Top 11 Banks for College Students

Between attending classes, joining clubs and pledging fraternities and sororities, college students across the country are wondering, “Hmm. Where should I bank?”

Okay, maybe picking a bank is not so high on their to-do list, but it should be. As we know, credit unions and community banks offer some of the best and lowest fees around. And now the folks at MoneyRates.com have helped make the process a bit easier with their new list of the Best Checking Accounts for College Students.

1. Bank of the Commonwealth Student/Senior Citizen Checking

For students located in Virginia and Northeastern North Carolina locations, Bank of the Commonwealth requires a minimum $50 to open an account but after that you have virtually no other fees, except for the $2.00 out of network ATM fee.

2. Cathay Bank College Checking

Servicing the residents of California, Illinois, Massachussetts, New Jersey, New York, Texas and Washington, Cathay Bank charges a mere minimum initial deposit is $10. After that checking account holders receive free bill pay, free online banking and all incoming wire fees are waived.

3. Fifth Third Bank Student Checking

No minimum balance required and no monthly service fees. Plus, Fifth Third Bank gives 5 free non-Fifth Third ATM transactions each month.

4. First Bank of Colorado Student Package

Students in Colorado may want to check out First Bank’s Free Checking and Free Regular Savings package for students. It has no minimum balance and no monthly service charge for the first five years.

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5. M&T Bank College Checking

There’s no minimum balance requirement, no monthly service fee and free access to up to 4 non-M&T ATM transactions per month. M&T Bank account holders also receive free incoming foreign and domestic wire transfers.

6. Regions Bank LifeGreen Checking for Students

Initial deposit to open the account is $50. If you have a LifeGreen Checking Account for Students are 25 years old or under, your monthly fee will be waived. You also receive free online and mobile banking services.

7. Sovereign Bank Student Checking

College students in Northeastern states can take advantage of Sovereign Bank Student Checking accounts, which have no minimum balance requirement, no monthly fee and free one-way deposit transfers from a parent’s account. Your first order of checks is also free of charge.

8. Susquehanna Bank Student Checking

Available to students enrolled in an educational institution, Susquehanna Bank Student Checking has no minimum daily balance requirement and no monthly maintenance fee. Customers also benefit from unlimited check writing.

9. TD Bank TD Student

For full-time students between 18 and 25, TD Bank’s TD Student checking account offers no monthly maintenance fee or minimum daily balance requirement. Your first order of checks free is free. You also get one overdraft fee automatically refunded per academic year (September-August). But of course, if you opt out of overdraft protection, you never have to worry about fees!

10. US Bank Student Checking

US Bank Student Checking account holders need a minimum $25 deposit. After that, they pay no monthly maintenance fee. They also receive 4 free non-U.S. Bank ATM transactions per statement cycle and a free first round of bank checks.

11. Valley National Bank Student Reward Checking

Student customers at Valley National Bank need no minimum opening balance $25 and pay no monthly service fee. There are also no ATM fees at Valley ATMs; at non-Valley ATMs, we’ll credit a maximum of $6.00 per month and waive our normal $1 non-Valley ATM withdrawal fee. There’s also a current promotion where if you open a qualifying checking account with a minimum deposit of $100, you’ll receive $75 cash reward when you sign up for Mobile Banking and $75 when you initiate a monthly direct deposit such as a payroll.