Truist One Checking Review: Practical Perks and a Bonus

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Truist Bank
4.9
SCORE
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Quick Take: The Truist One Checking account offers generous bonuses on cash-back rewards to customers who also have an eligible Truist credit card. There are no overdraft fees and an easy-to-waive monthly fee. Opening a new Truist One Checking account could also earn you a bonus of $300 when you meet the requirements.
  • Fees
    4.8
  • Rewards
    4.9
  • ATM Options
    5.0
  • Features
    4.9
How did we calculate this?

Pros

  • $300 bonus with qualifying direct deposits
  • Easy-to-waive monthly fee
  • $100 Negative Balance Buffer
  • No overdraft fees
  • Bonus rewards on Truist credit cards

Cons

  • Bonus offer not available in all states
  • $12 monthly fee
  • No interest on checking

Truist One Checking Overview

Truist offers a checking account with a low monthly fee of $12, which is easily waived. Headquartered in North Carolina, the bank has over 2,000 branches across 17 states and Washington, D.C. Formed by the merger of BB&T and SunTrust, Truist is now the eighth-largest commercial bank in the U.S.

Key Features

Here’s a look at some of the standout features of a Truist One Checking account.

Fees

Truist One Checking has a low monthly fee of $12, which you can waive in a few ways:

  • With qualifying direct deposits of $500 or more per statement cycle
  • Maintaining a combined average balance of at least $500 across eligible Truist accounts
  • Having a Truist credit card, mortgage or consumer loan
  • Linking a small-business checking account
  • If you are a student under the age of 25

There are no overdraft fees and no ATM fees for using in-network ATMs.

Rewards

You can earn rewards with a Truist One Checking account. Truist offers a 10% to 50% bonus on cash back or rewards points you earn on purchases made with an eligible Truist credit card. Your earnings will depend on your level or account balance. For an annual fee of $25 to $95, you can request a Delta SkyMiles debit card and earn miles on qualifying purchases.

If you are interested in opening a new Truist One Checking account, you could earn a bonus. After opening your account, you will need to complete two direct deposits totaling $1,000 or more within 90 days. Doing this will earn you $300. Keep in mind that this offer is good through Feb. 27, 2024.

ATM Options

Truist has a large number of ATMs — more than 3,000 — which makes banking on the go easy. You can use the locator on Truist’s website to find an ATM closest to you. Account holders can avoid ATM fees by using Truist-specific ATMs. If you find yourself at a non-Truist ATM, you will have to pay a $3 fee.

Features

In addition to earning rewards on Truist credit card purchases, Truist One Checking account holders also get a $25 annual fee discount on a safe deposit box and free checks. Customers who qualify for the $100 Negative Balance Buffer can also overdraw their checking account up to $100.

How Truist One Checking Stands Out

Truist offers a straightforward checking option with no overdraft fees and a $100 overdraft cushion to qualified customers. If you have a Truist credit card or frequently fly Delta, you can cash in on copious rewards by opening a Truist One Checking account. The $300 sign-up bonus, which is available now through Feb. 27, 2024, makes Truist worth considering if you can meet the direct deposit requirements.

Comparable Checking Account Options

With plenty of traditional and online banking options to choose from, selecting a checking account isn’t always easy. How does Truist stack up against some of the other largest banks in the U.S.?

Chase Total Checking®

Chase, the largest bank in the U.S., is currently offering a $300 sign-up bonus when you set up direct deposits totaling at least $500 within the first 90 days of account opening. Chase also charges a monthly fee of $12, which you can waive in a few ways:

  • With direct deposits of $500 or more
  • A beginning daily balance of $1,500 or more
  • An average beginning day balance of $5,000 or more in the account and qualifying linked Chase accounts

With a nationwide presence, Chase has more branch locations and ATMs than Truist.

Wells Fargo Everyday Checking

Wells Fargo, another of the Big Four banks in the U.S., offers a bonus of $300 on its Everyday Checking account. You can qualify for this bonus by opening a new account with a minimum deposit of $25 and receiving at least $1,000 in qualifying direct deposits within 90 days of opening the account. The Everyday Checking account has a $10 monthly fee, which can be waived with a $500 minimum daily balance or $500 in qualifying direct deposits. Wells Fargo offers its checking account free to those ages 17 to 24.

How To Apply

You can apply for a Truist One Checking account online or in person at a branch. However, you must open the account online to qualify for the $300 bonus. You’ll need to make an opening deposit of at least $50 and provide your contact information and Social Security number, two years of address history, and employment and income information.

Who the Truist One Checking Account Is Best For

A Truist One Checking account is best for those who want to avoid the possibility of overdraft fees and can meet the requirements for waiving the monthly fee. If you carry a Truist credit card, you can take advantage of bonus rewards with your Truist One Checking account.

Final Take

Truist One Checking offers significant benefits for its customers, including generous rewards, no overdraft fees and a low monthly fee that you can waive easily. If you think it is a good checking account option for your needs, see if you can meet the requirements to earn the $300 bonus. Just look past the bonus offer to the account’s features and fees to determine if it’s the best account for you. You can find attractive new account bonuses at other banks that might meet your needs better.

FAQ

Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions regarding the Truist One Checking account.
  • What is Truist One Checking?
    • Truist One Checking is a non-interest-bearing account with an easy-to-waive monthly maintenance fee and no overdraft fees. If you have an eligible Truist credit card, the Truist One Checking account also offers the ability to earn a bonus on your cash-back rewards based on your average monthly account balance.
  • Does Truist have free checking?
    • Truist checking is not free, but its requirements for avoiding the monthly maintenance fee are easy to meet. For example, to avoid monthly service fees on a Truist One Checking account, you only need to meet one of the following requirements:
      • Have qualifying direct deposits of $500 or more per statement cycle
      • Maintain a combined average balance of at least $500 across eligible Truist accounts
      • Have a Truist credit card, mortgage or consumer loan
      • Link a Truist small-business checking account
      • Are a student under the age of 25
  • Does the Truist One Checking account have a bonus?
    • Yes, you can earn a $300 bonus if you open a Truist One Checking account online by Feb. 27, 2024, and meet specific requirements, including completing two qualifying direct deposits totaling $1,000 or more within the first 90 days of account opening.
  • How much money do I have to keep in my Truist account?
    • Truist personal checking accounts don't have minimum account balance requirements. However, if you have Truist One Checking, your account balance determines how much you earn in bonuses on cash-back rewards and other perks.

Andrea Norris contributed to the reporting for this article.

Editorial Note: This content is not provided by any entity covered in this article. Any opinions, analyses, reviews, ratings or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author alone and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any entity named in this article.

The information related to Chase Total Checking was collected by GOBankingRates and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product. Product details may vary. Please see the issuer’s website for current information. GOBankingRates does not receive commission for this product.

Our in-house research team and on-site financial experts work together to create content that’s accurate, impartial, and up to date. We fact-check every single statistic, quote and fact using trusted primary resources to make sure the information we provide is correct. You can learn more about GOBankingRates’ processes and standards in our editorial policy.

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