[bpodgursky]

There aren't many anymore. Banks mostly eliminated or heavily restricted free checking accounts when overdraft fees got capped.

You may be able to find a couple credit unions that do this, but you still have minimum account balances and other hurdles that make it difficult to open an account if you have bad credit and little money (not to mention time or financial savvy).

[nxc18]

My credit union requires I have a savings account with $5.00. The overdraft fee is $30. There are no recurring costs outside of that. Both checking and savings accounts earn interest - much less for the checking account - rather than costing me money.

I don't know about the credit check part; I set up with my parents years ago so that may have exempted me as I didn't have any credit history at the time.

[ErrantX]

> There aren't many any more...

...in the US.

In the UK its the opposite; the majority of checking accounts are free, some premium accounts charge a fee but generally come with rewards.

Overdrafts; there are fees for unarranged overdrafts, but its reasonably trivial to arrange a limit and this is generally fee-less (naturally you pay interest; mine is 1.2% calculated daily)

ATMs are largely free regardless of who your bank is.

[briandear]

In France they sure aren't free. Banks even charge a monthly fee for a debit card in addition to a monthly account maintenance fee. Of course banking in the France is stuck in the 1980s with many banking transactions requiring an actual visit to your specific bank branch and a consultation with your personal banker.

[ErrantX]

Interesting; my perspective (working in the finance industry) has been that European banks are ahead of the curve with technology and, importantly, technology for customers. It sounds like maybe not?