Find the Best Bank for Your Bucks
Here are the most affordable checking account options at selected area banks. Remember that most banks offer a variety of checking account options, and the one listed here may not be best for you.
| Name of Bank | # of Branches/ ATMs* |
Checking account info |
|---|---|---|
| Atlantic States Bank 1-800-273-4732 |
25 | Free Checking: $50 minimum opening deposit. Unlimited checking; No minimum balance and no monthly service charges. |
| Bank of America 1-800-678-2632 |
181 | MyAccess Checking: $100 opening deposit; $5.95 per month (waived with direct deposit). No minimum balance. Unlimited check writing. Limit 3 teller transactions per statement cycle. |
| Fidelity National 404-248-5466 |
20 | No Fee Checking With Direct Deposit: $100 opening deposit; No minimum balance. Unlimited check writing. |
| National Bank of Commerce 1-888-622-2265 |
22 | Free checking: $25 opening deposit; No minimum balance requirement or maintenance fee. Unlimited check writing. |
| Regions Bank 1-800-734-4667 |
41 | Regions E-ssential Banking: $100 minimum opening deposit. Up to three free teller-assisted transactions per month. $5.95 monthly fee (waived with direct deposit). |
| SouthTrust 1-800-225-5782 |
70 | SouthTrust Direct Checking: $100 opening deposit; $5 monthly fee (waived with direct deposit). 10 free checks per month. $5 service fee + $0.25 per item charge for each check over 10. $2 to return cancelled checks. |
| SunTrust 1-800-279-4824 |
147 | Economy checking: $25 opening deposit. 5 free checks per month; $0.50 per check afterwards. $5 monthly fee. No minimum balance. |
| Wachovia 1-800-275-3862 |
186 | Express Access Checking: $100 opening deposit; $2 monthly fee (waived with direct deposit); 2 free teller-assisted transactions per statement cycle ($2 each thereafter). No minimum balance requirement. |
| Washington Mutual 1-800-788-7000 |
21 | Free Checking: $1 opening deposit (plus check printing fees). No monthly fee, no minimum balance. Free teller access. Unlimited check writing. (With $5 plus package add-on, checks are included). |
NOTES: *Featured banks have at least 20 branches in the metro Atlanta area. Bank branch information was gathered from the FDIC web site. The FDIC also provides a complete list of banks and branches in the state.
Fee information was gathered from each bank's web site and/or from calling their customer service number, and is believed to be accurate as of 12/31/2002. There may, however, be other fees associated with each account; be sure to read the disclosure and fee information from each bank before opening an account.
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