Banks don’t market checking accounts to older adults at quite the same rate as to students, small-business owners, or general audiences looking for free checking options insured by the FDIC — which covers pretty much everyone, to be fair.
But senior-friendly checking accounts do exist, and they’re more common than you might imagine. Look no farther than the checking accounts on this list, backed by some of the best banks for seniors around. All are either free of monthly maintenance fees for all account holders or have easy-to-attain maintenance fee waivers.
Best Checking Accounts for Seniors
A few of the top FDIC-insured checking accounts for seniors are age-restricted, meaning they’re not open to applicants who don’t meet the sponsor bank’s definition of “senior.”
Others are not age-restricted but either offer perks specifically for seniors or simply provide a favorable mix of features and benefits (such as high-interest yields) for older account holders.
1. Axos Bank Golden Checking
0.20% APY on All Balances With Virtually No Fees
Axos Bank Golden Checking is a virtually fee-free high-yield checking account for people age 55 and older. Its upsides include a solid yield on all balances, a low minimum opening deposit requirement, and no ongoing monthly balance requirement.
Switching is easy for new account holders thanks to Axos Bank’s No-Hassle Switch Kit — a step-by-step checklist that makes sense of the transition and ensures nothing falls through the cracks.
And, if you’re in the market for a one-stop financial shop, don’t miss Axos Bank’s consumer-friendly savings account and CD options.
- Minimum Balance Requirements: There’s no minimum monthly balance requirement. The minimum balance to open the account is $50.
- Account Opening Bonus: None.
- Yield: This account yields 0.20% APY on all balances. Yields are subject to change with prevailing rates.
- Rewards and Incentives: Enjoy up to $8 in monthly ATM fee reimbursements, free personal checks, and free mobile check deposit.
- Possible Fees: This account has no monthly maintenance fee (monthly service fee) and virtually no ongoing fees.
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2. BBVA Online Checking
Access to BBVA’s ClearBenefits Program for an Additional $4 Per Month
The BBVA Online Checking account is a maintenance-fee-free online bank account available to most Americans, including those who don’t live within BBVA’s Sun Belt branch network. That’s great news for retirees and working seniors interested in online banking, no matter where they call home.
Beyond no monthly maintenance fee and no ongoing balance requirement, BBVA Online Checking stands out from other free checking accounts due to BBVA’s ClearBenefits program, which promises premium identity theft restoration and insurance coverage — plus other potentially valuable perks — for a small monthly fee.
All told, BBVA is one of the best banks for young folks and older customers alike.
- Minimum Balance Requirements: There’s no ongoing balance requirement. The minimum opening deposit is $25.
- Account Opening Bonus: See BBVA’s website for potential bonus opportunities.
- Yield: None.
- Rewards and Incentives: Enroll in the BBVA ClearBenefits Program to take advantage of benefits like identity theft restoration and insurance, cellphone protection (less a small deductible), and other potentially valuable services. The monthly fee is $4 — significantly less than the out-of-pocket cost for most premium identity theft protection services and electronics insurance policies. Plus, enjoy no ATM fees at more than 64,000 machines in BBVA’s extended network and deposit checks on the go with a handy mobile check deposit app.
- Possible Fees: Overdraft protection typically involves fees. See BBVA’s Online Checking disclosures for more detail.
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Member FDIC.
3. BB&T Bank Senior Checking
Free Personal Checks and One Penalty-Free CD Withdrawal for Medical Emergencies
BB&T Bank Senior Checking is an age-restricted checking account for Americans age 55 or older living across a broad swathe of the eastern United States. With an easily attainable monthly maintenance fee waiver and a host of digital perks for on-the-go account holders, it’s the ideal choice for seniors who’d be perfectly happy never to set foot in a bank branch again.
Avoid the $10 monthly maintenance fee each statement cycle by receiving at least $500 in combined direct deposits or maintaining a $1,000 average minimum daily balance.
- Minimum Balance Requirements: There’s no ongoing balance requirement, although a minimum daily balance of $1,000 gets the $10 monthly maintenance fee waived. The minimum opening deposit is $100.
- Account Opening Bonus: None.
- Yield: None.
- Rewards and Incentives: Senior Checking account holders enjoy one penalty-free early CD withdrawal for documented medical emergencies — a potentially invaluable perk should an unforeseen illness or injury strike. Other benefits include free mobile check deposit and digital money transfers with Zelle.
- Possible Fees: See BB&T’s fee disclosures for a complete accounting of possible fees for this deposit account.
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4. U.S. Bank Easy Checking
No Monthly Maintenance Fee for Account Holders Over Age 65
U.S. Bank Easy Checking is a senior-friendly checking account that waives monthly maintenance fees for any account holder over age 65, regardless of balance or cash flow. Otherwise, it’s a fairly basic account for older Americans not looking for anything fancy. Standard features include a complimentary debit card and online and mobile bill pay and check deposit.
- Minimum Balance Requirements: There’s no ongoing account balance requirement for account holders over age 65. The minimum opening deposit is $25.
- Account Opening Bonus: None.
- Yield: None.
- Rewards and Incentives: Enjoy free mobile check deposit.
- Possible Fees: See U.S. Bank’s Easy Checking snapshot for a complete accounting of common fees.
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5. TD Bank 60 Plus Checking
Nominal Yield on All Balances
TD Bank 60 Plus Checking is an age-restricted account for Americans over age 60. Like the BB&T Bank Senior Checking, TD Bank 60 Plus Checking is available primarily in the eastern half of the United States, so be sure to check that you’re eligible before applying.
Notable benefits here include a nominal yield on all balances, free personal checks, and discounts on home equity products and personal loans.
- Minimum Balance Requirements: There’s no minimum opening deposit required, but the minimum daily account balance required to waive the $10 monthly maintenance fee is $250.
- Account Opening Bonus: None.
- Yield: This account yields 0.01% APY on all balances, subject to change by account holder location and prevailing interest rates.
- Rewards and Incentives: Enjoy a 0.25% interest rate discount on eligible TD Bank home equity lines of credit, no ATM fees at TD Bank ATMs, and free standard personal checks and bank checks.
- Possible Fees: This account has few fees, but overdraft protection generally does involve costs. See TD Bank’s account overview for more on possible fees.
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Final Word
Mainstream money management won’t ever be off-limits to older Americans, of course. If you’re happy with your current bank or credit union and none of the checking options on this list excite you, you can keep your money where it is as long as you’d like.
You’re also free to move your money to another high-yield checking or savings account not listed here, explicitly senior-friendly or otherwise — like one of these leading rewards checking accounts.
Still, it’s surely nice to know that some banks and credit unions do prioritize older Americans’ unique financial needs. Financial institutions should recognize just how much work their older customers have put in to get where they are — whether that’s enjoying a comfortable retirement, preparing a graceful exit from the workforce, or gearing up for the next great career challenge.
Source: moneycrashers.com