Published 2026-08-02
Checking Account Fees at the Banks We Track, Compared
Monthly checking fees in our lineup range from $0 to $12 — but the fee itself is rarely the full story. Every account we found charges more once you look at what triggers the waiver.
Key takeaways
- Capital One 360 Checking charges no monthly fee at all, with no conditions attached.
- Chase Secure Banking ($4.95) and Wells Fargo Clear Access Banking ($5) sit at the low end among accounts that do charge a fee.
- Citi Checking and U.S. Bank Smartly Checking both list a $12 monthly fee, the highest in our current lineup.
- Every fee-charging account we track offers at least one way to waive it — usually a minimum balance or qualifying direct deposit — but the exact threshold varies a lot.
The full ranking, lowest fee first
We rank checking accounts by monthly fee, lowest first, breaking ties by the lower minimum opening deposit. The complete list, with every account we track, is at /best/checking-accounts. Capital One's 360 Checking is the only account in our lineup with no fee and no conditions — everything else on the list charges something unless you meet a specific requirement.
The fee waiver is where the real comparison happens
A $12 monthly fee sounds worse than a $4.95 one, but if you already keep a qualifying direct deposit flowing into the account, the number on the rate sheet may never actually apply to you. Citi Checking, for example, waives its $12 fee with a combined average balance of roughly $1,500 across linked Citi accounts or a qualifying direct deposit — but our sources disagree on the exact deposit figure, which is exactly the kind of detail we flag rather than paper over.
PNC's Virtual Wallet (Spend) waives its $7 fee with a $500 combined balance in Spend/Reserve or $500+ in qualifying direct deposit — a lower bar than Citi's, on an account that charges less to begin with.
How to actually use this comparison
If you don't want to think about a fee waiver at all, Capital One is the simplest option in our data. If you already bank with one of the other institutions for a mortgage, savings account or credit card, check whether your existing relationship clears the waiver threshold before you write off the account on fee alone — our /banks/ profiles list the exact waiver condition for every account, not just the sticker fee.
To compare two specific banks side by side, including fees, minimum deposits and what's not offered by either one, use /compare/.
Frequently asked questions
Does a $0 monthly fee mean the account has no costs at all?
No. Monthly maintenance fee is only one line item — overdraft fees, out-of-network ATM fees and wire fees are separate and aren't covered in this comparison. Check the bank's full fee schedule before opening an account.
Why do fee waiver conditions vary so much between banks?
Each bank sets its own waiver policy to encourage the behavior it wants — usually direct deposit, since it signals the account is a customer's primary bank. There's no industry standard threshold, which is why we list the exact condition for every account rather than a general rule of thumb.
Run the numbers
This guide explains the concept. These put your own figures on it.
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