How-to
Reading your checking account's fee schedule
Get your checking account's disclosure and fee schedule, then go through it fee by fee, noting which ones apply to you and what waives them.
Satisfy+ Editorial · Published July 31, 2026 · 2 min read · 20 min to do
This is general education, not individual financial, investment or tax advice.
At a glance
- What to ask for
- The account disclosure and the fee schedule
- What it lists
- The deposit-related fees the bank can charge
- Usual suspects
- Monthly, minimum balance, ATM, overdraft, NSF
- What to note
- Which fees apply to you, and what waives them
Your bank's account opening disclosure and fee schedule list the deposit-related fees it can charge. Go through them one fee at a time, against how you actually use the account.
What you need
- The account disclosure and fee schedule, from the bank's website, app or a branch
- Two or three recent statements
- A highlighter or a notes app
Steps
- 1
Get the documents
Ask your bank for the account opening disclosure and fee schedule. Many banks post both on the account's page.
5 min
- 2
Find the monthly maintenance fee and what waives it
Banks can charge a monthly fee to keep an account open. The fee may be lower, or waived, with direct deposit, a minimum balance or a set number of transactions each month. Note which condition, if any, you already meet.
3 min
- 3
Find the minimum balance fee
Some accounts charge a fee when the balance drops below a minimum. Ask whether the bank offers a low balance alert.
2 min
- 4
Find the ATM fees
At another bank's ATM, both your bank and the ATM's owner can charge you a fee. Note the ATMs in your bank's network, and ask whether the bank reimburses out-of-network fees.
3 min
- 5
Find the overdraft and NSF fees
Some banks charge a continuous or daily overdraft fee for every day the account stays overdrawn. A check or an automatic payment the bank declines for low funds can carry a non-sufficient funds fee.
3 min
- 6
Find the smaller fees
Even an account described as free can carry fees for ATM use, overdrafts, bounced checks, balance inquiries, stop payments, dormant accounts and check printing. Match each one against your statements.
3 min
- 7
Check your list against a statement
Every fee on your last statement should appear on your list, with what it was for.
1 min
Go through your checking account's fees
- Ask your bank for the account disclosure and fee schedule
- Note the fees that apply to how you use the account
- Note what waives the monthly maintenance fee
- Find the in-network ATMs near home and work
An annotated example
FAQ
Where do I find my bank's fees?
In the account opening disclosure and fee schedule, which list the deposit-related fees the bank can charge.
Can a free checking account still have fees?
Yes. A free account may still charge for ATM use, overdrafts, bounced checks and other services.
Sources
Checked October 19, 2026
- Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Overdraft and account fees (2021)
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. I opened a "free" checking account but there are fees charged on my account. Can my bank or credit union do that? (2024)
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Can my bank or credit union charge me a fee to use another bank or credit union's ATM? (2024)
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