Bank of America offers free checking, but the account you get depends on how you bank

Bank of America has free checking accounts, but they come in different versions. The eChecking account is genuinely free with no monthly fee and no minimum balance. The Advantage SafePass Checking account is also free. However, if you want the main consumer checking account — Advantage Plus Checking — it costs $12 per month unless you meet one of several ways to waive the fee.

The difference matters because the free accounts have limits that the paid account does not. Understanding which account fits your banking pattern takes a few minutes and saves you money or frustration later.

Key Takeaways

  • eChecking is free with no monthly fee, no minimum balance, and no income requirements, but it has no debit card and limited branch access for deposits.
  • Advantage SafePass Checking is free and includes a debit card, but it restricts how many times per month you can withdraw cash or make transfers.
  • Advantage Plus Checking costs $12 monthly but has no withdrawal limits; you can waive the fee by keeping $1,500 in the account, setting up direct deposit, or maintaining a linked savings account with $300.
  • Bank of America counts a linked savings account balance toward the $1,500 threshold, so you do not need $1,500 in checking alone.
  • The fee waiver options reset monthly, so you only need to meet one condition during that month to avoid the charge.

eChecking: truly free, but designed for light users

eChecking has no monthly fee, no minimum balance requirement, and no income threshold. You can hold the account indefinitely without using it. Bank of America does not charge you to open it or close it.

The trade-off is practical rather than punitive. You do not get a debit card. You can deposit checks by mail or through the mobile app, but you cannot deposit cash at a Bank of America branch — you would need to use an ATM or transfer from another account. You get online and mobile banking, bill pay, and access to Bank of America's ATM network.

eChecking works best if you receive paychecks by direct deposit, pay most bills online, and rarely need to deposit cash. If you need a debit card or make frequent cash deposits, one of the other accounts is more practical.

Advantage SafePass Checking: free with a debit card and transaction limits

Advantage SafePass Checking is free with no monthly fee and no minimum balance. It includes a debit card, which eChecking does not. You can deposit checks at branches and through the app, and you can deposit cash at ATMs.

The restriction is on how often you can move money out. You get six free withdrawals, transfers, or cash advances per month. After six, Bank of America charges $10 for each additional transaction. This limit applies to ATM withdrawals, debit card purchases, transfers to other accounts, and checks you write — they all count toward the same six.

This account is free because it discourages frequent transactions. If you use your debit card multiple times a week or write many checks, you will hit the limit and pay fees. If you use cash sparingly and keep most money in the account, the limit does not affect you.

Advantage Plus Checking: paid account with no limits, but multiple ways to waive the fee

Advantage Plus Checking costs $12 per month. It has no transaction limits, no minimum balance, and includes a debit card. You can withdraw and transfer as often as you want without hitting a fee threshold.

Bank of America waives the $12 fee if you meet any one of these conditions during the month:

  • Keep a balance of $1,500 or more in the checking account itself, or in a linked Bank of America savings account, or split between both.
  • Set up a direct deposit of any amount to the account.
  • Maintain a linked Bank of America savings account with a balance of $300 or more.

The key word is "linked." If you have a savings account at Bank of America, its balance counts toward the $1,500 threshold. You do not need $1,500 in checking alone. Many people waive the fee by keeping $300 in savings and $1,200 in checking, or by setting up direct deposit from their employer.

The fee resets each month. You only need to meet one condition during that calendar month to avoid the charge. If your balance drops below $1,500 on the 25th but you receive a direct deposit on the 28th, you still avoid the fee for that month.

How to choose between the three accounts

Start with how you actually use money. If you receive a paycheck by direct deposit and rarely need cash, eChecking works and costs nothing. If you need a debit card but do not use it often, Advantage SafePass Checking is free as long as you stay under six transactions per month.

If you use your debit card regularly, write checks frequently, or withdraw cash multiple times a week, Advantage Plus Checking is cheaper than paying $10 per transaction over the limit. The $12 monthly fee is a fixed cost; the per-transaction fees add up quickly.

If you already have a Bank of America savings account, Advantage Plus Checking becomes free if you keep $300 in savings. Many people do this without thinking about it — they have savings sitting there anyway, and the checking account fee disappears.

What Bank of America does not charge for

Bank of America does not charge to open any of these accounts, close them, or transfer between them. There is no fee to link accounts or to set up direct deposit. ATM withdrawals at Bank of America machines are free for all three accounts.

The bank does charge for some services: overdraft fees, wire transfers, cashier's checks, and stop payments all have fees. But the checking account itself — the monthly cost — is what varies between the three options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I switch from one account to another if I change how I bank?

Yes. You can close one account and open another, or Bank of America can convert your existing account to a different type. Call a branch or visit online to make the change. There is no fee to switch, and you keep the same account number if you convert rather than close and reopen.

Does a direct deposit have to be from my employer?

No. Bank of America counts any recurring direct deposit — from an employer, government benefit, or another source — as meeting the fee waiver condition for Advantage Plus Checking. A single direct deposit in a month is enough; it does not have to be regular.

If I have a linked savings account, do I need to keep $1,500 total or $1,500 in each account?

You need $1,500 total across both accounts combined. If your savings account has $800 and checking has $700, the combined $1,500 waives the fee. The balance can be split any way between the two accounts.

What happens if my balance drops below $1,500 mid-month?

The fee waiver is based on your balance at the end of the month. If you drop below $1,500 on the 20th but climb back above it by the 30th, the fee is waived. If you stay below $1,500 for the entire month and do not meet another waiver condition, you pay the $12 fee.

Does Bank of America charge a fee to use another bank's ATM?

Bank of America does not charge you a fee, but the other bank's ATM may charge a surcharge. Bank of America reimburses ATM fees charged by other banks if you have Advantage Plus Checking; eChecking and Advantage SafePass do not include this benefit.