U.S. Bank could be a good option if you live in the Midwest or West Coast and want to open a checking account at a national bank.
But keep in mind the U.S. Bank Safe Debit account doesn't waive monthly service fees, and U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking (Member FDIC) has a monthly service fee if you do not meet certain requirements.
U.S. Bank Checking Account Options
U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking
You might prefer U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking if you want access to paper checks or would like a checking account that makes it possible to waive monthly service fees and overdraft fees.
U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking automatically waives the monthly service fee if you're a member of the military, under the age of 24, or over the age of 65. You can also waive the monthly service fee if you meet certain requirements each month. U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking notably has several ways to avoid overdraft fees, including free overdraft protection that lets you link your checking account to a savings account.
You can also get free access to a Greenlight Account and a Greenlight Prepaid Debit Card with a U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking, which could be helpful if you want access to one of the best debit cards for teens.
You'll get access to the Greenlight Select plan, which normally costs around $5 per month. The Select plan is only available through partners like U.S. Bank, but it's similar to the Greenlight Core plan we talked about in our Greenlight debit card review.
U.S. Bank Safe Debit account
The U.S. Bank Safe Debit account might be a decent option if you prioritize avoiding overdraft fees and don't need paper checks. However, there's a $4.95 monthly service fee that can't be waived.
U.S. Bank Checking Accounts Summary
| U.S. Bank Safe Debit account | U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking | |
| Minimum opening deposit | $25 | $25 |
| Interest earned | None | See site for details |
| Monthly service fee | $4.95 monthly service fee (cannot be waived) | $6.95 monthly service fee |
| How to waive the monthly service fee | Not eligible to waive monthly service fees | No monthly service fee if you:
If you aren't part of these groups, you must do one of the following each month to avoid the fee:
|
| Out-of-network ATM fee | $2.50 per transaction | $2.50 per transaction |
| Overdraft fee | No overdraft fees | $36 |
| How to avoid overdraft fees | Can't overdraw from account (may deny debit card usage or withdrawals) |
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| Additional features to note |
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| Cash bonus for new customers | None | up to $450 when you open a new U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking account and complete qualifying activities (offer valid through April 17, 2025) |
| Start Banking | Start Banking |
U.S. Bank Checking Key Features and Benefits
National Branch and ATM Presence
U.S. Bank has a robust national presence, with over 2,200 branches in 26 states and 4,500 ATMs throughout the U.S. It repeatedly makes our list of the best banks, as the best national bank in the Midwest and West Coast.
Low Minimum Opening Deposits
U.S. Bank checking accounts have a $25 minimum opening deposit. This is a low minimum opening deposit compared to other financial institutions. You might see banks that require $100 or more to open a checking account.
Multiple Methods of Overdraft Protection
U.S. Bank has multiple ways to waive overdraft fees.
Firstly, you could open the U.S. Bank Safe Debit account and avoid overdraft fees entirely. This account doesn't let you overdraw from your checking balance. If you make a debit card purchase or ATM withdrawal that would result in a negative checking balance, your transaction is declined.
U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking also has several overdraft protection programs. For example, you could link your checking account to another bank account. If you overdraw from your checking balance, money can be transferred from your other bank account without fees.
Another overdraft option is the Overdraft Fee Forgiven Program. The way it works is that if you overdraw from your checking balance by more than $50, you have until 11 p.m. ET of the day you were charged the overdraft fee to restore your account balance, and U.S. Bank will waive overdraft fees.
Keep in mind that the best banks for avoiding overdrafts have eliminated overdraft fees or reduced overdraft fees to under $5.
Federal Insurance
U.S. Bank is a federally insured financial institution. You can have up to $250,000 per depositor per account ownership category in a U.S. Bank account, which will be protected by the FDIC.
If a bank fails, the FDIC will make sure you have access to your insured deposits after the shutdown. Money is usually moved to a new FDIC-insured bank after it acquires the failed bank's assets. However, if the FDIC cannot find a new financial institution to acquire assets, the money will be sent to your home in the form of a check.
U.S. Bank Checking Fees and Charges
Monthly Maintenance Fees
U.S. Bank does not have a free checking account. Both U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking and the U.S. Bank Safe Debit account have monthly service fees.
The U.S. Bank Safe Debit account monthly service fee is slightly lower than U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking. However, you can't waive monthly service fees on the U.S. Bank Safe Debit account. U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking offers several ways to waive monthly service fees, so in many situations, it's a better option overall.
Overdraft Fees
U.S. Bank charges a $36 overdraft fee, but there are ways to avoid this fee. If you get the U.S. Bank Safe Debit account, you won't have to worry about overdraft fees at all. This bank account declines transactions that would result in overdrafts. If you get U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking, there are also multiple ways to waive overdraft fees.
ATM Fees
If you use an in-network ATM, there aren't any fees. If you use an out-of-network ATM, U.S. Bank charges a $2.50 fee for each transaction. The national bank offers out-of-network ATM fee waivers for U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking if you are part of select age groups or reach Primary, Plus, Premium, or Pinnacle status in the U.S. Bank Smart Rewards Program.
U.S. Bank Checking Digital Banking Experience
U.S. Bank's digital banking experience has lackluster customer satisfaction ratings. According to two 2023 J.D. Power studies, U.S. Bank was ranked below the study average for both online banking and mobile banking.
That said, the bank's mobile app has overall good ratings in the Apple and Google Play store. It's received 4.7 out of 5 stars in the Google Play store and 4.8 out of 5 stars in the Google Pay store.
U.S. Bank Additional Banking Services
Similar to other brick-and-mortar banks, one of U.S. Bank strengths is that it has a variety of banking services and products.
You can choose to do all your banking with U.S. Bank and open a checking account, savings account, money market, and/ or CD. U.S. Bank has business bank accounts, too, including three business checking accounts.
If you're interested in lending products, U.S. Bank has personal loans and mortgages. There are also numerous U.S. Bank credit cards and a robo-advisor called Automated Investor.
Opening a U.S. Bank Checking Account
You can open a U.S. Bank checking account online or at a branch. You must provide your Social Security number and U.S. government-issued ID, like a driver's license or passport. You may use a Mexican Matricula Consular as a primary ID, but if you use an alternative form of ID, you must open a bank account at a branch.
You will need at least $25 to open a checking account.
U.S. Bank Customer Service
U.S. Bank has 24/7 customer support for general banking by phone. You can also visit a nearby branch and schedule an appointment online. Hours vary by location, but generally, you'll find lobbies open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays in your respective time zone.
U.S. Bank Checking Account Alternatives
U.S. Bank Checking Accounts vs. Chase Checking Accounts
There are various Chase checking accounts, including checking accounts specifically suited for teens and college students. Meanwhile, U.S. Bank only has two checking accounts options, but the fees can be waived if you meet certain age requirements.
If you compare Chase Total Checking with U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking, minute differences between these accounts may help determine which one is a better option for you.
Chase Total Checking has a $12 monthly service fee, while U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking has a $6.95 monthly service fee.
To waive the monthly service fee for Chase Total Checking, you must receive $500 or more in direct deposits each month, have a daily account balance of $1,500 or more, or an average account balance of $5,000 or more between your checking accounts and any linked Chase accounts.
Meanwhile, U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking waives the monthly service fee if you meet certain group requirements, make combined direct deposits totaling $1,000 or more each month, maintain an average account balance of $1,500 or more each month, or own an eligible U.S. Bank credit card.
U.S. Bank Checking Accounts vs. Wells Fargo Checking Accounts
There are four Wells Fargo checking accounts, including a checkless bank account similar to the U.S. Bank Safe Debit account.
When looking at each bank's standard checking account options — U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking and the Wells Fargo Everyday Checking Account — you'll want to pay close attention to how you can avoid monthly service fees and overdraft fees. This could help with narrowing down the more appealing option.
The U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking has a lower monthly service fee than the Wells Fargo Everyday Checking Account. However, it's slightly easier to waive monthly service fees on Wells Fargo Everyday Checking Account than U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking.
To waive the fee at Wells Fargo, you need to maintain a $500 minimum daily balance, receive a total of $500 or more in direct deposits, or have a linked Wells Fargo Campus ATM card or Debit Card. If you're between the age of 17 and 24 you'll also be able to automatically waive monthly service fees on Wells Fargo Everyday Checking Account.
Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed U.S. Bank Checking Accounts
We used our checking account methodology to review the two U.S. Bank checking accounts. At Business Insider, we have a scale of one to five stars for our overall rating.
We compare and contrast the features and fine print of various products to help determine if the account may be right for you. Our checking methodology, specifically, takes into account the minimum opening deposit, monthly service fees, overdraft protection options, ATM network/fees, customer support availability, mobile app ratings, miscellaneous features, and ethics and security of a company.
U.S. Bank Checking FAQs
A U.S. Bank checking account may be a good option if you prefer traditional banking to online-only banking and qualify for U.S. Bank Smart Rewards. Generally, if you maintain a certain account balance, you could get perks like waivers for out-of-network ATM fees and an annual fee discount on HELOCs.
The U.S. Bank Safe Debit account does not let you waive the monthly service fee. You must pay a $4.95 monthly service fee. U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking offers several ways to waive the $6.95 monthly service fee. The fee is waived if you're part of select age groups, a member of the military, have an average account balance of $1,500 or more, have a U.S. Bank consumer credit card, or receive combined monthly direct deposits totaling $1,000 or more.
U.S. Bank Gold and Platinum Checking accounts are no longer available. There's a Safe Debit Account that helps you avoid overdraft fees and a standard checking account called Smartly Checking.
U.S. Bank supports Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, PayPal, Fitbit Pay, and Garmin Pay. You can add a card through the U.S. Bank mobile app. The financial institution also has 24/7 fraud protection for digital wallets.
U.S. Bank is similar to online-only banks in that its checking accounts have low minimum opening deposits, a robust ATM network, and multiple overdraft protection methods. That said, you might still prefer an online-only bank if you're looking for a free checking account (a checking account that has zero monthly service fees) or a high-yield checking account.
