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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.

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If you overdraw your account frequently, then overdraft protection could be a good way to avoid hefty overdraft fees.

Checks aren’t as ubiquitous as they once were, but you may still have to write one.

Get started with a checking account

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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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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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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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Online checking accounts stand out for different features. Here’s our top picks.

Online bill pay can add convenience and security to managing your routine bills.

Depositing cash into someone’s account isn’t always possible, but there are options.

Man in coffee shop using laptop with a card in his hand.

The rule provides a framework for settling unauthorized debit-card transactions.

Here are easy actions you can take to avoid the fee of get it waived.

Withdrawing cash at an out-of-network ATM? Be prepared to pay more than ever.

Convenient access to your cash often comes at a price — and sometimes it’s a very high one.

Not all checking accounts are created equal.

Illustration of a pile of cash inside of a life raft

The amount varies by individual, but there are guidelines.

Here are scenarios for when each choice – paying down debt or saving – makes more sense.

Young family managing budget and paying bills and taxes

Barely above the poverty line, ALICE households struggle to make ends meet.

Garage sale in grass on street curb with autumn trees background

Here are some places to look for a source of funds.

Woman working from home with a child in the background

A new Bankrate analysis shows mothers earned 31 percent less in wages than fathers in 2023.

Close up, two hands holding a one hundred dollar bill

Even earning as little as $100 in extra income here and there can give you added spending money.

Some items are good candidates for storage in a safe deposit box, but others aren’t.

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Don’t let these financial mistakes prevent you from reaching your financial goals.

Panorama of aerial view of Downtown Houston, Texas, USA

As the old saying goes: “Everything is bigger in Texas.” And that’s also true of your list of options when choosing a bank or credit union in the state.

Online checking accounts stand out for different features. Here’s our top picks.

Check out the latest CD rates from Bankrate’s weekly survey of banks and thrifts.

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.

young man falling out of the sky along with various household items and cash

You might not feel better about inflation because prices are still up post-pandemic.

Prices rise and fall all the time in the U.S. economy. It’s not always inflation.

These seven banks and credit unions offer competitive rates on CDs for businesses.

Here’s how to save money and get the most bang for your buck.

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Explore checking basics

Get started with a checking account

Types of checking accounts

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