Bank of America offers free checking, but the account you get depends on how you use it
Bank of America has multiple checking accounts, and some carry no monthly fee. The eChecking account is genuinely free — no minimum balance, no direct deposit requirement, no monthly charge. The Advantage SafePass Checking account is also free if you meet one condition: you must receive a direct deposit of at least $250 per month, or maintain a $1,500 minimum balance, or set up a $500 monthly automatic transfer from another account.
The catch is that Bank of America's most common account — Advantage Plus Checking — costs $12 per month unless you meet one of those same conditions (direct deposit, balance, or transfer). Many people open this account by default and then pay the fee because they do not know the free alternatives exist or do not meet the waiver requirements.
The real question is not whether free checking exists at Bank of America. It is whether the free account fits how you actually bank.
Key Takeaways
- eChecking is free with no strings attached — no minimum balance, no direct deposit needed, no monthly fee under any circumstance.
- Advantage SafePass Checking is free only if you receive a direct deposit of $250 or more per month, keep $1,500 in the account, or set up a $500 monthly automatic transfer.
- Advantage Plus Checking costs $12 per month unless you meet one of those same conditions, and it is the account many people open without realizing the fee applies.
- All three accounts include the same core features: debit card, online banking, mobile app, and ATM access to Bank of America's network.
- The difference between accounts is not features — it is the fee structure and what you have to do to avoid paying it.
What eChecking includes and what it does not
eChecking is the simplest option. You get a debit card, online banking, mobile check deposit, and access to Bank of America's ATM network at no cost. There is no monthly maintenance fee, no minimum balance requirement, and no income threshold. You can open it with $25.
What eChecking does not include is some of the perks attached to higher-tier accounts. You will not earn interest on the balance (though Bank of America's interest rates on checking are very low across all accounts). You get a limited number of free transfers and withdrawals from savings accounts each month — six per month, which is a federal limit that applies to most banks. You do not get priority customer service or the ability to waive fees on other products.
For most people who want a checking account and nothing more, eChecking is the answer. You pay nothing, and you get what you need.
How direct deposit, balance, and transfer waivers work
Both Advantage SafePass and Advantage Plus checking waive their monthly fees if you meet one of three conditions. You only need to meet one — not all three.
A direct deposit of $250 or more per month means payroll, Social Security, pension, or other regular income deposited electronically into the account. The $250 is a threshold, not a total — if you receive $300 one month and $200 the next, you have met the requirement in the first month but not the second. Some employers allow you to split direct deposit between accounts, so you could send $250 to this account and the rest elsewhere.
A minimum balance of $1,500 means you must keep that amount in the checking account itself, not in savings. If your balance drops below $1,500 on any day, the fee applies for that month. This is a daily requirement, not an average, so a single large withdrawal can trigger the fee.
A monthly automatic transfer of $500 from another account (yours or someone else's) counts as a waiver. This is less common than direct deposit, but it is an option if you have access to another account and can set up the transfer.
The difference between eChecking and Advantage accounts
The core features are the same across all three accounts: debit card, online banking, mobile app, check deposit, and ATM access. The difference is the fee and what you have to do to avoid it.
| Account | Monthly Fee | How to Waive It | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| eChecking | None | No waiver needed | Anyone who wants no fees, no conditions |
| Advantage SafePass Checking | $12 | Direct deposit $250+, $1,500 balance, or $500 monthly transfer | People who meet one of those conditions and want to avoid eChecking |
| Advantage Plus Checking | $12 | Direct deposit $250+, $1,500 balance, or $500 monthly transfer | People who already have it and meet a waiver condition |
Advantage SafePass and Advantage Plus have identical fee structures and waiver conditions. The difference is that Advantage Plus is the default account many people open, while Advantage SafePass is positioned as an alternative. In practice, if you meet the waiver conditions, either account costs the same. If you do not, eChecking is cheaper.
When you might pay the $12 monthly fee and not realize it
The most common scenario is opening an Advantage Plus account in a branch or online, meeting the initial requirements (like a direct deposit), and then having circumstances change. Your employer stops offering direct deposit. You leave a job. Your Social Security payment changes. Your balance drops below $1,500 because of an unexpected expense. The fee then applies, and many people do not notice it for months because it is a small charge on a monthly statement.
Bank of America does not send a separate notice that the fee is about to explore. You have to monitor whether you still meet the waiver condition. If you do not want to track this, eChecking removes the problem entirely.
Another scenario is opening an account online and not reading which account type you selected. The default is often Advantage Plus, not eChecking. You assume you have free checking, but the fee is being deducted every month.
How to switch from a paid account to eChecking
You can change your account type online through Bank of America's website or mobile app, or by calling customer service at 1-800-432-1000. You do not have to close the account and open a new one — you can convert the existing account to eChecking.
Your account number, debit card, and routing number stay the same. Any automatic payments or direct deposits linked to the old account continue to work. The change takes effect when ready, and the fee stops being charged the next billing cycle.
If you have multiple accounts at Bank of America, you can keep some as Advantage accounts (if you meet the waiver conditions) and convert others to eChecking. There is no penalty for having multiple checking accounts at the same bank.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use eChecking if I get direct deposit?
Yes. eChecking works the same whether you receive direct deposit or not. If you get direct deposit, you can use eChecking and avoid the $12 fee without having to maintain a balance or set up transfers. There is no advantage to choosing an Advantage account if eChecking meets your needs.
What happens if my direct deposit stops?
If you have Advantage SafePass or Advantage Plus and lose direct deposit, the $12 monthly fee applies unless you meet one of the other waiver conditions (maintain $1,500 balance or set up a $500 transfer). If you do not meet any condition, you will be charged the fee starting the next billing cycle. You can switch to eChecking at any time to avoid future fees.
Does Bank of America charge fees for using other banks' ATMs?
Bank of America does not charge you a fee for using its own ATMs. Other banks may charge you a fee for using their ATMs with a Bank of America card — that fee comes from the other bank, not Bank of America. Bank of America is part of the Allpoint network, which offers surcharge-free ATM access at thousands of locations outside Bank of America branches.
Can I have eChecking and an Advantage account at the same time?
Yes. You can open multiple checking accounts at Bank of America. Some people keep eChecking as their main account and an Advantage account for a specific purpose, though there is usually no reason to pay the $12 fee if eChecking does what you need.
Is there a minimum deposit to open eChecking?
Bank of America requires a $25 minimum deposit to open eChecking. You can deposit this amount by check, transfer from another bank, or cash at a branch. Once the account is open, there is no minimum balance requirement.