Get the flexibility you deserve. Choose a checking account to meet you where you are in your journey.
Stick checking account options to top of page Unstick checking account options from top of page Parent-owned SafeBalance Banking ® for Family BankingA parent-owned account that your child can use
For existing customers adatext , online application only
Advantage SafeBalance BankingSimple banking with an easy-to-use experience
Flexible banking to meet your needs
Comprehensive banking to make the most of your banking relationship
SafeBalance Banking ® for Family Banking
$0 for each statement cycle that:
You maintain a minimum daily balance of $XXXX or more in your account
Your child is under age 25 [1]
An account owner is a member of the Preferred Rewards program. [2]
Advantage SafeBalance Banking
$0 for each statement cycle that:
You maintain a minimum daily balance of $XXXX or more in your account
An account owner is under age 25 [1]
An account owner is a member of the Preferred Rewards program. [2]
Advantage Plus Banking
$0 for each statement cycle that:
You maintain a minimum daily balance of $XXXX or more in your account
You have at least 1 qualifying direct deposit of $XXXX or more made to your account
An account owner is a member of the Preferred Rewards program [1]
Advantage Relationship Banking
$0 for each statement cycle that:
You maintain a minimum daily balance of $XXXX or more in your account
An account owner is a member of the Preferred Rewards program [1]
Advantage
SafeBalance Banking
Simple banking with an easy-to-use experience
Monthly maintenance fee - Advantage SafeBalance Banking popupAdvantage
Plus Banking
Flexible banking to meet your needs
Monthly maintenance fee - Advantage Plus Banking popupAdvantage
Relationship Banking
Comprehensive banking to make the most of your banking relationship
Monthly maintenance fee - Advantage Relationship Banking popupSafeBalance Banking ®
for Family Banking
A parent-owned account that your child can use
Monthly maintenance fee - SafeBalance Banking for Family Banking popupFor existing customers adatext , online application only
Advantage
SafeBalance Banking
Simple banking with an easy-to-use experience
Monthly maintenance fee - Advantage SafeBalance Banking popupAdvantage
Plus Banking
Flexible banking to meet your needs
Monthly maintenance fee - Advantage Plus Banking popupAdvantage
Relationship Banking
Comprehensive banking to make the most of your banking relationship
Monthly maintenance fee - Advantage Relationship Banking popupSafeBalance Banking ® for Family Banking
$0 for each statement cycle that:
You maintain a minimum daily balance of $XXXX or more in your account
Your child is under age 25 [1]
An account owner is a member of the Preferred Rewards program. [2]
Advantage SafeBalance Banking
$0 for each statement cycle that:
You maintain a minimum daily balance of $XXXX or more in your account
An account owner is under age 25 [1]
An account owner is a member of the Preferred Rewards program. [2]
Advantage Plus Banking
$0 for each statement cycle that:
You maintain a minimum daily balance of $XXXX or more in your account
You have at least 1 qualifying direct deposit of $XXXX or more made to your account
An account owner is a member of the Preferred Rewards program [1]
Advantage Relationship Banking
$0 for each statement cycle that:
You maintain a minimum daily balance of $XXXX or more in your account
An account owner is a member of the Preferred Rewards program [1]
Bank of America Advantage SafeBalance Banking ® for Family Banking
Bank of America Advantage SafeBalance Banking ®
Bank On certified SafeBalance ® is certified as meeting Bank On National Account Standards for safe and affordable bank accounts.
Bank of America Advantage Plus Banking ®
Bank of America Advantage Relationship Banking ®
SafeBalance Banking® for Family Banking
$0 for each statement cycle that:
You maintain a minimum daily balance of $500 or more in your account
Your child is under age 25 adatext
An account owner is a member of the Preferred Rewards program adatext
Advantage Safebalance Banking
$0 for each statement cycle that:
You maintain a minimum daily balance of $500 or more in your account
An account owner is under age 25 adatext
An account owner is a member of the Preferred Rewards program adatext
Advantage Plus Banking
$0 for each statement cycle that:
You maintain a minimum daily balance of $1,500 or more in your account
You have at least 1 qualifying direct deposit of $250 or more made to your account
An account owner is a member of the Preferred Rewards program adatext
Advantage Relationship Banking
$0 for each statement cycle that:
You maintain a minimum daily balance of $20,000 or more in your account
An account owner is a member of the Preferred Rewards program adatext
Minimum opening depositSafeBalance Banking® for Family Banking
Advantage Safebalance Banking
Advantage Plus Banking
Advantage Relationship Banking
Who can ownSafeBalance Banking® for Family Banking
Advantage Safebalance Banking
Advantage Plus Banking
Advantage Relationship Banking
SafeBalance Banking® for Family Banking
Advantage Safebalance Banking
Advantage Plus Banking
Advantage Relationship Banking
SafeBalance Banking® for Family Banking
Advantage Safebalance Banking
Advantage Plus Banking
Advantage Relationship Banking
As the parent owner, you can set limits on your child's spending for amounts and certain categories.
As the parent, you can add money to this account by:
This account does not offer external money transfers into the account, including direct deposit, wires, ACH transactions and transfers from other banks.
This account provides a limited online experience for your child.
Children age 6 or older can have their own Online Banking login and can:
Here are some things they can't do:
For a full list of what your child can do with this account, refer to the Personal Schedule of Fees.
When you set up direct deposit, your paycheck or other recurring deposits are sent to your account automatically.
APY (Annual Percentage Yield)
Balance: Less than $50,000
Balance: $50,000 and over
Select banking services include:
A fast and easy way to send and receive money online with friends and family.
To open a SafeBalance for Family Banking account, you must already have a personal Bank of America checking or savings account. Small business and Merrill Lynch accounts do not qualify.
You must also have an Online Banking login.
You can link up to 5 eligible Bank of America accounts to this checking account to cover transactions. When there isn't enough money in your checking account to pay for an item, available funds are automatically transferred from the linked backup accounts to your checking account. There’s no transfer fee, but other charges may apply. For example, transfers from a linked credit card or HELOC may result in interest charges.
Choose how you want us to handle checks and scheduled payments when there isn’t enough money in your checking account to cover transactions.
We won't authorize ATM withdrawals or debit card purchases when there’s not enough money in your account to cover the transactions. For other payments, at our discretion, we may authorize and pay the item and overdraw your account (an overdraft item), or decline or return the item unpaid (a returned item). Review the Deposit Agreement and Disclosures and Personal Schedule of Fees for details.
Standard setting
Your checks and scheduled payments may be paid and cause an overdraft. There’s a $10 fee [1] when we make the payment and overdraw your account. We won’t charge a fee for the returned items, but the payee may.
Decline All setting
Your checks and scheduled payments will be declined or returned unpaid. We won’t charge a fee for returned items, but the payee may.
1. We’ll charge an Overdraft Item Fee for each item that we authorize and pay, including recurring debit card payments. We will not charge a fee to your account when we decline or return an item unpaid; however, you may be charged a fee by the payee. Please see the Personal Schedule of Fees for your account for more details.
To view all fees and additional information on how to link eligible accounts, see the Personal Schedule of Fees.
Promptly tell us if your debit card is lost or stolen, and we'll credit unauthorized transactions back to your account. You could see credits as soon as the next business day adatext .
Log in to our mobile app with Touch ID®, Face ID® or your fingerprint. adatext
Set alerts adatext for account changes, like unusual activity, payments and more.
Lock a debit card adatext to prevent unauthorized use, request a digital card adatext and more.
Track your spending with our interactive Spending and Budgeting tool. adatext
Deposit checks with the camera on your device and our mobile app. adatext
Erica ® virtual financial assistant
Erica adatext makes it easy for you to stay on top of your finances.
Manage your account on the go with our mobile app adatext
Manage your account on the go with our mobile app adatext
Build your savings with Keep the Change. We’ll round up your Bank of America debit card purchases to the nearest dollar and transfer the difference to your Bank of America savings. adatext
Log in to your account to add deals for select restaurants and stores. adatext Get up to 10% cash back when you pay with your eligible Bank of America debit or credit card.
Earn rewards when you have a Bank of America checking account and $20,000 or more across eligible accounts. Save on fees, get a 25%-75% bonus on certain credit cards, receive lending discounts and more.
There is no monthly maintenance fee on our Advantage Safebalance Banking account if you're under age 25. adatext
Have an account with us, but need online access? Enroll in Online Banking today.
Better Money Habits®Find videos, articles and tips to help you better manage your financial life.
New to the U.S.?Better Money Habits has resources on navigating your finances.
A checking account is a bank account where you can deposit and withdraw your money when you want. It’s the account you’ll likely use to deposit paychecks, pay bills, get cash and transfer funds. Checking accounts usually offer a debit card to use online, at stores and at ATMs. Some checking accounts offer paper checks for making payments. Some checking accounts may earn interest.
How are checking, savings and certificate of deposit (CD) accounts different?A checking account is for using your money for everyday needs, like making purchases or payments. Checking accounts usually offer a debit card to use online, at stores and at ATMs. Some checking accounts offer paper checks for making payments.
A savings account is for setting aside money for longer-term goals. Savings accounts earn interest and may offer an ATM card for making deposits and getting cash.
If you have a Bank of America checking and savings account, you can link them together and access both accounts at ATMs with your debit card. However, debit card payments and purchases withdraw from your checking account.
A certificate of deposit (CD) account is for setting aside money for a set time — from 1 month to several years. CDs may pay more interest, but your access to your money is limited until the end of the set time.
How do I open a Bank of America checking account? Can I open one online?You can apply for a Bank of America checking account online or at a financial center, with a few exceptions.
For SafeBalance Banking ® for Family Banking
You can only apply online. This account is for existing Bank of America customers. You must already have a personal checking or savings account with us and an Online Banking account login.
For all other Bank of America checking accounts
If you’re applying with someone under age 13, you must apply at a financial center. Otherwise, you can apply online.
How to apply online
1. Select an account and choose Open now to go to the application.
2. Enter and verify your information.
3. Choose features you want to add, like a debit card.
4. Once approved, make the minimum opening deposit of $25 or $100, depending on the account.
5. Check your email for next steps.
How to find a financial center
We have thousands of financial centers and ATMs across the U.S.
Find a financial center or ATM
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is an independent agency of the United States government. If an FDIC-insured bank or savings association fails, the FDIC protects depositors against the loss of their insured deposits. Deposits are automatically insured up to at least $250,000 per depositor, per FDIC-insured bank, per ownership category.
FDIC deposit insurance is backed by the United States government. FDIC insurance covers all types of deposit accounts — checking, savings, money market savings and CDs — as well as bank individual retirement accounts (IRAs).
Visit the FDIC for more information.
Have more questions? Find answers at Bank of America Help