Best Checking Accounts in Kansas for 2024
Plenty of banks offer checking accounts, but they aren’t all alike when it comes to the features and benefits they offer or the fees they charge. Where you live can influence your options when choosing where to open a new checking account.
Kansas residents can pick from smaller regional banks, big national banks, and online banks. We’ve selected some of the best checking accounts in Kansas to consider.
Compare Kansas and Online Checking Accounts
Regional and community banks can be good fits for some people, while others may prefer an online checking account. If you’re trying to decide which one might be right for you, here are a few helpful questions to consider.
- What kind of banking access do I need? (i.e., online, mobile, branches, ATMs, etc.)
- Will I need to be able to deposit checks and cash?
- How much am I willing to pay in fees for a checking account?
- Do I want to keep checking and savings in the same place, or is it okay to have accounts at different banks?
- Will I need to be able to visit ATMs while I’m closer to home and while traveling?
- What kind of customer service experience am I looking for?
- Do I need extra features, like a rewards program or relationship rates on savings and CD accounts?
Compare Online and Regional Checking Accounts
Best Checking Accounts in Kansas
The best checking account is the one that has all the features you need, has fees you can afford, and gives you multiple ways to manage your money. With that in mind, here are some of the best checking accounts offered in Kansas.
Western State Bank
Western State Bank serves customers in western Kansas, offering checking and savings accounts, mortgage loans, and business banking services. There are two checking accounts: a basic option and an interest checking account.
Both require a $250 minimum opening deposit, but only the interest checking account has a monthly maintenance fee. There are multiple ways to waive it, however. You’ll need a $1,000 minimum balance to earn interest, and Western State Bank offers online and mobile banking for convenience.
INTRUST Bank
Intrust Bank is headquartered in Wichita and offers multiple personal checking accounts, including:
- Free Checking
- Safeguard Spending
- Advantage Checking
- Elite Checking
The Free Checking option has no monthly maintenance fees or minimum balance requirements. Safeguard Spending, Advantage Checking, and Elite Checking have monthly fees but offer multiple ways to waive them. These accounts also offer upgraded features, such as no overdraft fees or unlimited ATM fee reimbursements.
CrossFirst Bank
CrossFirst Bank offers private and personal banking checking accounts to meet various customer needs. CrossFirst Personal Banking has no monthly maintenance fee or minimum balance requirement beyond the $100 opening deposit. Customers can access any ATM in the U.S. fee-free.
Private banking accounts are designed for people who maintain higher balances in checking. This account earns interest, requires $1,000 to open, and has a sizable minimum balance requirement to meet to avoid a monthly maintenance fee.
Which Banks Have the Lowest Checking Account Fees?
Plenty of checking accounts have no fees, but if you use a traditional, big-name bank, you could be paying too much.
Here are our top checking account picks for those who want to save on checking account fees and enjoy the convenience of online banking.
Pros and Cons of Local Banks
Banking locally or with a regional bank can have some advantages along with some disadvantages.
Pros
- More personalized customer service.
- If you visit the same branch regularly, it’s easier to get to know your banker, and they can also get to know you.
- If you need a loan or line of credit, your banker may already be familiar with the specifics of your financial situation.
Cons
- Local or regional banks have a smaller footprint, meaning fewer branches or ATMs to visit.
- They may also offer a more limited range of banking products or services.
- Their online and mobile banking apps may lack some of the features you’ll find at big banks.
Online Checking for Kansas Residents
Online banks can offer some advantages to Kansas residents that local banks may lack.
For example, avoiding monthly fees or minimum balance requirements with an online checking account may be easier. And some online banks offer access to cash through a larger ATM network.
Chime CMA
Chime’s checking account is designed for simplicity and cost-effectiveness, offering features such as no monthly fees, no minimum balance requirements, and no overdraft fees.
Users benefit from early direct deposit and access to over 60,000 fee-free ATMs nationwide.
The account includes a free Visa debit card, allowing easy online management and automatic bill payments.
Chime’s SpotMe feature can cover overdrafts up to $200 without fees, enhancing its appeal for those who seek flexibility and minimal banking costs.
Discover Cashback® Checking
Discover Checking offers an attractive option with its Cashback Debit account, notable for its absence of monthly fees and the ability to earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month.
This account stands out for its straightforward no-fee policy, which includes no fees for insufficient funds, making it economically appealing.
Additionally, it provides access to over 60,000 no-fee ATMs nationwide and the convenience of early direct deposit. However, it lacks physical branch access, check-writing capabilities, and an ATM card, which might be limiting for some users.
Citi Priority Checking
The Citi Priority Checking account offers various perks, such as a lucrative signup bonus and waived fees for certain balances.
It’s particularly suitable for individuals who maintain high balances and seek premium banking services. The account includes benefits like travel perks, special product pricing, and enhanced fraud protection.
With a minimum balance requirement to avoid monthly fees and no interest earnings on deposits, it’s tailored for those who value comprehensive services over high yields. It is ideal for frequent travelers or those with significant banking needs.
Pros and Cons of Online Checking Accounts
An online checking account can include many of the same features as traditional checking accounts, but there are some differences.
Pros
- You have access to most of the same features as you do with branch banks, including debt cards, paper checks, bill pay services, and ACH and wire transfers.
- Manage your account anytime via online or mobile banking.
- More opportunities to waive ATM, maintenance, and other fees.
Cons
- Customer service may be less personal than local banks.
- You may not have access to certain services, such as certified checks or money orders, with an online bank.
The main difference between online and in-person banking is that you manage your account via online or mobile banking rather than a branch.
Whether that’s a drawback depends on how often you need to go to a branch. If you don’t deposit cash regularly and are comfortable using mobile check deposit or direct deposit, you may not need branch banking access at all.
What to Look for When Choosing a Checking Account in Kansas
Certain things are helpful to consider when comparing checking accounts. If you’re unsure what to look for, here’s a simple guide you can follow.
Monthly Fees
Monthly maintenance fees are more common with traditional bank checking accounts than with online accounts. These fees can range from $4.99 to $35.00, but some banks offer ways to waive fees, such as using direct deposit or maintaining a certain balance.
If you’re considering a checking account with a monthly fee, decide if there are any ways you can have it waived. Most people want to avoid paying that monthly fee.
If your banking habits won’t allow you to get that fee waived, you might need to ask yourself whether the account’s other features or benefits justify the fee.
Other Fees
Along with monthly fees, banks may charge overdraft fees, insufficient funds fees, paper statement fees, wire transfer fees, and foreign ATM fees.
Reading through the fee schedule can give you a better idea of what you might pay. And again, the fees are likely to be lower overall at an online bank.
Likewise, there are ways to have some of these fees waived. Some banks won’t charge for overdrafts and will reimburse customers for ATM fees up to a certain amount.
ATM and Branch Access
Local or regional banks may have branches and ATMs only in certain locations. Online banks usually don’t have branches but may have more extensive ATM networks.
Whether you choose a local or an online bank, consider what fees you might pay to access an ATM and whether any foreign ATM surcharges are reimbursed monthly.
Interest Rates
Interest-bearing checking accounts let you earn a little money on your balances. Both online and local banks offer interest checking accounts, though the rates you earn might differ.
If you’re looking for interest checking accounts in Kansas, compare the rates and read the fine print. For instance, you may need to meet a higher minimum balance requirement to earn interest at the advertised rate.
What to Know About Kansas Checking Accounts
- You must be 18 or older to open a bank account online in Kansas or without the help of a parent or legal guardian. If you’re under 18, you can open an account with the help of a parent or guardian, but you’ll need to visit a bank branch to do so.
- Kansas law allows eligible account holders to add a payable-on-demand (POD) notation to bank accounts, including savings and CD accounts. Designated POD accounts can avoid state probate requirements when the account owner dies.
