What bank still offers free checking?

[stomachmonkey]

As in free.

Minimum daily balance and / or minimum transactions per month don't count.

Went to my local Citibank the other day and surprise, Citibank pulled up stakes and is gone, as in no mas, as in not one branch left in TX.

My account is out of NY so we were never notified.

They do have Citi ATMS in 7-11 so getting cash is still doable.

99% of my deposits are direct deposit.

The stuff like the kids birthday checks from the grandparents are small enough to use the mobile app deposit feature.

Would just like to have one account for the "what if's" and other one offs.

I'm expecting a 5 figure check in the next few weeks that I now have no way to deposit.

[onewhippedpuppy]

We have ours through a regional bank, and I'm not aware of any minimum stuff. I know we never get charged anything. Maybe look into local banks or credit unions? Personally I couldn't stand a big national bank that required a 1-800 phone call to get anything accomplished.

[aigel]

Credit Unions.

They have networks with ATMs, so you just need to look up the closest one to avoid fees.

G

[Dantilla]

Always better service with small, local banks.

I'm amazed anyone would use one of the "big boys" like Chase, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, yada yada....

[LeeH]

Yep. Credit unions. Our credit union is based in CA, but has contracts with other CUs that give us plenty of choices.

Free Checking

FEATURES:
$25 opening deposit
No per-check or monthly fees
No Direct Deposit or balance requirements
Direct access to funds with Visa Debit Card (purchases and ATM)
24-hour online account access
FREE ePay, eStatements and check imaging
3 out-of-network ATMs fee free each month

https://www.western.org/

[pitargue]

Especially, when the big banks are too big to fail...

Small local banks and credit unions get my business. Get free bottled water and gourmet coffee too! And it's nice that the tellers actually remember you and call you by your name. Service like this is rare these days.

[stomachmonkey]

Checked the local DATCU, daily minimum required.

Other than that been checking every other geographically convenient bank and no luck.

Looks like I'm mailing crap back to NY.

[M.D. Holloway]

Seems like there is a DATCU at every block!

I don't pay for checking with Chase.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by M.D. Holloway

Seems like there is a DATCU at every block!

I don't pay for checking with Chase.

But do you maintain a balance?

Everyone gives you free checking if you keep $xxx.xx in an account.

I don't want to be bothered with that. I'll forget about it like that $13k IRA I forgot about 20 years ago and just found last month.

I really have no need for a branch except for the occasional windfall like when a bud comes and buys one of my cars

Bring the boy by, let him drive the Tahoe and the Mazda, it's a stick, and let him decide.

[jyl]

Interest rates are so low, and bank profit optimization so advanced, that completely free checking is a thing of the past or soon will be.

About 10 MM adults in the U.S. lack a bank account. This is a problem for the lowest income, also recent immigrants and illegal immigrants. Hence the increase in stored value cards.

We have been gradually switching over to a small local credit union, from a too-big-to-fail national bank. The wife's idea; I'm personally fine with continuing to bank with XYZ where I've had my accounts for 25-odd years. It is occasionally inconvenient having a CA account while living in OR, but oh well.

[LakeCleElum]

US Bank..............All free....They treat me like royalty.......

[Rick Lee]

My credit union is inside the US Capitol and the nearest branch is in NoVA. They have free checking. I can't remember the last time I paid a fee there; maybe for a cashier's check once every few years. I scan checks and do mobile deposit. Once in a while I have a check larger than what mobile deposit allows, so I go to a local shared branch.

[porsche4life]

USAA if you can qualify.

[Evans, Marv]

Credit union. They are the best. Never, ever a big bank for me.

[slodave]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

But do you maintain a balance?

Everyone gives you free checking if you keep $xxx.xx in an account.

I don't want to be bothered with that. I'll forget about it like that $13k IRA I forgot about 20 years ago and just found last month.

I really have no need for a branch except for the occasional windfall like when a bud comes and buys one of my cars

Bring the boy by, let him drive the Tahoe and the Mazda, it's a stick, and let him decide.

No minimum balance required.

EDIT: From the Chase website...
$12 Monthly Service Fee, waived with one of the following each monthly statement period:

Direct Deposits totaling $500 or more made to this account Footnote 5

OR, a $1,500 or more minimum daily balance in this account

OR, an average daily balance of $5,000 or more in qualifying linked deposits/investments

I guess since I always deposit well over $500 a month, I never have seen the service fee.

[widgeon13]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

usaa if you can qualify.

+1

[Outback Porsche]

Wtf is a cheque?

I haven't written a cheque in the last 10 years. I think I still have a book around here somewhere?

[Scuba Steve]

Originally Posted by aigel

Credit Unions.

They have networks with ATMs, so you just need to look up the closest one to avoid fees.

G

This.

[PorscheGAL]

I have used a bank that focuses on internet customers for 15 years, American Bank.

https://ambk.com

They reimburse ATM fees and the checking accounts are interest accounts, albeit small interest right now.

In 15 years, I have never had any issues with them. I can pick up the phone and talk to the woman who helped me originally set up my account 15 years ago. As long as you are willing to not have a branch locally, I highly recommend them.

Log-in credentials use a SecureKey for the password, which means that the password changes every 30-40 seconds. I would think it is hard for criminals to crack.

[ckelly78z]

Originally Posted by Outback Porsche

Wtf is a cheque?

I haven't written a cheque in the last 10 years. I think I still have a book around here somewhere?

The only reason I write a check is to my local mechanic or for large unexpected items (not enough cash in my wallet, but don't take CCs).

My expeerience with recieving large 5 figure checks is the bank puts a hold on at least half of the funds for a week or two to ensure that they get paid. Kinda sucks, but no other way.