Your comment would have been better if you had linked to examples rather than accusing the parent of spreading FUD.

Maybe you're a student or have multiple products (different types of accounts, credit cards, home loans, term deposits) with your bank?

I can't get a $0 / month account for everyday banking from my bank because I have a special rate home loan. They have a savings account that's $0 / month but you can only transfer from / to it via a regular $4 / month account.

Here are my various no-fee checking accounts:

* http://content.schwab.com/web/retail/public/get-started/chec... - amazing checking account, reimburses all ATM fees

* https://www.capitalone.com/bank/360checking-guide/

* https://www.aspiration.com/summit/

I do have a few other ones but they're based on relationship banking. All of the above have no fee and no minimum.

Step 2 in this analysis: Would you be able to get any of those accounts with a low credit score? I'm pretty sure when I opened my Schwab checking account they ran a credit check.

I've had most of those accounts since I had virtually no credit (and a low/nonexistent credit score). That being said, if you have a negative Chexsystems report they'll be hard to get.

I'm not trying to say the unbanked don't have barriers. I just didn't like the assertion that free checking is impossible, since that's what leads to even people on HN paying needless maintenance fees.

Schwab runs a credit check for that account because they also open a brokerage account for you that allows you some ability to float funds.

Bank of America customer here. Not aware of any fee being applied to my checking account.

It's important to note that many large banks actively discourage customers from opting out of overdrafts. So much so that they even have scripts they make their tellers recite.

For example, if you attempt to opt out, the teller might say, "but what if you are at the gas pump and can't get gas because you have opted out of overdrafts?" The subtext being, "wouldn't it be better to get enough gas to get home and in the process incur a 40 dollar fee."

Allowing overdraft for checks can save you money though since you'd have to pay the depositors fee otherwise.

A good bank let's you disable overdraft for debit card while enabling it for checks.

Solution: don't write checks? I use cashier's checks wherever possible, I get them for free and there's never a potential for overdraft nightmares since it comes out of my account right away - the only time I've written a check in recent memory is the registration fee for my daughter's preschool since my wife wanted to pay it on-the-spot if she liked the place.

I am willing to wager that those accounts have requirements for automated deposits into them and or are tied to other accounts that have similar balance/deposit requirements.