Best Checking Accounts in North Carolina 2025
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
Customer Service
Deposits
Fees
Interest Rates
Withdrawals
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.