For plenty of banks that's not the case. For ex Wells Fargo charges $10/month if your balance is less than $500[1]. That's a big deal for some people.

Ally Bank offers no minimum, but they're online only and reimburse for (some) ATM fees rather than it being free upfront.

Many ordinary people who try to get an ordinary bank account at an ordinary bank they take the bus and the walk to end up paying fees.

[1]: https://www.wellsfargo.com/checking/everyday/monthly-service...

Capital One has no minimum checking and $5 minimum savings.

And those fees are usually egregious and do the most harm to low income people. Why can't these account refuse to go negative during withdraw or spend via debit? It seems simple to me, but then banks could collect fewer fees. I weep for their profits.

Overdraft "protection" was opt-out for several years, and is now opt-in.

https://www.consumerfinance.gov/rules-policy/regulations/100...

I have a lot of experience with low-income people and people not great with money (and the overlap between them). The problem is most want this feature. They would not want the transaction declined. They know they don't have any money.