollar bills
Even as interest rates drop, some top-yielding savings accounts remain competitive.
Calendar of 2023
Use this challenge to stash more cash toward your savings goals.
Woman watering plants.
Check out the latest CD rates from Bankrate’s weekly survey of banks and thrifts.
Smiling person with smartphone walking on the street
Looking to use Zelle for a transfer? Here are the Zelle limits at various banks.
Woman at laptop
Planning for retirement? Here’s what you need to know about IRA CDs.
A friendly female customer service representative
These are the 10 largest credit unions in the United States based on assets.
close up of hands signing a check
Checks aren’t as ubiquitous as they once were, but you may still have to write one.
Clocks are displayed across an image of a dollar bill.
Take a look at the days when CDs were offering investors double-digit returns.
A woman uses mobile banking while eating.
From no fees to online bill pay, here are the must-have checking account features.
Illustrated by Bankrate
Big banks pay just 0.01% APY while online banks offer 4% or more. Your $10,000 could earn over $800 more over two years.
The trusted provider of accurate rates and financial information
Wall Street Journal
Usa Today
New York Times
Cnn
Bloomberg
Abc