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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.
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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.

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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.

Checking

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 writers and editors bring you timely news and reliable information - backed by data and first-hand experience.

About Bankrate's team
Greg McBride

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Chief Financial Analyst

Sarah Foster

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Principal U.S. Economy Reporter

Mark Hamrick

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Senior Economic Analyst

Latest articles

Mother and daughter smiling at smartphone
Let’s explore why you might want a checking account you can’t write checks from.
Business owner talking on phone.
Here’s what you need to know if you’re considering a switch to business checking.
Customer writing cheque at bank counter
Learn about common checking terms, from bounced checks to outstanding checks.
mother and teenage son talking and looking at computer
We have a few suggestions on how to help your teenager learn personal finance and what you can teach them.
senior woman looking at paperwork in front of a computer
Age and region are also factors in how much consumers pay in checking fees.
person looking at american express digital checking account on phone
American Express launched a digital consumer checking account for card members.
A senior woman goes on her smartphone.
There’s no need to see a teller at the bank when you can perform these tasks on your smartphone.
A mobile banking app used at the ATM.
Experts weigh in on ways to improve safety for using the more than 50-year old technology.
Woman sitting on her couch, looking at her laptop
There are a handful of numbers you should track for your financial health and well-being. A few you might already know about – your credit score and your net worth, for example. But you should also know [...]
Two happy people looking at sheets of paper
As the old saying goes: What goes up, must come down. But in the case of annual percentage yields (APYs), we might have a bit more air time. While APYs on deposit accounts may have come down from their [...]
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.
comical illustration of money being injected via medial equipment
Here’s what you need to know about tapping into your emergency fund.
After facing a rent increase, I’m moving to Washington, D.C. to save $24,000 over two years.
Financial manager meeting with couple in bank branch office
Get the latest rates on top-yielding money market accounts.
Person on laptop computer
The APY percentage shows how much an account earns per year. Here’s what you need to know.
piggy bank on a steering wheel
Take these simple steps to jumpstart your savings plan for a new car.
Man filling out money order
Here’s what you need to know about how money orders work.
Woman sitting on her couch, looking at her laptop
There are a handful of numbers you should track for your financial health and well-being. A few you might already know about – your credit score and your net worth, for example. But you should also know [...]
Two happy people looking at sheets of paper
As the old saying goes: What goes up, must come down. But in the case of annual percentage yields (APYs), we might have a bit more air time. While APYs on deposit accounts may have come down from their [...]
Woman walking up to an ATM
Some knowledge and planning can help you avoid paying fees for out-of-network ATMs.
Check remote deposit capture at coffee shop
Electronic checks (eChecks) offer a digital alternative to traditional paper checks, allowing you to make payments directly from your checking account online. Learn how eChecks work, when to use them, [...]
Woman and man standing back to back, spare coins on the side of the woman and large value bills on the side of the man
The gender pay gap impacts all women, but not in the same way.
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.
Man using laptop in kitchen
Callable CDs can offer a higher yield than traditional CDs, but there’s a catch.
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