If you’re a student in the market to find the perfect student checking account look no further. Here’s one that should definitely be looked into. Bank of America Core Checking account is a simple checking account with some small benefits that make it stand out from its competitors.
If you’re interested in exploring other student checking accounts, be sure to check out our compiled lists of Best Student Checking Accounts. This handpicked list showcases the best student checking accounts available to you – such as the Chase Student Checking Account below.
• Enjoy $100 as a new Chase checking customer when you open a Chase College CheckingSM account and complete 10 qualifying transactions within 60 days of coupon enrollment. • No Monthly Service Fee while in school up to the graduation date provided at account opening (five years maximum) for students 17-24 years old. • Students ages 18-24 with a Social Security Number can open an account online or at a Chase branch. Students with no Social Security number or who are 17-year-olds can only open an account at a branch. • Keep track of your money in the Chase Mobile® app. The app helps you manage your money. • Zelle® is available in more than 1,000 banking apps in the U.S. So you can send and receive money from almost anyone you know and trust who has a bank account in the U.S. • Access to more than 15,000 Chase ATMs and more than 4,700 branches. • JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC • Chase Overdraft AssistSM – no overdraft fee if you’re overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the business day or if you’re overdrawn by more than $50 and bring your account balance to overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the next business day* *With Chase Overdraft AssistSM, we won’t charge an Overdraft Fee if you’re overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the business day OR if you’re overdrawn by more than $50 and you bring your account balance to overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the next business day (you have until 11 PM ET (8 PM PT) to make a deposit or transfer). Chase Overdraft Assist does not require enrollment and comes with eligible Chase checking accounts. |
Requirements
- Must be under the age of 24
- Enrolled in secondary or post-secondary education
- Minimum opening deposit of $25.
Pros
- No Monthly Maintenance fee: So long as you fall under the requirements for the student checking account, all monthly fees will be waived.
- Online Banking & App: Do all your banking online or on a mobile device app. Checking your balance, paying back a friend, and depositing a check, can all be done from your laptop/smartphone.
- BankAmeriDeals: These deals help students earn cash back for purchases made with your Bank of America debit/credit card. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your account by the end of the month.
- Savings Program: Bank of America has a savings program called “Keep the Change.” Everyday purchases are rounded up to the nearest dollar and the difference it deposited into a savings account.
- $0 Liability Guarantee: In the case that your card is stolen/lost, there will be no need to worry. Bank of America will credit fraudulent transactions back into your account as soon as the next business day.
- Wide Network: Gain access to over 4,700 branches and 16,000 ATMs in the U.S.
Fees
- Monthly Maintenance: $23 – But these are waived for students under 24
- Non-US Bank ATM (Domestic): $2.50 per transaction
- Non-US Bank ATM (International): $5.00 per transaction
- Debit Card Foreign Transaction: 3%
- Overdraft (NSF): $35 Max 4 items per day.
- Returned Item (NSF): $35 Max 4 items per day.
- Extended Overdrawn Balance: $35 If your balance is in the red for 5 consecutive days
- Overdraft Protection: $12 – Automatically transferred from a linked savings or second eligible checking account.
- Emergency Cash at ATM: $35
- Paper Statement: $5 per billing cycle. Online statements are free
- Replacement Card (Express): $15 – Takes 2 – 3 days
Cons
- High Overdraft Fees: Although not the highest we’ve seen for a student checking account, $35 per returned or paid item due to non-sufficient funds is steep. At a maximum of 4 items, you’re looking to lose $140 per day if you don’t keep a close eye on your balance.
- No Yield on Deposits: Although it’s a rare find in student checking accounts, it’s still worth noting that this student account doesn’t offer any interest.
Conclusion
As simple as Bank of America Student Checking account is, being from a banking giant already makes it a lucrative choice. With countless branches and ATMs scattered across the nation, it scores high on in-person convenience. Additionally, no monthly fees and a chance to earn cash-back, something rare found on checking accounts, is another plus in our books.
Unfortunately, the biggest downside to Bank of America are their overdraft fees. Always watch out for those sneaky fees that could add up!