Free Checking
that reaps more benefits
Beyond no monthly fees, grow your financial health with access to digital tools and personalized advice.
Start with Free Checking hereSave more. Manage better.
$0 Monthly Fee
No overdraft fees1
Get Paid Early with Direct Deposit2
Set up Direct Deposit and access your funds up to 2 days early
30,000+ Free ATMs Nationwide
Find one near you on our top-rated Mobile App3
Free ID Theft Protection
Enroll your debit card through Mastercard’s ID Theft Protection platform
Pay and Send with Ease and Confidence
Debit Mastercard® lets you shop with zero liability protection and Zelle® lets you send money quickly
Debit Card Security Feature
Lock your card instantly in our Mobile App if misplaced, lost or stolen
Get to know Patelco
550,000+
members nationwide and growing
36
local branches including Patelco Virtual Branch™
90
years of proudly serving the community
$1,500
average annual savings per loyal household4
In-app digital gift card purchases from brands you love with 2% to 20% cash back to your new Patelco checking account
Frequently Asked Questions
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No. We don’t charge a monthly fee or require a minimum balance to waive the monthly fee.
You can find one of the 30,000+ fee-free ATMs at patelco.org/locations or on your Mobile App. This includes most 7-Eleven® stores.
ALL Members who set up direct deposits into their Patelco checking, savings, or money market accounts can get paid up to 2 days early2 — so you can access your funds faster.
Your checking account connects you to CashBack+ in our Mobile App, where you can purchase gift cards from top brands for groceries, gas, travel and more, with up to 20% cash back.
RoundUp is an automatic savings tool that helps you save with every purchase. Every time you use the debit card linked to your checking account, we’ll round up to the nearest dollar and transfer the difference from your checking to your savings account of your choice. So, if you spend $5.75 at the coffee shop, we’ll round up the purchase to $6.00, and transfer $0.25 to your savings. Every cent counts toward growing your savings!
To enroll, log in to Patelco Online™ or the Mobile App, and navigate to the main menu, then select Accounts, then RoundUp. For Plus Checking accounts, please contact us to enroll.Patelco is a member owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative. When you join Patelco, you become a member and a shareholder. That’s why we’ll also open a Regular Savings account and deposit one share ($1) in your account when you join.
Our mission is to help members achieve lifelong financial wellbeing so you can live happier, fuller lives.
Unlike the big banks or other for-profit financial institutions, we invest our profits back in our members with better rates and low to no fees.
We also offer free financial advice to anyone who wants to improve their financial situation. Members have told us that they feel seen, heard, informed, and supported to make more confident financial choices.
Membership is free and comes with great benefits. You become a member when you open an account with us.
Make an appointment to visit a Patelco branch near you. Or do video banking with Virtual Branch — where you can drop in or schedule an appointment to meet on a video call from the comfort of your home or office.
1 You must enroll in Instant BackUp on your checking account to receive overdraft coverage up to $500. You’ll pay interest only on the amount you borrowed for the amount of time it’s outstanding. Talk to our Patelco team for assistance and learn more here. No overdraft fees applies to checking accounts opened after 04/05/23.
2 Early access to direct deposit funds depends on the timing of the receipt of the payment file from the payer. We generally make these funds available on the day the payment file is received up to 2 days earlier than the scheduled payment date.
3 Source: Over 34,700 5-star reviews across Apple iOS and Google Play app stores.
4 Based on the Credit Union National Association Membership Benefits Study in Q4 2025 and rates and fees as of 03/17/2026. Assumed to have a $30,000, 60-month new auto loan, a classic credit card with an average balance of $5,000, a $200,000, 30-year fixed rate mortgage (a 30-year fixed rate mortgage is replaced with a 5-year adjustable rate mortgage if it yields a greater benefit as it is assumed more in demand), $5,000 in an interest-bearing checking account, $10,000 in a 1-year certificate account, and $2,500 in a money market account.