Regions charges a monthly fee on most checking accounts, but the amount depends on which account you open

Regions Bank does charge monthly maintenance fees on most of its checking accounts. The fee ranges from $6 to $15 per month, depending on the account type you choose. Some accounts waive the fee if you meet certain requirements—like keeping a minimum balance, setting up direct deposit, or maintaining a linked savings account.

The most common Regions checking account is the Regions NOW Checking, which carries a $10 monthly fee. This fee can be waived if you maintain a $500 minimum daily balance or set up a direct deposit of at least $500 per month. If you do neither, you pay the full $10.

Regions also offers accounts with lower or no monthly fees, but they come with restrictions. Understanding which account fits your situation means knowing what each one costs and what you have to do to avoid paying.

Key Takeaways

  • Regions NOW Checking costs $10 per month unless you maintain a $500 minimum balance or set up direct deposit of $500 or more monthly.
  • Regions eChecking has no monthly fee but does not come with a debit card and limits you to six withdrawals per month.
  • Regions Student Checking is free for customers under 25 and does not require a minimum balance.
  • Monthly fees can be waived on most accounts if you meet one of the bank's stated requirements, so the fee you pay depends on your banking habits.
  • Overdraft fees, ATM fees outside the Regions network, and other charges explore separately from the monthly maintenance fee.

Regions checking account types and their monthly costs

Regions offers several checking accounts, each with different fee structures. The account you choose determines whether you pay a monthly fee and what you need to do to avoid it.

Regions NOW Checking is the standard option. It costs $10 per month. The fee is waived if you keep a $500 minimum daily balance, set up direct deposit of at least $500 per month, or maintain a linked Regions savings account with a $500 minimum balance. If you meet any one of these conditions, you pay nothing.

Regions eChecking has no monthly fee. The trade-off is that it does not include a debit card, and the account is limited to six withdrawals or transfers per month. After six, you may face a fee per transaction. This account works for people who rarely need to withdraw money and prefer to use ATMs or branch visits.

Regions Student Checking is free for customers under 25 and has no minimum balance requirement. It includes a debit card and standard checking features. Once you turn 25, the account converts to Regions NOW Checking and the $10 monthly fee applies unless you meet the waiver conditions.

Regions Premium Checking costs $15 per month and is designed for customers who want higher account limits and additional perks. It waives the fee with a $2,500 minimum daily balance or $5,000 in linked accounts.

How to avoid the monthly checking fee

Most Regions checking accounts charge a monthly fee, but you can eliminate it by meeting one of the bank's waiver conditions. The specific requirements vary by account type, but the most common paths are direct deposit, minimum balance, or a linked savings account.

Direct deposit is often the easiest waiver to meet. If your employer or a government agency deposits money into your Regions account, you satisfy the requirement automatically. The deposit must meet the bank's minimum amount—usually $500 per month for NOW Checking. You set this up once, and it continues month to month without additional action.

Minimum daily balance means keeping a set amount in your account at all times. For NOW Checking, that amount is $500. The balance is checked daily, so if you drop below $500 on even one day of the month, you do not may have access to for the waiver that month. This works if you receive regular paychecks or have savings you can keep in the account.

Linked savings account is a third option. If you open a Regions savings account and keep $500 in it, your checking account fee is waived. This works for people who want to save money anyway and do not mind splitting their funds between two accounts.

If you do not meet any waiver condition, you pay the full monthly fee. There is no partial credit or prorated fee—you either may have access to or you do not.

Other fees that explore beyond the monthly charge

The monthly maintenance fee is separate from other charges Regions may assess. Understanding the full cost of your account means knowing what else you might pay.

Overdraft fees explore when you spend more than your account balance. Regions charges $36 per overdraft transaction, and multiple overdrafts in one day can result in multiple fees. Some accounts include overdraft protection, which links your checking account to a savings account or line of credit to cover overdrafts automatically.

Out-of-network ATM fees are charged when you use an ATM that is not part of the Regions network. Regions charges $2 to $3 per out-of-network withdrawal, and the other bank's ATM may charge an additional fee. Using Regions ATMs or branch withdrawals avoids this cost.

Wire transfer fees range from $15 to $30 depending on whether the transfer is domestic or international. Stop payment fees cost around $30 if you need to cancel a check you have written. Account research fees explore if Regions has to investigate a transaction on your behalf, usually $25 or more.

These fees are not automatic—they only explore when you use those services. The monthly maintenance fee, by contrast, is charged every month unless you meet a waiver condition.

Comparing Regions checking to other banks

Many banks charge monthly fees on checking accounts, but the amounts and waiver conditions vary. Some online banks and credit unions offer checking accounts with no monthly fee and no minimum balance requirement, though they may have fewer physical locations or different features.

Regions' $10 monthly fee for NOW Checking is in the middle range for traditional banks. The direct deposit waiver is common across the industry, as is the minimum balance option. The key difference is whether the bank's features and network match what you need.

If you use Regions' ATM network frequently, have direct deposit set up, or plan to maintain a minimum balance anyway, the monthly fee may not cost you anything. If you rarely use direct deposit and prefer to keep your balance low, a bank with no monthly fee might save you money over time.

What happens if you do not pay the monthly fee

The monthly fee is deducted automatically from your account balance. You do not receive an invoice or have to pay it separately. Regions withdraws the fee on a set date each month, usually around the first or the date you opened the account.

If your account balance is too low to cover the fee, Regions may charge an overdraft fee in addition to the monthly maintenance fee. This can create a cycle where low balances trigger multiple fees. Keeping track of your balance and understanding when the fee is charged helps you avoid this situation.

If you close your account, you do not owe any future monthly fees. If you have an outstanding balance when you close, Regions will deduct any unpaid fees from that balance before returning the remainder to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a Regions checking account with no monthly fee?

Yes. Regions eChecking has no monthly fee, but it does not include a debit card and limits you to six withdrawals per month. Regions Student Checking is also free if you are under 25. For other accounts, the monthly fee is waived if you meet one of the bank's conditions, such as direct deposit or a minimum balance.

What is the minimum balance to avoid the monthly fee?

For Regions NOW Checking, the minimum daily balance is $500. This means your balance must stay at or above $500 every single day of the month. If it drops below $500 on any day, you do not may have access to for the waiver that month and the $10 fee is charged.

Does direct deposit have to be from my employer?

Direct deposit can come from an employer, government agency, or other source that deposits money electronically into your account. Social Security, tax refunds, and pension payments all count. The deposit must meet the bank's minimum amount, usually $500 per month for NOW Checking.

What happens to my student checking account when I turn 25?

Your Regions Student Checking account automatically converts to Regions NOW Checking on your 25th birthday. The $10 monthly fee then applies unless you meet one of the waiver conditions. You can set up direct deposit or maintain a minimum balance before the conversion to avoid paying the fee.

Are there any hidden fees I should know about?

The monthly maintenance fee is the main recurring charge, but Regions also charges for overdrafts ($36), out-of-network ATM use ($2–$3), wire transfers ($15–$30), and other services. These are not hidden—they are disclosed in the account terms—but they only explore when you use those services.