Finding the best free banks in Ohio depends on your banking needs. Whether your priority is interest-bearing checking accounts, high-yield savings, a variety of banking products, digital banking or physical branches, there is a bank in Ohio that can meet your requirements.
However, if you’re unable to open a checking account due to ChexSystems or Early Warning Services (EWS) records, we also compiled a list of second chance banks in Ohio that offer an opportunity to build a new banking history. Keep in mind there will likely be a monthly service fee associated with second chance banking accounts.
10 Best Free Banks in Ohio
1. Upgrade Rewards Checking Plus
The Upgrade Rewards Checking Plus is best for debit card spending. Customers get up to 2% cash back on common everyday expenses for active accounts with a monthly $1,000 direct deposit 1 plus many features including the following:
- $0 Minimum Opening Deposit.
- Up to 2% cash back on common everyday expenses for active accounts with monthly $1,000 direct deposit, and up to 1% cash back for other purchases2.
- Optional savings account that earns 5.21% APY3.
- Customers with direct deposit can get paid up to two days early4.
- No monthly fees, no overdraft fees5, and get reimbursed for ATM fees with an active account.
- FDIC-Insured Up to $250,000.
Upgrade is a financial technology company, not a bank. Checking and savings accounts provided by Cross River Bank, Member FDIC.
2. SoFi Bank
SoFi Bank is a bank headquartered in California with membership open to anyone regardless of where they live or work. Financial products and services include checking, savings, personal, student and mortgage loans, investments and retirement planning. The monthly free checking account is combined with savings account with the following features:
- $100 Minimum Opening Deposit.
- Welcome Bonus up to $250 when you set up direct deposit.
- Get paid up to 2 days early with direct deposit.
- 55,000+ fee-free ATMs within the Allpoint® Network.
- Members with direct deposit can earn 4.50% APY on their savings and Vaults balances, and 1.20% APY on their checking balances.
- Deposits are insured up to $2M through a network of participating banks.
3. Consumers Credit Union
Consumers Credit Union is a credit union based in Ohio with membership open to anyone regardless of where they live or work. Financial products and services include checking, savings, CDs, personal, auto and mortgage loans, small business banking, investments and financial education. The monthly free checking account is called Rewards Checking with the following features:
- Unlimited reimbursement for any and all ATM fees**
- Over 30,000 ATMs & over 5,000 shared branches
- Online & mobile banking plus bill pay
- Get paid as much as two days early with early direct deposit**
- No monthly maintenance fees, for anything
4. OneUnited Bank
OneUnited Bank’s Online Checking Account is a free checking available to people in ALL STATES. OneUnited Bank is a Black-Owned Bank that offers the Black Wall Street Checking account with no monthly fee. If you’re looking for second chance banking options, OneUnited Bank’s U2 E-Checking Account is available but it has a monthly fee of $12. With OneUnited Bank customers can add cash to the OneUnited Bank Debit Card at over 90,000 locations across the country through a partnership with Green Dot®.
Here are the checking account features:
- $25 minimum opening deposit
- No monthly fee.
- Get paid up to 2 days early with early direct deposit.
- Free Online & Mobile Banking.
- Obtain Cash, Surcharge Free at Over 35,000 ATMs Nationwide.
- Deposit checks through the mobile app.
- Free Bill Pay
5. BMO Harris Bank
BMO Harris Bank is a well-established financial institution with over 500 branches across U.S. and access to over 40,000 ATMs. As the 8th largest bank in North America by assets, BMO Harris Bank has $852 billion in total assets. Financial products and services include checking, savings, CDs, personal, auto and mortgage loans, HELOCs, small business banking, investment and retirement accounts. The monthly free checking account is called Smart Advantage Account with the following features:
- $25 Minimum Opening Deposit
- Unlimited Transactions at 40,000+ fee-free ATMs nationwide
- $0 Monthly maintenance fee
- BMO Digital Banking – pay bills, transfer money and more
6. Erie Bank
Erie Bank a division of CNB Bank, was founded in August 2005 by David Zimmer, an Erie native with over 20 years of banking experience. Within a year, Erie Bank had opened its first full-service community banking office and had grown to employ over 20 people. The bank offers a wide range of products and services, including checking and savings accounts, loans, investments, and insurance. The monthly free checking has the following features:
- No Minimum Balance Fee
- No Monthly Service Charge
- Free Access to Mobile Banking, goMobile
- Unlimited Check Writing and Withdrawals
7. FCBank
FCBank a division of CNB Bank was founded in 2013 by the acquisition of Farmers Citizens Bank, a community bank with eight branches in Bucyrus, Cardington, Fredericktown, Grandview, Worthington, and Shiloh, Ohio. The bank was originally founded as the County National Bank of Clearfield by a group of citizens from Clearfield on February 5, 1865. Today, FCBank is a full-service bank that offers a wide range of financial products and services to individuals and businesses. The Free Checking Account has the following features:
- No Minimum Balance Fee
- No Monthly Service Charge
- Free Access to Mobile Banking, goMobile
- Unlimited Check Writing and Withdrawals
8. Heritage Bank
Heritage Bank was founded in 1990 on the principles of community, customer service, and financial strength. The bank has grown to become one of the largest community banks in Northern Kentucky with branches in Ohio also. Heritage Bank is committed to providing its customers with the financial products and services they need to achieve their financial goals. Financial products include checking, savings, personal, car and mortgage loans, investment and retirement services. The Heritage Checking Account has the following features:
- Non interest bearing
- No Minimum Balance Fee
- No Monthly Service Charge
- Unlimited Check Writing
9. Key Bank
Key Bank has a long history dating back to 1825 when the Commercial Bank of Albany was founded in Albany, New York. Today Key Bank is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio providing customers with the financial products and services they need to achieve their financial goals. A wide range of products and services are available including checking and savings accounts, loans, mortgages, investments, and insurance. The Key Smart Checking has the following features:
- $10 Minimum Opening Deposit
- $0 Monthly maintenance fee
- Free Online and Mobile Access with Bill Pay
10. S&T Bank
S&T Bank S&T Bank has been a leader in the financial services industry for over 120 years. S&T Bank is a community-minded bank whose actions are guided by humility, empathy, and a sincere desire to uplift the communities it serves. A wide range of products and services are available including checking and savings accounts, loans, mortgages and investments. The Simple Checking Solution has the following features:
- $50 Minimum Opening Deposit
- $0 Monthly maintenance fee
- Free Online and Mobile Access with Bill Pay
Second Chance Banks in Ohio
Dollar Bank
The No Overdraft Checking Account requires a $25 opening deposit and a $5 monthly service fee. You’ll have free access to online banking, mobile deposit, bill pay and account alerts.
City National Bank
The Bounce Back Checking Account requires a $25 opening deposit and a $6.99 monthly service fee with direct deposit or $8.99 without direct deposit. You’ll have free access to online banking, mobile deposit, bill pay and account alerts.
Dollar Bank
The No Overdraft Checking Account requires a $25 opening deposit and a $5 monthly service fee. You’ll have free access to online banking, mobile deposit, bill pay and account alerts.
First Commonwealth Bank
The Confidence Checking Account requires a $0 opening deposit and a $5 monthly service fee. You’ll have free access to online banking, mobile deposit, bill pay and account alerts.
First Federal Community Bank
The First Fed Bank On Checking Account requires a $25 opening deposit and a $5 monthly service fee. You’ll have free access to online banking, mobile deposit, bill pay and account alerts.
First Financial Bank
The NoWorry Checking Account requires a $25 opening deposit and a $5 monthly service fee. You’ll have free access to online banking, mobile deposit, bill pay and account alerts.
First Merchants Bank
The Simple Access Checking Account requires a $0 opening deposit and a $4 monthly service fee. You’ll have free access to online banking, mobile deposit, bill pay and account alerts.
Mutual Federal
The Easy Fit Checking Account requires a $25 opening deposit and a $5.05 monthly service fee. You’ll have free access to online banking, mobile deposit, bill pay and account alerts.
Truist Bank
The Truist Confidence Account requires a $25 opening deposit and a $5 monthly service fee. You’ll have free access to online banking, mobile deposit, bill pay and account alerts.
United Bank
The Essential Checking Account requires a $25 opening deposit and a $5 monthly service fee. You’ll have free access to online banking, mobile deposit, bill pay and account alerts.
Second Chance Credit Unions in Ohio
Buckeye State Credit Union
The Empowerment Account Checking Account requires a $20 opening deposit and has a $0 monthly service fee. You’ll have free access to online banking, mobile deposit, bill pay and account alerts.
Buckeye State Credit Union
The Empowerment Account Checking Account requires a $20 opening deposit and has a $0 monthly service fee. You’ll have free access to online banking, mobile deposit, bill pay and account alerts.
Cardinal Credit Union
The Second Chance Account Checking Account requires a $0 opening deposit and has a $8.95 monthly service fee. You’ll have free access to online banking, mobile deposit, bill pay and account alerts.
Eaton Family Credit Union
The Second Chance Account Checking Account has a $10 monthly service fee. You’ll have free access to online banking, mobile deposit, bill pay and account alerts.
Hopewell Federal Credit Union
The Rebound Checking Account Checking Account requires a $50 opening deposit. You’ll have free access to online banking, mobile deposit, bill pay and account alerts.
Kemba Financial Credit Union
The Fresh Start Checking Account requires a $5 opening deposit and has a $8.95 monthly service fee. You’ll have free access to online banking, mobile deposit, bill pay and account alerts.
Members Trust Federal Credit Union
The Second Chance Account Checking Account requires a $0 opening deposit and has a $8.95 monthly service fee. You’ll have free access to online banking, mobile deposit, bill pay and account alerts.
Security Credit Union
The Opportunity Checking Account requires a $0 opening deposit and has a $5 monthly service fee. You’ll have free access to online banking, mobile deposit, bill pay and account alerts.
Universal 1 Credit Union
The Freedom Express Checking Account requires a $50 opening deposit and has a $15 monthly service fee. You’ll have free access to online banking, mobile deposit, bill pay and account alerts.
Ohio Unbanked Numbers
According a Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) 2021 Survey, 3.5% of Ohio’ residents were unbanked. Ohio ranks moderately in unbanked households in America. It’s estimated that unbanked people pay up to 10% of their salary for check cashing services. Being unbanked makes it almost impossible to perform common financial transactions without paying some type of fee unlike people with free checking accounts.
ChexSystems Resources
- Banks That Don’t Use ChexSystems – Take a look at our list of banks that do not use ChexSystems for a new checking account.
- EWS (Early Warning Services) – EWS is similar to ChexSystems and can prevent you from opening a checking account.
- Check your ChexSystems Report – Unsure what information exists in your ChexSystems report? Learn how to find out.
- ChexSystems Scores – Did you know that you have a ChexSystems score similar to a credit score? Find out how to get yours.
- Account Abuse – Find out why ChexSystems often reports customers for account abuse with no real explanation of what that notation means.
Upgrade Disclaimers
1 Active Accounts with a monthly direct deposit of $1000 are eligible for additional benefits on Rewards Checking Plus such as additional cash back rewards, ATM fee reimbursement, and more. See the Active Account page for more information.
2 Rewards Checking Plus customers who set-up monthly direct deposits of $1,000 or more earn 2% cash back on common everyday expenses at convenience stores, drugstores, restaurants and bars – including deliveries – and gas stations, as well as recurring payments on utilities and monthly subscriptions including phone, cable, TV and other streaming services, and 1% cash back on all other debit card purchases. 2% cash back is limited to $500 in rewards per calendar year; after $500, customers earn 1% cash back on all eligible debit card purchases for the remainder of the year. Rewards Checking Plus accounts with less than $1,000 in monthly direct deposits 60 days after account opening will earn 1% cash back on common everyday expenses and 0.50% cash back on all other eligible debit card purchases. Some limitations apply. Please refer to the applicable Upgrade VISA® Debit Card Agreement and Disclosures for more information.
3 The 1.5% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) for the Performance Savings account is effective as of June 1, 2023. The APY for the Performance Savings account is variable and may change at any time. Active Accounts qualify for 5.21% APY with monthly $1000 direct deposit. The APY for Active Accounts is effective as of September 1, 2023, is variable, and may change at any time. Please refer to the applicable Cross River Bank Performance Savings Deposit Account Agreement and Truth in Savings Disclosure. To earn APY, you must open and fund a Performance Savings account. Rewards Checking Plus accounts do not earn APY.
4 Early direct deposit requires set up of recurring electronic direct deposit from your employer, payroll, or benefits provider and is limited to direct deposits under $5000. Early access to direct deposit funds depends on the timing in which we receive notice of impending direct deposit, which is generally up to two days before the scheduled deposit date.
5 There are no overdraft fees or annual fees associated with Rewards Checking Plus accounts. Rewards Checking Plus charges no ATM fees, but third-party institutions may charge you a fee if you use their ATM/network or if you use your Upgrade VISA® Debit Card internationally. For Active Accounts, Upgrade will rebate ATM fees charged by another institution for debit card withdrawals in the United States, up to five times per calendar month. To be eligible to receive third-party ATM fee rebates in any calendar month for eligible ATM withdrawals made during that month on a Rewards Checking Plus account, the account must be an Active Account in the prior calendar month. See the Active Account page for more information. As a courtesy to new customers, Upgrade will provide third-party ATM fee rebates for 60 days after account opening regardless of account user status. Some limitations apply. Please refer to the applicable Cross River Bank Checking Deposit Account Agreement and Upgrade VISA® Debit Card Agreement and Disclosures for more information.
