Huntington Bank does charge monthly fees on most checking accounts, but the amount and whether you pay it depends on which account you open and how you use it
Huntington Bank offers several checking accounts with different fee structures. The most common account, the Huntington Checking account, carries a monthly maintenance fee — but you can waive it by meeting one of several conditions. Other accounts have different fees and different ways to avoid them. The key is understanding which account fits your situation and what you need to do to keep the fee from being charged.
Before you open an account, you should know what the monthly fee is, what it costs to avoid it, and whether that condition is realistic for you. A fee you can't avoid is a real cost. A fee you can easily waive is not.
Key Takeaways
- Huntington Checking has a monthly maintenance fee, but you can waive it by maintaining a minimum balance, setting up direct deposit, or keeping a linked savings account above a certain threshold.
- The specific fee amount and waiver conditions vary, so you should confirm the current terms with Huntington before opening an account, as banks change their policies.
- Some Huntington accounts designed for students or specific customer groups have different fee structures and may have no monthly fee at all.
- If you cannot meet the waiver conditions, the monthly fee will be charged to your account each month unless you close it.
How Huntington's monthly fee waiver works
Huntington typically waives the monthly checking fee if you meet at least one of these conditions: maintain a minimum daily balance in your checking account, have a direct deposit set up, or keep a linked savings account above a minimum balance. The exact dollar amounts for these thresholds change over time and may differ based on your location or the specific account product.
The direct deposit route is often the easiest if you receive a paycheck. You do not need to maintain any balance — the direct deposit alone waives the fee. If you do not receive regular direct deposits, the balance requirement is the alternative, though it ties up money you might otherwise spend or save elsewhere.
You should contact Huntington directly or check their website to confirm the current fee amount and the exact balance or direct deposit requirement for the account you are considering. These details are not standardized across all banks and change periodically.
What happens if you do not meet the waiver conditions
If you open a Huntington Checking account and do not meet any of the waiver conditions, the monthly maintenance fee will be deducted from your account each month. This happens automatically — you do not have to do anything for the fee to be charged. Over a year, even a small monthly fee adds up.
Some people discover the fee only after several months when they review their statements. If this happens to you, you can contact Huntington and ask them to refund recent fees, though they are not required to do so. The better approach is to confirm the fee structure before you open the account and decide whether you can meet the waiver conditions.
Student and special accounts with different fee structures
Huntington offers accounts designed for students and young adults that may have different monthly fees or no monthly fee at all. These accounts typically have lower balance requirements and are meant for people just starting out with banking. If you are a student or under a certain age, ask whether one of these accounts is available to you.
Huntington also periodically runs promotions that waive fees for new customers for a limited time. These are worth asking about when you visit a branch or call, though you should not count on a promotion being available when you need to open an account.
Comparing the fee to other banks
Many banks charge monthly checking fees, but the amount and the waiver conditions vary widely. Some banks waive fees only with direct deposit. Others waive them with a minimum balance. Still others charge no monthly fee at all, though they may charge fees for other services like overdrafts or out-of-network ATM use.
If Huntington's fee structure does not work for you, it is worth comparing what other banks in your area offer. A bank with no monthly fee might be a better fit, even if Huntington has a branch near you. The fee you pay every month is real money that could go toward savings or other needs.
How to confirm the current fee before opening an account
The best way to know what you will actually pay is to ask directly. Visit a Huntington branch, call their customer service line, or check their website for the current fee schedule. When you ask, specify which checking account you are interested in and ask for the monthly fee amount and all the ways to waive it.
Write down the information or take a screenshot so you have it in writing. This protects you if there is confusion later about what you were told. If you open the account online, the fee information should appear before you confirm, so read it carefully.
What to do if you are charged a fee you did not expect
If you see a monthly maintenance fee on your statement that you did not know about, contact Huntington as soon as you notice it. Explain that you were not aware of the fee and ask whether they can refund it. Some banks will refund one or two months of fees as a courtesy, especially if you are a new customer.
If the fee continues to appear and you do not want to pay it, you have the option to close the account and move your money to a bank with a fee structure that works better for you. There is no penalty for closing a checking account, though you should make sure any automatic payments or direct deposits are moved to your new account first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I avoid the Huntington checking fee without direct deposit or a minimum balance?
The main waiver options are direct deposit, minimum balance, or a linked savings account above a threshold. If none of these work for you, you would likely be charged the monthly fee. Some promotional accounts or student accounts may have different terms, so ask Huntington whether any other options exist for your situation.
Does the fee explore if I keep my account open but do not use it?
Yes. The monthly maintenance fee is charged based on the account type and whether you meet the waiver conditions, not on how often you use the account. An inactive account that does not meet the waiver conditions will still be charged the monthly fee.
What is the minimum balance needed to waive the fee?
The exact amount changes and may vary by location. You need to contact Huntington directly to find out the current requirement. It is typically several hundred dollars, but you should confirm before opening the account so you know whether it is realistic for you to maintain.
If I set up direct deposit, do I need to keep a minimum balance too?
No. Direct deposit alone is usually enough to waive the monthly fee. You do not need to maintain any specific balance if you have an active direct deposit set up. However, confirm this with Huntington before opening the account.
Can I switch to a different Huntington checking account to avoid the fee?
Possibly. Huntington offers different checking products, and some may have lower fees or different waiver conditions. Contact Huntington to ask whether you can switch accounts and what the fee structure would be for the new account.