Updated October 15, 2024

Best Checking Accounts in North Carolina 2024

Explore the best checking accounts in North Carolina for 2024. Compare local and online options to find the right fit for your banking needs, fees, and convenience.

Written by Kenya McCullum

Financial Expert

Are you looking for a banking experience that feels more personal? Many consumers are moving away from big banks to have that experience.

Luckily, there are many banks in North Carolina that can help you with your financial needs while giving back to the community. Continue reading to find out about the best checking accounts in North Carolina, as well as online options if you’re interested in virtual banking.

Compare North Carolina and Online Checking Accounts

If you’re not sure about whether an online or local bank is the best choice, doing a comparison will help you answer any questions. Below we discuss how each type of bank measures up to common consumer concerns.

Convenience

Online banks: You can conveniently do your banking 24 hours a day as long as you’re comfortable with online banking. If you prefer face-to-face interactions, however, this isn’t the best choice for you.
Physical banks: Although you can do banking online when you have a checking account with a physical bank if face-to-face transactions are important to you, it may not be as convenient as you’d like, depending on a bank’s locations and hours.

Customer Service

Online banks: Online banks have customer service hours that can be significantly longer than brick-and-mortar banks, so it’s easier to get in touch with someone before or after going to work. In some cases, you may even be able to reach customer service 24 hours a day.
Physical banks: Physical banks have short hours, so during the work week, it can be difficult to do any in-person banking or even reach customer service via phone. However, some banks do have Saturday customer service hours, though they may be somewhat short.

Deposits

Online banks: You can easily make deposits online through transfers and direct deposit. However, depositing cash can be challenging, and in some cases, it’s not an option at all.
Physical banks: Physical banks make it easy for you to deposit checks or cash at a branch or a network ATM. Also, you can receive money through direct deposit and transfers.

Fees

Online banks: These banks generally do not charge any fees, so consumers save money.
Physical banks: You may be charged a variety of fees, from monthly maintenance to overdraft to ATM fees.

Interest Rates

Online banks: Since online banks don’t have the high overhead of those with brick-and-mortar locations, interest-bearing checking accounts usually have rates that are quite attractive and much higher than their traditional banking counterparts.
Physical banks: Interest-bearing checking accounts offered by local banks may help you earn some money on your account. However, the interest rates are usually quite low.

Withdrawals

Online banks: Withdrawals from online banks are easy to make at ATMs. However, you may be charged fees.
Physical banks: You can make withdrawals at an ATM or branch when you have a checking account at a traditional bank. If the bank does not have a large ATM network, in some cases, you can be reimbursed for ATM fees.

Easily Compare the Best Checking Accounts Online

Compare rates, fees, accessibility, customer service, and more to find the best checking account for your needs.

Best Checking Accounts in North Carolina

Not every local bank in North Carolina will be able to meet your needs, so it’s best to shop around. Let’s take a look at some of the options available to help you find the best checking account for you.

Lumbee Guaranty Bank

Lumbee Guaranty Bank has checking accounts that require an opening minimum deposit of $100. These accounts charge no check writing fees and provide access to online and mobile banking, as well as eStatements.

If you just want a basic account, you will be charged a $9 monthly maintenance fee, which is waived if you have at least $500 in your account. If you want more, the elite checking account offers perks, including interest, cell phone protection, roadside assistance, and discounts on certain purchases.

Uwharrie Bank

Uwharrie Bank offers a standard interest-bearing checking account. Customers also have access to online banking, bill pay services, mobile banking, debit cards, and eStatements.

In addition, people can keep on top of their finances more quickly through money management tools that allow them to not only monitor their daily balances but also create and track their budgets and automatically categorize their spending.

Piedmont Federal

Piedmont Federal‘s free checking account can be opened with a $50 deposit. Customers have access to unlimited check writing, although charges are applied when checks need to be printed. Also, those with this account can take advantage of online banking access and are not charged monthly maintenance fees.

Customers who want more perks can open a PFPinnacle, which includes discounts on check orders and safe deposit box rentals.

Pros & Cons of Local Banks

As you decide on whether to open a checking account at a local bank, consider the following pros and cons.

Pros

Local banks invest in the community, so residents and small businesses benefit from their presence.
It’s easier to build long-term relationships with local banks.
The fees that local banks charge tend to be lower than those of national banks.

Cons

Local banks may not have many branches, so it can be challenging to do banking in person.
There may not be many online services offered by national banks.
Checking account options may be limited with smaller local banks.

Online Checking for North Carolina Residents

Are you curious about virtual banking? If you feel comfortable doing business online, then an online bank may be a good option for your needs.

Below are some of the best online checking accounts for North Carolina residents. Learn about what they offer.

Discover® Cashback Checking

The Discover Cashback Checking account offers a unique feature: 1% cashback on up to $3,000 in qualifying debit card purchases each month, making it appealing for those looking to earn rewards from everyday spending.

The account has no monthly maintenance fees, no minimum balance requirement, and access to over 60,000 ATMs nationwide. However, it doesn’t earn interest, and while Discover’s customer service is well-regarded, it lacks brick-and-mortar branches for those who prefer in-person banking.

This account could be a good fit for people who are comfortable with online banking and want to earn cashback rewards on debit card transactions.

Bluevine Business Checking

Bluevine Business Checking stands out for its high interest rate on balances up to $250,000. It offers a competitive rate if you meet the monthly requirements of $2,500 in spending or $500 in payments.

The account has no monthly fees, no minimum balance requirement, and allows for unlimited transactions, which can be appealing for small businesses. It also integrates with business tools like QuickBooks. However, it lacks cash deposit options and branch access, making it best suited for businesses that operate primarily online or without the need for regular cash deposits.

KeyBank Checking

KeyBank offers several checking account options, with its most popular being the Key Smart Checking, which has no monthly maintenance fees.

However, other options like Key Advantage and Key Privilege Checking may charge fees unless specific balance or transaction requirements are met. These accounts offer features like overdraft protection and access to a large ATM network, but KeyBank is regionally focused, limiting its in-person branch services to certain states.

While it provides basic checking features, it may not be the best choice for those seeking high rewards or nationwide coverage.

Pros & Cons of Online Checking Accounts

It’s always a good idea to keep your options open, and some online banks are definitely worth considering. However, like local banks, they have advantages and disadvantages.

The following are some of those benefits and drawbacks.

Pros

Online and phone customer service tends to be available for longer hours than with traditional banks.
Interest rates are higher than those offered by traditional banks.
Online banks often do not charge fees.

Cons

Online banks have no ties to your community.
Online banks are not designed to accommodate complex banking needs.
Depositing cash can be difficult.

What to Look for When Choosing a Checking Account in North Carolina

What matters to you most when choosing a checking account? Are you concerned about branch access? Do you want to make sure you keep fees to a minimum? Does using a mobile app matter?

Everyone looks for different characteristics when considering a bank, and below, we outline some of the most important features to consider.

Access

When looking for a local bank in North Carolina, you want to make sure you have as much access to your money as possible. If going to a branch for your banking needs is important, find a bank that has several locations.

On the other hand, if you’re not that concerned about in-person banking, you still want to make sure you have access to several ATMs. Just make sure that they are in your bank’s network, otherwise you may pay the price for convenient access in excessive fees.

Fees

Fees may not be avoidable, but there are ways to keep them low so they don’t drain your checking account balance.

For example, some banks may have free checking accounts, while fee-charging banks may waive these charges if you maintain a certain account balance. Also, other fees you may be able to avoid or minimize include those for ATM withdrawals made at out-of-network locations, overdraft, and returned check fees.

By changing some of your behaviors and staying on top of your account balance, you can keep fees like this under control.

Bonuses

Some local banks offer something extra to attract and retain customers. For example, you may be able to receive a signing bonus from some banks as an incentive to open a checking account.

Additionally, in some cases, local banks may offer checking accounts that bear interest, even though this feature is not the norm.

Mobile Banking

A mobile app can make your banking experience more seamless, so you may want to find a bank that has an app with the most features.

From checking account status to moving money to managing your finances, the most robust mobile apps can add a level of convenience that sets one bank apart from the next.

What to Know About North Carolina Checking Accounts

When a check is returned unpaid, banks can legally charge a processing fee to the consumer.

Banks are not legally obligated to open checking accounts for any potential customer. They can decide their own criteria for opening checking accounts and refuse to do business with those who don’t meet those criteria.

Consumers can withdraw cash from their checking account by writing a check that is made payable to themselves.

About Author

Kenya McCullum

Kenya McCullum is a freelance writer with expertise in personal finance. She writes about personal finance, education, and other topics that are important to consumers.

Our reviews are unbiased and thorough, focusing on consumer needs. For details, see our Editorial Policy & Methodology.