{"id":6109,"date":"2025-12-15T13:55:36","date_gmt":"2025-12-15T19:55:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.discover.com\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/?p=6109"},"modified":"2026-02-04T13:27:32","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T19:27:32","slug":"how-to-avoid-checking-account-fees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.discover.com\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/how-to-avoid-checking-account-fees\/","title":{"rendered":"3 common checking account fees (and how to avoid them)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It\u2019s easy to take a checking account for granted. It provides a fast, seamless, and convenient way to spend and manage your money. But that doesn\u2019t mean all checking accounts are created equal, especially when it comes to the costs associated with them. \u201cHow much does it cost to open a checking account<\/a><\/ins>,\u201d you ask?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That really depends on the fees you’re charged for your checking account activity. No matter the amount, losing money to fees isn’t the only toll a pricey checking account can take. There can also be a psychological burden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The less you have to worry about checking account fees, the better it is for your financial and mental health,” says Emily Guy Birken, author of a book about money management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A cognitive bias known as loss aversion plays a role here. In short, “we feel the pain of loss more keenly,” Guy Birken says, “than we would feel the joy of gaining the same amount of money.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That makes checking account fees a “double whammy: You’re out the cash, but you’re also kicking yourself for losing it,” Guy Birken explains. Such a combination can be a real confidence kicker for someone who’s working hard to keep their balance in the black.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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If you’re wondering, “How do I avoid checking account fees?” there’s actually some good news. A little knowledge can go a long way toward paying fewer fees, keeping more cash in your account and maintaining financial sanity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ask yourself the following questions to avoid checking account fees:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How much does it cost to open a checking account?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you’re wondering how much it costs to open a checking account, know that it can vary, sometimes greatly, based on where you open your checking account<\/a>. Many financial institutions will let you open an account at no cost. It’s only later that fees could start piling up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“If you carry a small balance in your checking account, fees can have a huge impact and can eat away at your balance significantly,” says Brian Hanks, CFP\u00ae<\/sup>, who works with dentists in Salt Lake City, Utah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guy Birken agrees. “Millennials and those making under $30,000 tend to be hit the hardest,” she says.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Monthly maintenance fees cost an average of $5.47 per month for checking accounts that don\u2019t earn interest.<\/p>\n